Alex's POV
I raced toward the pack’s main house, determined not to let some random old man who hadn’t even been part of the story swoop in and steal my moment of glory. Not in front of Magnus. Not in front of his hellhound of a companion.
As I approached the house, I shifted into invisibility and gripped the dagger hidden in my pocket, ready to strike.
The place was disturbingly quiet. No chattering servants, no laughter, not even a whisper—only rustling leaves and the occasional chirp of a cricket. Something felt... wrong.
I opened the door and stepped inside. The silence deepened. It was too still.
Then I saw him—my rival. Relaxing on the couch like he had no care in the world, a tiny flame dancing at his fingertip.
“Who’s there?” he called out as the door creaked behind me. The fl
