VIKTOR
PRESENT DAY
I watch as Calvin is being led into my study, his steps measured and controlled but with a hint of deference in them, some respect for where he is and who he is facing.
That is good.
At least, there is someone sane in that shit show of a pack.
He is tall.
About five feet 11, with a slim yet fit physique, suggesting he follows a regular workout routine, which means he is disciplined.
His dark hair is neatly styled, framing his face without being distracting as he moves.
A slight, polite smile highlights his strong nose and jawline, making his features look even sharper.
He is wearing a simple light-colored T-shirt that fits well but isn’t too tight, showing off his toned arms and chest as he moves. His dark jeans are worn casually, giving him a relaxed look.
A basic leather belt sits at his waist, and his feet are in scuffed but clean sneakers or loafers, making soft sounds as he walks.
Overall, he radiates quiet confidence and self-assurance, appearing more at ease in his own skin with each moment.
Controlled and calm.
Not bad.
“Alpha Viktor,” he says with a bow to me. “Thank you for seeing me. Especially after our last… encounter.”
“Hmm,” I say. “It is precisely because of that encounter that I let you walk in here. I am genuinely curious as to what the beta of the Obsidian pack would want with my pack that he would come here again after everything that has happened. Please, sit.”
“Thank you,” he says as he takes a seat. “I am afraid I didn’t come here to tender an apology for my alpha.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to.”
“That said, I do still have to apologize. For his actions and the… way he has been treating you and the … rest.”
“There is no need for that,” I tell him as I lean into my chair. “It was not your fault and besides, the whole werewolf community is already aware of your alpha’s… eccentricities.”
“Right…” he murmurs with an embarrassed flush crawling across his face.
“Why are you here, beta Calvin?”
“Right,” he says once again before he straightens up to look me in the eye. “I have been sent by my alpha to retrieve a lost member of our pack. Louisa Kane.”
That … that is not what I was expecting.
I was expecting him to ask about the missing pack members not…
Louisa Kane.
Rowan Blaze.
My mate.
That fucker.
It takes a deep struggle to reign in my temper.
It will not do well to behave like Dominic and lose my temper in front of the man I am trying to win over
“I don’t recall having met anyone bearing that name. What do you mean by a lost member? How do you lose a member?”
“She went missing a few years back and we have just recently gotten information that she was here,” he explains.
“I know everyone who is in my pack,” I tell him. “There is no Louisa Kane here.”
“She is going by the name Rowan Blaze.”
“So let me get this straight. You want me to turnover the leader of the coalition to your pack and your deranged alpha, why?”
“I… the…”
“I will spare you the embarrassment,” I say as I lean forwards, arks resting on the desk. “Rowan is not here. She is in her coalition.”
“Alpha, no offense but we got a report that she was here…”
“Are you still spying on us?” I ask with a smirk. “It seems like Dominic has not learnt anything from the death of his poor wolf.”
“That is not-”
“When did you get this information?” I ask, cutting him off.
“Two days ago.”
“Well, your intel was right to a point. Rowan was here two days ago. She was gone the next.”
“Right,” he says as he gets to his feet. “Thank you for your time. I will let my alpha know -”
“Sit down,” I order him in a lazy drawl.
“What?”
“Sit. Down.”
“Uh… is there… Did I do… something? Why am I -”
“You have had your say and gotten what you wanted. Or at least, a leaf as to what you want. Not that I have any hope for you in getting Rowan to return to the pack that had abused her.”
“Abused- what… what do you know?”
“I know a lot of things,” I say with a smirk. “I know that her parents died fighting for the pack and rather than being grateful for that, your rabid alpha hates and resented her. I know that she was his mate but rather respecting ad cherishing her, he raped her. And when his mother forced him to do right by her, he as well as you and some of your cohorts including your recently murdered Luna and the executed wolf, gathered together to beat her up and then threw her off a cliff.
“I know that he can’t have a child because his Luna was not his destined mate. I know that he has been killing pack members in his raging temper. I know that the previous Luna mother had the idea of taking the pack back from him. I know that your pack has fallen so far that you are now a by word and a laughing stock.”
“How… how do you know all that?!”
“Does your alpha really think that she would ever want anything to do with him? After everything he has done and has been doing? Does he really think that she would ever let him touch her? Just how far must your pack fall, how low must they sink until you wake up?”
“Wake up- what do you mean?”
“I know you love your pack. I know you are loyal to them. You are smart and intelligent enough to read a room, something your alpha lacks.”
“And?”
“What do you say to becoming the next alpha of the Obsidian pack?”