Chapter 2 - THE ALPHA WHO COULD NOT ACCEPT NO
Four Crimson guards surrounded me.
They were trained soldiers, not boutique security. Their hands remained near the restraint cuffs attached to their belts.
Silver-lined.
Designed to weaken werewolves.
“Do not touch me,” I said.
Kane’s expression had lost its polished calm.
An Alpha could tolerate insult better than rejection.
“You entered my territory under a false scent.”
“I entered under my own name.”
“You concealed your nature.”
“That is not a crime.”
“You threatened my mate.”
“I defended myself.”
Scarlett stepped from behind him.
Her tears had disappeared.
“I’m going to hit you until I feel better.”
She lifted her hand.
I caught it before it reached my cheek and returned one controlled strike.
Scarlett spun sideways and fell against the fitting platform.
No blood.
No broken bone.
Only the shocked silence of a woman discovering consequences existed.
Kane seized my arm.
“You touched what is mine.”
I looked at his hand.
“Release me.”
“You truly do not want to live.”
The silver mark beneath my skin became warmer.
I could have released enough Alpha pressure to force him down.
Doing so would expose more than my bloodline.
It would expose the ancient command ability my mother had spent twenty-five years hiding.
I was not ready to show Crimson everything.
The guards secured one cuff around my wrist.
My power immediately weakened.
The second cuff never closed.
My phone began ringing inside my coat.
The ringtone belonged to one person.
Mother.
Scarlett pulled the phone from my pocket.
“Let’s see who comes to rescue the little fraud.”
She answered and placed it on speaker.
“Ivy?”
Aurelia Sterling’s voice was quiet.
Scarlett smiled.
“She is unavailable.”
“Who is speaking?”
“Scarlett Vale. Future Luna of Crimson Territory.”
A pause followed.
“Put my daughter on the phone.”
Kane looked toward me.
The word daughter finally reached him.
Scarlett rolled her eyes.
“I don’t care who you think you are. Ivy attacked me and challenged the Alpha.”
Aurelia’s voice did not rise.
“I am Aurelia Sterling.”
The boutique manager dropped to one knee.
Three older guests followed.
Kane’s grip loosened.
Scarlett looked at him.
“Who?”
He whispered, “High Matriarch of Silvercrest.”
My mother continued.
“Release my daughter.”
Kane took the phone.
“Lady Sterling, Ivy entered my territory concealing her identity and assaulted my recognized mate.”
“Ivy bears the Sterling name. Her invitation carries my seal. Her identity was not concealed.”
“She suppressed her scent.”
“Her scent is not public property.”
Kane’s jaw tightened.
“We will resolve this through the Crimson Council.”
“No.”
“This is my territory.”
“You detained a protected treaty heir after she canceled a private engagement.”
“I did not recognize her claim.”
“That is your failure, not hers.”
Scarlett stepped closer to the phone.
“She is a weak, unmarked outsider pretending to be important.”
The entire boutique became still.
Aurelia answered:
“Release my daughter, or you will regret every second between now and my arrival.”
Kane’s pride made the next decision for him.
“I do not respond to threats.”
“Neither do I.”
The call ended.
Kane returned the phone to Scarlett.
“Take Ivy to the council estate.”
Outside, distant engines began to growl.
Not three vehicles.
Dozens.
The sound rolled through Crimson City like approaching thunder.
One of the guards looked through the glass entrance.
His face lost color.
“Alpha.”
Kane turned.
Black armored vehicles filled the avenue from one end to the other.
Each carried a silver wolf beneath a crescent moon.
Above them flew the blue-and-white standards of the Continental Pack Tribunal.
May you like
The boutique manager whispered:
“She didn’t come alone.”
