Chapter 41 Chapter 41

Chapter 41 Chapter 41


Marcus leaned back in his chair, studying me with those kind hazel eyes. "You broke an ancient blood contract using magic that's been extinct for centuries. You told off Elder Michaels in front of the entire pack council. You're sitting here having coffee with me instead of hiding in your room." He smiled slightly. "Trust me, you're fighting."

I pulled my journal out of my purse, running my fingers over the worn leather cover. "Kyle returned this to me last night. My old journal, from when I first came to the pack."

"The one from that night?" Marcus's voice was gentle, understanding.

"Yeah. Along with a picture of my parents, I thought was lost forever." I opened the journal carefully, showing him the photograph tucked inside the front cover.

Marcus studied the image, his expression softening. "You look just like your mother. And your father... he looks proud."

"They were good parents," I said quietly. "I wish they were here to help me figure all this out."

"What do you think they'd tell you? If they were here?"

The question caught me off guard. I stared at my parents' faces, trying to imagine what advice they might give. "My mother would probably tell me to trust my instincts. She always said the heart knows things the mind hasn't figured out yet." I traced my father's face with one finger. "And my father would remind me that being an Alpha isn't about power, it was about the heart and remind me about the packs law about accepting the bond no question asked, it goes against the Lancaster pack laws to reject a fated mate well in, my case mates, but, then I don’t think they took into account things playing out as they have.” I rubbed the back of my neck at the last part.

Marcus tilted his head, studying me. "Have you considered that maybe this is exactly what they prepared you for? Being an Alpha's daughter, carrying on their legacy?"

I stared down at the photograph, at my parents' smiling faces. "I don't know how to be what everyone suddenly needs me to be. I spent six years trying to be invisible, and now I'm supposed to be this... chosen one? This magical wolf princess or whatever?"

"You don't have to be anything right now except Imogen," Marcus said, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand briefly. "The rest will come when it needs to."

His simple acceptance made my throat tight with emotion. No expectations, no declarations of love, no supernatural destiny, just friendship when I needed it most.

"Thank you," I whispered. "For being normal when everything else is chaos."

Marcus grinned. "I'm not sure a gay werewolf counts as normal by human standards, but I'll take the compliment."

I laughed, the sound surprising me with its genuineness. "You know what I mean."

"I do." His expression grew more serious. "But Imogen, you should know, the Williams brothers have been different since you shifted. Everyone's noticed it."

"Different how?" I asked, though I wasn't sure I wanted the answer.

"More focused. More serious." Marcus stirred his coffee thoughtfully. "It's like they finally found their purpose. And I think that purpose is you."

I felt my face flush. "That's... I don't know what to do with that."

"You don't have to do anything with it right now," he said gently. "Just know that whatever was between you in the past, the bond seems to have changed them. For the better."

Before I could respond, the door to the coffee shop opened, and a hush fell over the room. I turned to see what had caused the sudden silence and felt my blood run cold.

Xavier Silverclaw stood in the doorway, his cold blue eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. He was dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, looking for all the world like a normal businessman rather than the monster who had invaded my mind.

"Well, well," he said, his voice carrying across the suddenly silent café. "Princess Imogen. How fortunate to find you here."

Marcus was on his feet instantly, placing himself between Xavier and me. "You need to leave."

Xavier's laugh was cold. "Brave little beta. Do you really think you can stand against me?" His gaze shifted back to me. "I'm not here for a fight, princess. Just a conversation."

My wolf surged beneath my skin, ready to defend, to attack, but I forced her back. Shifting in a public coffee shop would cause exactly the kind of scene Xavier probably wanted.

"We have nothing to talk about," I said, proud that my voice remained steady despite the fear coursing through me.

"On the contrary." Xavier moved further into the shop until the magic that could strip him of his wolf started to take effect.

“You seem to have forgotten my going-away gift.” I pointed out.

Xavier stumbled back slightly, a momentary flicker of pain crossing his features before his mask of cold confidence returned. "Clever girl. But did you really think a hastily cast spell would hold against magic as old as mine?"

“I do remember telling you if you came near me again, your wolf would get stripped from you, and it appears it's starting to take effect,” I said, turning my head to the side.

Xavier's face contorted with a mixture of rage and something that looked suspiciously like fear. The other patrons in the coffee shop had gone completely silent, some pulling out their phones to record what was happening. I could feel Marcus tense beside me, ready to shift if necessary.

"You little witch," Xavier snarled, his composure finally cracking. "Do you have any idea what you're playing with?"