No one Takes What is Mine.

Trouble

Damon’s smirk vanished, replaced by a look of profound understanding. He raised his glass. “To Annie, then. May she bring you less grief than the last Alpha Female.” He paused, his expression turning serious. “And you’ve known?”

Dane nodded, his jaw tight. “Since the day she stumbled into my lecture hall three years ago, late and flustered, smelling of rain and fresh ink. I’ve been watching her, waiting for the right moment. The bond was undeniable.” He clenched his fist. “I just never anticipated the moment would be brought on by such… base betrayal.” A low growl rumbled in his chest, the amber glint returning to his eyes. “Freddy and Meg will learn that hurting what’s mine has consequences.”

Damon whistled softly. “So, the quiet professor finally lets the wolf out of the cage, eh? What’s the plan, Alpha? Beyond, you know, ripping their throats out?” Dane’s eyes narrowed, a predatory glint within them. “Annie wants to deal with them herself. And I will respect that. For now. But they will regret the day they ever touched her. And as for pack matters…” He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. “We have an upcoming challenge from the Northern pack. And now, more than ever, I need my Luna by my side.” He looked at Damon with fierce determination in his gaze. “She doesn’t know what she is yet. But she will. And when she does, we will be ready.”

Damon’s initial playful demeanor faded completely as he settled into the armchair opposite Dane, the firelight glinting off the crystal glass in his hand. “About those pack matters, Alpha… it’s not just the Northern pack we need to worry about.” His voice dropped, losing its earlier flippancy. “There have been… incidents in town.”

Dane’s amber eyes, which had softened slightly with the mention of Annie, sharpened instantly. “Incidents? What kind of incidents?” “Killings,” Damon stated flatly. “Mysterious ones. Been going on for about a month now. Humans found… well, let’s just say they weren’t pretty. No clear cause of death, but plenty of blood and signs of a struggle. The kind of struggle a human wouldn’t win against something… more.”

A muscle in Dane’s jaw tightened. “A month? Why am I only hearing about this now?”

“We were hoping to contain it, keep it quiet. But it’s getting out of hand. The local police are baffled, but they’re not stupid. They’re starting to dig deeper, asking questions in places they shouldn’t. The town’s abuzz with gossip and fear. If this continues, Dane, they’re going to stumble onto us. And you know what that means.”

Dane slammed his glass down on the small table beside him, the sound sharp in the quiet study. “The Treaty.” His voice was a low growl. “Centuries of peace, of coexistence, all because some rogue pups can’t control their bloodlust.” He ran a hand through his dark hair, his brow furrowed in frustration. “We’ve been hidden for so long, Damon. A single breach, and everything we’ve built, everything our ancestors fought for, crumbles.

“Exactly,” Damon affirmed, his expression grim. “It’s a clear attempt to break the treaty. To expose us, perhaps even incite a war between our kind and theirs. We need to identify this rogue pack and stop them before the humans find undeniable proof of our existence.” “Have you narrowed it down?” Dane asked, his voice laced with urgency.

“Any leads?” Damon hesitated, swirling the liquid in his glass. “I have a theory. A group of new transfers at the university. They’re… different. A little too brash, a little too arrogant for their own good. And their scents are… off.” He paused, looking at Dane. “There’s one in particular: Peter. He transferred here this semester, supposedly from some small college in the Midwest. But his eyes hold a hunger I don’t like. And he’s always surrounded by a handful of others who share his unsettling aura. Dane leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Peter? A student at *my* university?” The irony was bitter.

“Yes,” Damon confirmed. “I’ve been keeping an eye on them, but I haven’t seen them make a move yet. Nothing definitive to link them directly to the killings. But their patterns of movement, their late-night excursions… it all fits the general timeframe and locations of the attacks.” He met Dane’s gaze. “I need more time to watch them. To get concrete proof. But if it is them, they’re a small, tight-knit group. Dangerous, but vulnerable if we strike fast and hard.” Dane stood, pacing the worn rug before the fireplace. The weight of his Alpha duties settled heavily on his shoulders. A new Luna, a broken heart, and now the very existence of his pack is threatened by reckless youths. “Do it, Damon. Watch them. Don’t let them out of your sight. And report back to me immediately if you find anything. We cannot afford to fail. Not now. Not when everything is at stake.” His thoughts, however, drifted back to Annie, sleeping peacefully in the guest house. He had just found his mate, and the world he was destined to share with her was teetering on the brink of exposure. He would protect her and his pack, no matter the cost.