Chapter 46: His Final Offer - Riven's POV

The sitting room where our parents waited felt smaller than ‌I expected when we arrived. All four of them sat in ‌tense silence. My parents were on one sofa, while Callista’s was on another. Korey stood near the window, as if he were on guard.

The moment we entered the room, everyone looked up. Callista’s mother had red-rimmed eyes, and her father’s jaw was set in a way that I knew meant he must be holding back. My parents' faces weren’t any better.

“Well?” My father asked, his voice controlled and stern. “What does the Alpha King want?”

Callista and I exchanged a glance. We’d agreed on what to say, but now that we were standing in front of them, the lie felt heavier.

“He wants to train me,” I said, my voice steady. “He noticed my strength during the ceremony challenges and wants to train me as a potential successor.”

There was only silence.

“A successor?” My father asked, his voice cracking. “To him? Not just an alpha heir, but to him?”

"Yes, sir."

My mother’s eyes widened. “But why? Why would he need a successor? He has his own son, who is his heir.”

“His son died five years ago, and he’s been looking for someone to train ever since,” I said, my voice low. The lie came easily, but it still felt wrong.

There was more silence. I could see doubt blossoming across their faces, and then suspicion. They weren’t buying it, but they also couldn’t outright call the Alpha King’s story a lie. No one went up against him like that.

“This is…insane,” my mother said, her voice rising with every word. “You’re only sixteen and you just marked each other. And now the Alpha King wants to train you as his heir? Do you hear how preposterous that sounds?”

“I know it sounds—”

“Do you?” My father stood, crossing the space to me. “It sounds like the most powerful Alpha in existence has decided he wants something from both of you, and I don’t trust it for a second.”

“Neither do we,” Callista murmured. “Not completely. That’s why we are going to ask for a day to think about it, because it’s not just him who he wants.”

“You want just a day?” My father shook his head. “The Alpha King doesn’t give people time to think. If he wants something, he expects compliance and he won’t stop.”

“He said we could have a day.”

“Your answer should have been no,” Alpha Monroe said, breaking his silence. “Or are you thinking about accepting it?”

I stood there, feeling the scrutiny and the stares. It was a bad idea, and I knew that. If I were any other wolf, I would have shot it down immediately, but I wasn’t just any other wolf. I was demon-possessed and had a darkness in me that could end lives. Multiple if something didn’t change.

“We’re taking the day to think. If I were his successor, then I would be able to protect Callista better,” I said, my voice firm. “You have to understand that it is an honor to be selected.”

My mother sighed. “No, tell him thank you for the offer, but you’re too young for something this serious. You need to finish school and he can find someone else or produce another heir.”

“Mom,” I said, my voice gentle. “I’m not going to refuse. All I told him was we wanted a day to think, but that was more for your sakes.”

Her face fell. "Riven, no. You can't seriously be considering this."

“Why wouldn’t I?” I asked, spreading my hands wide. “It’s the opportunity of a lifetime to be trained by him and to potentially inherit the most powerful position in the wolf world. Do you realize that any other heir would be jumping at a chance like this? I could help our pack more as the Alpha King than if I were just a regular pack Alpha.”

“But what’s the cost?” My father demanded. “What does he want in return? I guarantee you that there is a catch somewhere in that offer. There’s always a catch when the offer is too good to be true.”

He wasn’t wrong, but we couldn’t tell them the real catch. If he knew that the Alpha King wanted to use me as a test subject to save his demon-possessed son, that would expose my secret as well, but I doubt it would go over well either way.

“He has asked us to live here,” I said instead. “Both of us. We will still go to Silver Moon Academy and Callista will receive additional training for her visions.”

“Absolutely not,” my mother said, shaking her head. “You’re coming home with us and we’ll tell the king no for you.”

Beta Kensley stepped into the room. “Luna Nightshade.”

That made her pause, but she said nothing.

“The Alpha King would like to speak to all of you. Please follow me.”

