Chapter 66 66
Fernando entered his study with purposeful strides. Ricardo was already there, seated beside his beta, Étienne, both men waiting.
Étienne was the first to move.
He crossed the room and pulled Fernando into a tight embrace. “It’s good to have you back,” he said with unmistakable relief.
Fernando returned the hug without hesitation, patting Étienne’s shoulder before stepping away. For a moment, just a moment the weight of absence lifted.
He moved straight to the head chair and took his seat.
“Updates,” he said curtly.
Both Ricardo and Étienne immediately began filling him in.
“You captured one of them?” Fernando asked calmly.
Ricardo nodded. “Yes.”
“He hasn’t spoken yet,” Étienne added shortly.
Ricardo and Étienne were his most trusted men. They had grown up together brothers in everything but blood.
“That’s going to change,” Fernando said quietly.
The edge in his voice made Étienne smirk.
Minutes later, they were in the dungeon beneath the packhouse.
A man sat bound to a chair, silver chains wrapped tightly around his limbs. The metal had scorched his skin raw, the burns angry and unforgiving. Blood and sweat slicked his face, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Fernando dragged a chair forward. The scraping sound echoed through the chamber as he sat directly in front of the prisoner.
His expression was calm.
Deadly calm.
The man’s shaking worsened the instant he realized who sat before him.
The Alpha of the Ancient Blood Pack.
“Where is he?” Fernando asked, his voice smooth and razor-sharp, capable of cutting flesh without ever rising.
“I—I don’t know,” the man stammered.
The Alpha aura rolling off Fernando was suffocating. Now that he was back on pack territory, his power was even stronger.
“You sure?” Fernando asked mildly.
The softness of his tone terrified the man more than shouting ever could.
He nodded frantically but then Fernando’s eyes began to change.
The man froze.
The stories of Hunter of the Alpha’s wolf and his merciless interrogations were known across the lands.
Fear won.
“He’s h-hiding to the n-north,” the man blurted. “Hundreds of kilometers away from your pack.”
Ricardo and Étienne stood silently on either side of Fernando.
“Set him free,” Fernando said.
Three sets of eyes snapped to him.
Ricardo and Étienne looked stunned. The captive stared in disbelief. No one expected mercy from a beast with Fernando’s reputation.
“Alpha” Étienne began.
Fernando stood, silencing him instantly.
“That’s my order.”
Then he faced the prisoner.
“If I ever see you near my pack again,” Fernando said coldly, “that will be your last day on earth.”
The man nodded hysterically.
“Let him go.”
With a scowl, Étienne removed the restraints and dragged the man out of the dungeon.
Fernando and Ricardo exited through the back door into the yard. Étienne soon joined them.
“Why did you free him?” Ricardo asked.
“Because a wounded animal always runs home,” Fernando replied. “Étienne follow him. Stay hidden. Stay safe.”
Étienne straightened, already energized.
“And visit Cécile. Have her mask your scent.”
A delighted smirk spread across Étienne’s face. He lived for danger.
“Of course, Alpha.”
With a nod, he disappeared.
Cécile the witch who had aided the Ancient Blood Pack for generations lived deep within the dark woods, far from prying eyes.
“Tomorrow night,” Fernando continued, “I’ll host a feast. I’ll introduce my mate to the pack. We’ll perform her ceremony.”
Ricardo lifted a brow. “Are you sure? You might want to give her time to process… everything.”
Fernando shook his head.
He could still feel her fear. Her anxiety. It clawed at him relentlessly.
The mistrust in her eyes. The terror.
It burned him alive.
“I still don’t understand how she learned what you are,” Ricardo said.
Fernando exhaled slowly. He hadn’t told him this yet—but Ricardo needed to know.
“We were attacked by a bear,” he said. “It was under a witch’s spell.”
Ricardo’s eyes widened. “You what?”
“I was badly injured but I killed it. Ana saw everything. The claws. The wounds healing. And later… she saw me kill a rogue who was following us.”
Ricardo dragged a hand over his face, anger flashing through his expression.
“You fucked up,” he muttered.
A low growl rumbled from Fernando’s chest. He hated disrespect but friends got away with it.
Which annoyed him even more.
“Alright,” Ricardo sighed. “Calm down.”
Fernando shot him a look.
“I need to run,” Fernando said.
It had been far too long since he’d let Hunter free, felt the wind rip through his fur, the earth blur beneath powerful limbs, speed becoming instinct, instinct becoming freedom.
He missed it desperately.
Children playing in the garden froze when they saw him. Their Alpha alive. Returned from death.
Fernando flashed them a playful smile.
They giggled.
It felt good to be back.
“Hells yes,” Ricardo grinned, already knowing what was coming.
They always raced. Fernando always won.
That never stopped Ricardo from trying.
They disappeared into the woods, shed their clothes behind the trees, and shifted.
Hunter emerged massive, black, dominant. Larger than every other wolf.
Ricardo howled, stretching proudly.
Hunter puffed his chest and answered with a deep, thunderous howl.
Then they ran.
The forest became nothing but motion.
Freedom surged through Fernando’s veins like fire.
It was so damn good to be home.