ROWAN.
It is time
I have dreamt and thought about the day that, I and Viktor would finally announce our mate bond… and it has finally arrived.
People are gathered all around the bonfire which keeps throwing sparks of emebers into the air and allowing its warmth spreading through the clearing.
I can hear the laughter and chatter that fills the air, the mood curious but carefree and standing beside Viktor or Louis, as they still call him… everything feels perfect.
Jhenelle giggles nearby, her playful laughter a comforting sound amidst the celebration.
She likes running around playing tag with some of her caretakers being just absolutely adorable.
Yet, despite it all, there is still something that keeps tugging at the edge of my mind.
A feeling I can’t quite shake.
I glance around the clearing, noticing the wolves laughing, toasting, and talking, but there is an oddness in the air.
My eyes settle on a wolf standing near the edge of the gathering, his back is turned slightly as if he is listening to something outside the noise of the celebration.
His posture is stiff, too tense for a night like this but before I can think more about it or even say anything, Viktor nudges me gently. “Are you ready for the announcement?” he asks, his voice low and warm.
I pull my attention back to him and nod, pushing the unease away. I step forward, raising my hand to get everyone’s attention and the chatter quiets down as their eyes turn toward me.
“I have an announcement,” I begin, my voice carrying over the crackling fire. I glance at Viktor, giving him a smile as he too returns it. “You all know Louis,” I say, and there are murmurs of acknowledgement. “He came to us a few months ago and had become a good friend to most of us. But then he left. Many of you questioned it, wondered about what might have happend. It was because we had found out that Louis was in fact, Viktor Thorne.”
The reaction is immediate.
Whispers ripple through the crowd, some surprised, some shocked, others…worried?
One woman, usually loud and cheerful at these gatherings, stands near the edge of the group, unusually quiet, her eyes shifting from Viktor to the fire and back again.
It is understandable.
Viktor was known for being ruthless to rogues
The tension builds momentarily as I continue. “For those who don’t know him, Viktor is the alpha of the Vale Park,” I say, and the murmurs grow louder. “And he is also my mate.”
There’s a collective pause… shock, disbelief… but slowly, I see the wolves relax, accepting the news. The relief is practically palpable, the sense of security returning to their faces.
Viktor is powerful, and now he is their ally.
My mate, their Guia’s mate.
The celebration resumes with renewed vigor, but I can’t shake the oddness lingering in the air.
“That wasn’t so bad,” he whispers as we step back from the center.
“Hmm,” I say. “Almost too easy.”
“Sometimes, things are just that. Easy.”
I guess…
Jhenelle skips over to me, smiling as she tugs at my hand. “I am so happy, Mommy!” she exclaims. “I knew Viktor was special! We are going to be a family!”
I smile down at her, my heart swelling with pride. “He is, sweetheart and we are.”
She beams up at me but then yawns, her energy waning.
“I am tired,” she mumbles.
“It is past your bed time, baby girl,” I tell her
“I am not a baby!” She says with a pout. “And I am not sleepy. I am just tired.”
Before I can respond, one of her caretakers steps forward-a woman named Claire, she had joined us a few months after our takeover of this pack and one who has my trust.
“I can take her in,” she offers kindly, her hand reaching out for Jhenelle.
I hesitate for a moment, glancing at Victor.
He looks reluctant too- I know he wants to spend time with her, to retire with her and me, but the crowd around us is pushing for us to stay a little longer.
They want to celebrate with us too
I nod to Claire, handing Jhenelle over to her.
“Alright, but I will come to say goodnight soon,” I say softly, pressing a kiss on her head before she toddles off with the caretaker.
As they walk away, I notice a figure lingering near the shadows, a man I don’t recognize.
He is watching them walk off, his gaze too focused for my liking.
I open my mouth to ask Viktor about it, but then I catch a glance from one of the elderly wolves, smiling warmly at me as she walks up to me, and I dismiss the thought.
It is fine.
We have everything under control.
Nobody gets in or out without my say so.
The celebration continue, and though I try to relax and enjoy myself, I keep noticing some strange things happening
A few wolves move too quietly through the crowd, their eyes darting around as if they are looking for something -or someone.
One of the younger wolves bumps into a man who quickly pulls his hood lower over his face, muttering an apology before disappearing into the crowd.
I catch glimpses of conversations that stop abruptly when I walk past, wolves exchanging furtive glances before quickly plastering on smiles and raising their drinks.
A few seem distracted, their eyes constantly scanning the edges of the clearing, but every time I try to focus on them, someone distracts me with a toast or a joke.
Viktor seems to notice it too- his eyes sharp as they scan the crowd, his body tense beside me. But when he looks down at me, he smiles, trying to ease my worries.
“They’re just surprised,” he says softly. “It’s a big change for them.”
I nod, forcing a smile, but the unease lingers.
As the night grows late, Jhenelle is still in the back of my mind. I turn to Victor, knowing it is time to retire
“Let’s go check on Jhenelle.”
He nods, and together we slip away from the dying bonfire, leaving behind the noise of the celebration. The clearing grows quieter as we approach the mansion, the distant sounds of the forest filling the silence.
When we reach Jhenelle’s room, I open the door slowly, expecting to find her fast asleep.
But as the door swings open, my breath catches in my throat.
The bed is empty.
For a moment, I can’t move.
My heart pounds in my chest as I take a step forward, my eyes scanning the room. The blankets are tossed aside, the room too quiet.
And then I see her.
The caretaker, Claire, lying on the floor by the bed, her eyes wide and unseeing.
Viktor is beside me in an instant, his voice low and urgent. “Rowan,” he says, his hand gripping my arm, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the lifeless body on the floor.
The room feels too cold, too still.
Too empty.
“Jhenelle,” I whisper, my voice shaking. But there’s no answer. Only the suffocating silence of the night.
“JHENELLE!”