Cassian crouched in the dim light outside the library, his senses attuned to the voices seeping through the thick stone walls of the Blackthorn fortress. He focused on every murmur between Kaelen and Duncan inside. The fortress, built to withstand armies, couldn't keep secrets from him. Every word was a thread he pulled to unravel a plot, a story that seemed to promise power—or ruin.
"... if the hidden Alpha exists, she'll either bring salvation or destruction," Duncan's deep voice rumbled faintly.
A female Alpha? Cassian's jaw tightened. The idea seemed impossible. Women had never been allowed to lead, not in their pack, not anywhere. But if there was even a sliver of truth to it, it changed everything. The Bellaxair pack would be thrown into chaos, grasping for answers, clinging to this mysterious leader. And that chaos was an opportunity. His mind spun through the possibilities like a storm gathering strength.
The scrape of chairs echoed sharply, and he pressed himself further into the shadows. Kaelen's heavy footsteps advanced toward the door. Cassian barely breathed, waiting, listening.
"If she appears, I'll handle her myself," Kaelen growled.
Cassian's lips curved into a small smile. The Alpha was as arrogant as ever. Confident. Unwavering. But that wouldn't be enough against an unknown threat. If this woman was as dangerous as the whispers suggested, Kaelen's certainty would crumble.
When Kaelen's steps faded, leaving the library cloaked in silence, Cassian shifted slightly, edging closer to the doorway. He peered through the narrow opening. Duncan sat alone, gazing into the flame of a single lamp, lost in thought.
Cassian hesitated. He should slip away, vanish back into the night like a ghost. But Duncan's expression held something that stopped him—a faint smile, like the old man had been expecting him. Slowly, Duncan turned his head, his gaze locking onto Cassian's hiding spot.
"Eavesdropping, Cassian?" he murmured, his voice almost gentle.
Cassian froze, but only for a moment. Then, with a controlled breath, he straightened, stepping into the room. "Force of habit, Marlowe," he said smoothly, his tone light. "Hard not to be curious when people start talking about secret Alphas."
Duncan's eyes never left his. "Curiosity's a dangerous thing."
"For the careless," Cassian shot back, moving closer. "Tell me, what do you really know? Surely you've got more than a few old wives' tales."
The elder leaned back, studying him with a cool, measured look. "Always so eager, aren't you?" His voice was a soft rasp. "But eagerness can lead you into traps."
Cassian's smile stayed in place, but his eyes darkened. "I'm willing to risk it. Now, tell me."
Duncan's gaze bore into him, unflinching, weighing something unseen. Then he sighed softly and nodded. "There are legends. Whispers buried deep in our history. They speak of a woman who would lead, not through brute force, but through unity."
Cassian frowned, trying to process it. "Unity?"
Duncan's lips twitched in something like a smile. "If she's the one they speak of, she won't just challenge Kaelen. She'll change the entire power structure of the packs."
Cassian's heartbeat thundered in his ears. A leader who could unify the packs? That was more than a simple challenge. It was a revolution.
"And if I find her first?" he murmured.
Duncan's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "Then you'll have a choice. Stand with her, and risk Kaelen's fury… or destroy her before she can rise."
Cassian's mind raced. It wasn't a threat—it was an offer. A chance to play the game on his own terms, to tip the scales and take control.
"Where do I start?" he asked softly.
"Follow the shadows," Duncan whispered, his voice barely more than a breath. "They'll lead you."
Cassian didn't wait for more. He turned on his heel and slipped out of the room, his steps silent. The dark corridors of the fortress stretched out before him, cold and empty. But his path was already clear.
A female Alpha. A prophecy. And a chance to be more than just the Beta, more than the obedient follower.
He would find her. And when he did, the entire city would tremble.
Hours later, Cassian was walking through the woods on his way home, the moon casting pale light through the skeletal trees. If the rumors were true, she was somewhere out there. A woman who could bring the packs to their knees—or raise them higher than ever before.
************
Kaelen returned to his chamber and glanced out of the window, his gaze narrowing as he spotted Duncan parked a distance away from the castle. Duncan sat in his sleek black SUV that slid out of the rambling castle grounds
Kaelen's mind was a storm of emotions, one thought circling more persistently than the rest: the prophecy. The legacy that had been carefully passed down through the Vinterfold dynasty, the one that defined his role as the premier, seemed to be teetering on the edge of a precipice. A feeling of unease crept in, making him question if everything he had been raised to protect was under threat.
