Chapter 9 Rogue Royalty
LISA'S POV
The basement suddenly felt too small, the walls pressing in as Daniel's words echoed in the confined space. Sophia wasn't just working with rogues. She was one of them. The perfect blonde hair, the flawless manners, the political grace, all of it was a mask hiding something darker underneath.
"Viktor doesn't just lead rogues," Daniel continued, his voice laced with confusion I had never heard before. "He's been building an empire for twenty years. He takes his children, plants them in packs as infants, and has them raised as pack royalty. Then, when they're old enough, he activates them like sleeper agents." He looked at Ryan with something between pity and anger. "Your engagement to Sophia wasn't romance or politics. It was a strategy. Viktor's been planning this infiltration for decades."
Ryan's face had gone from pale to ash-gray. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and I could see his wolf fighting for control beneath his skin. "That's impossible. Sophia's mother was Alpha Blackwood's true mate. Everyone knows that."
"Does everyone know it, or does everyone believe it?" Daniel challenged. "Viktor is a master manipulator. He could have convinced Alpha Blackwood that a rogue child was his own, especially if Sophia's real mother was killed immediately after birth. No witnesses so no questions."
"This is insane," Nathan breathed. "If what you're saying is true, how many other packs are compromised? How many other wolves are Viktor's children, waiting to betray their adopted families?"
Daniel shrugged, but I saw fear flicker in his eyes. "I don't know. Viktor kept his plans close. But I know he has at least seven children in seven different packs. I met three of them before I escaped his control."
I pressed my palms against my temples, trying to process information that rewrote everything I thought I knew. "Does Sophia know?" The question came out barely a whisper. "Does she know who her real father is?"
Daniel hesitated, and that pause told me everything. "I don't know. Some of Viktor's children are true believers, raised knowing their purpose from childhood. Others are kept ignorant until the moment Viktor needs them to act. It depends on the child's temperament, their position, and their usefulness, you know."
Ryan turned away. I wanted to comfort him, maybe reach out and touch his arm, but I couldn't. Not when part of me felt vindicated that his perfect fiancée was crumbling under scrutiny. Not when my wolf was practically purring at his pain.
"We need proof," Ryan said finally, his voice carefully controlled. "Before we accuse the temporary Alpha of treason, before we tell the pack their leadership is compromised, we need undeniable proof."
"I can get it," Daniel offered. "I still have contacts in Viktor's network. Wolves who owe me favors or fear me enough to talk. But it's dangerous. If Viktor discovers I'm helping pack wolves investigate him, he'll come for me himself."
"Then we work fast," Nathan said. He pulled out his phone, his fingers flying across the screen. "I'll reach out to my contacts in Silver Creek. Someone there must know something about Sophia's real parents."
Before anyone could respond, the basement door burst open. A young pack member stood at the top of the stairs, breathing hard like he had run the whole way here. "Lisa! There's a messenger at the gates. From the rogue territories. He says Viktor himself is coming to Moonstone territory tonight."
My blood turned to ice. "Tonight?"
"He claims he's offering condolences for Alpha Marcus and wants to negotiate a formal peace between rogues and packs." The messenger's voice shook slightly. "Sophia personally invited him. She's telling the pack it's a historic opportunity."
Daniel swore in a language I didn't recognize, something he'd learned during his years with rogues. Ryan was already moving up the stairs. We followed him into the chaos we had found ourselves in.
The pack grounds looked like someone had kicked an anthill. Wolves ran in every direction, some shouting about tradition being violated, others arguing about the opportunity for peace. Elder Catherine stood in the center of it all, her face twisted with fury I'd never seen before.
"This is madness!" she shouted at Sophia, who stood on the steps of what used to be the Alpha's residence, looking serene and untouchable. "Inviting a rogue leader onto pack lands breaks every tradition we have. It puts every member of this pack at risk."
Sophia's smile was gentle, understanding, and completely fake. "I understand your concerns, Elder Catherine. But these are new times. We've been at war with rogues for generations, and where has it gotten us? Our Alpha is missing, our pack house is destroyed, and we're weaker than we've been in decades." She looked at the gathered crowd, her voice carrying with practiced ease. "Viktor offers peace. A chance to end the bloodshed. As your temporary Alpha, I believe it's my duty to at least hear what he has to say."
"You don't have the authority—" Elder Catherine started.
"I have exactly the authority the council gave me yesterday," Sophia interrupted smoothly. "Temporary leadership includes making decisions about pack security and diplomatic relations. Or would you like to retract the authority you granted me and give it to Lisa instead?"
The trap was perfect. If the elders reversed their decision, they would look weak and indecisive. If they let Sophia continue, she would bring Viktor right into the heart of pack territory. I watched Elder Catherine's face crumple with the weight of impossible choices.
"Viktor arrives at sunset," Sophia announced. "I expect the pack to welcome him with the respect due to any visiting leader. We will show him that the Moonstone Pack is strong, united, and willing to forge new alliances." Her eyes found mine in the crowd, and her smile sharpened. "Lisa, as the Alpha's daughter, I would like you to stand beside me when we greet him. To show that our pack presents a united front."
She was forcing me to either support her publicly or look like I was undermining pack unity during a crisis. Every move she made was calculated, designed to box me in further.
"I'll be there," I said, my voice carrying across the suddenly quiet crowd. Two could play politics.
The gathering dispersed slowly, wolves breaking into small groups to whisper and worry. Daniel disappeared into the shadows, probably to contact his rogue network while Nathan headed toward the communications building, his phone already pressed to his ear.
I stood alone for a moment, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on my shoulders. Then Ryan's hand touched my elbow, gentle but insistent. He guided me away from the crowd, toward the tree line where we could talk privately.
"We need to talk," he said quietly.
"I know. Viktor, Sophia, all of it—"
"Not about that." He ran his hand through his hair, a gesture I remembered from years ago when he was stressed. "Sophia came to me this morning. Before the council meeting. She asked me to complete our mate bond tonight, before Viktor arrives."
The words hit me like a physical blow. My wolf howled with pain, and I had to lock my knees to keep from stumbling. "What did you say?"
"I said I needed time to think about it." His green eyes bore into mine, desperate and searching. "She says it will strengthen the pack's position. Show Viktor that Moonstone and Silver Creek are truly united. Make it harder for him to manipulate us."
"And what do you think?" My voice came out steadier than I felt.
"I think she's right about the strategy." He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off his skin. "But I also think if I complete that bond, I will lose you forever. And Lisa, I can't—" His voice broke. "I can't lose you again. Not even to save the pack."
My heart hammered against my ribs. "You already lost me three years ago."
"No." He cupped my face with both hands, his touch gentle despite the intensity in his eyes. "I let you go. That's different and it was the biggest mistake of my life." His thumb brushed my cheek, and I realized tears were falling without my permission.
“Tell me you don't feel this. Tell me your wolf doesn't call to mine every second we're apart. Tell me you don't still love me, and I'll complete the bond with Sophia tonight. I'll do my duty and never bother you again."
I opened my mouth to lie. To tell him I felt nothing. But the words wouldn't come.
His forehead touched mine. "I'm still yours, Lisa. I've always been yours. Even when I was too much of a coward to fight for us."
"Ryan…"
"Sophia's waiting for your answer," Nathan's voice cut through the moment. He stood a few feet away, looking miserable. "She says if you don't give her an answer by sunset, she'll assume it's a yes."