ROWAN.FOUR YEARS AFTER.“Mama!”The shrieking voice of my daughter, Jhnelle, as she bursts into my office, a dazzling smile on her face followed by Lisa brings a fuzzy feeling over me.“Mama, save me. Aunty Lisa is going to eat me,” she shrieks as she heads for me only to be swept off her feet by Lisa.“Got you,” she crows as she lifts her up into the air. “Your mama can't save you now!” she announces before proceeding to pretend munch on her tummy.More shrieks of laughter fills the room, bringing a wide smile to my face and a respite from the documents before me.“Lisa, please don't eat my daughter,” I say as I get to my feet, heading over to them and placing a kiss on Jhnelle’s hair. “She is the only one I have.”“Very well,” she says mournfully before turning to the girl. “I will set you free on account of your mother who is working so hard for all of us here.”The all of us that she refers to are known as the Winter Wolf Coalition.It is a… large group of rogues who while not wi
ROWAN.It is a massacre.Limbs thrown all over the place ,blood soaking the ground, the trees.There is no sound.Not even the tweeting of the birds.“What the hell happened here?” I ask in horror.“It looks like some demon mauled all these wolves,” George, one of the permanent residents and fighters of our camp says.“They are not rogues,” Lisa says as she walks through the corpses. “But they are not from the same pack either.”“My question is how they managed to get this close to us without us knowing or hearing anything?” I growl out.There is no answer to that, and that in itself is worrying.We know how shaky our peace is.A bunch of rogues attacked a pack and won, taking over their territory .We are not friends to anyone.Still, it gave them pause and as long as we kept to ourselves, they left us alone.Mostly.So, who are these people and why are their corpses so close to us?“Spread out,” I command, my voice carrying in the silence and across the vast space. “Look for survivo
ROWAN.“Mate?” Lisa asks in confusion. “You are sure that is what she said. Mate?”“You repeating the word over and over again, is not going to change what I heard,” I drolly reply as I recline on the pillow. “She said mate.”“And did she say anything else?” she asks as she continues pacing the length of my bedroom.“No,” I answer as I close my eyes. “And can you stop pacing, you are making me dizzy.”“I think this is wonderful,” Rina pipes up as she strokes Jhenelle’s hair.She is sleeping on her lap, as we gathered in my room, our unofficial meeting room as Lisa likes to say.It is… rustic in a way. Nothing too over the top.It is a simple, charming room but with a touch of elegance. At one end of the wall, there is a sturdy, dark wood dresser with a mirror above it, reflecting the room back to me. Its surface is neat, with just a few essentials like a hairbrush, some makeup and a small jewelry box.Directly facing it is the bed whose headboard is a classic piece, with intricate ca
ROWAN .“Stop following me,” I snap at the two women as they chase after me, hot on my heels.“We are not following you, we are curious about your mate,” Lisa shoots back.“Stop calling him that, he is not my mate.”“Just because you don't accept it doesn't make it any less true,” Rina retorts. “Your wolf called him mate.”“And just because she called him that doesn't make it true!” I snap back.“Actually, it does. It is our wolves that recognize the mates, not the human, which means your feelings, thoughts and opinion on the matter has no bearing on the truth. Your wolf called him mate, he is your mate. End of discussion.”“Stop following me.”“No.”“Not a chance.”With an annoyed huff I quicken my footsteps as I head to the clinic, nodding and acknowledging the greetings of the people milling about as I pass by. “You know, we still have no idea as to why he was there in the first place,” I remark. “You two are so hell bent on making me accept him you are completely ignoring the fa
VIKTOR.Of all the places I thought I was ever going to find my mate, the Winter Wolf Coalition was not even on the list.Why would it be?They are made up of rogues, unknown rogues who came up from nowhere, took over a legitimate -abhorrent, useless, disgraceful but legitimate- pack and stayed in their territory.Never mind the fact that they haven't bothered anyone, yet, they are rogues. They are a threat.And their leader is my mate.What are the fucking chances of that happening?!“Louis. Louis what?” she asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.And there is that?The name just came out of nowhere. I couldn't exactly say, hi I am Viktor Thorn, Alpha of the Vale pack, one known to be ruthless to others especially rogues.I am not that stupid.“Hello. I asked you a question,” she repeats, her green eyes sparking with irritation.Beautiful green eyes.“Did he hit his head?” she mutters to herself as she eyes me with worry.“I… I can't remember,” I say, internally wincing at the lie.I
ROWAN.“Well, how did it go?” Rina asks the moment I walk out of the room.“He is lying, I just know it,” I say as I make my way out of the clinic.“How do you know that?” Lisa asks as they take places up my sides.“Said his name is Louis, but doesn't remember his last name. Has no recollection of how he got to that field or what he was doing,” I reply “He might be telling the truth,” Rina interjects.“He had broken bones, internal bleeding and a few more bruises. Nothing to his head, so where does the amnesia come in?”“Maybe it's trauma?” Lisa adds.“Really? Trauma? That is what you are going with?” I ask sarcastically.“I don't know. Look, all I am saying is… maybe you should just give him a chance. He might actually be telling the truth .” “He is not!” I snap at her.“How do you know that?!”she snaps back.“Because I looked into his eyes! Okay. There was no confusion, Los lost sense of direction, no desperation. He knows who he is and the fact that he is lying about it tells me
ROWAN.“Stop staring at me,” I tell the two witches as I take another spoonful of chicken broth.Damn, we hit the jackpot with our cook.“Not until you tell us what you are planning,” Lisa responds.“I am not planning anything.”“Liar. Dawn said you are going to let our dear Louis out of jail.”“First of all, he is not our dear anything, Secondly he is not in jail-”“-you were going to keep him locked up in the clinic-”“-and last but not the least, you were the one who told me to let him out. Let him out and supervise him.”“That wasn't me, that was Rina,” she responds.“Potato, po-tah-to. Still the same thing.”“That is offensive. I am offended. How can you say that we are the same? We are nothing alike!”“And thank the goddess for that!” Rina fires back. “Why anyone would delight in being such a tight ass is beyond me.”Lisa sticks out her tongue at her and Rina responds with the same.Like children.And I am the mother stuck with them.“I am trying to enjoy my delicious breakfast
VIKTOR .I know she is the one before the door opens.Her scent is already filling my head as well as the happy rumble my wolf gives at her approach.She is dressed in a light blue shirt that is partially tucked into a pair of stretchy black jeans, that just highlights her long legs. Her auburn hair flows down her back like stormy waves, swaying as she walks towards me and fixing me with a pair of emerald green eyes that reflects her stubborn nature and a strong spirit. Yeah, I have my hands full with her, alright..“How are you feeling today!” she asks as she walks up to me.“Better. I don't hurt as much as last night. Your healers are a delight.”“Hmm, they said as much. Any recollections whatsoever? Anything new?”“No, unfortunately not.”I thought about it last night, on whether I should carry on with my charade and stick to my story or confess.If I were any other Alpha, I would have confessed. But I am not. Any other Alpha. I am Viktor Thorn of the Vale pack, renowned to be ru