FANGS OF LEGACY

CHAPTER 004

My mood matched the drab grey of the sky. Years had passed, but the anguish of losing my mother was still very much present. I missed her every single day, even though I never said it aloud. She understood me. She did. Not like my dad.

Even though he ought to have relinquished his position as Alpha by now, he had never done so. The majority of Alphas bestowed the title on their children well in advance of their 47th birthday. But here he was, continuing to hold on to the job as if it were his identity. I assumed he simply didn't want to choose between us, but he never explained why. How, after all, do you choose one son out of four?

We are indeed quadruplets. I realise it's strange. Despite this, each of us has adopted a distinct role within the pack. To be honest, since Mom passed away, we have been in charge of everything. Dad's Alpha only in name.

He's probably waiting for one of us to find a partner. He holds the traditional view that an Alpha needs his Luna by his side. On our eighteenth birthday, when we first shifted and received our wolves, my brothers wished for it. Every one of them dreamed of that enchanted bond with a predestined partner. But not me.

Seeing my father crumble after Mom passed away? Thank you, but no. At that moment, I made the decision to choose my partner. I would turn her down. Nobody should be able to control someone to that extent. It destroyed him. The rest of us were left to pick up the pieces, take the lead, and continue.

I looked at Victoria, who was still curled up in the blankets in my bed. She appeared calm. We had history—kind of. Mostly hookups. She probably believed it to be more. Though not in the way she desired, I did care about her. She wasn't my Luna. I also didn't require one.

Take a shower. clothing. Out the door. My father said we needed to talk, so he sent for me. Fantastic. I didn't need another one of his dejected expressions and halting speeches because I already understood what this was about.

I went into his office after knocking.

I made sure to use just enough venom in my final statement, "You wanted to see me, Alpha." I called him that out of spite, not because he forced me to.

He sighed and got to his feet. "Let's go for a stroll."

Naturally. A stroll. Not a huge deal. dragging me into the woods as if I had nothing better to do. I silently followed him. Like clockwork, I lit a cigarette, and then—

"What a repulsive habit."

didn't even give him a glance. "I'm glad you're not my doctor."

On our way to the mountain, we ventured farther into the forest. There is still no genuine dialogue. Why had you brought me out here all the way?

I stopped at last. "All right, enough. What is it that you couldn't simply say in your workplace?

He waved for me to follow him while continuing to walk without immediately responding. I remained motionless.

He pivoted. "The Alpha title is at issue. I want to figure out how to pass it on in a fair way.

I felt sick to my stomach.

"Are you going to force us to fight for it?" I lost my temper. "All of us have been managing the pack quite effectively. Why is it that we only have one leader?

He answered as if it were that easy: "Every pack needs a single Alpha."

"All right. And you've probably already decided on something. Is that Ethan?

His expression remained unchanged. "I haven't made up my mind."

That was untrue. I sensed it. He appeared worn out and breathless from the ascent. "You still believe you can keep this pack safe? Take a look at yourself.

"I used to be close to you, Sabatian. I am aware that you are still upset with your mother—

"Avoid it." I interrupted him. Her name was not something I wanted to hear him say.

That's when I noticed something. A glimmer of motion. The wind causing the fabric to flap.

"What is that?" I gestured to the path's edge. He ran away as soon as he saw it. I followed closely behind him.

He shouted back, "There are two women!"

We hurried over to them. They were huddled together, trembling, and hardly conscious. Their skin was pale, and their lips were blue. frozen.

My father yelled, "Help me," as he attempted to separate them. The cold had frozen them together. The sight of the long-blond girl pressed against the other made my heart race.

"Are they living at all?" I crouched next to them and asked.

"They're barely breathing." He gave the smaller one to me. I held her close to me. Her hair blew back, and her head lolled against my chest.

Oh no.

She was stunning. Not in an ostentatious manner. Simple features, feather-like lashes, cheek freckles, and slightly parted lips. and chilly. So chilly.

"Take her. I'll go get the other one.

I tried not to stare and mumbled, "Yes, Alpha." However, I was powerless to stop it.

She felt light in my arms, as if she weighed nothing at all. There was no blood when I looked to see if she was hurt. Only a few scuffs. She was completely unconscious. I also picked up the bags they had dropped; if they carried them this far, it must be significant.

I whispered close to her ear, "Hang in there, little one," as an odd sense of protectiveness grew inside of me. Her scent was a combination of rain and lilacs. My wolf awoke with curiosity. It wasn't common. This was not his usual reaction.

"Be quick!" Dad shouted.

We hurried towards the infirmary along the trail. I cinched my arms around her. It felt wrong to let someone else hold her, even though I didn't know her name.

Gabriel was already there, his eyes wide, when we arrived at the building.

He yelled, "What happened?"

My father replied, "I found them close to the ridge."

Before approaching me, he looked at the other girl, nodded, and gave directions.

"Allow me to take her."

"No. I have her. Where would you like her to be?

He blinked. "The fifth room."

I had already started to walk. I was not going to give her up.

I laid her down gently on the bed in the room. Her hair was brushed away from her face by my fingers. She remained motionless. Gabriel followed me in carrying supplies.

Her eyes opened as he leaned in with a torch.

Green.

Beautiful.

She blinked, bewildered, and then her face filled with panic.

"Mum!" She screamed and sprang to her feet.

She was conscious—and afraid.

I remained motionless. Couldn't. My heart was beating so loudly that I was certain Gabriel could hear it, and those eyes were still fixed on me.

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