Moscow, Russia

Maelis Rolkov

“Twenty dead,” I said, placing the number between us like a verdict.

Across the polished desk, Alpha Viktor Damaris sat stiff as stone, restless and cornered.

The proud wolf of Volkov Ridge now looked more like a man sitting on his own grave.

I tapped my gloved fingers against the wooden desk as I asked, “Do you know what I hate most, Alpha Damaris?”

He blinked. “Lady.. M—Maelis?”

“Dishonesty.” I looked up, meeting his dark eyes.

He leaned forward, forcing confidence he didn’t have. “I swear, the mishap wasn’t intentional. The Americans--”

“--didn’t know where to strike until someone in your office gave them our route,” I cut in, “That ‘mishap’ cost us twenty men and a full shipment. Your shipment. Our shipment!”

His jaw clenched. “You can’t possibly think I--”

“I don’t think. I verify.” I said, bringing out a folder from my bag and sliding it across the desk. “And this? Verified. Unless you're trying to say your assistant’s signature on the cargo was forged. And the crest stamped on the falsified document was not yours. You betrayed your deal, Damaris.”

Viktor’s throat worked as he tried to speak. “Please, Lady Rolkov. I can correct this... I’ll double... no I'll triple the loss....”

“You had three months to correct it. Yet, you mess it up. You should know my Alpha doesn’t wait that long.”

My gaze lifted to meet his. “Neither do I.” I muttered, crossing my legs.

“Lady Maelis, I beg you. Don’t do this. Alpha Alaric and I, we’ve worked together for years...”

“You should have thought of that before selling our route for American gold.” I cut him off mid sentence, watching color drain from his face without blinking.

“Please just let me speak to him directly.”

“No,” I said, standing at last. “You’ll receive a termination notice in three days. Signed and sealed by the Rolkov estate. With it, your company and all shares tied to the Rolkov's will be revoked. Including any protection we afford your pack, Alpha Damaris.”

His eyes widened in horror, “No… you can’t do this to me… Lady Maelis... What am I supposed to tell my people? My pack will suffer. They’ll starve and lose their homes--”

“You should consider it mercy,” I said flatly, “We could take your estates now and burn what remains of your pack to the ground. And you’d die knowing you chose the ashes yourself.”

I finished, slow and cold, “Sign the papers in three days. It’s the easiest option.”

I turned on my heels and walked out of his office.

***

The elevator doors closed behind me with a soft hiss.

And I couldn't help but glanced at the mirrored walls which threw my reflection back at me, sharp eyes, painted lips that hadn’t remembered warmth in years. Somewhere, beneath the frost, a part of me wondered when I started looking more like my father.

“You know,” came a lazy voice from the corner, “you didn’t even let him offer you a drink this time.”

I glanced sideways to see Luka, my right hand and my most frequent headache leaned against the wall, his tie undone, dark hair falling into his eyes.

“He’s lucky I didn’t let Rosa finish the conversation,” I said. “And don't you know to look formal?”

“He’s going to run to the Americans again, you know that right?” he said, deciding to ignore my comment about his disorganized dressing as the elevator started moving.

“I’m counting on it.” I adjusted my gloves, eyes staring into the blank space without blinking, “The more desperate he gets, the easier it is to trace who he'll crawl to.”

“Do you even know what everyone says about you?”

I don't answer that. Only held my head high, but Luka, being his annoying self, went on. “They call you Maelis Rolkov. The Phantom of the North.”

“I know that,” I said evenly. Just as I know they also call me an unmateless bitch who hides her hideous face behind a mask. But the thing with people is, they only judge the weak. And,

“When you rule through fear and efficiency,” I said quietly, “you can’t afford sentiment. That’s how my father built his empire… and how I intend to keep it.”

The elevator chimed and slid open.

I stepped out first. Snow drifted through the glass hall, carried by the wind that always seemed colder in Moscow by this time of the day. My heels clicked softly against the marble as I made my way toward the waiting car.

Luka got in the driver’s seat and glanced at me through the mirror. “Where to?”

“Home,” I said, leaning back against the seat. My head rested against the leather, and for the first time that day, I allowed myself to breathe.

The past few nights had been hectic, tracing leads, and unraveling the betrayal that had started from the root. It had taken more from me than I’d care to admit.

The car glided smoothly through the road and It didn’t take long before the gates of the Rolkov estate came into view,

This had been my home; where I was born, well, until that time when I ran, even went as far as marrying an Alpha who's not from the motherland. All of which got me casted out until three years ago.

I stepped out of the car, the cold biting through my gloves. Then, like always, I lifted my chin and walked forward because weakness had no place within these walls.

I shrugged off my gloves and coat as soon as I'm inside the estate, handing them to one of the maids who hurried forward. All I wanted was a shower, maybe a drink, and a few hours to myself in my quarters.

But I didn’t make it past the grand staircase. When,

“Lady Maelis.”

The deep voice pulled my attention to the end of the corridor.

Ronan, Father's head of security was walking towards me, tall, broad-shouldered, his face looking striking as always, though, not in the delicate way of beauty.

