Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 37: 36

POV Savannah Bowen

I was used to being ignored by them, but not to being the center of attention, because that’s how I felt at the moment. Everyone was staring at me, judging and whispering.

“It was Marilyn,” I confirmed, drinking a little more. “I heard her and Fenrir arguing at his house. She was there.”

“Of course it was her, she’s the only one who still has access to things that belonged to Catalina. She knew that if she made you wear the dress that was a gift meant for the wolf, people would hate you even more.”

“Just like she knew that many of them were feeling grateful for Savannah trying to save Ruda, admiring you,” Mihaela added. “She did it out of jealousy. Again.”

I should have stayed home. I could’ve watched the smoke through my bedroom window. That would have been enough to mourn Ruda and witness part of his passing ceremony.

“Was Catalina… very beloved by the pack?”

Mihaela and Alexandra exchanged a glance. The omega pressed her lips together, turning them into a thin line, then brought her face closer to my ear.

“She wasn’t a bad person, but I can’t say she was… incredible. She was friends with Marilyn, so you can imagine a bit how she acted. She was good with the pack, helped those in need, but things had to be done her way.”

“So… why does it seem like they loved her so much?” I whispered.

“For Fenrir. Everyone here wants the alpha’s attention, to have his adoration. No one will dare tell the truth, even though they know what it was.”

“And what was it?”

She pulled her lips.

“That she had some qualities, but was full of flaws. Marilyn tries to be like she was. I believe she thinks that by being like her friend, she’ll win Fenrir’s heart. She liked the pack, but thought of herself above everything and anything.”

“I think the one doing everything to keep Catalina’s memory alive is Marilyn, so she forces Fenrir to remember who she was and that he could have something similar again, if he stays with her,” Mihaela hissed. “Just like she does everything to hurt you, because she sees you could be a queen far better than Catalina ever was. She’s afraid of you, sees you as a huge threat.”

Alexandra agreed with a grimace.

This was much worse than I imagined.

I didn’t want to know any more about Fenrir, Catalina, or Marilyn; the story was… disturbing. I didn’t want to be involved in any of it.

I stood up abruptly, drawing a few glances. My legs were weak and wobbly from the alcohol. I spread my hands on the table and leaned over them.

“I tried to save Ruda because it was the right thing to do, because he was just an innocent pup, and because they wanted me, not him. And no one should pay for my sins, not because I want them to like me or admire me,” I said, cutting off the extended topic, speaking softly so only the two of them could hear me.

“We know that, Sava,” Mihaela replied.

“We never thought otherwise for a moment.” She winked, as if trying to push the memories away. “I was there, I saw how and why you acted.”

I nodded, pressing my lips.

“I just wanted… to make sure you knew the truth.” I pulled away from them. “I’m going home, the night’s over for me.”

I ignored the absurd number of glances being directed at me. I raised my chin and walked through the people, heading toward Fenrir’s house.

As I passed, they turned their backs, completely ignoring me, making it clear. I maintained my posture, abstaining from what was happening.

I spotted Marilyn from a distance. She was standing, drinking in front of a table, talking to the two females I had seen talking about her and Fenrir that night at the bar. Her eyes met mine and her lips curved into a half-ironic smile. She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side. Her friends also turned their heads in my direction, basking in my failure, in my humiliation.

They were laughing at me, mocking my situation.

I lifted my chin even higher.

My wolf growled in my chest, ready to kill her. I clenched my teeth, feeling my canines ache as they extended. My nails grew. I balled my fists, digging them into my skin and hurting myself.

My steps became slow and distant as I forced my body away from them. Away from any of them.

It didn’t matter what the female had done. It was Ruda’s wake, and he deserved respect.

Chanting this like a song to calm myself, I moved forward.

My heart beat unevenly, like the wings of a wounded bird. I held my breath in my lungs, only breathing again when I stepped into the dense, dark forest, away from all of them.

The moonlight filtered through the wide branches of the trees, illuminating the path of dry leaves.

I looked up at it, praying to the star-sprinkled sky, or to any supernatural entity, to help me make Dăneşti a safe and pleasant place for me and my sister.

I continued on my way alone, just as I always had been, since I lost Selena.

I sang softly as I walked, their legacy:

“…We are like destined warriors, like our ancestors.”

Let me be a warrior, but never a coward. As the Dăneşti were, as life had been shaping me to be.

***

POV Fenrir Dăneşti

My mind had already devised countless ways to kill Hunter. And none of them were light, beautiful, or simple.

The alpha was no longer just offending me by invading my territory. He had killed one of my wolves, destroying a family that belonged to my pack and was under my protection.

I drummed my fingers on the backrest of the wooden chair I was sitting in.

My pack was gathered in front of me for an assembly. I had called them to establish new rules for the protection of each member.

"As you know, you must not go beyond the limits of our territory from now on, until the threat is under control," Anton murmured, standing at my right side.

"There are guards throughout the area, patrolling day and night, but even so, it's dangerous. The wolves attacking us are trained, they’ve studied our territory and are always lurking," Andrei concluded, on my left.

"Wouldn't it be easier to return the female to her pack?" someone asked, a female voice shooting out from the crowd.

