Delta Adams held out the cream-colored envelope, his posture rigid.
“This is a message from the Evergreen Pack, Alpha.” Raquelle took it from his hand, turning the heavy paper over once to inspect it before breaking it open.
She pulled out the neatly folded letter, her golden eyes scanning the lines of text.
A cold smirk touched her lips as she began to read the words aloud for Dominic and Jake to hear.
“Hello, pretty Alpha.
Only female Alpha in the whole United States.
I heard a rogue who was once from my pack crossed into your borders and you unalived him.” Raquelle paused, the corner of her mouth twitching in amusement.
She cleared her throat and continued reading.
“Well, female beast.
You have just created an enemy for yourself.
Good luck handling all of me.” For a moment, the office fell into a dead silence.
Then, without warning, Raquelle burst into a loud, mocking laugh.
She crumpled the paper into a tight ball and flung it carelessly into the waste bin beside her desk.
“You can go, Adams,” she said, waving a hand.
Delta Adams bowed respectfully, though his brow remained furrowed.
“Yes, Alpha.” He turned on his heel and left the room, quietly closing the heavy oak door behind him.
Raquelle turned back toward the two men, leaning against the edge of her desk with an easy smile.
“So, where were we before the interruption?” Jake and Dominic simply stared at her, their expressions completely grim.
Raquelle frowned at their lack of enthusiasm.
“What?” “You just laughed like it was some kind of joke,” Jake said, disbelief evident in his voice.
He pointed toward the trash can.
“Raquelle, that was a direct threat against you and the pack.” Raquelle scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
“Wait…
you actually expect me to take them seriously?” She gestured dramatically toward the waste bin.
“They sent a piece of paper.
A freaking paper, guys.
How many wolves are even in their pack?
Two hundred?” “Seven hundred and eighty-four, approximately,” Jake corrected immediately.
Raquelle blinked, her eyes shifting to her Gamma.
Jake merely shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m the Gamma,” he reminded her, his tone flat.
“Knowing the military strength and numbers of neighboring packs is literally my responsibility.” “Whatever.” Raquelle waved him off dismissively, sitting back in her executive chair.
“We are almost two thousand in the Blackwood pack, Jake.
What the fuck do they think they’re going to do to us?” Dominic leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest as a thoughtful, guarded expression crossed his features.
“I don’t think you should take this lightly, Raquelle.” Raquelle looked at him, her patience thinning.
“Shut up, guys.
I don’t want to hear it.” She slouched slightly in her chair, the weight of the last two weeks suddenly pressing on her temples.
To break the heavy tension, she let out a dry chuckle.
“I’m horny.” Jake and Dominic froze, staring at her in absolute shock.
Then, the two men exchanged a knowing look.
“Horny wolf,” they chorused in unison.
Raquelle chuckled, shaking her head.
“Idiots.” *** A few days later, Raquelle sat behind her desk, lazily spinning a pin between her fingers.
Dominic stood directly across from her, a thick leather folder held firmly in his hands.
“So, what does the morning report say?” Raquelle asked, not looking up from the pen.
Dominic opened the folder, scanning the pages.
“The northern border patrol completed their morning rotation without any incidents or signs of breaches.” Raquelle continued spinning the pen against the dark wood.
“Good.” “The eastern border patrol requested another vehicle,” Dominic continued.
“Why?” “Their current SUV has been giving them mechanical problems during the night shifts.” “Approved.
Get them a brand-new one from the motor pool,” she said.
Dominic nodded, marking the page before moving on.
“The training teams have also submitted their weekly reports.
Most of the elite warriors are progressing well, although the newer recruits still need a lot more work on their defensive formations.” Raquelle gave a firm nod.
“Keep them training hard.
No slacking.” “Already done.” Dominic turned the page.
“The pack clinic requested additional medical supplies and specialized trauma kits.” “Approved.” “There’s also an official request from the main kitchen for more provisions to restock the cellars.” Raquelle let out a soft sigh, rubbing her temples.
“Approved.
Give them whatever they need.” Dominic closed the folder with a soft thud.
“That’s everything for today.” Raquelle finally looked up, setting her pen down.
“Oh, right.
Is that really all?” “Yes, Alpha.” She immediately stood up from her chair and grabbed her leather jacket from the coat rack.
Dominic watched her movements curiously, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Alpha, where are you going?” “Err…
I need to go for a run,” she muttered, slipping her arms into the sleeves.
She paused, her voice dropping into a quieter, vulnerable register.
“Roxy still won’t talk to me.
She is completely silent…
but I can feel her fighting, wanting to come out.” Dominic’s tough expression softened slightly, a wave of sympathy crossing his face.
“Oh.
I understand.” Raquelle gave a short nod, fastening her jacket.
“Yeah.
Take care of the office while I’m gone.” Without waiting for another word, she hurried out of the room.
