Marcel:

“Are you sure that her staying here is the right idea, Marcel?” My beta, Vladimir, asked.

He had been waiting for me outside the infirmary door, and though ration told me that he was right to ask… her staying was not a good idea judging by everything. But I was not sending my mate to die.

“I am not going to send her back into whatever hell she’s been through. But you are going to look into her story.” I said, and he nodded.

“What am I to find?”

“Anything that would lead to her. I want to know why she was cast out. Look for a Lia Volkov.” He looked at the door for a second before turning his attention to me.

“An Alpha born who was cast out a rogue by her pack… pretty sure that we already have our options narrowed. But she is not from here. We would have known if she was.” He said, and I ran my fingers through my hair.

The two of us kept walking, heading out, and though part of me didn’t want to leave, another knew that I had to. Plus, I needed to take care of a lot for now, and Lia, as tempting as it was going to be to talk to her, was not giving me the better resolve.

“I don’t really care where she is from. I want to know what she did to be cast out.” I said, heading toward my room. “Whatever it is that you find on her, I want to know. She is not going anywhere, and she is going to eventually realize that she is safe here. At least, as long as she doesn’t start causing trouble.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll let you know what I find.” He said, and I nodded.

“And Vladimir?” I asked, making him raise an eyebrow.

“Be sure that no one finds out about this.” He walked away without saying another word. I didn’t need him to. If I trusted anyone in this world, it was him.

My best friend and the man who grew by my side. It was supposed to be Elara as my beta, she was born into it. But I grew up with Vladimir, and I always knew that he was going to be my right hand.

The moment of peace in my room didn’t last for long, though.

A soft chime sounded at the door moments later instead, the polite kind, practiced. I didn’t need my wolf to tell me who it would be. The scent reached me first. Familiar. Sweetened with submission.

“Enter,” I said flatly.

She stepped inside with measured confidence, the kind taught, not born. Dark hair loose over her shoulders, silk clinging to her frame like it was made for nights that never asked questions. One of my consorts. One of the women chosen long ago to ease an Alpha’s temper when violence threatened to spill over.

She stopped just inside the room.

“My Alpha,” she murmured, eyes lowering before lifting again, slow and deliberate. “Luna Isobel sent me. I hope that I wasn’t intruding.”

I raised an eyebrow. That was all.

She took it as permission.

She crossed the room with quiet grace, every step calculated. I didn’t move. Didn’t stop her. This was routine. Expected. Clean.

Her fingers brushed my arm first. Then she leaned in, lips grazing the line of my jaw, her breath warm against my skin.

“You’ve been tense,” she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to my neck. “I can feel it in your shoulders.”

She ran her hands over my chest, down to my abdomen… “Let me…”

Her mouth shifted closer to my lips.

I caught her wrist.

Not hard. Just enough.

She froze.

“Enough,” I said calmly.

Confusion flickered across her face. “Did I…? I’m sorry…”

“You’re dismissed.”

The words landed heavier than a shout.

She searched my eyes, clearly unsure if this was a test. A mood. A punishment. “My Alpha, if I did anything to offend you…”

“Leave,” I repeated, firmer now. “Now.”

She stepped back immediately, head lowering, composure snapping back into place. Without another word, she turned and slipped out of the room, the door closing softly behind her.

Silence reclaimed the space.

My wolf snarled, not in hunger, but irritation.

It wasn’t her scent that lingered.

It was Lia’s. The mate who was now daring to challenge.

Blood. Defiance. Rejection that still burned like an open wound.

I dragged a hand through my hair and exhaled slowly.

This wasn’t lust.

It wasn’t need.

It was something far more dangerous.

And my mother knew it.

The door was knocked again, and the low growl that escaped me was one that I couldn’t stop… it was one of annoyance. But it was the next words that made my eyes harden…

“Alpha, it is your guest.” One of my men said, making me frown. “She ran away, Alpha…”