I pressed my gaze, scanning each face in the room until I found her. She was one of Marilyn’s close friends.

"Savannah is part of the Dăneşti pack, and as a member, it is our duty to protect her, just like any other member here," Andrei retorted.

"But it's her fault we're being attacked," she insisted.

"If we return her, we could go back to living in peace!" This time, it was Marilyn who spoke.

A wave of murmurs rippled around the room, members divided between duty to me and their personal opinions. A satisfied smile appeared on Marilyn’s face. This was what she had wanted from the start, and now she was gaining allies for her cause.

I stood up, silencing them.

"As you know, Savannah is linked to me. If she dies, I die, so there isn't even the slightest possibility of handing her over to her old pack, to the wolves attacking us and killing ours."

"But they might want her alive," she shot back, shrugging her shoulders.

I stepped forward, curling my lips into a sharp smile. They lowered their heads, showing respect and loyalty to me.

"My decision is final. Andrei is right, she is part of the pack now, and like any other member, she must be protected. If I suspect anyone here is plotting against my orders, that person will suffer a violent death with their heart crushed by my own hands," I hissed, letting the threat resonate. I couldn’t afford to worry about being betrayed within my own pack. Fear made people make stupid decisions. They were scared, sad, and mourning little Ruda, so if they thought handing over Savannah to the wolves was the right thing, that’s what they’d do.

"Understood?" I shouted the question, exhaling pheromones and asserting my dominance over each one of them. The closest to me shrank back, fearing my wolf and the chaos he would bring if betrayed. The others nodded, terror gleaming in every pair of eyes.

"Good! Otherwise, follow the instructions passed by Andrei and Anton. I don't want any wolves wandering alone too far beyond the pack's territory. They always come in groups, they'd be easy targets."

All were strictly forbidden to go into the territory of other packs. If one of my wolves were caught in another territory, they could be killed by the alpha of that area. It was their right as a leader, no matter the significance of the member to me. Just as I could do the same if a wolf from another pack invaded my territory. It was one of the most sacred laws created by our elders.

But that didn't mean they couldn’t stray a bit beyond the pack’s territorial limits, that's how challenges with the pups were made. Though it was only a few meters, at the moment, it represented a risk.

"Any other orders?" Marilyn mocked, crossing her arms and swinging her leg over her knee.

She was irritated and jealous of the possibility that the whole pack would care for Savannah’s safety. I fixed my gaze on her, feeling my patience slowly dissipating. I had an appreciation for the omega, but she was starting to irritate me by being too invasive. As someone who had known me for centuries, she should know I didn’t take orders from anyone, least of all her.

"We'll increase the number of members in each group tasked with going into the city to get supplies. As well as those transporting the wood loads. No one should walk alone or unarmed."

My men were well-trained and prepared, my biggest concern wasn't with them, but with the females and pups. If they were caught off guard, they'd end up dead like Ruda.

I put my hands in the front pockets of my pants and let my gaze wander over them. Alexandra was sitting farther back, beside Mihaela.

"Any information you have regarding what's happening, you should report directly and immediately to me." I paced back and forth in front of them, standing tall.

"At the moment, these are the only orders to follow. Stay alert, in case we need another assembly," I warned.

"Dănești prevails where roots and blood meet!" someone shouted from the crowd, starting the loyalty chant.

"For Dănești, for Fenrir, our loyalty shall never perish!" they all concluded, shouting in unison, their voices echoing in the air, blending with the whistle of the wind.

I nodded, thanking them for their sworn loyalty. With that, I knew they'd follow my orders, I could count on them, I could trust each one.

They were my tribe, my family. They were my pack.

I kept my posture and walked away, heading toward my house. Savannah hadn’t shown up, I hadn’t called her to the assembly. Deep down, I felt they would bring up the possibility of handing her over to Hunter to end the war she started.

She was already hurt enough by everyone, not that I cared about her feelings. But stupid, thoughtless decisions were usually made by people hurt or scared by a situation. And I didn’t need to add that to my list of headaches.

"Fenrir?" Anton called, quickening his pace to catch up with me.

I turned my head to him and sighed. He came closer, his posture rigid.

"What now?"

"This arrived for you." He held out his hand and handed me an invitation.

The paper was thick, dyed a shade of ivory. It had a rough texture when touched. The envelope was sealed with crimson wax, marked by the symbol of an intricate castle.

I broke it open, unfolding the invitation. The black ink calligraphy was refined.

"Your presence is requested to join us at the table, in the heart of the castle that guards our traditions and our strength. May the moon guide your steps to us."

With reverence, The Elders.

I crumpled the paper, closing my fingers around it. I pulled my hair with my free hand, grinding my teeth in a low grunt.

"Very bad?" he asked, apprehensive.

"They felt Ruda’s death, that's why they’re summoning me," I muttered, quietly.

It was obvious they would feel it. The elders were the oldest and most absolute force in our lands. One of our wolves had a tragic death, emitting energy.

I didn’t want to involve them in this, let alone the others. My mating with Savannah was something recent, unexpected. I could already hear the stupid jokes from that bastard Lucian about the attacks. I tried to make it seem trivial, something I did while drunk.