Alison’s POV
The wind carried a melancholic tune through the castle courtyard, its hum blending with the rustling leaves. I sat on the worn stone bench, fingers tracing the intricate carvings on its edge. The world around me seemed at peace, but my mind was a storm. The hum of the wind was a cruel reminder of how far I had come, and yet how uncertain the path ahead still seemed.
I closed my eyes, allowing the memories to wash over me. Once, I had been nothing but a lowly slave, discarded and mistreated by the Silver Moon Pack. Their Alpha, Kendrick, had rejected me without hesitation, casting me aside as though I was worth nothing more than dirt beneath his boots.
“You’ll never be good enough for anyone” Priya’s venomous voice echoed in my mind, a ghost that refused to be silenced.
“Look at you,” Caitlyn had sneered. “You think Xander would keep a common girl like you for long?.”
The words felt like daggers, lodged deep within my soul, wounds that even time couldn’t fully heal. And yet, here I was, sitting in the courtyard of the Crimson Pack castle, no longer a slave, no longer invisible. I was the daughter of an Alpha, all these years of rejection, a woman who had clawed her way through pain and despair to stand where I stood. But was it enough for me? Having the love of my fated and my people? Did I still have more to proof?
The sound of footsteps pulled me from my reverie. A man dressed in the plain uniform of a mailman approached, his presence stark against the grandeur of the castle’s surroundings. He walked with purpose, his gaze scanning the area until it landed on me.
“Excuse me,” I called out, rising from the bench. The man hesitated before bowing slightly in respect. “Who are you? And who are you looking for?”
“Gordon, a messenger, I bring a message,” he said, his voice steady. “From Alpha Cedric of the Red Dawn Pack, addressed to the Alpha of the Crimson Pack.”
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Cedric. I stepped forward, blocking his path. “I’m Ali… Maureen the Alpha’s daughter,” I said firmly. “I’ll take it from here.”
The man hesitated but eventually handed me the sealed envelope. The official seal of the Red Dawn Pack gleamed under the sun, a stark reminder of the fragile alliances and lurking threats my father had created unknowingly.
Curiosity gnawed at me, and my wolf, Maya, growled softly in my mind. “Open it” , she urged.
“Fine,” I muttered under my breath. With trembling hands, I broke the seal and unfolded the letter. My eyes scanned the message, each word cutting deeper than the last.
To the Crimson Pack,
This is a formal warning from Alpha Cedric of the Red Dawn Pack. Your recent territorial expansion has crossed into our borders, a blatant act of disrespect and aggression. Unless reparations are made and boundaries restored, we will be left with no choice but to respond with force.
Additionally, I remind you of the proposed alliance through my son, Felix. A marriage between him and your daughter Maureen would solidify peace and strengthen both packs. Rejecting this proposal will only escalate tensions further. The choice is yours: peace or war.
-Alpha Cedric
I crumpled the letter in my fist, my blood boiling with rage. How dare they threaten us under the guise of diplomacy? And Alpha Cedric… Cruel and clearly manipulatively using his son Felix as the prospect of marriage to manipulate me.
Grabbing my phone from the bench, I dialed Felix’s number with a force that made my thumb ache. It rang once before he picked up, as if he had been waiting for my call
“Hello, darling,” Felix’s smug voice greeted me, sending a wave of disgust through my veins.
“You must be insane to think I’d give in to this mere threat,” I snapped, barely containing my fury. “and don’t you ever refer to me as darling. I see your writing all over this letter your father sent?”
He chuckled, a low, grating sound that made my skin crawl. “Ah, the letter. I assume you’ve read it, then?”
“Don’t fucking play games with me, Felix,” I warned, my voice sharp. “This is a damn threat, and you know it.”
“Threat? No, no, my dear mate,” he said smoothly. “It’s merely a suggestion. A reminder of what could be gained or lost depending on your choices, your father made a promise to mine and it’s time to collect.”
