Chapter 52: Accept the Offer - Callista's POV

“Or maybe there’s something else going on that we don’t know about,” I said quietly, trying to get us out of this mess. “Maybe there is a reason he needs Riven specifically that has nothing to do with his dead son.”

Everyone turned to look at me. My parents’ eyes were the widest as they stared.

“What do you mean?” My parents asked at the same time.

“I mean his threat was a bit calculated and deliberate,” I explained, mostly making it up as I go. “If this were really just about training a successor, he wouldn’t resort to threats. But if he needed Riven for something else that he’s not telling us, then the threat makes sense. He’s trying to force our hand, probably for the good of the pack without outright saying it.”

Sabine pushed her barely touched breakfast away and stood. “Sorry, but I need to go get ready for school. This is too much for me right now.”

She left the table, and I didn’t blame her. This was a bit much for anyone, but sadly this was only scratching the tip of the iceberg. There was so much more underneath that she didn’t know and if she did, she’d probably wring my neck.

“Sabine,” my mother called after her. “Don’t forget that your bag is still upstairs.”

“I know,” she said, her voice sounding muffled from somewhere up the stairs.

I stared at my own plate, then shook my head. “Riven and I need to get ready for school. We shouldn’t miss any more days than we already have.”

“You all should stay here,” Alpha Nightshade said, his voice rushed. “We can’t waste time. We only have three days to make a decision.”

My father rolled his eyes, but nodded. “Agreed. But what can we actually do about it? He is the Alpha King over all of us. We don’t have access to his true intentions and if there was a huge threat out there, he doesn't have to tell us until it is about to come at the packs wide open. We’re going in blind.”

I looked at Riven as he glanced my way. He was handling everything fine and wasn’t struggling at the moment, but I knew we were running out of things to say.

“Not entirely blind,” Luna Nightshade said thoughtfully. “We know that the Alpha King threatened us and that tells us something about his character. Threats seem desperate.”

“Or it’s dangerous,” my mother added. “A man is threatening entire packs to get what he wants. That’s not someone we should trust with our children.”

“What other choice do we have?” Riven asked, his voice strained. “If we refuse and he follows through, how are we going to fight the Alpha King? No other pack will believe what we tell them and they probably won’t get behind us to go up against him.”

“Our alliances would be there—”

“No, they won’t,” Riven interrupted. “No pack will go against the Alpha King, especially without proof. They’ll tell you that it wasn’t a threat and you should do what he says. He acts only in the interests of what is good for all of the packs. That’s what they’ll say and won’t think twice.”

The truth in his words settled over the room like a heavy blanket. He was right, and they knew it. The Alpha King’s authority was absolute, unless he could be overthrown. Right now, there were no reasons to do that, no matter what he said to us. It would have to be proven, and we had nothing. Not really.

Not only that, but the other packs would sooner believe he was acting in their best interests than risk opposing him.

“Then we’re trapped,” my mother said quietly. “No matter what we do, we’re trapped.”

“Not trapped,” I said as an idea formed. “We just need to be smart about this. I mean, we have three days, so let’s use that time to gather information.”

"What kind of information?" My father asked, his voice low as his gaze darted between us.

“About the Alpha King. We can check the patterns, his history, and anything else that might tell us what he really wants,” I said, glancing at Riven. Then I thought of our history project. “Right now, Riven and I are working on territorial expansion in history, so that could help us find clues. We’ll just go about our daily lives and go to school, acting like everything is normal.”

“He’s probably watching us, or will,” Riven added. “We don’t want to look like we’re planning anything or being obvious about it. Our history project gives us the best cover to look into the Alpha Kings and their history.”

"You want to go to school?" Luna Nightshade asked, her brow furrowed. "After a threat like that?"

“Why wouldn’t we?” I asked, my voice hesitant, though I tried to keep it steady. “If we hide and act scared, then we look guilty. If we go to school and maintain our routines, then we look confident and like the threat doesn’t bother us.”

Riven caught on to what I was doing. Technically, we could take the days off and probably not look guilty, but honestly, we needed a way out of this so Riven and I could talk.

“Maybe we can talk to some of the heirs. At least, the ones who didn’t challenge me and lose,” Riven managed after a moment. “We can see what they’re hearing in other packs.”

My father thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “That’s not a bad idea, though I don’t like the idea of either of you being out of our sight.”

“It’s Silver Moon Academy, the best school around,” I pointed out. “We’ll be surrounded by our peers and pack members from both of our territories. If the Alpha King wanted to make a move, he wouldn’t do it at a school.”

“And we have our phones,” Riven said quickly. “If there is any sign of trouble, we’ll call home immediately and get out of there.”

The adults exchanged glances as if they were having some kind of silent conversation with only their eyes.

“Fine,” Alpha Nightshade said. “But you have to check in between classes. Text one of us, because I don’t see the Monroes going home today.”

“And you have to come home straight after school,” my father added. “Take Riven’s car. Don’t detour or stay over in the library. Get home.”

“Agreed,” I said as I stood up. “We should get ready or we’ll be late.”

Sabine was just coming down the stairs, her footsteps heavy. She had her bag over her shoulder as if she was already ready to go.

When she saw us, her gaze dragged over us. “One of the Nightshade’s pack is taking me to school.”

“Who?” My mother asked from behind me.

“The same one who brought me here yesterday. He’s nice.”

I turned to look over my shoulder. My mother looked like she might be about to either kill the boy or pass out.

“Who is it?”

Alpha Nightshade laughed. “It’s Tyler. He just turned sixteen and is an excellent young man. Nothing will happen to her with him.”

“She’s only fourteen,” my mother argued.

“And a half, Mom,” Sabine added. “We’re just a year and a half apart. He also brought me here yesterday, and you didn’t have a problem then.”

“Clearly, I wasn’t in my right mind,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s an older boy.”

My father reached out, gently touching her hand to calm her. “It’s fine. She’s not a fresh fourteen-year-old, and he just turned sixteen. A year and a few months is…fine.”

“Our oldest daughter is almost fully mated at sixteen and now we’re letting our fourteen-year-old go with a sixteen-year-old? Do you realize how that looks?” She asked, but then her eyes widened.

I didn’t think she meant to say those words out loud, and she hated that she had.

Instead of sticking around, Riven and I headed upstairs before things got worse. Before we were out of earshot, he grabbed my arm and pulled me into his room, quietly closing the door.

“This is a good plan,” he said, shaking his head. “Sabine is with Tyler, so you and I have time to talk in the car.”

“It’s not just being away from them, Riven,” I said quietly. “I meant what I said about gathering information. There are students at school whose parents are closer to the Alpha King than ours are. Someone might know something that could help us.”

“Like what? You know as well as I do that I need to accept his offer.”