Chapter 23 Chapter 0023
•MASON•
The following morning, while I waited for a response from Ronan, I decided to check on the farm’s production progress.
I needed to see whether there was any way we could avoid trading with Ronan’s pack altogether.
Noah sat in the passenger seat as my Beta, rather than my father-in-law. He had once been my father’s Beta before his death, which made trusting him come naturally.
Over the years, he had become more than just a second-in-command to me.
He was the one who had stood by my side when grief threatened to consume me, reminding me of my duty as Alpha and helping me find my footing again when everything felt like it was falling apart.
A few years ago, our pack had been prosperous. Surrounding packs relied on us for supplies, and our land had been our greatest strength.
Vast fields of corn, wheat, and vegetables had sustained Silvercrest and allowed us to trade generously with our neighbors.
That all changed after Cassandra left.
Since then, it had felt as though a curse had settled over the pack, slowly draining it of life.
Every setback reminded me of the nightmares that haunted my sleep, as if fate itself was warning me that worse was still to come.
Blackwood’s sudden cancellation of our trade agreement had only intensified the pressure.
I refused to let my pack perish, which meant I had to find a way to make us self-sufficient again.
We pulled up at the farm and climbed out of the truck. Several workers moved across the fields, loading hay bales onto a flatbed trailer.
Noah walked beside me as we approached the fields. He stopped at the edge of the nearest field and gestured toward the soil.
“Look at this land, Mason. It’s fertile. With proper investment, it could feed the entire pack and then some. New irrigation systems, better seeds, modern equipment, and additional workers would make us self-reliant. We would no longer need to depend on other packs for grain or lumber.”
I nodded slowly. “I agree with you. Self-reliance would strengthen us, but the cost is high. New tractors alone would drain our reserves. Once you add seeds, fertilizer, and wages, the total becomes overwhelming. We don’t have that kind of money right now.”
Noah turned to face me fully. “Then find it. Cut back on nonessential expenses. Delay repairs to the pack house and reduce border patrols. Redirect funds from training programs. The pack will understand if you explain the situation.”
I looked out across the fields. The soil was dark and rich, but weeds had begun to push through in several places.
Noah was right. With the right investment, this farm could become the foundation of Silvercrest’s stability.
Still, every coin spent here would mean fewer weapons, fewer patrols, and weaker winter reserves.
“I’ll consider all options,” I answered. “We’ll discuss this again at the next council meeting.”
Noah placed his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t wait too long. Time is not on our side.”
We returned to the truck, and I drove back toward the pack house in silence while my thoughts raced.
Selling unused land on the eastern border was one option. Asking the pack for voluntary contributions was another.
But neither idea sat well with me. The pack was already stretched thin, and asking for more would only cause resentment.
When we reached the main gate, I pulled over.
“I’ll head to the armory and check the weapons inventory,” Noah said as he stepped out. “We can meet again later this afternoon.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “Keep me informed.”
He nodded, and I continued toward the pack house.
As soon as I stepped out of the truck in the driveway, a strange sensation stopped me cold. It felt like a sharp tug deep in my chest, sudden and unexpected.
I placed a hand over my heart and waited, trying to steady my breathing.
The feeling returned, stronger this time. It wasn’t pain. It was a pull, like a thin thread stretching from my chest toward something far away.
I closed my eyes and focused, allowing my senses to sharpen. The sensation became clearer, resolving into a scent that made my pulse quicken.
It was the scent of a pup.
Rowan’s scent was as familiar to me as my own. I had known it since the day he was born, and this was nothing like it.
I opened my eyes and scanned the yard. A few pack members moved about their duties, but there were no pups anywhere in sight.
No one had crossed our borders, and Nadia was not pregnant.
We had tried for years to have another child, and while she couldn't conceive, I had never blamed her for it. Rowan was enough for me.
The pull returned, faint but persistent. Confusion tightened in my chest as I pressed my hand harder against my heart.
How could I sense a pup that didn’t exist in my pack?
I shook my head and forced myself forward. It had to be stress. The failed trade, the farm’s struggles, and the constant pressure of leadership were weighing on me.
My mind was playing tricks on me.
Inside the pack house, I went straight to my office and sank into the chair behind my desk, resting my head back as I exhaled slowly.
A sharp knock broke the silence. Before I could answer, the door swung open and one of the scouts rushed in.
“Alpha,” he said, his lips quivering. “The western border gates have been broken down. Patrols found tracks leading into the forest, but they disappeared after about a mile.”
I stood immediately. “When did this happen?”
“Less than an hour ago. There are no signs of intruders yet, but the damage is undeniable. It could be a warning, or something worse.”
My stomach tightened. “Gather the warriors. Double the patrols and search every section of the border. If anyone sees movement, I want to know immediately.”
The scout nodded and rushed out.
My cell phone rang as I was about to head out.
“Sir,” a raspy voice said on the other end, breathless. “We are under attack.”