“My choice is clear,” I hissed. “I will never marry you, Felix. Not now, not ever.”
Silence hung heavy on the line before he spoke again, his tone darker. “You’re making a mistake, Maureen. Not fulfilling your father’s promise means rejecting peace. Are you sure your pack is prepared to bear the consequences of your stubbornness?”
“I’m prepared to fight for my pack,” I shot back. “And trust me, Felix, we’re more than capable of handling anything the Red Dawn Pack throws our way.”
“Such fire,” he mused, his voice dripping with mock admiration. “Very well. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Alison. War has a way of consuming everything and everyone you hold dear, you are a clear example of what war can do to a pack”
I ended the call, my hand trembling with anger. Felix’s veiled threats only fueled my determination. If he thought I would bend to his will, he had another thing coming.
Without wasting another moment, I dashed off into the pack heading for Simone’s hut, the guards assigned to me scrambling to keep up. The path wound through the heart of the pack’s territory, where members bustled about their daily routines. I forced myself to smile at those who greeted me, masking the turmoil churning inside.
By the time I reached Simone’s door, my legs burned from the effort. I knocked sharply, the urgency of the situation propelling me forward.
“Come in,” Simone’s voice called out.
I pushed the door open, stepping into her warm, herb-scented sanctuary. Simone sat at her desk, her sharp senses immediately honing in on my troubled expression.
“What’s wrong, Ally?” she asked, setting aside the book she had been reading.
Dropping the envelop on the bench she sat like she could it. “A Threat message from Red dawn,” I said simply.
Simone’s brows furrowed as she patted her hand on the bench tracing the envelop I had just dropped. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her expression darkening as she felt the envelop in her hands. When she finished, she set it back down and looked up at me.
“This is serious,” she said, her voice grave. “A war with the Red Dawn Pack would be devastating for both sides.”
“I know,” I said, pacing the room. “But what am I supposed to do? Cedric wants me to marry his son and Felix isn’t helping matters, now his father is using that as leverage for peace.”
Simone’s body language softened. “You know as well as I do that marriage should never be a bargaining chip. This isn’t about love or even alliances… it’s about control. Alpha Cedric seems to want to manipulate you, to gain power through you.”
I stopped pacing, turning to face her. “Are you saying I should refuse outright? Risk war?”
“No,” she said firmly. “I’m saying you need to think strategically. War isn’t just about swords and claws… it’s about resources, morale, and alliances. You need to find a way to resolve this without sacrificing your autonomy or your pack’s safety.”
I nodded slowly, her words sinking in. “But how? Cedric won’t back down, and Felix is as persistent as a leech.”
Simone smiled faintly taking my hand. “You’ve faced worse, Alison. You’ve overcome obstacles that would have broken others. Trust in yourself, and trust in those who stand by you. Together, you’ll find a way.
Her confidence in me was both reassuring and terrifying. I took a deep breath, letting her wisdom settle in my heart. “Thank you, Simone,” I said softly. “For everything.”
She squeezing my hand gently. “You’ll get through this, Alison. I have no doubt.”
I left her hut feeling slightly lighter, though the weight of the situation still pressed heavily on my shoulders. As I passed through the castle halls, I made my way to my father’s study, the crumpled letter clutched tightly in my hand.
Stopping at the door, I knelt and slid the envelope through the narrow gap beneath it. Knocking lightly, I straightened and turned on my heel, not waiting for him to answer. He needed to see that letter, to prepare for the possibility of war if I couldn’t find a way to resolve this peacefully.
By the time I reached my room, exhaustion had seeped into every fiber of my being. I collapsed onto the bed, burying my face in the pillows.
“Moon Goddess,” I whispered into the darkness. “Guide me. Give me the strength to protect my pack, my family, and myself.”
As the hum of the wind outside resumed its melancholy tune, I closed my eyes, letting the weight of the day slowly drift away.