My father looked like he wanted to argue, but I knew better, and so did he. You didn’t argue when the Alpha King summoned you. We filed out of the siting room and headed into his study where he was still waiting.

He stood by the window, his hands clasped behind his back.

“I trust the young ones have told you about my offer,” he said without turning around.

“They have,” my father said carefully. “With all due respect, Alpha King, this is a lot to ask of two sixteen-year-olds. Perhaps we could discuss—”

“There’s nothing to discuss,” the Alpha King interrupted, turning to face us. “I’ve made my offer and they either accept or decline it. But I should warn you that the opportunity I’m presenting won’t come around again.”

“Is that a threat?” Alpha Monroe asked, his Alpha authority bleeding through his words.

“It’s a fact,” the Alpha King corrected as his gaze swept over all of us. “Mr. Nightshade has potential unlike any young wolf I’ve ever seen. The potential can be honed, refined, and turned into something great. Or it can be wasted in a small territory, following in his father’s footsteps to rule a single pack when he could rule them all.”

His words were calculated and designed to appeal to ambition and pride.

“And my daughter?” Alpha Monroe asked. “What role does she play in all of this?”

“She’s his mate. Where he goes, she goes. I’m not a monster, Alpha Monroe,” he said, his expression softening. “I won’t separate fated mates. Miss Monroe will continue her education and develop her seerer abilities. She will prepare to stand beside her future Alpha King as the next Alpha Queen. Between the two of them, the realm will be in good hands.”

“You make it sound so reasonable,” my mother said, her voice tight. “But you’re asking us to hand over our children to you and to trust that you’ll train them as you’ve said.”

"I'm asking you to trust that I see something special in your son," the Alpha King countered. "Something worth investing in. And yes, I expect commitment in return. Riven would train under my direction, follow my guidance, and when the time comes, prove himself worthy of the position I'm offering."

“And if we refuse?” My father asked, his voice lower now.

The Alpha King’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Then you can refuse, but understand that opportunities like this don’t come twice. If you walk away today, don’t expect me to offer it again when you realize what you’ve turned down for your son.”

I could feel the manipulation in his words. He was giving everyone an illusion of choice when there wasn’t really one.

“We need the day we asked for,” I said, stepping forward. “Just one day to get our heads ‌around it.”

He studied me for a long moment that made me uncomfortable. “One day. You have until this time tomorrow to give me an answer.” His eyes held mine. “Choose wisely.”

It was definitely a threat, veiled in courtesy.

“We understand,” I said firmly. “We’ll have your answer tomorrow.”

The Alpha King nodded to his Beta, who immediately stepped forward to escort us out. We were dismissed, just like that.

The ride home was silent. My parents drove ahead of us this time, probably wanting space to discuss everything without us accidentally overhearing it. Her parents followed behind us, equally quiet.

“He won’t let this go,” Callista said, her voice soft. “If we refuse it, he’ll find another way to get what he wants. Our parents have to let us go.”

“I know that and you know that. We can’t really afford to refuse his offer either,” I said, my hands tightening on the steering wheel. “But maybe this will all work out.”

“Or maybe we’re just walking into a trap because we’re scared and desperate.”

“Maybe,” I said, glancing at her. “But Callista, I meant what I said earlier. Without his help, I don’t know how long I’ll make it. You know what the demon showed you just as I did.”

“So you heard yourself tell me you were the Alpha King,” she said, her voice low.

“I was…what?”

Callista’s brow furrowed. “That’s what you said in the vision when you slaughtered my entire family and we were alone in the house. You made me bend to you using your Alpha command. You were the Alpha King and barely looked older than you do now.”

My eyes widened. “That’s not… He didn’t… What?”

I nearly hit the brakes. My demon had shown me slaughtering everyone, but I never heard myself saying anything about being the Alpha King.”

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not, Riven. That’s why I’m not sure you should take his offer.”