*** A few minutes later, Raquelle stood at the dense edge of the woods, the cool forest air brushing against her face.
She looked around carefully to ensure no one was nearby before walking deeper between the towering trees.
Once she was far enough from the pack grounds and entirely hidden, she slipped behind a large, ancient oak tree and removed her clothes, folding them neatly.
When she was ready, she let go of her control and shifted.
With a powerful surge of bones snapping and fur bursting forth, Roxy emerged.
The midnight-black wolf stretched her powerful limbs, digging her claws deep into the damp earth, and lifted her massive head.
A low, rumbling sound escaped her throat before she tilted her muzzle toward the canopy and let out a long, resonant howl.
The sudden, powerful sound sent the birds perched among the branches scattering frantically into the afternoon air.
Roxy took off in a blur.
She ran deeper into the heart of the woods, her paws pounding a heavy rhythm against the dirt as the wind rushed through her black coat.
After several minutes of breathless sprinting, her pace slowed.
Her nose lifted sharply.
She sniffed the air once, then twice, catching a fading, familiar scent.
Roxy immediately followed the trail, her instincts guiding her.
She knew exactly what she was looking for.
Eventually, she found it.
A fresh grave.
Roxy approached the clearing slowly, her head lowered.
She stepped toward the mound of disturbed earth, sniffing around the edges of the dirt.
Then, she released a long, mournful howl that echoed through the silent forest.
Her nose moved over the ground again, a soft growl escaping her throat before it faded into a pathetic, broken whimper.
It was her dead mate’s grave.
There was no name carved into a marker, and no headsstone.
They didn’t even know his name, she had forgotten to ask before the dagger pierced his heart.
Roxy lowered her large body onto the cold dirt beside the mound.
She rested her heavy head against the ground, staring blankly at the earth, and eventually, the emotional exhaustion pulled her into a deep sleep.
When she finally woke, the bright afternoon sunlight had begun to disappear.
Darkness was slowly settling over the dense forest.
Roxy lifted her head, her senses instantly snapping awake as Raquelle’s mind was flooded with a barrage of incoming mind-links.
Raquelle quickly shut them out, blocking the chaotic noise.
She manually opened the connection, giving only Dominic access.
But before she could speak to him, she noticed another, heavier connection pressing against her consciousness—her father’s.
Raquelle’s brows furrowed in her wolf form.
Julian Blackwood rarely mind-linked her unless it was an absolute emergency.
Curious and slightly tense, she opened the line.
*There you are, child.
Where the hell have you been?* Julian’s voice carried a clear, heavy note of concern.
*Umm…* Raquelle hesitated, her thoughts scrambling.
She didn’t want to tell him where she had been sleeping.
She wasn’t even certain her parents knew that the rogue had actually been her mate.
*I just went out for a long run, Dad, and I ended up falling asleep.* There was a brief, heavy silence over the link.
Then her father’s voice cracked through her mind again, tighter this time.
*Raquelle, damn it.
While you were asleep, we received urgent news from our wolves working in the corporate headquarters in the city.* Roxy immediately stood up on all fours, her ears pricking forward.
*Really?* Her curiosity and Alpha instincts sharpened instantly.
*What did they say?* *You wouldn’t believe it if I told you over the link.
It’s a top-tier issue, Raquelle.
Come right now to the main pack house.* The connection snapped shut, ending the conversation.
Raquelle stared into the gathering darkness of the forest, her mind racing.
What could possibly have happened in the city?
She shook the loose dirt out of her black fur before hurrying back toward the tree where her clothes were hidden.
She shifted back into her human form, quickly dressed, and tried her best to fix her tangled black hair with her fingers as she walked briskly out of the woods.
She reached her SUV, climbed inside, and slammed her foot onto the gas pedal, speeding down the dirt road toward the main pack house.
On the way, both Dominic and Jake tried connecting to her mind, their voices buzzing in her thoughts.
She blocked them out.
They tried calling her phone, the device buzzing against the console, but she didn’t pick up.
She wanted to hear exactly what her father had to say first before dealing with anyone else.
*** Raquelle parked the SUV roughly outside the estate, the tires screeching against the gravel as she jumped out and slammed the door behind her.
She hated coming to the main pack house.
It was always crowded, but the pack house was where the elders preferred to gather, and she was certain they were already waiting for her arrival at the very back of the building, where the secure courtyard was set up for formal council meetings.
The gatekeeper stationed at the entrance quickly opened the iron gate for her, bowing his head in deep respect.
Raquelle crossed the threshold, her boots clicking loudly against the stone path as she marched directly toward the back of the property.
Her heart beat faster against her ribs with every single step she took.
The air felt heavy, something was terribly wrong, and she was about to find out exactly what it was.
***** Do you guys have any idea about what she’s walking into??????