Chapter Seven: The Edge of Everything
1034 Words
The cold stone walls of the dungeon were beginning to feel like home. Clover lay curled on the thin mat in the corner, her fiery red hair tangled and her eyes hollow from days of isolation. Her body ached with fading bruises, but the pain that lingered wasn’t physical. It was the betrayal—raw and unforgiving.
Seven days.
Seven days since her father cast her aside like a criminal.
Seven days since he stood on that stage and announced Ronan, his stepson, as the new Alpha heir.
Seven days since the pack she’d devoted her life to abandoned her.
And yet, she wasn’t truly alone.
Her uncle Ryker visited as often as he could, his sharp eyes full of pain and fury. Beta Michael and Gamma Dorian accompanied him whenever possible. They kept their voices low, their movements discreet. The dungeon wasn’t safe—not anymore.
Things were changing. Fast.
“Marcus is different,” Ryker whispered through the bars on his last visit. “He hardly leaves his office unless it’s to make some new rule. Always with Liliana at his side, sipping her cursed tea like she’s Luna already.”
Clover clenched her fists. “He’s using the Alpha command more than ever,” she murmured. “It’s like he’s… controlling everyone.”
“He is,” Michael confirmed grimly. “Half the warriors are exhausted from patrolling 24/7. He’s ordered punishments for anyone who even questions him. It’s like we’re living under a dictator.”
“And we can’t get through to him,” Dorian added. “Every time we try, she’s there. Smiling. Pouring that damned tea.”
“I don’t think he’s just lost,” Ryker said, eyes narrowing. “I think he’s being manipulated. And you—being locked away like this—it’s all part of her plan.”
Clover stayed quiet. Her heart screamed for answers. Her instincts screamed for vengeance.
But more than anything, she wanted to protect her pack.
“What now?” she asked finally, her voice low.
“We get you out,” Ryker said. “Tomorrow night, once Ronan leaves for Alpha training. We’ve made a plan. Michael will stay behind and keep feeding us information. Dorian and I will go with you.”
Clover hesitated. “What about the pack?”
“We’ll come back,” Dorian promised. “But right now, you’re not safe here. And neither is the future of this pack.”
That night, Clover didn’t sleep. She sat cross-legged in the dark, listening to every sound. When the door creaked open just after midnight, her heart jumped.
“Let’s go,” Ryker whispered.
The escape was swift and silent. They moved like shadows, weaving through secret passages and avoiding patrols. As soon as they crossed the border, they shifted—three wolves tearing through the woods under the cover of night. Clover’s red-furred wolf, Akira, led the charge. Her heart was breaking, but her resolve was solidifying.
They reached the edge of neutral land and shifted back near a waiting vehicle. Dorian tossed her a shirt and jeans from the duffel bag stashed inside.
“Temporary scent blockers,” Ryker explained, spraying them. “Should buy us a few hours.”
Clover climbed into the car and looked back at the trees. Her home. Her prison.
“I’ll come back,” she whispered. “And I’ll take back what’s mine.”
⸻
Elsewhere – A Distant Pack
Ashton Reed sat at his desk, eyes scanning a thick stack of financial reports with a grimace. Numbers blurred together. Budget revisions. Border security funds. Renovations for the warrior wing.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I need a break…”
Without knocking, he pushed open the door to his Alpha’s office, his attention still buried in the spreadsheet.
“I’ve got the numbers from the southern border rev—oh shit.”
Ashton froze.
His brother—Alpha Carter—was locked in a passionate kiss with his mate and Luna, Isla. Her cheeks flushed, she laughed softly and adjusted her top.
Carter raised an eyebrow at Ashton. “You ever heard of knocking?”
Ashton groaned and covered his eyes dramatically. “I thought you were alone. I’m scarred for life.”
“You’re lucky I like you,” Carter teased, pulling his mate close. “You good?”
“No,” Ashton muttered. “I’ve been crunching numbers for hours and your mate just destroyed my corneas.”
Isla rolled her eyes with a grin. “Get out of here, Ashton. You need fresh air. And maybe a girlfriend.”
Carter exchanged a look with her and then gave Ashton a sly grin. “Or a mate.”
Ashton’s smirk faded.
“Don’t start,” he warned, turning to leave.
“No, seriously,” Carter said, following. “You’ve been waiting for your mate since you were eighteen. You’re almost twenty-five, Ash. It’s time.”
“I can’t just find her by snapping my fingers,” Ashton said, frustrated. “I’ve barely had time to breathe between rebuilding the pack and running half its operations.”
“You’re not alone anymore,” Carter said firmly. “We’ve got a strong Gamma. A solid council. You’ve given everything to this pack—hell, you even took the Beta title when no one else could.”
“I wanted to,” Ashton said quickly. “You’re my brother. I’d do it again.”
“I know,” Carter said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “But now it’s your turn. Go. Visit a few neighboring packs. The council’s gathering in a few weeks—you might find her there.”
Ashton hesitated, then nodded slowly. His heart ached for a connection he’d never felt. He’d always imagined what it would be like to find his mate. To feel that pull. That spark.
“Alright,” he said finally. “I’ll go.”
Carter grinned. “Good. Start packing.”
As Ashton left the office, he glanced up at the moon through the window.
Somewhere out there, his mate was waiting.
And soon, their paths would collide in ways neither of them could imagine.
- Writer
