Chapter 4 Awakening The Sliver Wolf

We walked for a while, Joseph and the girl-whose name I still didn't know-engrossed in a conversation I chose to ignore.

Sofia was still walking behind us but it seems she lost interest in the back of my head because I no longer felt her burning eyes.

We got to a clearing, and my breath caught in my throat.

Standing majestic before me was the pack house.

It was massive, really massive, but that wasn't what made me stare in awe.

It was the modern-sleek lines, endless windows reflecting the sky, and a facade of steel and glass that glinted under the sun.

The architecture was bold yet minimalistic, making the entire structure look more like an exclusive resort than a home for wolves.

My eyes followed the clean, geometric edges of the building as it seemed to stretch endlessly, merging with the surrounding forest.

The walls were a mix of polished concrete and dark wood accents, blending effortlessly with nature, yet remaining unapologetically contemporary.

Wide balconies wrapped around each level, with plants and greenery spilling over the edges, softening the sharp lines.

This was Stonehowl pack.

I was in the enemy's territory. But that doesn't matter anymore.

When the girl had told me the name of the pack, panic had tried to seize me.

My former pack and Stonehowl had been at each other's neck before I was born.

I didn't know what caused the misunderstanding between the two pack. All I knew was that I was raised to view these people as my enemy.

But it doesn't matter anymore. I was now an exile. I was no longer part of the pack.

"Come on." The girl tugged my hand. That was when I realized I had stopped walking.

As I continued walking, I noticed the grand entrance-tall glass doors framed with matte black steel that opened automatically as I approached. Inside, I could see marble floors, luxurious furnishings, and vast, open spaces that felt like a world of their own.

I stared in wonder, drinking in the beauty of this place.

My former pack house was huge, yes, but this one was on another level.

We continued our climb, the stairs leading us higher. The stares of passersby, directed at me, felt heavy as they greeted my companions.

But I didn't see judgment in their eyes-yet-it was just curiosity.

We stopped in front of a massive door, and the girl turned to me and offered a small smile.

"I would really have loved for you to freshen up and rest first but this can't wait. I'm sorry. I'm Lilith, by the way," she said as she squeezed my arm.

What can't wait, Lilith? I wanted to ask, but once again I couldn't find my voice.

She knocked on the door, and a cool deep voice answered from inside. "Enter."

Joseph pushed open the door, and we entered. Lilith's grip on my arm remained tight, as if she feared I wouldn't be able to stand without her support.

Perhaps she was right.

The room we just entered seems to be an office.

The office was spacious, drenched in natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows that spanned the entire back wall, offering a breathtaking view of the sprawling forest beyond.

The windows were framed with sleek, black metal, giving the space an industrial, yet sophisticated feel.

The floors were polished concrete, smooth and reflective, while the walls were a combination of rich dark wood and stark white, giving the room a minimalist but luxurious vibe.

This room screamed wealth, authority and power, or perhaps it was the person that sat at the middle of the room behind a big desk that screamed all those things.

I didn't need anyone to tell me who he was.

The trio greeted him with a unified, "Alpha," and I swallowed hard.

The man sitting before me was young. He was maybe five years my senior.

And he was so goddamn handsome.

His light brown hair was styled back, not a single strand out of place. His straight nose sat proud on his face, his sharp jaw would make models jealous, his lips full. And those gray eyes were staring at me.

He was staring at me!!

Heat flooded my face, forcing me to look down. A chuckle echoed, but I couldn't bring myself to meet the eyes of its source.

I was staring like an idiot.

"Hello," the cool voice greeted.

I raised my head to his direction again, and he was smiling at me.

God, he was so handsome.

"H-hello," I said back, my voice small.

"I'm Alpha Rowan."

"Ravenna."

"Ravenna," he repeated, the smile still on his face, and I felt my face hot again. "Welcome to Stonehowl pack, Ravenna."

"Thank you."

Alpha Rowan turned to the trio that was silent, and raised a single perfect eyebrow.

Lilith left my arm and stepped forward, her hands clasped behind her back, her posture straight. And at that moment she looked older.

"Alpha," she dipped her head in respect. "We found Ravenna here at the riverside."

"The riverside?" He raised the eyebrow again.

Lilith nodded. "We found her by the river, unconscious. At first, we thought..." She trailed off, glancing at me briefly before looking back at the Alpha. "We thought she was dead."

I felt my heart squeezed.

I was alive. God, I was alive.

It seems reality is just catching up to me right now.

I fought to hold the tears back, not wanting them to see me as weak, broken.

Alpha Rowan leaned back in his chair, his eyes darting to me. "Go on," he said, his voice deep and calm, but with an edge of authority that made my breath hitch.

"We were patrolling the borders when we heard the water-rushing louder than usual," Lilith continued. "By the time we got to the riverbank, she was already half-submerged, caught in the current. It looked like she'd been swept downstream. We pulled her out and brought her here as fast as we could."

"And you said she's from another pack?" Alpha Rowan asked, his gaze finally shifting from me to Lilith.

"Yes, Alpha," she confirmed. "From what little I could gather, she bears the scent of another territory. It's faint now, but it was stronger when we found her."

He nodded and turned back to me and I wanted to make myself small.

The intensity in his gaze made me nervous.

"You don't have to be nervous, Ravenna," he said softly. "I just want to ask a few questions."

I nodded, finding it difficult to speak with the emotions clouding my throat.

"What pack are you from?"

My heart jumped to my throat and I forced it back down.

It's okay. I'm an exile now. I'm no longer part of the pack. I repeated in my head as I tried to find my voice.

When I finally found my voice it was weak and pathetic. "Slivercrest pack."

All heads turned to me and their eyes widened.

Alpha Rowan rose, his chair scraping against the floor. Lilith instinctively took a step back, while Sofia shifted into a fighting stance. Joseph, meanwhile, stood frozen, his mouth agape in surprise.

I was fucked.