Owned by the billionaire beast

The Elder's Call

The voice faded, but its presence lingered.

Nora could still feel it vibrating beneath her skin, as if the mountain itself had spoken.

No echo.

No direction.

Just a command that settled deep in her chest.

Bring her to me.

Around her, the wolves remained kneeling with their heads bowed. Not one dared speak.

Kieran stood perfectly still, his eyes fixed on the dark ridge overlooking the valley.

The silver-haired Alpha was the first to break the silence.

"He knows."

Kieran didn't answer.

"He shouldn't," the Alpha continued, unease creeping into his voice. "No one was supposed to know she existed."

"The Elder doesn't need to be told," Kieran said quietly. "He hears everything the mountain hears."

Nora looked between them.

"Would someone stop talking in riddles?"

No one answered.

Her patience snapped.

"Enough!"

The word echoed through the clearing.

To Nora's surprise, every wolf lifted its head at once.

Kieran slowly turned toward her.

His expression wasn't angry.

It was... curious.

"You don't even realize you're doing it."

"Doing what?"

"When you raise your voice..."

He paused.

"...they listen."

Nora glanced around.

The wolves' eyes were fixed on her.

Every single one of them.

She felt her stomach tighten.

"This is ridiculous."

"It shouldn't be possible," the silver-haired Alpha muttered. "Only bloodline heirs can command a pack."

"I'm not commanding anyone."

"No."

Kieran's voice was thoughtful.

"They're obeying you."

Before Nora could argue, Luke burst through the trees.

His usually calm expression had vanished.

"Alpha."

"What happened?"

"We found them."

"How many?"

"Seven."

Nora frowned.

"Seven what?"

Luke swallowed.

"Scouts."

"Alive?"

He hesitated.

"No."

Silence settled over the clearing.

"They were torn apart."

A cold breeze swept through the trees.

"They weren't killed by rogues," Luke added quietly.

"They weren't?"

Luke shook his head.

"It looked like one wolf."

"Impossible," the silver-haired Alpha whispered.

Luke looked directly at Kieran.

"There were claw marks on the rocks."

"What kind?"

"The same ones."

Kieran closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"No..."

Nora stepped closer.

"What aren't you telling me?"

He looked at her.

"The Elder isn't supposed to leave the mountain."

"But he has?"

Kieran nodded once.

"If those scouts were killed by him..."

His jaw tightened.

"...then the prison is failing."

Nora stared.

"Prison?"

"The Elder wasn't always a legend."

Another tremor rolled beneath their feet.

This one was stronger.

Pebbles bounced across the ground.

High above them, birds exploded from the trees.

The wolves immediately formed a defensive circle around Nora.

She blinked.

"I don't need protecting."

One of them looked over his shoulder.

"Respectfully..."

His voice trembled.

"...you're the reason we're all still alive."

Before Nora could reply, the fog ahead began to move.

Not drift.

Move.

Something enormous was walking through it.

One step.

Then another.

The trees bent aside as though they feared being touched.

A silhouette emerged.

Too tall to be human.

Broad shoulders.

Long hair stirred by a wind no one else could feel.

Then it stopped.

Still hidden within the mist.

Only its eyes were visible.

They glowed not gold like Kieran's.

Not silver like the wolves'.

But a deep, unnatural crimson.

The wolves lowered themselves instinctively.

Even the silver-haired Alpha looked away.

Only Kieran remained standing.

"Nora," he said quietly.

She didn't take her eyes off the figure.

"What?"

"Whatever happens..."

His voice was calm, but she caught the tension beneath it.

"...don't answer if he speaks to you."

The crimson eyes lifted.

A low chuckle drifted through the valley.

"You've found her..."

The voice was old.

Ancient.

Yet strangely warm.

It carried the certainty of someone who had been waiting a very long time.

Then the figure smiled.

"Nora Vance."

Her heart skipped.

She had never told anyone her last name.

"I've waited twenty-four years for you."

The forest fell silent.

And for the first time since this nightmare began, Nora realized one terrifying truth.

This wasn't a chance encounter.

Someone had been waiting for her long before she ever stepped onto the mountain.