Challenging times

Challenging times
Maverick's POV

The aroma of roasted meat and spices filled the room, wrapping around me in a warmth I had almost forgotten I could enjoy.

I leaned back in my chair, watching Lucy move around the dining table as she arranged the last plate of food. She looked unusually happy, humming softly under her breath as she poured me another glass of water.

I picked up my fork and took another bite.

My eyes widened.

“Lucy,” I said, pointing my fork at her. “Where did you learn to cook like this?”

She laughed. “Is that your way of saying you like it?”

“Like it?” I swallowed and shook my head. “This is better than anything the cooks at the main house have prepared in weeks.”

She rolled her eyes. “You are exaggerating.”

“I am not.” I took another bite. “If you keep cooking like this, I might never eat anywhere else again.”

Lucy laughed again, and for a moment, everything felt normal.I didn't know why, but something about the peacefulness made me uneasy.

I had spent too many years around wolves to trust silence completely.

Still, I pushed the thought aside.

“You really did a good job,” I said more sincerely. “Thank you.”

Lucy smiled at me. “You're welcome.”

I was about to say something else when three sharp knocks sounded against the front door.

My smile disappeared.

Lucy froze.

I slowly lowered my fork.

Neither of us spoke.

The knocking came again, this time harder.

My instincts immediately took over.

“Stay here,” I told Lucy.

She nodded.

I rose from the table and moved toward the door, every muscle in my body tense. I could already sense another wolf outside, but there was something about his scent that was familiar.

I opened the door.

A man stood on the other side.

He was one of my father's trusted servants.

He bowed slightly.

“Sir Maverick.”

I studied his face. “What happened?”

“There has been suspicious movement along the eastern side of the pack.”

My expression hardened.

“What kind of movement?”

“We are not certain yet.”

“Then why are you standing here?”

The servant swallowed.

“We checked the area.”

“And?”

“There was nothing.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Nothing?”

“Yes, sir. The patrol searched the surrounding area thoroughly. They found no intruders, no tracks that could be confirmed as hostile, and no evidence of an attack.”

I stared at him.

Something didn't feel right.

“If there was nothing, why send you here?”

He hesitated.

“My Alpha requested your presence.”

“My father?”

“Yes. Alpha Malcolm wants to speak with you about pack security.”

I glanced over my shoulder toward Lucy.

She was watching us from the dining room, her face suddenly pale.

I turned back to the servant.

“Did my father say what the meeting was about?”

“Only that it was urgent.”

Urgent.

That word settled heavily in my chest.

I stepped outside and closed the door behind me.

“Let's go.”

The servant nodded.

As we walked toward my father's house, I couldn't stop thinking about what he had said.
The night air was cold against my skin. The trees surrounding the path swayed gently, their leaves whispering above us.

I kept looking toward the darkness.

“What exactly did the patrol see?” I asked.

“Shadows moving between the trees.”

“How many?”

“They couldn't tell.”

“Did they hear anything?”

“No.”

“Smell anyone?”

“No.”

I stopped walking.

The servant stopped too.

“Then why call it suspicious?”

He looked uncomfortable.

“Because the shadows disappeared whenever the patrol approached.”

My jaw tightened.

That wasn't normal.

Someone had been watching them.

Or something had.

“Why didn't you tell my father that?”

“I believe he already knows.”

I continued walking.

The silence between us became heavier.

When we finally reached my father's house, I entered without wasting time.

The moment I stepped inside, I heard voices coming from the study.

I pushed the door open.

My father stood beside his desk.

But he wasn't alone.

My eyes immediately landed on Flora.

She was standing near the window.

My entire body stiffened.

“What is she doing here?”

Flora turned toward me.

For a brief second, our eyes met.

I didn't know what surprised me more—seeing her in my father's house or the fact that my father looked completely unbothered by my reaction.

“Maverick,” he said calmly.

I looked at him.

“You called me here because of a security issue.”

“I did.”

“Then why is Flora here?”

My father's expression hardened.

“That is not your concern.”

I laughed bitterly.

“Not my concern?”

Flora lowered her eyes.

I could see the discomfort on her face.

My father walked toward his desk and placed both hands on it.

“The eastern border has become increasingly difficult to monitor.”

“So you called me.”

“I called you because I need you to be focused.”

I stared at him.

“Focused on what?”

“Keeping this pack safe.”

The words came out with such authority that the room seemed to shrink around us.

I folded my arms.

“And Flora?”

My father's eyes narrowed.

“Forget about Flora.”

I clenched my fists.

“That's easy for you to say.”

“Maverick.”

His voice carried a warning.

I ignored it.

“You brought me here in the middle of the night because someone may be watching our borders, and then I walk into this room and find her standing here. You expect me not to ask questions?”

“I expect you to understand priorities.”

“Maybe I would if you told me what was happening.”

My father was silent for several seconds.

Then he walked toward me.

“The patrol found movement near the eastern forest.”

“I know.”

“They found no tracks.”

“I know.”

“They found no scent.”

“I know.”

His expression darkened.

“But that doesn't mean there was no one there.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“What are you saying?”

My father looked toward Flora before returning his gaze to me.

“I'm saying that whoever is moving around our borders knows how to avoid detection.”

The room suddenly felt colder.

“An experienced wolf?”

“Possibly.”

“From another pack?”

“Possibly.”

I stared at him.

“Then we need to increase patrols immediately.”

“We will.”

“Double them.”

“I've already ordered it.”

“Then send more warriors to the eastern side.”

“I have.”

I frowned.

“Then what do you want from me?”

My father stepped closer.

“I want you to stop allowing personal matters to distract you.”

My eyes flickered toward Flora.

She looked away.

I felt anger rising inside me.

“My personal matters have nothing to do with pack security.”

“They will if you let them.”

I took a step toward him.

“You think I'm not taking this seriously
?”

“I think you are capable of taking it more seriously.”

His words struck harder than I expected.

He wasn't accusing me of being weak.

He was warning me.

I glanced toward Flora again.

She finally spoke.

“Maverick, he's right about one thing.”

I turned sharply toward her.

“You don't have to get involved.”