CHAPTER 3

NIKLAUS PRIME WOLFE

I'm standing in front of this big mirror, staring at myself. Got this eye patch on, covering up memories I'd rather forget. It's a constant reminder of that crazy day that turned my life upside down. Fiddling with my tie, I'm doing this routine I've got down pat. The eye patch, it's like a part of me now, keeping prying eyes at bay. I unstrap it, revealing the scarred canvas that used to hold my vision. Looking into the mirror, I meet my own eyes - one alive and kicking, the other marked by a whole lot of hurt. It's all thanks to that girl, the gutsy savior who defied the rules of our world. She pulled off some forbidden magic that night, desperate to save my skin. I'm instantly transported back to that moment. The smell of autumn leaves, distant wolf howls - it all floods back.

As I'm standing there, I'm trying to grasp that memory of her face. It's like trying to hold on to smoke, you know? Slippery and hard to pin down. I can kinda sorta remember those eyes, fierce and determined. She must be around 16 years. Her features are a bit fuzzy from time, but there's this strange sense of recognition, like a distant echo from back then. Back when the Hunters, sent by Mikael Salvador, were gunning for me, she swooped in, wielding magic like it was nobody's business. She saved me, leaving a mark on my life that I'll never forget. Her name, her voice, they're like ghosts in my memory. But her essence, man, that lingers. She was my guiding light through that crazy night, five years ago, the force that gave Mikael the middle finger. As I slap that eye patch back on, I'm feeling this wave of gratitude. It's all for her, this nameless hero. I'm still standing because of her. Even though I can't quite picture her face, her spirit is woven into my very soul. She's the silent guardian who flipped the script on my destiny. And I swear I'm gonna find her and say thanks for that second shot at life.

"Hey Alpha Niklaus, we've got a meeting to hit," Marcel, my trusty beta, snapped me back to reality. I straightened up, getting my head back in the game. "Everyone in place?" I asked, feeling the weight of what was ahead. This meeting was a big deal - a gathering of rogue wolves like us, who'd built their packs and risen to alpha status in record time. It was a key move in taking back what was rightfully ours. Marcel, this solid, no-nonsense guy, had been riding shotgun with me since day one. He had this rugged look, short-cropped dark hair, and a face etched with scars from countless battles. His steely grey eyes held a mix of loyalty and determination, showing he was all in. Tall and broad, Marcel had this aura of confidence that drew folks to him. His body was a canvas of scars, each one a badge of honor from the fights he'd been through. He had this protective air about him like he'd do whatever it took to keep our pack safe. He was the backbone of our crew. Today's meeting was make or break for us, and having Marcel by my side was a rock-solid reminder of the strength and unity we had going for us.

I was heading towards the meeting spot on the outskirts, you could feel the tension in the air, thick enough to cut with a knife. Just as I was about to step in, Landon, my trusty gamma, intercepted me.``Hey Niklaus, there's a buzz about you," Landon started, looking both worried and in a rush. "Some are giving you the nod, but others ain't too sure about the move you're pullin'."I nodded, knowing that shaking things up always comes with a bunch of skeptics. "Yeah, that's par for the course, Landon. Change ain't always easy for everyone to swallow. We just need one big ally in our corner," I said, my confidence coming through. Leaning in close, Landon asked, "And who's that, Alpha?''

"Alpha Ace," I answered, my tone steady. "If he's with us, it changes the game. He's got power and respect that matches mine. Once he's on board, the rest will follow suit."

The four Rogue alphas were kicked back on the hoods of their fancy rides, their beta and gamma standing nearby, deep in discussion about me. It'd taken a while to set up this meeting, but now was the moment. I took a deep breath and stepped out of my car, heading towards them. They greeted me with a nonchalant nod, offering a beer as an invitation to join them. I grabbed a bottle and launched into my point.

"Alright, you all know the drill. We went rogue to keep our people safe, but there are still some in the Alpha council treating our folks like trash. And if anyone tries to stand up for themselves, they send in their damn hunters, all sneaky in the dark. And why? Just 'cause they claim the victims were out to off their precious Alpha when they're just regular pack members."

"Come on, Klaus, don't try to play us like that," Vaughn, the alpha of the Wildwood pack, scoffed. "We all know who you're gunning for with this whole spiel. Yeah, we've heard your backstory, we get why you went rogue. But that doesn't mean we're gonna toss everything aside just 'cause you've got your plans and a tearjerker of a story to go with it."

"Alright, look, I'm not here to sell you a sob story or try to convince anyone. We all know what's going on - it's not just about me, it's about all of us. I'm not asking you to chuck everything you've got. What I'm saying is, if we team up and use our heads, we might just have a shot at taking down that messed-up Alpha council and making things better for all of us."I turned to Vaughn, getting real with him. "Vaughn, you've been busting your butt in the IT game, but those Alpha council folks have been a real pain, holding you back. Reign and Knox, have the same deal in the security scene. And Ace, you've got power, but they won't give you a fair shake just 'cause you're a hybrid dealing with some extra challenges. We all stand to win from this change."Looking each of them square in the eye, I laid it out plain. "Me? I just want what's rightfully mine. My pack. The original Whitelight pack. And together, we can make that happen if we step up and do what's right."

"You got something in your mind?"Ace finally spoke up, and it shifted the vibe in the group. Everyone tried to keep their cool, but you could tell something big was about to go down."I've got a plan," I announced, and you could feel the intensity in the air. "Marcel, my beta, dug up some intel. Mikale Salvador's about to step down, passing the baton to his nephew, Matt Salvador. All we gotta do is take out his mate before the handover. Matt and his mate go down, and MIKALE can't swoop back in after he's retired. It's a done deal."Knox, always the realist, chimed in, "You make it sound like a walk in the park."I took a swig of my beer, locking eyes with Knox. "I make it sound easy 'cause I've got this plan nailed down. Trust me, it's solid."

Reign, the question-asker, the twin brother of Knox, pressed on, "Do you even know anything about his mate?"I nodded confidently. "Yeah, she's a student at the high school set up by the Alpha council members for their packs. I've got someone keeping tabs on her."

"Alright, if you handle that girl, you've got us on board," Ace said, sealing the deal with a solid handshake. He headed towards his car, his beta and gamma right behind him, and they took off from the curb. The rest of the crew followed suit.I got back to my pack, taking a moment to let the agreement sink in. Once I was settled, I made a call, my eyes locked on the photos of Matt Salvador's mate that Landon had sent over. This was a make-or-break move, and nailing it was the linchpin of the whole plan.

"Hey," I greeted once the call connected."I'm in. I'll start teaching the young wolves at your high school."There was a thoughtful hum from the guy on the other end before he abruptly ended the call. The deal was sealed, and things were moving forward.

All I have to do is to kill this girl.