The Silverclaw Packhouse buzzed with life. Lively music pulsed as wolves gathered around. They raised their glasses to Jason, the future alpha. In a dim corner, he wore a smug grin while sipping whiskey. Jessica leaned close, her laughter ringing out, cutting through the celebration.
“You know,” Jessica said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness, “the last I heard about little Eva, she was standing on a cliff ready to jump. Can you believe that?”
Jason’s expression didn’t change, though a faint flicker passed through his eyes.
Jessica smirked, swirling the drink in her hand. “It’s perfect. I don’t even have to lift a finger to get rid of her. The girl’s doing all the work herself.”
Jason chuckled, a low, hollow sound that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Something about the image of Eva standing alone on that cliff didn’t sit right with him. He pushed the thought aside. She’s not your problem anymore, he told himself.
Jessica noticed his hesitation and leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his ear. “Forget her,” she purred. “She’s gone, Jason. And now you’re free to have someone who’s actually worth it.”
He didn’t respond, but when she kissed him, he didn’t pull away. Her hands trailed down his chest, her touch insistent. The heat of the moment grew as Jessica’s lips moved along his neck. Jason let her push him back against the couch, the tension of the day melting away under her attention.
Jessica’s dress slipped from her shoulders as she straddled him, her golden hair cascading around them like a curtain. They were both halfway undressed when the door to the room slammed open with a force that made the walls shudder.
“Jason!” a frantic voice called from the hallway. “Your Majesty, you can’t—”
The warrior’s warning came too late. The door burst open, and the air in the room shifted, charged with an unfamiliar power.
Jessica screamed, clutching at the remains of her dress to cover herself as she scrambled off Jason. Jason stood abruptly, his chest bare, his expression shifting from annoyance to rage.
“Who do you think you are, barging in here like this?” Jason snarled, his voice sharp. “I could have you executed for—”
The words died in his throat as he locked eyes with the intruder.
Standing in the doorway was a man whose presence radiated authority and power. His golden eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, and his sharp features were framed by an air of unshakable confidence. Even Jason, accustomed to commanding a room, faltered under his gaze.
“Uh… Your Majesty,” Jason stammered, his voice dropping. “My apologies. What brings you to my pack today?”
Sam’s gaze swept over Jason and Jessica with cold disdain. His lips curled into a smirk, though there was nothing friendly about it.
“Were you not taught to kneel in the presence of royalty?”
Jason immediately dropped to one knee, his head bowed. He grabbed Jessica’s arm and yanked her down beside him.
Sam stepped further into the room, his movements deliberate. He tilted his head, his smirk widening. “I’m here to take what’s mine.”
Jason looked up, confusion flickering across his face. “Your mate is here? In Silverclaw? Who’s the lucky she-wolf?”
Sam’s eyes darkened, and his voice was steady and sharp as a blade. “The one you just rejected.”
Jason froze, his mind racing as the weight of Sam’s words settled on him. Beside him, Jessica’s mouth opened in shock, her face pale as she glanced between Jason and Sam.