Chapter 2 New Beginnings

Two men stepped toward us, sniffing the air.

Wolves.

"Alpha Ezra requests your presence at the pack house immediately," the taller one said, his voice deep and controlled. His head was shaved close, and authority rolled off him like heat. I didn't need to be told-he was the Beta.

His gaze flicked to me, lingering with a faint curl of his lip. "This your daughter?"

"Yes," my father replied, stepping forward. "This is Katya. I'm Derrick."

He held out his hand, and after a pause, the man took it.

"Beta Mateo," he said. "This is Alex-third in command."

Alex gave a short nod. He was broad like Mateo, with messy blond hair falling over hazel eyes. Both of them towered over us, muscle packed into every inch of them. Wolves who didn't need to growl to be threatening.

"I hear you were a Beta in your old Pack," Mateo said.

My father nodded. "Yes."

"Good. We could use the help training some of the newer members-if you're willing."

"I'd be glad to," my father replied.

"This is my mate, Shirley," he added, motioning to my mother.

"Nice to meet you," she said, shaking their hands politely.

"If you'll follow us," Mateo said, turning back toward his sleek black BMW. "We'll escort you to the pack house. You'll be housed temporarily until your property is ready."

We returned to our car and followed them through the sleepy little town. My mother glanced at me, trying to smile.

"See how nice they are? This will work out," she said, her voice too hopeful. "It has to."

We followed their car to the edge of town, where the paved road disappeared into the forest. Trees pressed close on either side, and after a few minutes, the woods opened into a wide clearing. A horseshoe-shaped driveway curved in front of a massive sandstone mansion, its three levels wrapped in ivy and framed by arched windows. The hedges out front were perfectly trimmed, the kind of place that didn't belong to people-it belonged to power.

I climbed out of the car and stared up. It was larger, grander than the packhouse back home. And far colder.

Mateo led us up the white front doors. Inside, the air was cool and still. White marble floors gleamed beneath us. A narrow hallstand with a tall vase: probably worth more than our old house, stood near the entry. Twin staircases curled up toward a landing above.

We followed him between them to a single wooden door. There were benches along the wall, and Mateo paused to knock. A voice, deep and calm, called from the other side.

"Enter."

He slipped in, closing the door behind him. A minute later, he stepped out.

"He'll see your parents first. You can wait here," Mateo said to me.

I sat down as my parents disappeared through the door. The packhouse was strangely quiet. No footsteps, no voices, no scent of life. Just me and the soft hum of nerves tightening in my gut.

Minutes dragged. Then my mother emerged and sat beside me, hands folded tightly in her lap.

"He's just speaking with your father," she whispered. "Then he'll want to speak to us individually. To make sure our stories match."

I froze.

What story?

My voice cracked, barely above a breath.

They banished us because of me.

He's going to find out.

He's going to find out and kill us-or worse, separate me from them.

"Shh. Everything is fine," my mother murmured. "You're our daughter. He won't ask much. Just let us handle it."

Tears burned behind my eyes. I blinked them back.

"What did you tell him?"

"The truth. That we were going to be banished. He doesn't need to know why." She looked me straight in the eye. "Because you do have a wolf, Katya. She's just... sleeping. She'll come."

I nodded, even though I didn't believe it. Not really.

"And if she doesn't?" I whispered.

"She will." Her tone was firm, final.

The door opened again. My father stepped out and nodded at my mother, who stood and smoothed her jeans before walking in.

"She's strong," my father said, sitting beside me. "Stronger than most. The process just hurts a little."

"What process?"

"He'll initiate you into the pack. You'll need to drink his blood."

I recoiled. "What?"

"It's the bond. Once you drink, the link snaps into place. You'll feel it." He hesitated. "And when it breaks from your old Alpha... that part hurts. Like a migraine. Dropped me to my knees, if I'm honest."

Almost on cue, a cry tore through the door.

My father was on his feet instantly. I flinched. The sound chilled me-it wasn't a scream of pain, not entirely. It was... deeper. Raw.

The handle turned, and my mother emerged, clutching her head. My father caught her as she swayed.

I took a step back.

"No," I breathed.

"Kat." My mother straightened, forcing herself to smile through the pain. "It's your turn."

I shook my head. She'd never shown weakness. If it did that to her...

My father came to me and took my arms, firm but gentle.

"Katya, we moved here for you. This is our only chance to stay together. I need you to be brave, just this once."

His voice cracked, and that scared me more than anything.

The Alpha's voice drifted from inside the room. "Everything alright out there?"

My breath caught.

"Please," my father whispered. "Once it's done, it's done."

I nodded slowly, and he guided me to the door. My hand trembled as I turned the handle and stepped inside, closing it softly behind me.

The office was quiet.

He stood behind his desk, reviewing documents. His head lifted as the door clicked shut. He looked at me.

And everything inside me froze.

He was younger than I expected. Late twenties, maybe. Hair dark, shaved close on the sides but longer on top. His silver eyes locked on me, and he inhaled sharply. A low growl rumbled from his chest as his fingers gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles whitening.

The air around him changed-charged, dangerous.

He was beautiful in the way forest fires are beautiful. Uncontrolled. Destructive. Alive.

My feet refused to move, but he beckoned me forward, and I forced one step, then another.

Claw marks scored the wood on his desk. His eyes tracked every inch of me like I was prey, the beast behind them flickering just beneath the surface.

He knows.

He can smell it.

No wolf.

No power.

Nothing but fear and secrets.

He clenched his jaw, and I thought, with absolute certainty:

He's going to kill me.