*************
Cassian's fingers drummed impatiently against the surface of his polished oak desk within his low slung residence located as he glanced at the clock. The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the desk lamp and the moonlight streaming through the large window behind him. Shadows stretched long and dark across the floor, mirroring his brooding thoughts. He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking softly, and pulled out his phone. It was time to get things moving.
With a swift motion, he dialed the first number. "Brock, it's me. Get everyone to meet at The Scarlet Fang by dawn," he ordered, his voice low but firm. There was a brief pause on the other end, then a gruff acknowledgment.
"Understood. Full team?" Brock's deep voice rumbled back, hinting at an edge of curiosity.
"Yes, I need every one of you there," Cassian confirmed. "No excuses."
He disconnected without another word and moved onto the next call. By the time he finished the final call to relay the same instructions, he could already feel the familiar buzz of adrenaline. There was no more room for delays or half-measures. Getting the Alpha female was all he needed to actualize his plans.
He stood and moved to the window, the cold night air pressing against the glass, a stark contrast to the heated determination simmering inside him. His reflection stared back at him, eyes sharp and calculating. His gaze drifted out into the night. Somewhere out there, she was hiding, biding her time. But not for long.
"Let's see how well you handle a full hunt, Alpha," he murmured softly.
With a quick turn, he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. He needed to be there before anyone else arrived. The Scarlet Fang was more than just a tavern; it was their unofficial headquarters. A place where every whispered plan and covert strategy was concocted, free from prying eyes.
Cassian reached the tavern just as the first rays of dawn began to edge over the horizon. He nodded to the bartender, a burly man with a perpetual scowl, who silently unlocked the side room reserved for their meetings.
The tavern was empty at this hour, the lingering scent of stale ale and wood smoke the only signs of life. He made his way to the large round table in the center of the room, settling into the high-backed chair at the head.
The door creaked open moments later, and Brock stepped in, his massive frame nearly filling the doorway. He was followed by three more of Cassian's trusted lieutenants—Milo, Drake, and Zara. Each had their own set of skills and strengths, and each played a crucial role in his plans.
"Boss," Brock greeted, inclining his head slightly as he took his seat.
Milo, always the strategist, was already setting up a map of the territory on the table. "What's the urgency?" he asked, eyes scanning Cassian's expression.
Cassian didn't waste time with pleasantries. "I have a plan - one that could change our lives forever and it would require a hundred per cent cooperation." He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "There's a person of interest that we have to accost before the survival games."
Zara's lips curled into a thoughtful smile. "Who is this person of interest? Is this person close to the Premier?"
Drake, the youngest but by no means the least lethal, tilted his head. "And why the survival games? What has that got to do with changing our lives?"
Cassian's gaze sharpened. "As I said, this is a person of interest. We accost her, we end Kaelens reign as Premier and we assume the enviable status as Alphas."
They were all perplexed by the word 'her'
Milo inquired, a subtle hint of indifference evident on his countenance. "You mentioned the term 'her'. Are we referring to a woman?"
Cassian nodded slowly, considering the idea. "Yes. I would furnish you all with details as soon as she is accosted. But on the interim, it's best we get prepared
"Prepared? Are we embarking on a battle? Brock interjected, his voice calm and measured."
Cassian responded, a sinister glint in his eyes. "We will be traversing the fringes of the city, precisely at the regions where the unfortunate Bellaxir pack are domiciled. It is expected to be a dangerous affair hence I seek your expertise in taking out those godforsaken wolves. Any suggestions on how we could get this done easily?"
The room fell silent as they contemplated the suggestion. The only sound was the quiet rustle of the map as Milo traced his finger along the borders of their territory.
"How important is this woman?" Zara asked finally, her tone cautious.
"You would know soon," Cassian murmured, almost to himself. His mind raced through the possibilities. Recognizing the Alpha female would be a cumbersome task. What qualities would she possess? What would make her an alpha female?
"Our biggest challenge is recognising her," he said quietly, looking up at his lieutenants. "There are qualities we should look out for if we are to recognise her."
Milo raised an eyebrow. "Strength is what I think she would possess, she may be the one leading the Bellaxir pack."
"I doubt it. I have earlier carried out a reconnaissance of the Bellaxair region, their Alpha is Jack McConnell. have had several confrontations with him, he's a wreck, " Cassian replied, his voice hardening. "He's not my business. I'm after the woman and we'll find her."
The room buzzed with a new intensity. Plans and strategies were tossed around, the tension building as each lieutenant contributed their insights. It wasn't long before they had a basic outline for how to proceed—a plan to apprehend the 'person of interest'.
Cassian leaned back, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. They were finally making progress. But even as he listened to the team's enthusiastic chatter, a dark thought crept into his mind.
What if they were not ready for her?