Silas’s P.O.V
Entering the pack house, I was met with a flurry of activity. Anika's presence commanded respect, her aura radiating authority and warmth. She stood at the center of the room, surrounded by her loyal pack members.
Anika led me to the living room, where we were finally left alone after her packmates provided us with drinks and refreshments. However, I knew from my senses that we were constantly under watch. If I so much as breathed wrong, I would be in serious trouble.
"Silas," Anika looked at me with a warm smile. "Welcome to the Sapphire Valley Pack."
It was a relief that Anika had held true to her words and welcomed me warmly, and she hadn't turned out to be a scam who had lured me out only to hand me over to my brother.
Zoya had been pretty welcoming. But you fucked it up. You ruined it…
Ignoring the voice in my head, I returned her smile. Even though I was welcomed with open arms…there was definitely something here that I wasn’t aware of just yet.
"Thank you, Alpha Anika," I replied, my voice filled with sincerity. "I’m extremely grateful for your help."
Anika called out to her pack members, issuing orders with an air of authority. “Prepare a room for the Alpha and make preparations for dinner." Her men dispersed, relaying her instructions to the kitchen staff.
The promise of a feast — perhaps to celebrate my arrival — hung in the air, an expression of Anika's generous hospitality.
"Now," she turned to me with another smile. "We have much to discuss. Should we go somewhere more…private?”
“As you wish.” I nodded. It’s not like I had a choice.
I followed her through the bustling pack house, my gaze taking in the vibrant energy that thrived within its walls.
As we entered her office, I couldn't help but take in the place, feeling a little awkward to be here alone with her. I was in her place, once. I was the Alpha of my own pack too. But those days were long gone.
Anika settled into her seat behind the desk, inviting me to take a seat opposite her. The room exuded a sense of warmth, adorned with symbols of their pack's history and achievements. It was a space where decisions were made and alliances forged.
"Let me start off by saying that I do believe that you aren’t a murderer," Anika began, her voice firm yet gentle. "And that I am extremely sorry for the loss you suffered."
“Lily was my brother’s mate.” I told her. “It wasn’t my loss to bear.”
“But you two were lovers once.” She tilted her head to the side, studying me. “Almost inseparable. I’ve heard stories.”
“It was a long time ago.” I swallowed, feeling the memories flash before me almost like it had been yesterday.
But I shook my head, unwilling to let those memories distract me. Like I had told her, Lily was indeed a distant memory. However, finding her killer was still my top priority.
Anika leaned forward, her gaze steady and compassionate. "Regardless, I am sorry for your loss.”
"Thank you, Alpha Anika," I responded, nodding in acceptance before I changed the subject. "You said we have important matters to discuss?"
“Yes, we do.” She smiled, and this time, it was all business. “I had to go all the way into enemy territory in search of you, Silas. But finally…I’m glad to have you here.”
Her words made me frown, my mind racing with all kinds of possibilities. “Why? I’m all alone. I’ve been abandoned by my own pack. I don’t have money, nor power. Then why are you so interested in me?”
She sighed. "Because it doesn't matter to me," she said. "What you have or don’t have now. None of it matters. I am only interested in the future."
I held her gaze. "Then… what kind of future do you expect?"
Anika's gaze didn't waver as she met my questioning eyes. There was a steely determination in her voice as she spoke, her words carrying the weight of her past experiences in life.
"Silas, my pack consists of wolves who have been cast aside, abandoned, and exiled by others," she explains. "Just like you, they have faced rejection and loss. We all have. I believe in second chances, and I provide a home for those who have been shunned by others and have nowhere to go."
I absorbed her words, my mind processing the significance of her pack's vision. I couldn't help but feel a stirring within me, a glimmer of hope that perhaps I have found a place where I can belong once more.
"But where do I fit in all this?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity. "What do you even expect of me?"
Anika's features soften, a hint of vulnerability breaking through her strong facade. Her gaze meets mine, her voice filled with the weight of her past disappointments.
"I once believed in the Moon Goddess and the concept of a fated mate," she confesses. "But my own experiences shattered that belief. I loved someone deeply, but the goddess didn't grant me the mate I desired. I was left heartbroken and alone. The second he found his mate, I was cast aside like stale meat. As if I had no feelings, no emotions."
My eyes widened as I realized the likeness of Anika's pain. I could relate to the feeling of shattered expectations, the disillusionment that comes from unfulfilled desires. And I had loved someone, too — Lily — and it turned out that she was my brother's mate.
Anika continued, her voice steady but tinged with determination. "I want to reshape the future, not just for myself but for those who have been discarded by others. I want to expand my reach and show the world that we aren’t just wolves who had been cast aside."
"And how do you plan on doing such a thing?" I asked her.
She didn't miss a beat. "I want to take over those packs that had cast out my now-packmates. And I want to start with your pack."
I gazed at Anika, my mind processing the weight of her offer. The idea of reclaiming my rightful place as Alpha filled me with a sense of purpose, but I couldn't help but harbor reservations.
“You want me to help me regain my pack?” I asked. “How?”
“I’ll provide you with the men you need. I’ll provide you resources.” She said. “All you need to do is train them to be soldiers and lead us to victory.”
Something was definitely wrong here. No Alpha, no matter a born Alpha or a made one, just hands over the power of her pack to a stranger without there being a catch.
"You're offering me your wolves and your support to help fight back against my brother," I said, his voice tinged with skepticism. "But what do you truly want in return?"
Anika met my gaze, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"What I want is to be your Luna, your chosen mate," she says, her eyes meeting mine with a sense of fierce determination. "To be your partner, to stand beside you until the very end. Till death do us part."