The Blackwood estate stood tall, like a fortress. Its high walls and sharp edges seemed to slice into the horizon, casting long shadows as the sun set behind the hills. It was a home built on years of power, wealth, and tradition. To most people, it probably looked beautiful and impressive. But to me, it was just a cage made of stone and the expectations I could never escape.
I stood by the balcony, my hands resting on the stone railing as I looked out at the forest stretching for miles. The trees, dark green and rustling in the cool breeze, made it feel peaceful here. I liked the quiet, the way the world seemed so far away. But that feeling never lasted. The weight of my family's legacy always pulled me back. I could still hear my father's voice in my head, reminding me of the duties I had to take on as the heir to the Blackwood Pack.
"Ronan," my mother called from the doorway behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know it was her—Isolde Blackwood, always sharp, always watching. "Your father is waiting for you in the study."
I sighed and pushed myself off the balcony. There was no point in avoiding it. When my father called, I had to go. I walked through the grand hall, the cool marble floors under my feet, and made my way to the study. The big wooden door stood in front of me, dark and imposing, just like the man inside.
I entered without knocking.
"Ronan," my father said, not even glancing up from the papers on his desk. His voice was deep, like the earth itself, strong and firm. "Sit."
I didn't sit. Instead, I crossed my arms and leaned against the doorframe, trying to hide how tense the air felt. "What's this about?" I asked, already knowing what he'd say.
"You know why you're here." He finally looked up, his dark eyes locking with mine. "It's time."
I felt my heart race. "Time for what?"
"Time for you to take your place as alpha."
I stared at him, trying to understand his face. His eyes were cold, and it made me feel uneasy. "I'm not ready for this," I said, my voice soft. "I don't want it."
He sneered slightly. "It's not your choice. You will take your place. You will lead the pack."
His words hit me hard. I never asked for any of this. I didn't want to be part of all the power games and expectations. But here I was, being forced to follow my father's path.
"I don't care about the pack," I muttered, feeling frustrated. "I care about something else."
His eyes grew darker, and for a moment, I saw something dangerous in them. "What you care about doesn't matter," he said, his voice cold. "This is your duty, Ronan. You'll learn that soon enough."
I swallowed, feeling sick to my stomach. "What if I refuse?"
"You don't get to refuse," he replied, his voice firm. "This is your responsibility. You will marry Selene Thornfield to strengthen the alliance with her family. The future of this pack depends on it."
The mention of Selene made my stomach churn. She was the daughter of a rival alpha, and my father had already decided that we would marry to help our position. I didn't know her well, and honestly, I didn't want to.
"I'm not marrying her," I said, my voice shaking with anger. "I won't live that life."
His gaze turned even harder. "You will marry her, Ronan. If you don't, you will bring shame on this pack. There will be consequences."
I stared at him, trying to understand his face. His eyes were cold, and it made me feel uneasy. "I'm not ready for this," I said, my voice soft. "I don't want it."
He sneered slightly. "It's not your choice. You will take your place. You will lead the pack."
His words hit me hard. I never asked for any of this. I didn't want to be part of all the power games and expectations. But here I was, being forced to follow my father's path.
"I don't care about the pack," I muttered, feeling frustrated. "I care about something else."
His eyes grew darker, and for a moment, I saw something dangerous in them. "What you care about doesn't matter," he said, his voice cold. "This is your duty, Ronan. You'll learn that soon enough."
I swallowed, feeling sick to my stomach. "What if I refuse?"
"You don't get to refuse," he replied, his voice firm. "This is your responsibility. You will marry Selene Thornfield to strengthen the alliance with her family. The future of this pack depends on it."
The mention of Selene made my stomach churn. She was the daughter of a rival alpha, and my father had already decided that we would marry to help our position. I didn't know her well, and honestly, I didn't want to.
"I'm not marrying her," I said, my voice shaking with anger. "I won't live that life."
His gaze turned even harder. "You will marry her, Ronan. If you don't, you will bring shame on this pack. There will be consequences."