Chapter 99

Alexander

Rouges had entered our territory, and the pack was on high alert.

Owen and I left the cellar in an instant, collecting Lauren and Abigail to the front of the mannor as Miles and a few other pack members approached.

“There coming from the east,” Miles met my side, his eyes wide. “But they are waing the flag of peace. They are coming to…talk it seems.”

I could feel it in my bones, the restless energy of my pack, the flicker of unease in my family's eyes as we waited. Coming to talk, huh?

Each of them, a pack of ten it seemed, were all holding a white rose. The sight should have been a symbol of peace, of negotiation, but I knew better. Nothing peaceful ever came from a wolf bearing a white rose, especially not when it came with a pack of fighting fit men in suits.

At least, that’s what the report was.

I paced silently in the foyer of the mansion, my boots clicking against the polished marble. I could hear the murmurs of my pack, my personal guards, their voices low, their bodies tense, waiting for the storm to hit. The mansion felt colder than usual, the shadows in the corners of the rooms stretching longer as the minutes dragged on.

Lauren stood beside me, her hand gently brushing against my arm, offering the kind of silent support. It was helping more then I let on. Abigail was further back, her eyes wide with uncertainty, her small hands gripping her sweater tightly. Owen, ever the protective brother, had his arm around her shoulders, but his eyes never strayed from the door, from the pack of rogues that had made their way past our borders.

I turned toward the windows, watching as the men in suits made their way up the grand driveway. They walked with purpose, their faces obscured by dark sunglasses, their steps deliberate. It was hard to say what exactly they were after, but one thing was certain—they weren’t here for any friendly conversation.

“Grimmaw,” I muttered under my breath.

Lauren looked up at me, her brow furrowing. “What is it? What’s going on?”

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts from my mind.

Grimmaw was an old, dangerous alpha, one who had been banished years ago for attempting to poison Liam’s father, the former King Alpha. And that’s only what they reported, not even touching the rumors on him.

He had been a force to be reckoned with back in the day. Strong. Ruthless. And he had taught me everything I knew about fighting—everything I knew about survival. He was sorta of an uncle in that sense, but not by blood. He’d been the one to show me how to use every advantage, how to read an opponent’s move before they even made it.

But now? He was a rogue. He had no pack. No land to call his own. Just the hunger for power, and the twisted belief that the world owed him something.

I didn’t want him here. I didn’t want him anywhere near my family. But I knew he’d come for a reason. And I could already guess what that reason was.

The door swung open, and the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. My senses flared as I felt the presence of the rogues—Grimmaw himself leading the pack inside. The pack of men in suits followed closely behind him, their eyes scanning the room, taking in the layout of the place as if they were already calculating their next move.

Grimmaw was the first to enter, his towering figure filling the doorway. His slicked-back red hair gleamed under the dim lights, his long sideburns framing his sharp features. He was massive, a lion more than a man, his broad shoulders stretching the fabric of his black suit. His shoes clicked against the marble floor as he moved forward, each step heavy with intent.

I stood tall, my body rigid with control, but every muscle in me screamed to act. To move. To protect my family. But I couldn’t let my anger take over. Not yet.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the prodigal son,” Grimmaw’s deep voice rumbled as he finally came to a stop, his eyes scanning me with a cold amusement. “Alexander. You’ve done well for yourself.”

I didn’t respond immediately, letting the silence stretch between us. My eyes narrowed as I took him in. He hadn’t changed much, except for the lines of age and the hint of weariness in his eyes. But there was something still sharp in him, something dangerous, lurking beneath the surface.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I finally said, my voice low but firm. “You were banished. You have no place in this pack or on our lands.”

Grimmaw chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating in the air. “Is that so? I think you’ll find that the rules of your little kingdom don’t mean much to me anymore.”

I took a step forward, my eyes locked on his, a growl rising in my chest. “You’re trespassing, Grimmaw. This is my land now, and I won’t let you bring your chaos here.”

He shrugged, unfazed, his hands resting calmly at his sides. “I’m not here for your land, Alexander. Shockingly, I’m here for my son. The one you’ve put in a cage.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I didn’t show it. I kept my face neutral, even as the panic started to claw at the back of my mind. Theo.

“Your son?” I repeated, my voice a little sharper than I intended. “He’s a stray rogue, a trespasser, broke the rules. I have every right.”

Grimmaw’s gaze flicked briefly to my kids—Owen and Abigail standing close together, Lauren beside me—and then back to me. His eyes held a dangerous gleam as he spoke again, his words laced with a cold finality. “He’s a child. He’s still my blood. And whether you want to admit it or not, Alexander, he belongs to me. If you intend to keep my family from me, I won’t hesitate to make life more complicated for yours.”

I felt the anger rise, the familiar heat of fury sweeping through me. This was about power. About control. Grimmaw wanted to take something from me. He wanted to break me, just like he had done to so many before.

He knew his pup had borken the law, that I was within my rights, so why did he act like he had leverage.

I stepped in front of Lauren and Abigail, my body shielding them from the tension that was now thick in the room. Owen tried to step forward to my wide by I put a hand out, keeping him back. The pack was alert, their eyes flicking to the men in suits who stood just behind Grimmaw, but none of them made a move. They knew better.

“Get Theo,” I said sharply, my voice carrying the weight of authority. “Miles. Go get him. Now.”

Miles, one of my closest pack members, nodded and immediately moved toward the door, his steps quick and decisive. I could feel the room holding its breath, waiting for the moment when everything would either explode or fall into place.

Grimmaw watched me carefully, his lips curling into a smirk. “This is your last mistake, Alexander. The pack owes me for your actions. For the discrepancy. This will be negotiated later. But for now, I’ll take what’s mine.”

I didn’t care about his threats toward me, but my family, my pack, well, wasn’t weak. We weren’t about to let a rogue alpha, a traitor walk in here and make demands like he had any right to. But it wasn’t worth a fight today. Not with my family present.

“You have no laws to stand on,” I sighed, stepping closer. “Rouge’s aren’t allowed to debate, make demands, you have no right to even wear peace roses to talk to me. That is pack rules and mentality. But I’m feeling kind, and appologize for keeping you’re son,” I paused, meeting his gaze.

“However, if this happens again, I won’t hesitate. Keep that pup on a leash.”

Grimmaw’s eyes flashed with amusement, but he didn’t make a move. “We’ll see about that,” he muttered. “But for now, I’ll take my son.”

The tension in the room crackled like static, thick and suffocating.

And then, the door opened. Theo stood there, his face pale, his eyes wide with a sadness that I couldn’t quite place. He glanced around the room, taking in the scene—the tension, the standoff—and then his gaze locked on me.

I could feel the pain in that look. He didn’t want to go with Grimmaw. But it was happening. Whether he wanted it or not.

Abigail bolted forward, her voice a frantic whisper. “Theo, no! Don’t go with him!”

Lauren grabbed her, holding her back, her own eyes wet with unshed tears. “Abigail, stop. Let him go.”

Theo turned, his face contorted with emotion, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t try to fight.

My eyes narrowed, confused why I felt something for the kid.

And then, with one last look, the door slammed shut behind him.

Grimmaw had taken him.

But nothing felt better, and far from over.