{"To advise is not to compel."}
The scent of Elder Dante hit my nostrils the moment I reached the door of my house. It was unmistakable strong and commanding, much like the man himself. For him to show up unannounced, it had to be pressing.
I left the door ajar and walked inside, heading straight to the balcony. There, I stood silently, waiting. I did not have to wait long. Within moments, I felt his power—a ripple in the air that sent a shiver down my spine. He had slipped inside without a sound, and then, as if he had always been there, he appeared beside me on the balcony.
"Elder Dante," I began, turning my gaze toward him. "What a surprise to see you here."
His soft chuckle was disarming, and despite myself, I felt a smile tug at my lips.
"Surprise?" he said with a raised brow. "I'd call it a necessity."
Before I could respond, his expression turned serious. "I told you to stay out of the coven's affairs, Freyr."
I tensed at his words. "And yet, here you are."
"I expected you to refuse Lord Marcel's mission," he continued, ignoring my quip. His tone was calm but laced with an edge of frustration. "It's dangerous, and I warned you—once you get involved, there's no easy way out."
I held his gaze, his concern evident even as his words cut deep. There was no denying the weight of his warning, but my resolve was unwavering.
"Why?" I asked, my voice low but firm. "What exactly is Marcel so afraid of?"
Elder Dante's gaze darkened, and he leaned slightly closer. "He's afraid of a powerful Lycan within the Bay Shifter wolf pack," he said, his tone measured but grim. "This one poses a direct threat to the Paradise Coven. Marcel is already on edge with the Kayne family stirring the waters. He does not need someone stronger challenging his authority."
I smirked, folding my arms. "And who exactly is this 'powerful Lycan'? What is the extent of his abilities?"
Dante shrugged, a gesture far too casual for the gravity of the situation. "The spy who uncovered this information vanished a few days ago," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "But from what we know, this Lycan is either a council member or a general."
I nodded slowly, turning my gaze to the horizon. I could not let him see the flicker of awe his answer had sparked in me. A powerful Lycan, potentially hiding among the ranks of leadership—it was both fascinating and dangerous.
But Elder Dante was not one to miss much. I heard his low hiss, sharp and annoyed.
"What do you know about this Lycan, Freyr?" he asked abruptly, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade.
I shook my head, forcing a neutral expression. "I don't know anything," I said, feigning ignorance.
He stepped closer, his towering presence commanding my attention. "You're a terrible liar," he growled through gritted teeth. His eyes burned with frustration as he continued, "Do not play games with me, Freyr. If you are keeping something from me, now is the time to speak."
His words hit like a warning bell. But I held my ground, even as the air between us crackled with tension.
I turned to face him, letting out a slow breath. "I don't want to lie to you, Dante," I admitted, my voice steady but guarded. "Yes, I know something about the Lycan. But I need time—time to confirm my findings and be sure of what I have uncovered before sharing it."
His eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing me as though weighing the truth in my words. After a moment, he nodded, though his expression remained serious.
"Is that why Lord Marcel sent the royal guards after you?" he asked, his tone sharp, probing.
I shook my head, the corner of my mouth lifting in a faint, bitter smile. "No one knows about my findings—not Marcel, not the guards, no one. I have been discreet in gathering this information. Whatever Lord Marcel's reasons were, they have nothing to do with what I have discovered about the Lycan."
Dante crossed his arms, his gaze steady and unyielding. "And what exactly have you discovered?"
I turned my eyes back to the horizon, letting the silence linger for a moment before answering. "I am not sure what it means yet—for the Paradise Bay Coven, for Marcel, or even for the Lycan himself. That is why I need time, Dante. Jumping to conclusions without evidence could do more harm than good."
His silence was telling. I could feel his power still simmering in the air around us, his frustration barely masked. But instead of pressing further, he exhaled deeply and uncrossed his arms.
"You'd better hope your investigation doesn't come too late," he said finally, his voice heavy with warning. "The last thing we need is another surprise that puts the coven at risk or better yet,
I nodded, but I could feel his lingering doubt. I had given him as much as I could for now, but I knew he would never back down and would be cautious about me from now on.
Elder Dante broke the tension with a question that caught me off guard. "How's Sierra?" he asked, his tone softer, more personal.
I raised a brow at him, hiding the smirk tugging at my lips. He tried to sound casual, but I knew better. Elder Dante had harbored feelings for my mother for years, burying them deep beneath his stoic exterior.
"She's fine," I replied, a teasing edge creeping into my voice. "Why do you ask?" He avoided my gaze, but I did not let up. "You know," I continued, chuckling, "I still do not get why you are holding back. Honestly, I would be glad if you dated Ma."
That made him stiffen. He glanced at me briefly before looking away again, his jaw tightening. "It's not that simple," he muttered. "Your father's memory is important to me. He was my best friend, Freyr. I would not disrespect him like that."
I could not help but snicker at his excuse. "Pa has been gone for years, Dante. Do you think he would want Ma to be alone forever? One day, you are going to regret this decision. Someone else will come along and go after Ma, and by then, it will be too late for you."
His lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, he said nothing. His silence spoke volumes, but I was not about to let him off the hook that easily.
"Think about it," I added, stepping past him toward the edge of the balcony. "You have spent all this time keeping your feelings hidden. How long do you think she will wait?"
I heard him sigh heavily behind me, the weight of my words settling in the air between us. He did not respond, but I knew I had struck a nerve. Maybe it was not my place to meddle, but someone had to.
Elder Dante's voice carried the weight of tradition and expectation as he leaned forward, his gaze steady.
"What will you do about Aurora Jade? Everyone expects you to take her as your lifelong mate. I would say she is innocent in all this, but you know Lord Marcel has her and her family in the palms of his hands," he said, his tone almost pleading.
I rolled my eyes, the irritation bubbling up as it always did when this topic came up. "Have you ever seen me attracted to any woman in the Paradise Bay coven, Elder Dante?" I shot back, my words sharper than I intended.
Dante's brow shot up, his surprise almost comical. "Everyone assumed you were still mourning your father's death, Freyr. That you chose to keep your distance out of respect for his legacy." He paused, his voice lowering. "They'd have a fit if they found out you were gay."
A low chuckle escaped my lips, the sound more bitter than amused. "Let them have their fits," I said with a shrug, my voice calm yet resolute. "I don't care, nor do I give a damn what they think."
Dante's expression wavered between shock and grudging admiration. It did not matter. My truth was mine to own, and I was not about to bend to the suffocating traditions of the coven—or anyone else's expectations.
Elder Dante's lips curled into a sly smile, his eyes narrowing as he leaned closer. "It's going to be a field day when they discover the truth," he said, his tone laced with both curiosity and caution. "So, tell me, Freyr… do you have a lover?"
His words hung in the air, heavy and intrusive, yet I could not entirely blame him for prying. My fingers tensed against the edge of the table, the sharp angles digging into my palms as I hesitated.
For a fleeting moment, my mind betrayed me, conjuring the image of him—the Lycan Shifter whose piercing eyes seemed to see right through me. Those eyes, fierce yet vulnerable, had unsettled something deep inside me, something I had not been ready to face.
I inhaled sharply, pulling myself back to the present. Meeting Dante's gaze, I allowed a small smirk to play on my lips. "Not yet," I replied, my voice steady but holding just enough edge to signal the conversation was over. " But soon"