Chapter 4
The tall man seemed unfazed by her hostility. His shoulders relaxed, though his eyes remained alert, assessing.
"I'm Dylan, Beta of Sunrise Peak Pack," he said, his voice low and powerful. "Alpha Charles sent me to find you and extend an invitation to join our pack."
My heart skipped a beat. Sunrise Peak Pack. Alpha Charles. The names felt familiar, stirring something in the back of my mind—fragments of whispered conversations and rumors.
"Alpha Charles wishes to invite you to join our pack as full members," Dylan continued, his gaze moving from my father to my mother, then briefly settling on me before returning to Dad.
Mom's eyes narrowed. "How did you know we were in Black Fang Forest? Our movements shouldn't have been that easy to track."
Dylan smiled slightly, revealing perfect white teeth. "Our pack's intelligence network is extensive. The names Simon and Ophelia Tudor aren't unknown in these parts." He paused, glancing at the bodies of the rogues scattered around us. "News travels fast when respected members leave their pack."
Dad stepped forward, his face unreadable. "Alpha Charles's pack... we've heard rumors. His pack is strong, but the rules are strict. Can you guarantee our safety?"
"As long as you join Sunrise Peak Pack, Alpha Charles will provide the respect and protection you deserve," Dylan assured him. "You know how dangerous life is without a pack. A family of three wandering the wilderness will eventually face worse than these rogues."
I studied Dylan's face, searching for deceit or malice, but found only calm confidence. Still, something about him made me uneasy—perhaps it was the way his gaze occasionally flicked to me, curious and assessing.
We followed Dylan to where two black SUVs waited on a wider trail. His pack mates—six of them—had already shifted back to human form and dressed in simple black clothing. They nodded respectfully to Dylan but eyed us with barely concealed suspicion.
As we settled into one of the vehicles, Dad and Mom exchanged a glance. I felt their silent communication through their mind-link.
"Simon," Mom's voice was low but clear in the quiet vehicle, "perhaps this is an opportunity. We were heading north to seek Alpha Charles's pack anyway. Now they've invited us. Maybe it's a good sign."
Dad nodded slowly. "Very well, Dylan. We accept your invitation." His eyes hardened slightly. "But we have our boundaries. If we find anything... troubling about your pack, we leave immediately."
Dylan's lips curled into a slight smile as he nodded to one of his companions, who started the engine. "Fair enough. Follow our lead."
As our RV rumbled to life, I sank back into my seat, staring blankly out the window. The forest's dense canopy gradually thinned as we headed north, the terrain becoming more open. In the distance, mountain peaks emerged against the sky, their silhouettes clear and sharp in the afternoon light. The air streaming through the cracked window carried the scent of pine.
But I barely noticed the changing landscape, my mind racing with worry. Alpha Charles. The name echoed in my thoughts, dragging with it fragments of rumors I'd overheard back in Gregory Pack.
He was an exceptionally powerful Alpha who had led Sunrise Peak Pack to become one of the strongest forces in the northern territories. But alongside his strength, stories of his ruthlessness had spread far and wide.
They said he demanded absolute loyalty from his subordinates and tolerated no betrayal or weakness. Some even whispered that he had personally executed pack members who disobeyed orders, all to maintain discipline.
A cruel Alpha. My stomach twisted into knots. If we joined his pack, were we just jumping from one fire into another? And what would happen when he discovered my secret—that I had no wolf?
"Alpha Charles may be strict," Mom said quietly, breaking into my thoughts as if she'd read them, "but he's a capable leader. As long as we're useful to the pack, he won't cause us trouble." She reached back to squeeze my hand. "Just stay close to us, don't let anyone discover your... situation, and you'll be fine."
Dad caught my eye in the rearview mirror. "Remember, Margaret, whatever happens, don't reveal yourself. We'll protect you. As long as we stick together, we can overcome anything."
I nodded, but the knot in my stomach only tightened. Their reassurances sounded hollow, like they were trying to convince themselves as much as me.
Our vehicle continued northward, leaving Black Fang Forest behind. The terrain opened up, the distant mountain range growing more distinct with each passing mile. But instead of feeling relief at escaping the forest's dangers, I only felt mounting dread about what awaited us.
Several hours later, our small convoy slowed and turned onto a private road partially hidden by dense trees. After winding through thick pine forest for another fifteen minutes, we emerged into a clearing dominated by an imposing colonial-style mansion.
My breath caught in my throat. The three-story white building was surrounded by tall iron fences adorned with intricate wolf patterns. Deep gray tiles covered the roof, and ornate patterned glass filled the windows. Several smaller buildings—what looked like guard posts or dormitories—dotted the perimeter.
An aura of authority and ancient power seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. The entire area was enclosed by dense pines, and the air hummed with the powerful presence of a strong pack.
"This is Alpha Charles's residence and our pack headquarters," Dylan announced, gesturing toward the mansion. "I'll take you to meet him now."
As we climbed out of our vehicles, I felt Dylan's gaze linger on me. Something in his eyes—curiosity, suspicion, I couldn't tell which—made me lower my head and move closer to Mom.
We walked across a manicured lawn toward the main entrance. Pack members patrolled the grounds, their postures alert and movements purposeful. They were all tall and muscular, their eyes sharp with the instincts of trained warriors. They nodded respectfully to Dylan but regarded us with cold scrutiny that made me shrink against my mother's side.
Inside, the mansion was even more impressive. Marble floors stretched across the entrance hall, with a grand staircase splitting in two directions at the landing. The hallways were lined with ancient portraits and wolf totems, the air heavy with an old, authoritative presence.
"Alpha Charles's office is this way," Dylan said, leading us down a corridor adorned with paintings of wolves and landscapes.
My heart hammered against my ribs, each step feeling heavier than the last. Was I walking to my doom? Would Alpha Charles immediately sense that something was wrong with me? That I lacked the essential component of our kind—a wolf?
We stopped before a massive wooden door carved with the image of a howling wolf, the craftsmanship so detailed it seemed almost alive. The imposing figure radiated power, an unspoken warning to those who might challenge what lay beyond.
Dylan knocked firmly. "Alpha, I've brought the Tudor family," he announced.
"Send them in." The deep, commanding voice that responded sent a shiver down my spine. There was an undeniable authority in those three simple words, a power that needed no shouting to make itself felt.
My hands grew clammy, and my body began to tremble. I could feel beads of sweat forming on my brow despite the cool air.
Mom squeezed my shoulder. "Margaret, behave yourself in there. Don't speak unless spoken to," she whispered, her eyes conveying both warning and reassurance.
Dylan turned to me with an unexpectedly gentle expression. "Margaret, wait out here for a moment. The Alpha wants to speak with your parents privately first."
I watched helplessly as my parents entered the room, the heavy door closing behind them with an ominous thud.
The hallway fell silent except for the distant sound of wind and occasional low growls from somewhere in the building. I leaned against the wall, wrapping my arms around myself, my heart threatening to burst from my chest.
Why did Alpha Charles want to speak to my parents alone? Was it merely to discuss their integration into the pack, or was he probing for information? About me?