In the heart of Castle Rock, the full moon bathed the towers of the Brothers of Shadow castle with its cold light. In the main hall, the fire crackled in the fireplace, but the air was charged with tension, as if every shadow on the walls whispered dark secrets. Lucian Nightshade, the Alpha, stood beside a solid oak table, his golden eyes glowing like burning embers as they fixed on Jaxon, his Beta and best friend.
Lucian was a man of more than 150 years, though in the human world he appeared no older than 40; standing 6'3", his body was that of someone who knew the weight of effort and discipline. Powerfully built, each muscle of his anatomy seemed sculpted with the precision of an artist obsessed with perfection. His skin, white as snow, contrasted with the deep black of his hair, always slightly disheveled, framing deeply cold golden eyes. His subjects said he was ruthless.
"They've crossed our border again," said Jaxon, his voice deep and restrained. Each word seemed to weigh like a stone in the atmosphere. "The Iron Blood Pack isn't afraid to provoke a war."
Lucian clenched his fists, his claws threatening to emerge. His countenance was a mask of iron calm, but the gleam in his eyes betrayed the storm raging within him. The rivalry between both packs had escalated dangerously since his father's death, and the Iron Blood seemed eager to test the young Alpha.
"How many?" he finally asked, his voice low but charged with a cutting edge.
"Five. Hunters. They left marks on the trees as a warning," Jaxon replied, crossing his arms.
Lucian let out a low growl, a guttural sound that reverberated through the hall like contained thunder. His mind worked quickly, evaluating possibilities, tracing strategies. He knew that any misstep could trigger a conflict that would devastate everything he had sworn to protect.
"We won't respond yet," Lucian decreed after a prolonged and tense silence, his voice charged with an authority that admitted no reply. "But I want the patrols reinforced. If they cross again, there will be no mercy."
Jaxon slightly bowed his head in agreement, but his rigid posture revealed something else troubled him. He remained motionless, lips pressed together, as if struggling against words fighting to escape. Finally, after a moment of hesitation that seemed eternal, he spoke:
"There's been an increase in tracker sightings near Stanford University."
Lucian raised his gaze immediately, his burning eyes fixing on Jaxon's like red-hot blades. The mere mention of the place triggered an alarm inside him. Stanford wasn't just any location; many of the younger wolves studied there, innocent and vulnerable. And he himself, though no longer teaching, maintained a connection with the Law faculty. His presence on campus was occasional, but significant. Though it was neutral ground, this didn't sit well with him.
"Trackers?" he murmured, his voice low and sharp as the edge of a deadly blade.
"Yes, as if they were looking for someone," Jaxon confirmed, with a barely perceptible shudder.
The silence that followed was thick, almost tangible. Lucian looked away and walked to the window, observing the full moon hanging in the sky like a vigilant eye.
"Lucian..." Jaxon began cautiously, "The members of the ministry require that you find your mate or choose a young woman to pair with."
"I don't want to talk about that right now," Lucian growled, turning with eyes blazing with fury. The echo of his voice filled the hall before fading into the crackling fire. "Leave!"
Jaxon took a step back, surprised by the intensity of the outburst. But he didn't insist. With a respectful bow of his head, he left the hall, leaving Lucian alone with his thoughts.
When the sound of Jaxon's footsteps vanished down the corridor, Lucian let out a trembling sigh and rested his hands on the table. There was something broken inside him, something that not even the Alpha's power could repair. For years, a shadow had followed him wherever he went; the absence of his mate. Every Alpha had a mate destined by the ancestral bond, a being who completed his soul and gave him strength to lead.
There were those who whispered that he was cursed, that the lineage of the Brothers of Shadow had been condemned since his father's violent death. Others said he simply hadn't searched enough. But Lucian knew the truth; without her, he was incomplete, vulnerable... and he hated it.
The idea of needing someone consumed him from within. He had learned to be strong on his own, to bear the weight of leadership without help. Why then did this latent need devour him every night? Why did he feel that constant emptiness, as if a part of him were lost somewhere far away?
He closed his eyes and clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms. He had no time for such weaknesses. The pack depended on him. But still... Jaxon's words echoed in his mind like a persistent echo: "As if they were looking for someone."
Hours later, when shadows lengthened and the castle slept in an uneasy silence, Lucian went out to the forest alone. The moon lit his path as he advanced among the tall, dark trees. His steps were firm, but his mind was full of doubts and memories.
He transformed at once and traveled through the vast forest that formed part of his territory.
He didn't understand why the Iron Blood Pack had been testing his limits; if a war was coming, he would be ready.
Luca, his wolf, ran through the forest feeling the delicious wind on his face. He let out a howl of pain for the lack of his mate.
But he would protect his pack at all costs. With or without his mate.