Alpha's Claim

Confrontation

The sun dipped low as Lena and Marcus neared the Blackwood camp. Their clothes clung to them like a second skin from the river as they moved through the now much quieter camp. Heavy tension filled the air, and the clan watched them wordlessly, many of them already aware or hearing news.

Not stopping to answer any questions, Lena pushed through the camp toward her father's tent, Marcus at her heel. Whatever scheme Rowan was concocting, whatever new plan was brewing in his head, it went without saying that time was on none of their sides.

Her father was pacing inside the tent, waiting for them. He turned to face them, his eyes slanted. "What happened? Did you find out anything?"

Lena didn't waste any time. 'Rowan is hiding something—some big thing. His own wolves do not know what it is, but they are starting to question him. We overheard them talking. They said he has been different lately, that he is keeping secrets now.'

"Secrets. What kind of secrets?" he asked, his dark brows furrowed, as if in doubt.

"I don't know." Lena's voice sharpened with frustration. "But it is obvious Rowan's hiding something, something that has his whole pack on edge. We need to find out what it is before it's too late."

Her father nodded slowly, but his eyes were clouded with doubt. "And just how do you propose we do that? We can't exactly waltz into Ravenshade territory and demand some answers."

She drew a deep breath, knowing fully well what she was going to say wouldn't go down well. "I have to confront Rowan. Face to face. It's the only way to know the truth."

Her father's face darkened. "Absolutely not. It's far too dangerous. You could be walking into a trap."

"I know the risks," Lena said, her voice firm. "But I also know that Rowan won't give up his secrets easily. If we're going to protect our clan, we need to understand what he's planning. I'm the only one who can do this."

The silence that followed, while he viewed her with clenched jaw, was long. At last, a deep sigh escaped his lips. "You are just like your mother—pigheaded and to a fault, brave."

The mention of her mother brought a stab of feeling to Lena, but she set it aside. This wasn't a time for feelings about the past. She had to stay sharp, focused on the job at hand.

"I'll take Marcus with me," Lena replied, peering toward her brother. "We'll be careful. But we can't wait any longer.

Her father looked aside at Marcus, then back at her, clearly proud and concernedly worried at the same time. "Okay. But promise me you'll come back in one piece. The clan needs you both."

Lena nodded, hardening her resolve. "We will.

The decision was made, and so Lena and Marcus were to get their stuff together for the way. Something in the woods, and Lena's heart pounds at the dangers she knows are ahead but that's the only way to bring answers to what they had to know.

The journey to the encampment of the Ravenshade was tense and silent, both of them on their toes. They sped up the pace at which they traveled through the trees, avoiding any of the paths and taking extra care not to be followed. It was as if the whole wood was closing in on them, with the darkness deepening with every step they took.

They finally reached the edge of the Ravenshade territory. Lena paused, her breath catching in her throat again, as the dusky blaze of distant campfires appeared through the trees. This was her moment—it was finally time for that one moment she had prepared.

"You reckon that's it?" Marcus whispered toward the open reach of land.

"Yes," Lena snapped back, her voice as unyielding as steel. "But we'll need to be smart. We'll get as close as possible, then confront Rowan alone."

He looked like he wanted to argue with her again, but he plainly thought better of it. Marcus nodded and squeezed her shoulder. "Be careful."

She smiled, and her heart was racing with fear. She took a deep breath and braced herself for the music that would play in front of her.

She crawled through the brush, never taking her eyes off of the Ravenshade camp. It was not hard to notice what was going on within—a highly alert camp, humming with activity. Guards posted at the entrances, wolves moving through it with a purpose—whatever the case, clearly Rowan was gearing up for something big.

The thudding of Lena's heart eluded the outer guards; she knew it was a big risk on her part: there was no turning back now. She had to find Rowan.

She spotted him nearly at center camp, speaking in quiet tones with some of his lieutenants. He was tall and sharp-eyed, but it was more than that—commanding presence surrounded Rowan. That air of authority that swathed him—like an invisible mantle—left no observer in doubt. Lena's breath caught in her throat as she laid eyes on him, and that uncanny tug returned to her with his presence.

Lena steeled herself and stepped into the light of the campfires. The wolves around him tensed, their eyes narrow for a moment as they saw her, but Rowan held up a hand, stopping them from attacking.

"Lena Blackwood," Rowan said, his voice smooth but with that edge of surprise. "Now this truly is a dangerous place for you to be.

Steadily, Lena locked onto his eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm here for answers, Rowan. Why did you attack our camp? What are you hiding?"

For the barest half-second, it seemed like he just might deny it all. But then he did the surprising thing and sent away his lieutenants. They left them to talk in private.

"You're very brave" he said. "But you don't know what you're doing"

"Well then," said Lena, stepping forward. "What are your intentions, Rowan? Why have you broken off the attack?"

Rowan looked at her a bit too long, and then his face turned to stone. He breathed out slowly and his shoulders relaxed a little. "You won't give up, will you?"

"No," Lena said in a firm voice. "Not unless I find out the truth."

He surveyed her languidly, as if his eyes were searching for something in hers. At last, he parted his lips to speak in a voice that was low but somehow very intense. There are forces at work here that you don't understand, Lena. Forces neither of us can control. But if you want the truth, you'll have to trust me.

His words caused Lena's heart to leap, as if one thousand questions raced through her mind, but before she could speak, Rowan took another step forward; his voice dropped to a whisper.

"Meet me at the old ruins on the edge of the forest, tomorrow, at dawn. Come alone. I will give you the answers you're looking for. But Lena, my dear, be prepared. The truth may not be what you had in mind."

And with that, Rowan turned and slipped into the darkness, leaving Lena to stand with her mind reeling. She had come here to find some answers, and now apparently she was closer to getting them than ever before. As she turned, however, a feeling of doom settled over her.

Whatever it was that Rowan was hiding, it would be bigger than she could have ever fathomed. And now, there would be no turning back.