Chapter Ten: What happened?
1387 Words
The black SUV finally came to a stop in an underground parking lot of a large shopping mall. It was the third stop they’d made since their escape, and Clover was growing restless.
“What are we doing here now?” she asked, stepping out of the vehicle, her voice edged with annoyance.
Ryker gave her a small, mysterious smile. “Just keep following us, Clover. We won’t be using the car anymore.”
She sighed but obeyed, trailing behind Ryker and Gamma Dorian. Something about this place felt different. As they walked through the mall, she realized it was crawling with wolves—subtle glances, power held just under the surface, scents that marked them as pack. Her senses were on high alert as they stepped into an elevator and rode it to the highest floor. From there, they took the stairs even further—right up to the rooftop.
When the final door swung open, Clover’s breath caught in her throat.
Three people stood there. Two men and a woman. The man in the middle looked familiar, until realization dawned.
“Uncle Ramon?” she whispered, her feet moving before her mind caught up.
He opened his arms just as she threw herself into them, and for a long moment, she simply held on.
“You’ve grown so much,” Alpha Ramon murmured, squeezing her tightly. “I’ve missed you, little wolf.”
He introduced the others—his Beta and his Luna, Amara. Both greeted Clover warmly. It turned out they’d been in contact with Ryker ever since things began to go wrong in Clover’s old pack. Ramon had wanted to bring them to his own territory immediately, but knew it would be the first place Marcus would look. They were fugitives now, and secrecy was survival.
“I had my Beta arrange this meeting,” Ramon said. “I couldn’t sit by and do nothing.”
Clover glanced between them. “Where do we go from here?”
Ramon smiled and gestured toward the city skyline. “To a penthouse I purchased a while back. Only the people here right now know it exists. You’ll stay there until it’s safe. We plan from there.”
Clover tilted her head. “What about training?”
Ryker smirked. “You think I’d let you slack off now?”
Alpha Ramon added, “We’ll train you together—combat, leadership, strategy. You’re still an Alpha in my eyes, Clover. My sister would have been Alpha if not for that disgrace of a mate she chose.”
She didn’t argue. For once, she didn’t feel like she had to.
⸻
The penthouse was more than she expected—luxurious, modern, and completely secure. Three bedrooms, a balcony with a stunning view, a full kitchen, laundry room, an office, and a spacious living area. It screamed safety and power.
Gamma Dorian claimed one of the smaller rooms without complaint. Ryker took the other. They insisted Clover take the master suite. She protested at first, but they refused to budge.
“You deserve comfort, kid,” Ryker said simply.
They ordered takeout, but didn’t risk being seen. One of Ramon’s warriors delivered it to their door.
After dinner, Ryker announced he was heading out to survey the area. “You’re staying here,” he told Clover firmly. “Training starts tomorrow. Rest while you can.”
Gamma Dorian stayed behind as protection, but the night was quiet.
Clover sat in her room, legs curled up beneath her, a notepad resting on her lap. She jotted down a list of essentials—clothes, a phone, basic supplies. Her old phone had been confiscated when she was thrown into the dungeons. Now she had nothing but the clothes on her back and the nightmares in her head.
As silence settled in, her thoughts crept in with it.
Why did it come to this?
Why did her father betray her?
Why did Lola spread those lies?
A lump formed in her throat. Tears began to fall before she even realized she was crying. It wasn’t just crying—she broke down. She sobbed into her pillow, letting all the pain and anger pour out. Akira, her wolf, stayed quiet, wrapping her presence around Clover like a blanket.
“We need our mate,” Akira said quietly when the storm calmed.
Clover wiped her eyes. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to meet him now,” she whispered. “What if he doesn’t want us? What if… we’re too broken?”
Akira whimpered sadly. The fear that her mate might reject her—especially after everything—lingered heavy in Clover’s chest.
She forced herself to think of something else. “I want to see the pack soon. Uncle’s pack. I want to see what it’s like.”
She missed her uncle. They had only met a handful of times—once when she was a toddler, and again briefly after her mother died. Back then, she wished she could have gone with him. Now… she wished it more than anything.
Eventually, she drifted off to sleep, with Akira’s soft voice echoing in her mind, whispering promises of strength and a future they would fight for.
⸻
That same night, deep in Alpha Ramon’s pack, a serious conversation took place in the Alpha’s home.
“I think she should take over this pack,” Ramon said firmly, seated across from his mate and Beta. “She’s an Alpha. By right, my sister should have led if she hadn’t been manipulated by that good-for-nothing Marcus.”
Luna Amara nodded. “I agree. But… does she want it? She looked devastated when she arrived. Her heart’s still with her old pack, no matter how much they hurt her.”
The Beta added, “We can ask her when the time is right. For now, we support her. Train her. Help her become who she was always meant to be.”
Ramon nodded. “I’ll begin her Alpha training soon. In the meantime, tell the spies to keep the reports coming. I want every bit of information from Clover’s old pack. And tighten security. We can’t risk anyone finding them until we’re ready.”
⸻
The days that followed grew more structured. Life in the penthouse became… normal.
Mornings started with training—combat drills, endurance runs, tactical studies. They’d break for lunch, rest for a while, and train again in the afternoon before dinner.
Alpha Ramon continued to visit three times a week to guide her in Alpha-specific training. And over time, Clover grew closer to Luna Amara.
At first, she kept her distance. It was instinct—protective, cautious. But Amara was gentle and patient. She brought groceries, taught Clover how to cook, did small things that slowly chipped away at the wall around her heart.
Eventually, Clover opened up.
They spent more time together—laughing, bonding, sharing quiet moments. Amara became the mother figure Clover desperately needed. And Amara cherished her like a daughter she could never have.
Weeks passed. Then months.
Two years slipped by.
Clover had grown in every way—physically, mentally, emotionally. She had become a force to be reckoned with. She walked taller, spoke with more power, and carried herself with the pride of a true Alpha.
And through it all, she kept one eye on the past.
Spies fed Alpha Ramon steady updates from Clover’s former pack—and the news was grim.
The pack was falling apart.
Omegas were treated worse than slaves, the buildings in disrepair, morale crumbling. The financial state was a mystery, but it was clear things were not being maintained. Rumors of Marcus’s failing health spread—his body growing weaker, shrinking, collapsing under the strain of excessive alpha commands. He had used his power to force obedience, and it was eating him alive.
Liliana ruled in the shadows, and Lola… Lola acted like she was Luna, abusing her influence, spreading fear, and humiliating pack members. No one dared challenge her.
Clover’s heart ached at every report.
But then… just over a year after they escaped, something happened.
Something worse.
Something the spies refused to detail over secure lines.
And that was when they knew—
The real war was only just beginning.
- Writer
