VIKTOR.I watch in horror and despair as she walks away from me, not even turning once to look at me.Jhenelle does.She keeps turning to me with tears in her eyes, as if she is begging to not let her go.Begging me to hold on to them.But I don't know how to.How do I reach her when she never really opened her heart to me.“By trying,” my wolf answers. “You keep trying.”“You don't understand. She-”‘I don't have to and I don't want to. The only thing I know is that she is our mate and we will never be okay without her. Don't let her go.`”“You heard her. She doesn't want to see me.”“And? You are just going to give in? Like that? When did you get so weak?”“I am not weak! I just… I have never been in a situation like this. In a place where the stakes are so high.”“How high? What could be worse than losing her?”“She could reject me,” I reply. “I'm case you haven't noticed, she never actually did so. I don't know why, maybe she forgot, maybe it hasn't crossed her mind. Maybe… maybe,

VIKTORVALE PACK“Welcome back, Alpha!”“Welcome home!”“Thank the goddess, you are safe!”“We feared the worst!”“The Alpha is back! Alpha Viktor is back!”On and on it went, as different members of the pack came up to welcome me back to the pack.A month I have been away for a month.And it feels like a lifetime “Welcome home, Alpha,” Andre greets me warmly as we head up to my wing. “Thank you, Andre. I missed it.”“Hmm, I am sure you did. And what of our Luna? When will we be welcoming her?”I sigh heavily at the question.I have been doing my best not to think about Rowan since I left.I feared that if I did, I would turn back and make a nuisance of myself “Alpha?”“I don't know, Andre. We didn't exactly part on the best of terms.”“What happened?” He asks with concern as he holds open the door to my room.It is a large space, one that I am occasionally embarrassed about My room, or should I say, my suit, contains a double sized, king bed, right at the center, with a six feet

VIKTOR“I cannot believe you told them that! Are you insane?! What if they used that information against you?!”Andre paces around the study, ranting as he has been for almost fifteen minutes.It is impressive actually.To be talking, non stop, on your own in a high and frustrated pitch, for fifteen minutes.He should be a singer.“Your mate, our Luna,” he continues. “Is an important and integral part of our pack, the mother of the pack and you just decided to broadcast it to other wolves?! Other alphas?! Do you not know how we are regarded among the wolf community?”“With fear! Fear, Viktor. I mean we are probably just below the Winter wolf coalition and you went ahead to reveal that important secret? Are you out of your mind?!”“If they were the kind to reveal my secret, I wouldn't have told them,” I reply calmly, finally able to get a word in.“Still!” He snaps. “You can't just trust anybody with something like that. Least of all, strangers.”“They knew something was up,” I tell hi

VIKTOR.It has been almost fifteen minutes since Alden went to inform Rowan of my presence and I have been locked in a staring match with Gaines.Fifteen minutes.I swear it.He had locked eyes with me in a defiant and challenging scowl and teg. damn alpha genes in me will not let me look away.So, yes.Two grown men have been having a pissing sans staring match with each other to the amusement of anyone that passes by.“She will see you,” Alden's voice breaks the contest and we both look over at himI didn't even hear him walk up to us.Childish, Viktor.You are supposed to be more mature than this, allowing a mere pup to get under your skin.“She will?” I ask in delighted surprise.“She will?” Gaines asks in dismayed surprise.“Yes, she will. But first, we need to ensure that you are alone, as you claimed,” he answers.“Of course,” I agree. “Um, how are you going to do that?”“We have already sent out wolves to check the perimeters and any other place they might be hiding,” he answe

ROWAN. I watch as Viktor takes one more glance at me before leaving. “Wow,” Rina says as she gets to her feet and stretches. “That was so tense, I can feel.my muscles knotting up as you two were speaking.” “I think it went quite well,” Lisa remarks. “She didn't try to hit him and he was very calm.” “Calm?” I ask darkly. “That was calm to you?!” “For an Alpha, yes. You know how quick to temper they are, especially when they are felt to be challenged or disrespected. More less by one who is their mate. It speaks volumes of him to still maintain his cool, be worried about you and not blame you for your anger. I mean, he practically apologized, he came here to warn you of who your enemies are and offer allies?” “We don't know that for sure,” I say. “Oh, come off it. You know he is telling the truth,” Rina grouches from behind me. “What more do you want? For him to crawl in glass for you.” “Don't be silly,” I snap at her before slouching down into the chair. “I don't know. I