Chapter 20 20
Damien POV
“Damien… are you sure you want to go there? I know how hard”
“Prepare for my leave, Lucas. I’ll head out tomorrow morning.” My voice leaves no room for discussion.
“Yes, Alpha. Right away.” He bows his head and turns to leave, already shifting into beta mode, efficient and silent.
“Oh, and Lucas…” I let my wolf slide forward, the dominance rolling off me like a shadow-filled warning.
He pauses.
“I expect you to remain respectful toward Geneviève while I’m gone.”
His throat bobs in a swallow. “Of course, Alpha.”
He disappears down the hallway.
Aurélie POV
Evening had settled over the pack house, and I had spent the entire day drowning in administrative work updating rosters, double-checking security rotations, making sure every patrol was in place. Only when my stomach grumbled did I realize I hadn’t even thought about dinner. Not once.
“Pizza, please…”
The small voice materializes out of nowhere, making me jolt. Goddess, how had I not sensed him? I must have been buried too deep in my spreadsheets.
“Excuse me?” I glance up from my desk to find Dominique leaning against the doorframe, a mischievous smile lighting up his little face.
“You haven’t planned dinner yet,” he announces confidently. “You’re thinking of takeout. And I think… pizza.” He taps his chin thoughtfully as he saunters into the office and props himself against the edge of the desk.
“And how exactly do you know that?” I laugh softly. He’s right, down to the very thought.
“I know you, Mum.” He sighs with exaggerated seriousness. “You work too hard. When I’m old enough, I’ll take over so you can rest.”
My heart squeezes. My sweet little warrior.
“I work hard because everyone in this pack trusts me and trusts us to keep them safe,” I say gently, reaching out to stroke his chin with my thumb.
“It makes you tired,” he murmurs, his expression suddenly far too old for his young face. His empathy always cuts deeper than he realizes. Do I look tired? I don’t feel more exhausted than usual. Being both Alpha and mother is demanding, yes, but I thought I was handling it.
“I’m fine, darling. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Aurélie?” Fabrice’s voice drifts from the kitchen.
“Go ask your sister what toppings she wants,” I tell Dominique with a wink.
He cheers, pumps his fist into the air, and takes off running.
A moment later, Fabrice’s voice nudges at my mind: Aurélie?
“In the office,” I mind-link back just before I hear his footsteps approaching.
I log out of my emails, shut down the computer, and start locking away confidential documents in the safe. Fabrice steps into the doorway just as I close it.
“There you are…” He exhales, concern tightening his voice. “You’ll never guess what happened.”
I stand up fully as he continues.
“The Saint Wolf Pack received a call… from the Luna of the Bloodnight pack.”
“Luna?” The word escapes me before I can mask my reaction. My hands tremble, so I clasp them behind my back.
“Yes. Apparently she called them threatening them. Said that if they dared leave the alliance, they would regret it.”
“Sounds about right,” I mutter, the words slipping out under my breath.
“They emailed saying they’re too afraid to leave now. They feel they have no choice but to decline your offer.”
Choice? They had their choice stolen from them stamped out by Geneviève’s threats and Damien’s reputation. Every pack deserves the right to choose freely. Intimidation is not leadership.
“Give me their number,” I demand.
“What?” Fabrice blinks at me as though I’ve grown a second head. “Give you the direct number for the Saint Wolf Alpha?”
“Yes. I’m going to call him myself.”
“But Aurélie if you do that… you’ll compromise your identity.” His skin pales, eyes widening with panic.
Maybe it was time.
If I could secure a promise of secrecy… if I could guarantee that my identity would be protected… perhaps stepping forward was no longer something to fear. Four years had passed. Four long years. No one beyond this pack needed to know about my children. Everyone here believed they were Fabrice’s. Why would any outside pack think otherwise?
I inhale slowly.
Yes. I have made my decision.
Diplomacy wasn’t working. Threats were spreading. My anonymity wasn’t protecting anyone anymore.
“Fabrice…” I meet his eyes, feeling the shift inside myself. “Perhaps now… it is time.”