Chapter 10 Chapter 10
The sun rose in Ravenshade, marking the beginning of another day filled with uncertainty and intrigue. The atmosphere in the Darkblood Clan mansion was tense. Victor, the patriarch, had called a meeting to discuss the latest developments and decide how to deal with the new wolf that had appeared in town.
In the main room, Gabriel sat next to his cousin Lucien, who looked slightly uncomfortable. The scars Rael had left had faded, but Gabriel still wore a closed expression, filled with anger. Darius leaned against the wall, his gaze distant and enigmatic, as if he were plotting something. Amara, the matriarch, observed each person present with her shrewd, cold gaze, while Lysandra maintained a mysterious smile, as if enjoying the tension.
Selene, meanwhile, remained in a corner of the room, avoiding the gaze of her mother and Gabriel. Her heart and mind were in conflict. While the pride waited for her to fulfill her role, her thoughts increasingly turned to Rael — the wolf who defied every rule she knew.
— We need to decide what to do about this wolf — Victor began, breaking the heavy silence. — He poses a potential threat to our clan and the stability of our territory.
— I agree — Amara added, her voice calm and cool as ever. — He’s already shown us he can be dangerous. We must be cautious and act strategically.
Gabriel couldn’t contain his irritation and stepped forward.
— He’s insolent. He thinks he can walk around Ravenshade as if it were his territory. This is unacceptable.
Darius gave a dark smile.
— Maybe we should teach him a lesson. Show him we don’t tolerate insolence in our territory.
Lucien, the most independent and questioning of the group, finally spoke up.
— What if he’s not really a threat? Maybe he’s just passing through. We’ve had lone wolves in the city before.
— This one is different, Lucien — Victor replied firmly. — He’s no ordinary wolf. We all sense that.
As the argument continued, Selene remained silent, her heart pounding. She felt the urge to speak, to intervene in Rael’s defense, but she knew it would be risky. How could she explain to her clan that she felt a connection with that wolf? That he didn’t seem like a direct threat, but rather an enigma that irresistibly drew her in?
The door opened and Marcus walked in, interrupting the discussion. He wore a serious expression and held a folder.
— Sorry for the interruption — he began, placing the folder on the central table. — I did some research on the wolf. I brought important information.
Victor gestured for him to continue.
— His name is Rael. He doesn’t have a pack, and none of the wolf clans in the area seem to know him well. He appears to be a lone wolf from an ancient lineage, but there are no clear records of which one. — Marcus opened the folder, showing some photos he’d obtained. — He’s staying at the town hotel and recently started working at Nathan’s bar.
Selene felt a tightness in her chest as she saw the photos of Rael. The thought of him being watched so closely disturbed her, but she knew it was inevitable. The clan wouldn’t let a lone wolf roam Ravenshade unattended.
— So he’s just a lone wolf? — Lysandra asked, her look more curious than concerned.
— For now, that’s what it looks like — Marcus confirmed. — But we can’t underestimate the danger he could pose. We don’t yet know his intentions.
Gregor, the leader of the council of elders, who had remained silent until then, decided to intervene.
— We need to be cautious. Let’s observe more closely before taking any action. If he doesn’t pose a direct threat, we can leave him alone. But if he interferes in our affairs, we must be prepared to act.
The meeting continued with more discussion about Rael, but Selene was lost in thought. His presence was constant in her mind, and she felt a growing attraction to this wolf who challenged everything she knew.
At the end of the meeting, Selene quickly left for the mansion’s garden, seeking a moment of peace and clarity. But to her surprise, she found Annalise, her human friend from college, waiting for her.
— Selene! — Annalise called, waving happily. — I’ve been looking for you. Are you okay? You seem so… tense.
Selene tried to smile, pushing away thoughts of Rael and the clan for a moment.
— Just… family problems — she replied vaguely. — And you? What are you doing here?
Annalise hesitated for a moment before giving her a mischievous smile.
— I thought you needed some time away from here. How about we go out for coffee? Just for a change of scenery.
Selene smiled genuinely this time. It was nice to have someone to distract her from everything, even if only for a short while.
— Yes, I think that would be good. Let’s go.
As the two friends left the mansion, Selene felt a pang of relief. Annalise’s company brought a breath of normalcy to her life. Although Annalise knew nothing of the supernatural world around them, her presence helped ease the tension.
Meanwhile, in the forest surrounding Ravenshade, Rael was engaged in his own training. In his white wolf form, he ran with agility and strength, his thoughts focused on recent events and Selene. He knew he was being watched — knew the Darkblood Clan was keeping an eye on him — but that didn’t faze him.