Chapter 4
The black sedan pulled up beside us. My instincts kicked in, and I retreated toward our car, eyeing the strangers warily. Two men stepped out, and I inhaled deeply through my nose, catching their scent. Definitely wolves. Strong ones.
The first man looked to be in his twenties with brown cropped hair and an air of authority that couldn't be ignored. The second was around the same age with golden hair that fell across his forehead, nearly hiding hazel eyes. Both were as tall and muscular as my father.
"Alpha Charles requests your immediate presence at Pack house," the dark-haired one announced without preamble. His eyes swept over our little group before landing on me. I could feel his distaste radiating through his cold stare. "This is your daughter?"
Dad stepped forward protectively. "Yes, this is my daughter Margaret. I'm Simon Tudor." He extended his hand.
"And you are?" Dad pressed when the man just stared.
Finally, he took my father's hand. "Beta Dylan. This is Felix, the Pack's third in command."
"I hear you were Beta for Gregory Pack," Dylan remarked, studying my father.
Dad nodded. "That's correct."
"Good. Perhaps you'd be interested in helping train some of our Pack members?" Dylan suggested. It didn't sound optional.
"I'd be happy to," my father agreed smoothly.
"This is Ophelia, my wife and mate," Dad introduced my mother.
Mom stepped forward and shook their hands. "Pleasure to meet you both."
"Follow us," Dylan ordered. "We'll escort you to Pack house. Temporary accommodations have been arranged until your residence is prepared."
Dylan turned and climbed into his black BMW. We returned to our car and followed them through the quiet town.
"See how welcoming they are?" Mom said hopefully from the front seat. "This is going to work out. It has to."
I pressed my forehead against the cool window glass, unconvinced.
We drove through mountain forest roads until we reached the edge of town. The cars pulled into a horseshoe driveway in front of an imposing colonial-style mansion. Three stories high with perfectly manicured hedges out front, the building featured massive arched windows and ancient vines climbing the stone walls.
I stepped out of the car, gazing up at the Pack house. It was grander and more historic than the one back home.
Beta Dylan led us toward white double doors. Inside, white marble floors stretched before us. A classical flower stand held an expensive-looking vase near the entrance. Twin staircases curved up to a landing above.
My mother gaped at our surroundings, clearly impressed by the opulence.
Dylan walked toward a door between the staircases and knocked. A deep voice bid him enter. He disappeared inside, closing the door behind him.
Moments later, he emerged and nodded to my parents. "Alpha will see you now." Then he turned to me. "You'll wait here until called."
I sank onto a plush bench in the foyer while my parents went inside. The Pack house was eerily quiet; not a single member passed through during my entire wait, making me wonder where everyone was.
Finally, Mom emerged and sat beside me. "He's talking with your father now. Then he wants to speak with each of us separately, to make sure our stories match."
"What stories?" I whispered anxiously. "They exiled us because of me." My heart raced with fear. What if the Alpha discovered the truth and killed us? Or worse, made me leave my parents?
"Shhh, calm down, it's fine," Mom soothed. "He probably won't ask you much since you're our child."
I felt tears gathering and quickly wiped them away.
"What did you tell him?" I asked.
"Just that they were exiling us. That's not a lie—it's the truth. He doesn't need to know why." Mom squeezed my hand. "Because you have a wolf, Maggie, okay? She will come. You'll see."
"And if she doesn't?" I challenged.
"She will," Mom insisted. I dropped my gaze, knowing I'd only disappoint them.
Dad exited next, nodding to Mom. She wiped her palms on her jeans, stood, and entered the office, closing the door behind her.
"He'll just have you go through the blood oath ceremony to join the Pack," Dad explained. "It won't be bad, Muffin. You just participate in the ritual, and you'll feel the Pack link establish."
Gross, I thought, but asked, "What about Gregory Pack?"
Dad was honest. "Once you swear allegiance to him, there will be brief pain, like an intense migraine. I won't lie to you—it brought me to my knees."
A sudden cry of pain from Mom made Dad jump, his head snapping toward the door. We could hear soft murmuring, then the silver doorknob jiggled, and the door opened.
Mom walked out clutching her head. Dad rushed to her side.
I took a step back, not wanting to experience whatever had just happened to my mother.
"Maggie, you need to go in," Mom said through gritted teeth.
I shook my head fearfully.
Dad crossed to me and gripped my arm. "Maggie, we did this for you. We moved for you. This is our only option to stay together, so I need you to do this for us." His eyes bored into mine.
"Is everything alright out there?" the Alpha called from within.
I looked at the door in panic.
"Please, Margaret," Dad begged. "Once it's done, it's over. The pain stops, I promise."
I nodded, and Dad guided me to the door.
My hand trembled as I pushed it open. I entered with my head down, closed the door, and then looked up at the Alpha.
Alpha Charles was examining papers on his desk. He had blue-black hair, longer on top and shaved at the sides.
When he lifted his gaze to mine, I froze.
The Alpha took a slight sniff of the air, then growled from deep in his chest, gripping the desk until his knuckles turned white. His silver-gray eyes flickered, betraying the wolf within.
He was handsome—trimmed stubble, defined lips, strong jawline. He smelled like a forest after a storm, woody and intense. I guessed he was around twenty-five.
His body relaxed slightly, and I noticed claw marks on the desktop.
Alpha Charles beckoned me closer. I forced myself to step forward while his eyes tracked my every movement.
Terror crept through me. Could he smell that I had no wolf? Did he know I was essentially human?
His tense jaw and flickering eyes made my blood run cold. My final thought: He knows. He's going to kill me.