Chapter 19: Rook's POV – The Enforcer's Decision
The night was thick with tension, the sharp scent of blood and adrenaline still lingering in the air. Rook crouched silently in the tree line, hidden from sight by the thick shadows that cloaked him. His eyes followed Alexander's every move as the alpha of the Crimson Moon Pack cradled Elena's unconscious body in his arms, her head lolling weakly against his chest. Rook's muscles coiled tight with anticipation, every instinct screaming at him to act, to intervene, to take her. But he held back, calculating, waiting for the right moment.
This wasn't the first time he'd seen power surge out of control, but it was the first time it had come from her. Elena wasn't just a threat; she was a goddamn weapon. The Blackwater Pack had been hunting her for years, keeping tabs on her location, waiting for the right time to strike. But no one had anticipated that her dormant wolf would emerge like this—so suddenly, so violently. Hell, not even Alexander seemed to have known. But Rook had seen it. He'd seen the raw, untamed magic flare in her eyes, turning them a feral gold as she tore into one of his men like a beast possessed.
He bit back a dark chuckle, glancing at the twisted remains of the rogue she'd ripped apart. A lesser man would've been horrified, but not Rook. He was... intrigued. Impressed, even. His orders had been to observe and report back, to wait until she was vulnerable and then bring her in, alive. But now, seeing the wreckage she could create—how the power inside her could reduce a fully grown werewolf to a mangled pile of meat in seconds—he wondered if the Blackwater Pack had any idea what they were truly dealing with.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, watching Alexander carry her deeper into the woods, retreating toward the Crimson Moon's territory. The alpha's expression was hard, a mix of rage and—what was that? Regret? Fool. He shouldn't feel pity for her. Not after what she'd just done. She was dangerous. If he wasn't careful, she'd destroy him too, just like she'd destroyed everything else in her path.
But that's not what caught Rook's attention. No, it was the way Alexander held her, the way his jaw clenched, his eyes dark with something primal. Possessive. Rook's lips curved into a cruel smile. You don't even know what she is, do you, alpha? He thought bitterly. Alexander might think he could control her, keep her power locked down, but he had no idea what kind of hell was brewing beneath the surface.
Because Elena wasn't just a normal werewolf. She wasn't even a normal alpha. She was the last of the Shadow Wolves, a lineage that was thought to be wiped out generations ago. The Blackwater Pack had known, though. They'd been tracking her bloodline for decades, ever since her family was slaughtered in a massacre that wiped them from existence. And now she was the last—a creature with a power that could tip the balance of power between the packs.
Rook's jaw tightened. He should be marching straight back to his superiors, delivering the intel and letting them make the call. But something about her—about the look of sheer terror in her eyes when she'd realized what she'd done—stopped him. She wasn't aware of it yet. That kind of power would tear her apart if she didn't learn to control it. And if the Blackwater Pack got their hands on her before that... Well, there'd be nothing left of her but a husk. They'd drain her dry, use her blood in their twisted rituals, and then toss her aside like a broken toy.
He couldn't allow that. Not yet.
"Soon, sweetheart," he murmured softly, his gaze locked on Elena's pale face as Alexander disappeared into the treeline. "Soon, you'll be mine."
He turned away, slipping soundlessly through the underbrush, his movements smooth and practiced. The rest of his pack were already gone, scattered like the vermin they were, retreating after their failed ambush. Blackwater had sent them in to cause a distraction, to test Alexander's defenses. The real goal hadn't been to kill anyone—it had been to draw out her. To see what Elena would do when faced with a threat.
And she'd done exactly what they'd hoped.
Rook smirked to himself, a low, feral satisfaction curling in his chest. That flash of golden light, the surge of energy—she was on the verge of awakening, whether Alexander liked it or not. The more time she spent with him, the closer she'd get to unleashing the full extent of her power. And when that happened... the Blackwater Pack would move in. No more games, no more waiting.
But then again, maybe he didn't want to wait that long.
His smile turned sharp, dangerous. The thought had been simmering in the back of his mind for a while now—ever since he'd first laid eyes on her. He'd always been loyal to Blackwater, but lately... lately, that loyalty felt thin, brittle. The pack's alpha was a weakling, a manipulative coward who hid behind politics and schemes. Rook was a fighter. An enforcer. He took what he wanted, bent others to his will. He didn't wait. He didn't follow orders like a dog on a leash.
Maybe it was time to change that.
What if, he thought, pulse quickening, I took her for myself? He'd be branded a traitor, hunted down by every pack in the region—but if he succeeded... He glanced back one last time, where the faint silhouette of Alexander and Elena had vanished into the night.
If he succeeded, he'd have the most powerful weapon the werewolf world had ever seen at his side. She'd be a queen among wolves, and he'd be her king. Together, they could tear down the Blackwater Pack, the Crimson Moon—all of them. And if she refused... well, he'd break her. Shatter that fiery spirit until she had no choice but to obey him. He'd teach her to embrace her darkness, her bloodlust, until there was nothing left but raw, savage power.
His blood thrummed with anticipation at the thought. He could almost see it now—the blood, the chaos, the glory of watching the world burn at their feet. And all he had to do was wait for the right moment. One slip-up from Alexander, one tiny crack in his armor, and Rook would make his move.
"Enjoy your time while it lasts, alpha," he whispered, eyes glinting with malice. "Because soon, I'm going to take everything from you."
With one last glance at the empty clearing, he turned and melted into the shadows, his mind racing with possibilities. But before he disappeared entirely, he paused, pulling out a small, silver device from his pocket. A communicator. With a flick of his thumb, the screen lit up, a single message flashing across it:
Objective achieved. She's awakening.
He hesitated, then, instead of sending it, he powered the device down, shoving it back into his coat. He'd tell them eventually. But for now... this little secret was his.