Eight
1225 Words
ALISA POV
His eyes changed when he saw the mark.
I noticed immediately.
Shock.
Recognition.
Suspicion.
For a second Hannes forgot about the contract, the land, and even kwan standing beside him. His entire attention was fixed on the silver crescent mark near my collarbone.
Damn it.
I should have covered it better.
I stepped back instantly, pulling the edge of my dress higher.
“What is wrong, Alpha Hannes?” I asked coldly.
His jaw tightened slightly.
“That mark…”
My heartbeat quickened, but I kept my expression calm.
“What about it?”
Kwan looked confused as his eyes moved between both of us.
Hannes stared at me for a few seconds too long before finally speaking again.
“I've seen it before.”
I folded my arms.
“Many wolves have marks.”
He shook his head slightly.
“Not that one.”
Silence stretched between us.
I forced myself not to react and stay calm.
The Moon marked symbol was rare.
Extremely rare.
Only wolves connected to the prophecy carried it.
Very few people knew that.
And Hannes was one of them.
Years ago,the pack seer explained everything to the council during one their endless meetings. I remember sitting quietly beside Alpha Hannes while the elders discussed the prophecy like it was more important than actual lives.
The mark of the chosen bloodline.
The mother of the Trinity.
I swallowed slowly.
No.
He couldn't know. Not yet now.
“You are mistaken,” I said calmly.
Hannes didn't look convinced.
His wolf inside him was close to the surface now.i could sense it clearly.
Watching me and studying me.
I hated how aware of him I suddenly became.
Kwan cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Should we continue discussing the agreement?”
I silently thanked him.
“Yes,” I answered immediately before Hannes could say another word.
I walked toward my desk and sat down.
"The agreement lasts for three years under Ashenridge supervision," I said firmly. "Violation of any condition will result in immediate termination.”
Kwan nodded.
That seems fair.
Hannes remained standing..
His eyes stayed on me.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Trying to connect pieces that didn't belong together.
I hated it.
The longer he looked. It became dangerous.
Finally he blinked and looked away.
I almost sighed in relief.
Almost.
Instead, I opened the folder they brought in and started to go through it and I pushed it back to kwan.
“ The paperwork will take some time to finish it, so you will have to come back another day to sign it.”
Kwan nodded calmly.
“Understandable.”
I watched Hannes carefully.
He wasn't listening.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
On the mark.
On the prophecy.
And on me.
That alone made me uneasy.
The prophecy was dangerous enough without Hannes remembering part of it.
For five years I have kept my children hidden and safe.
And I can't let any prophecy ruin it for me. And I intend to keep it that way.
Hannes finally walked back to his seat and picked back the folder they brought in and he reviewed everything.
His mind was distracted.
Good.
The less attention he paid to me, the better.
A few minutes later he placed back the folder on my desk and slid it over to me.
“You should have this.”
“I will need to discuss the contract with my council before proceeding with the agreement.”
Relief washed through me.
Good.
Leave Ashenridge and go back to Redpine.
Forget about the mark.
Forget about me.
I gave a professional nod.
“That is understandable.”
Kwan stood up from his seat.
“When should we return with our answer?”
“Three to four days at least,” I replied.
“After that, the offer is off.”
Kwan nodded.
“Thank you for your time, Gamma Rosamund.”
I looked toward Alpha Hannes.
“Alpha.”
For a moment, it seemed like he wanted to say something else.
Ask another question.
Don't bring up the mark and the past.
But thankfully he didn't.
Instead he gave a small nod.
“We will return in three days.”
Then he turned and walked out. Kwan followed behind him.
The office door closed.
The moment they were gone, I realized a long breath.
My hands tightened into fist.
This was becoming dangerous. Far more dangerous than I expected.
Because Hannes remembers the prophecy.
And if he remembers the mark…
How long before he remembers everything?
The thought made my stomach twist.
A soft knock sounded on the door.
I straightened immediately.
“Come in.”
The door opened and Linus stepped inside.
The alpha closed the door behind him before walking toward my desk.
“You looked troubled and how did it go.”
I leaned back to my chair.
“ It was nothing.”
Linus raised his eyebrow.
“Rosamund.”
I sighed.
“Fine it was nothing.”
He sat down across from me.
“What happened at the meeting.”
For a moment I consider keeping it to myself.
But Linus already knew about the prophecy, the children and the mark.
“There was a problem.”
‘What kind of a problem.”
I hesitated before answering.
“Hannes saw the mark.”
His expression immediately darkened.
“The Moonmark?”
I nodded.
A curse slipped from his lips.
“Does he know?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
I looked away.
That was the problem.
I wasn't sure.
“Hannes remembers something,” I admitted quietly.
Linus frowned.
“How much?”
“I didn't know.”
The silence that followed felt heavy.
Neither of us liked the situation.
The prophecy was meant to remain hidden.
The triplets were meant to remain hidden.
If word spread about them, every pack In the region would come searching.
Some would want to control them.
Some would want to use them.
Others would want them dead.
All of them would become my enemies.
“Should we increase security?” Linus finally said.
I nodded.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“The children.”
“Still at the estate.”
Linus relaxed slightly.
Good.
The estate was hidden deep inside Ashenridge territory.
Few people even knew it existed.
Only trusted members of the pack were allowed there.
I stood from my chair and walked toward the window.
Outside, pack members moved around the training ground.
Everything looked peaceful.
Normal.
But appearances could be deceiving.
Because something had changed the moment Hannes saw the mark.
I had seen it in his eyes
The curiosity and suspicion.
The determination.
The same determination that used to make him impossible to argue with whenever he made a decision as Alpha.
And that worried me.
A lot.
Because Hannes Ravaryn had many flaws.
But once he became interested in something, he rarely stopped searching until he found answers.
I stared out the window.
Three days.
That was all the time I had before seeing him again.
Three days before Redpine returned with their answer.
Three days before Hannes sat across from me once more.
And deep down, a feeling I couldn't shake settled heavily in my chest.
The next time we met…
He would come with questions.
And I am not ready for it.
- Writer
