Alpha Rolan’s POV
I glanced at my watch, irritation simmering beneath my calm exterior. It had been several minutes since I had last seen Pandora, and I had finished coordinating with the resort security.
They were on high alert, scouring the premises for any sign of Derrick, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. I decided to check on Pandora myself.
As I made my way toward our room, the resort felt unnaturally quiet, as if the very air was holding its breath. I dismissed the unease creeping up my spine, focusing instead on the footsteps echoing through the corridor.
Then I noticed something on the floor. I bent down to pick up Pandora’s flip-flop, its bright color stark against the dull tile. Anxiety surged within me as I glanced around, searching for any sign of her. This was not like her.
Just then, I felt it, a prickle of awareness, a sensation that I was being watched. I straightened quickly, the flip-flop slipping from my grasp and clattering to the ground.
My instincts kicked in, and I turned, my senses heightened.
That’s when I saw it, a wolf, its eyes glinting in the dim light, staring back at me. There was something oddly familiar about its stance, the way it moved, but I couldn’t quite place it. My heart raced as I took a step back.
“Who are you?” I demanded, my voice firm.
The wolf stepped forward, baring its teeth in a challenging snarl. “You don’t recognize me, do you?” It spoke in a low growl that sent a chill down my spine. “I’m here for a fight.”
I narrowed my eyes, adrenaline flooding my system. “Are you Derrick?”
The wolf laughed, a sound that sent a wave of irritation coursing through me. “Derrick? You have so many enemies, you don’t even know who’s who anymore.”
Panic flashed through me. “What have you done with Pandora?” I asked, my tone sharp.
“I don’t have anything to do with that,” the wolf replied, feigning disinterest. “I’m here for you.”
Before I could react, the wolf lunged at me, claws extended, aiming for my throat. I barely had time to think. My instincts kicked in, and I transformed, feeling the familiar rush of power and adrenaline as my wolf emerged.
With a fierce growl, I dodged the wolf’s attack, quickly regaining my footing. I kicked out with my powerful hind legs, sending the wolf sprawling back, momentarily stunned. It recovered quickly, charging at me with renewed vigor.
We clashed, a flurry of teeth and fur as we grappled, each trying to gain the upper hand. The wolf was vicious, claws raking against my side, but I was faster. I feinted to the left, then dodged right, catching it off guard.
With a swift move, I managed to clamp my jaws around the wolf’s neck, my instincts driving me to strike hard. I twisted, feeling the satisfying crunch as I snapped its neck.
The body went limp in my grasp, and I released it, stepping back, panting. The wolf began to transform, its form shifting from fur to flesh until I was looking down at the familiar features of a young man, one I recognized as the son of one of my council members.
“Rowan?” I exclaimed, shock flooding through me. “What the hell happened to you?”
He lay there, breathless, the remnants of the fight fading from his features. “Alpha…” he gasped, looking at me with a mixture of anger and confusion. “You’ve changed. Everything’s changed.”
I stepped back, my mind racing as I processed what had just happened. Rowan had always been a promising member of the pack, respected by his peers.
He looked different now, wilder, more unhinged. The darkness I had sensed before felt heavier, more palpable.
“What are you talking about?” I demanded, my heart racing. “What’s going on? Where’s Pandora?”
Roran’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “You really don’t know, do you? Your little vacation has made you blind to the chaos brewing back home. The pack is fractured, and you’re not the Alpha you used to be.”
The weight of his words struck me like a physical blow. I had hoped that this getaway would strengthen our bonds, but it seemed the opposite had occurred.
“I’m still the same leader I was before,” I snapped, forcing myself to maintain control. “I’ll bring the order back.”
Roran chuckled darkly, struggling to sit up. “You think you can fix this? The moment you left, the wolves began to turn against each other. There’s a darkness creeping in, Rolan. It’s consuming the weak. You have no idea what you’re up against.”
“What do you mean?” I pressed, urgency clawing at my insides. “What happened while I was gone?”
“There are factions forming, wolves choosing sides. Some want to follow Griffin’s path, while others want to eliminate any threat to their power. You’ve been absent, Rolan, and they’ve taken it as a sign of weakness.”
My heart raced as I realized the magnitude of the situation. I had to find her, and I had to act quickly. “You should have made better choices than coming to attack the Alpha of your pack,” I scolded, my mind racing. “You will face a fate worse than death for conniving to strip me of my powers in my absence. I can’t let Derrick or Griffin get away with this.”
Rowan’s expression darkened. “Please don’t kill me, You might not be the only one in danger.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the overwhelming sense of dread. “I won’t let them take her from me. Not again.”
I snapped Rowan’s neck without a second thought, he had made his decision and now he had to face the consequences of his actions.
His father had been a loyalist and I had sensed his change in loyalty. This was way bigger than what I had thought was going on. This was murder.
With that, I turned and raced back toward the resort, my mind set on one thing: getting Pandora back and reclaiming the peace we had fought so hard to build.