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.”