Chapter 5 5: The Lone Wolf

"If there's nothing more to add... leave my presence, you old men. I want to be alone," Rollo said, his voice icy , and his cold eyes narrowing at the council of elders.

The men stiffened, glancing at one another before lowering their heads. Not a word escaped their lips. Slowly, and carefully, they turned and filed out of the chamber, the scrape of their sandals against the stone floor echoing in the silence they left behind.

Rollo's gaze followed them until the door clicked shut. At last, the room was his alone,

No sooner had the elders left, a knock slammed against door. Rollo hissed, wondering who dared disturb him.

"Who the hell is that?" Alpha Rollo demanded.

"It's me, Soren," that was the voice of his trusted guards.

"Come in, Soren," Rollo said.

Soren entered quietly and bowed, his expression unreadable.

"You're fast. Did you get the item?" Alpha Rollo asked, his eyes narrowing.

"She's here," Soren replied simply.

Rollo's gaze sharpened. "Bring her in... I want to see what she looks like."

Soren bowed again and left the chamber. The echo of his footsteps faded, replaced by tense silence. Moments later, the door opened, and Soren returned, with Freya.

Soren made her kneel. She obeyed, but her eyes stayed locked on Alpha Rollo's, fearless and unwavering. He studied her, intrigued by the boldness in her gaze, the way she looked at him without flinching.

Yet beneath that fearless facade, fear churned deep inside her. Every nerve screamed in warning. She had heard the stories of Alpha Rollo... The Lone Wolf, feared across lands for his ruthlessness. And now, here she was, kneeling before him, with her heart hammering.

Rollo's gaze stayed fixed on Freya, studying her every movement, every blink. Who was this girl who dared look him in the eye without flinching? Everyone knew who he was.

The tales of Alpha Rollo, The Lone Wolf, spread fear across every village, every town. People trembled at his name. Yet here she was, kneeling before him, unafraid... or at least, appearing so.

But something gnawed at him. Her face revealed nothing. No fear, no respect, no submission.

Even her posture gave nothing away. He searched her eyes, scanning for any flicker of emotion, any hint of thought he could read... but there was nothing. Like a wall, she offered him only stillness, and silence. And the more he looked, the more the curiosity inside him grew. Who was this girl who dared to meet the gaze of The Lone Wolf and give nothing back?

He hadn't seen a woman so fierce, so unyielding. And yet, her parents had given her to him. Perhaps she had always been stubborn.

"This is Freya. She is an ex-Luna... she used to be the Luna of the Goldside Pack," Soren announced.

Rollo's eyes narrowed as he studied her. An ex-Luna, that explained much. No wonder he couldn't read her emotions. Her calm, fearless facade wasn't just defiance... it was control, honed from years of leadership and command.

She had learned to hide everything, to give nothing away.

Still, something about her unsettled him. The way she met his gaze without fear, the way she remained perfectly still even in his presence... it was rare. Very few dared to challenge him like this, and even fewer survived the encounter unshaken. Freya was different, and he intended to discover why.

"Take her to the room prepared for her. Make sure the maids see to her every need. And ensure she has a proper shower," he instructed.

He lingered, a predatory gleam in his eyes, as if already mapping out the control he would exert. His plans for her were clear and cold... she was to be added to the collection of his pleasures, a possession to satisfy his desires. She would have no choice in the matter.

They took her away and handed her over to the maids, who moved quickly to clean her off. She had acted brave earlier, standing in front of the Lone Wolf without flinching. But the moment she faced him, her breath caught.

This was the first time she saw the Lone Wolf himself. Until now, it had always been his beta who visited her pack for meetings and announcements. Facing the real man was nothing like she imagined.

She was directed to a good room, treated with quiet respect because they knew she used to be Luna in the neighboring pack. No one dared handle her carelessly. After she finished bathing, the maids dressed her quickly and left as soon as their work was done. The room fell silent once the door closed.

She sat for a while, trying to steady herself after everything that had happened. Minutes passed slowly. Nothing happened, no one returned, and the stillness pressed on her. Then her stomach rumbled hungrily, pulling her to her feet at last.

She decided she needed to find something to eat, so she stepped out of the room and walked quietly down the hall. Ahead of her, she noticed a fine-looking woman hand a maid a small portion of something. Curious, Freya hid behind a pillar and followed the maid from a distance. The maid didn't look back, until she reached a corner where she poured the portion into a jug.

Freya's instincts stirred. She kept following, and the path led her straight to the chambers of the Lone Wolf. The moment the maid stepped inside, Freya rushed forward, grabbed the jug, and poured everything out. The jug slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.

The maid gasped by this act. Alpha Rollo looked at Freya in pure shock, his eyes narrowing as if trying to understand why she would dare break it.

The maid gasped as the jug shattered, and Freya pointed at the spilled liquid. "It's poison," she said. "I saw her put something into the jug."

Alpha Rollo's eyes shifted to the maid. "Is that true?"

The maid bowed low. "Alpha, no. It's the herbal medicine you instructed Miss Dorcas to prepare."

Rollo's gaze returned to Freya, confusion tightening his expression.

"Herbal medicine," he repeated. "Do you know how rare that tea is? Hard to find. And my jug is too damn expensive, it's a limited product."

Freya swallowed but didn't look away. "I only acted because I thought..."

He raised a hand, stopping her. "The jug is gone. The tea is gone." His voice dropped dangerously. "Tell me, Freya... how should I punish you for the damage you caused?"