A Presence
1229 Words
Axel’s POV
The East Territory felt wrong.
Axel noticed it the moment he crossed their border.
Not weak—no, the wolves here were strong enough. Land stable. Structures intact.
But something beneath it all felt… off.
Like a pack that functioned without truly living.
He said nothing as he moved forward, his second in command, Colt, falling into step beside him. Behind them, a small group followed—warriors, advisors, and Tally. Tally was the sister of his third in command, Hunter Kale, and the mate to his second in command.
The territory gates opened before they reached them.
His arrival had been expected. Alpha Maddic Black was already waiting. He stood at the center of the courtyard, flanked by his higher ranks, posture rigid, expression carefully neutral.
Too careful. Almost forced. His blonde hair greasy and slicked back, he looked just a grimy as he made you feel.
Axel slowed slightly as he approached. He was measured. Observant.
Maddic dipped his head. “Alpha King.”
Axel barely returned the gesture. “Alpha Maddic.” Except he didn't bow his head. He didn't need to. Every bowed to him. He bowed to no one as the Alpha King.
Up close, the man was exactly what Axel had expected. And something else. Something that didn’t sit right. Axel couldn’t name it immediately, but his wolf shifted beneath his skin, low and uneasy.
Not a threat.
But far from trust.
“You honor us with your presence,” Maddic continued. The words were correct. The tone was not. As if having Axel on his territory was an inconvenience. It wasn't a pleasure to have him, but a burden.
Axel gave a short nod, his gaze already moving past him—taking in the courtyard, the structure, the wolves positioned carefully along the edges. Everything was in place. Everything was… perfect. Too perfect.
“Preparations have been made,” Maddic said. “The eligible females are ready to be presented at your command.”
Axel resisted the urge to sigh.
This again.
Pack after pack. Territory after territory.
Faces blurred together. Voices meaningless. Forced smiles and carefully curated appearances.
None of it mattered.
If his mate was here—
He would know.
He hated this as much as Maddic did. Probably for different reasons. There was just something disturbing about putting women on display as if they are objects to be bought. Possessions.
“Later,” Axel said simply. Already annoyed.
Maddic hesitated. Then nodded. “Of course.”
They were led inside.
The difference was immediate. Where Axel’s kingdom was open—alive with movement and sound—this place felt restrained. Quiet in the wrong way. Like something constantly being held back.
His gaze flicked once toward the lower halls.
And caught movement.
A figure.
Small.
Gone just as quickly as it appeared.
Axel’s brow furrowed slightly.
That was strange.
“Is something wrong?” Tally’s voice came lightly from beside him.
Axel didn’t look at her. “No.”
But his wolf hadn’t settled yet. Tally and Axel grew up together. Along with her brother Hunter and her mate Colt. They could read each other like book. She knew when one of us was off, just as we did with her.
The main hall was already prepared. Tables set. Food arranged. Every detail precise. Servants moved quietly along the edges, heads lowered, steps careful.
Unseen.
Unnoticed.
Exactly as they were meant to be.
Axel took his place at the head of the table. Maddic across from him. Others filled in around them.
When the conversation began, it was formal and meaningless. Something he was getting tired of. Axel barely listened.
And then—
A shift.
It was subtle.
So subtle he almost missed it.
A change in the air.
Not scent.
Not sound.
Something else.
His gaze lifted. And landed on her. She stood near the far wall, partially shadowed, a tray balanced in her hands.
Still.
Quiet.
Almost invisible.
Almost.
Axel’s eyes narrowed slightly. There was nothing remarkable about her at first glance.
Her clothing was plain—simple fabric, worn from use. A servant’s uniform. A transplant. Her posture was careful, her presence deliberately small.
Unthreatening.
Unimportant.
But his attention didn’t waiver.
Something about her didn’t fit. It wasn’t strength, she actually looked weaker than most transplants he saw. He had seen strength in countless wolves. He knew what strength looked like and this wasn't it.
It wasn’t beauty. She wasn't ugly, but nothing about her appearance made her stand out either.
Though—
His gaze lingered a fraction longer.
Dark brown hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, slightly unkempt, as if it was never meant to be seen. Her features were soft, but drawn tight with restraint. Pale skin.
But her lip—
His expression darkened slightly.
Split. Bruised.
And recent.
His jaw tightened.
“Axel.” Tally’s voice, quieter now.
He didn’t respond immediately.
“Do you see her?” she asked softly. Again, they always did know how to read each other.
His gaze remained fixed. “Yes.” Knowing exactly whom Tally was talking about.
The girl shifted slightly under the weight of the room, as if sensing attention she wasn’t meant to feel.
But she didn’t look up. Didn’t move. Didn’t draw attention. Disciplined. Too disciplined. He saw statues that moved more than she did. Breathed heavier than she did.
“Her eyes,” Tally murmured. That's when the girl finally moved.
She stepped forward. Not toward him but toward the table. Toward the space beside him. Axel’s body went still. She shouldn’t be here.
Not this close.
Not in direct service.
Maddic noticed too.
Axel saw it in the brief tightening of his expression. His jaw ticked. But he said nothing.
The girl reached his side. Close enough now that Axel could see her clearly. He could smell her and while she looked a little unkempt. She still smelled like citrus, tangy and sweet.
“Your drink, Alpha,” she said softly. Her voice was quiet and controlled.
She kept her gaze lowered as she placed the glass before him. But just as she stepped back—Something shifted.
For a split second she looked up.
And Axel saw them.
Gold.
Not brown.
Not hazel.
Gold.
Bright and unnatural.
Wrong.
His breath caught. Something inside of him reacted instantly. Not his mind. Not logic. Something deeper. And Older.
His wolf surged forward—Then stopped.
Abruptly but also confused.
Axel’s hand tightened slightly against the table.
The girl dropped her gaze immediately and stepped back, retreating into the shadows as if she had never been there at all.
Gone.
Silence rang in his ears. No thoughts to process. He'd never seen anything like it.
“What is she?” Axel asked, voice low.
Maddic’s answer came too quickly. “A transplant.”
Dismissive.
Sharp.
Final.
Rude. But Maddic knew that. He also didn't seem to care.
Axel’s gaze didn’t leave the space she had disappeared into. A transplant. No. There was something else. He could feel it. Like a memory he didn’t have. Or a scent he couldn’t quite place.
Tally leaned slightly closer. “I like her,” she said quietly.
Axel didn’t respond. Tally didn't even know her. For the first time since beginning this search something had shifted.
And he didn’t understand it.
- Writer