He bowed slightly as soon as he got closer, “Alpha Alaric has returned and he requires your presence. Immediately.” he said.

Maelis Rolkov

I walked into Father’s office. The guards at the door bowed as I entered.

Father was sitting on the couch, a folded newspaper on the table in front of him. When he looked up, his steel-gray eyes, a distinct recognition of the Rolkov's met mine, calm, sharp, and cold eyes that made even powerful Alphas drop to their knees.

Mine were different though, or so people say. Softer. Beautiful, maybe. But they carried the same weight as his. After all, the silver half-mask I wore every time hid everything but my eyes.

“You sent for me, Father,” I said, keeping my gaze on him. In this house, breaking eye contact was a weakness.

“You handled Damaris,” he said. It wasn’t a question. It never was.

“Yes,” I replied. “He’ll sign the termination papers within three days.”

“Good.” He leaned back, tapping his finger against the carved wolf head on his desk. “The Americans are getting bold and Damaris was a fool to think he could sell our important shipment and live.”

I crossed my arms. “He won’t live long after signing those papers. Once he loses protection, the others will finish him off.”

Father’s lips curved slightly, that cold little smile that always made the room feel colder. “Unless,” he said, “he’s already on his way to America.”

My brows drew together. “What do you mean?” I asked, even though I expect him to run back to the people he betrayed us with, I never expected it to be this soon.

He folded the newspaper neatly, placed it aside, and met my eyes again. “I’m going to New York.”

“You’re going there yourself?” I asked without blinking.

“There’s no time to waste, Maelis,” He said, his voice calm but firm. “The longer the shipment stays on foreign land, the higher the risk because the main product hidden among the shipment could perish--or worse, be discovered by our enemies. And we cannot afford that.”

Father never revealed much about his missions.

He only gave the orders, and I followed. That was how it had always been. But this time… there was something different.

And I think I'm beginning to understand why he’d want me to keep Damaris’s life.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “We received word that the shipment vanished somewhere in New York. And that territory,” he continued, “is under the control of Alpha Lucian Blackwell.”

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. My whole body froze at the sound of that name. It had been years since I last heard it… but it still carried weight.

Father noticed the small shift in my expression but said nothing. Instead, he went on, “As luck would have it,” he said, “they’re hosting a party tomorrow—to strengthen old alliances. And that,” his gaze locked with mine, “is where you come in.”

I blinked slowly. “What are you saying?”

“You have made me proud on several occasions, Maelis. Even more than I expected. So you’re going to New York to represent me, daughter.”

Going to New York means… “Father, I—” I started,

“I want you to remember who you are,” he cut in. His tone was calm, yet it carried enough weight to still the air between us. “A Rolkov doesn’t bend. You understand?”

My chest tightened. “Yes, Father.”

“Good.” He leaned back, picking up the newspaper from the table as if our conversation had already ended. “You leave tonight. Don’t disappoint me.”

I gave one final nod as I turned and walked out of his office.

I headed straight to my quarters.

As soon as I was inside, I leaned against the door and shut my eyes, exhaling a long breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. After a moment, I pushed off the door and kicked off my heels, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet room.

My mask came off next—I placed it on the nearest table before walking to the bathroom. Cold water hit my face as I splashed it over and over, trying to wash away the tension still clinging to my skin.

When I finally looked up, my reflection stared back.

Dark circles, pale lips, exhaustion etched into every inch of my face.

However,

“To be honest, you look like shit,” Rosa's voice echoed from the back of my mind, faking that ridiculous Russian accent she knew I hated.

“You mean we look like shit,” I muttered, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face.

“No, you do.” She went silent for a few seconds before saying, “You know if you keep going like this you’re going to break, even wolves know when to rest.”

I sighed and turned away from the bathroom, heading toward the room. “Not now, Rosa.”

If people think Maelis Rolkov is crazy, they haven’t met Rosa. At least the few who did never live to tell the story.

I discovered her existence two years ago. Turns out, Alphas can communicate with their wolves if they are strong enough to unlock that part of themselves.

I’ve regretted many things—but unlocking Rosa might just top the list.

“So you’re really going to New York, huh?”

“Yes,” I sighed. “Next flight out. So if you're thinking of preaching me out of this. Forget it.”

“Sometimes I wonder if he carved obedience into your bones.”

“Careful, Rosa.”

“Oh, relax. I’m just saying, you know he’s using you, right?”

I grabbed a towel, wiping my face before replying, “At least he’s better than the man who killed us.”

“And you’re going to New York… to meet that very man!”

“As Maelis Rolkov. And this time around, every single thing he did--to me, to us--I’ll make him pay for it.” My hand squeezed the towel hard

But before I could say more, a knock hit the door

I quickly put the towel back, walked to the table, slipped my mask back on and straightened before saying. “Enter.”

Ronan tall and composed figure, stepped in, his dark eyes flicked over me a moment longer than they should have, before he started to say, “I came to inform you that our flight will be taking off in the next forty-five minutes.”

I raised a brow. “Our?”

“Yes. Your father said we’re going together.”