Nyx’s POV
The whispers in Ashenfang Pack carried an unease that settled deep in my bones. At first, I dismissed it as idle gossip, the kind that always swirled among wolves with too much time on their hands. But the longer I listened, the harder it was to ignore. There was something wrong—something lurking beneath the surface.
I stood at the edge of the training grounds, my gaze locked on Darius as he led the warriors through their drills. He was every bit the Alpha—strong, commanding, completely in control. Yet the air around the pack had changed. A tension ran through the ranks, an unspoken fear that no one dared to voice aloud.
"Did you hear?" a hushed voice floated from nearby.
I turned my head slightly, careful to keep my expression neutral. Two she-wolves huddled together, their words barely audible over the sounds of clashing weapons.
"About the rogues?" one of them asked.
The other nodded. "They’re organizing. Word is, they’re forming alliances. Fireclaw isn’t as untouchable as it used to be."
A chill crept up my spine. My wolf stirred uneasily, sensing my growing anxiety. Rogue alliances? That made no sense. Rogues were loners by nature—wild, unpredictable, and chaotic. They didn’t form alliances. They didn’t follow leaders.
But if they were…
I clenched my fists, trying to shake the dread clawing at my chest. It’s just gossip, I told myself. Yet, deep down, I knew better.
"Are you alright?"
Elara’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I glanced at her, finding concern in her sharp gaze.
"I don’t know," I admitted, keeping my voice low as we walked away from the training grounds. "There’s been talk. About the rogues. About unrest in the pack."
Elara’s expression darkened. "I’ve heard the same. The warriors are uneasy. Darius is strong, but if the rogues are organizing, it could be a real threat."
I shook my head. "Why would they do that? Rogues don’t work together. It’s not in their nature."
Elara hesitated before answering, her voice grim. "Unless someone is leading them."
I stopped mid-step, her words landing like a blow to the stomach. "Leading them?" My throat went dry. "Who would be foolish enough to try?"
"I don’t know," she admitted. "But if it’s true, Fireclaw is in danger. And Darius—" She exhaled sharply, casting a glance toward the training grounds. "He might not see it until it’s too late."
A sick feeling settled in my gut. Darius had always been a strong leader, but lately, he’d been distracted. By Thalia. By the strain in our relationship. By everything except the growing danger looming over us.
"I need to tell him," I said, determination stiffening my spine.
Elara gave me a skeptical look. "And you think he’ll listen?"
I hesitated. Darius had barely listened to me about Thalia—what made me think this would be any different?
"He has to," I whispered, but even I wasn’t convinced.
---
That night, I found Darius in his office, the scent of pine and smoke wrapping around me like a ghost of what we used to be. The space was filled with scattered papers and half-rolled maps.
"Nyx, I’m busy," he said without looking up.
I closed the door behind me, my heart hammering. "I know, but this is important."
His eyes flicked up, irritation flashing in them. "If this is about Thalia again, I don’t want to hear it."
"It’s not," I said, though her name always sat bitterly on my tongue. "It’s about the pack. The rogues."
His frown deepened. "What about them?"
I took a step closer. "They’re forming alliances. There’s unrest in the pack. People are talking, Darius. Even the warriors are on edge."
Darius leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "And you believe them?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "Darius, what if this isn’t just talk? What if someone is leading them? You can’t ignore this."
His gaze darkened, his Alpha presence pressing against me. "I know my responsibilities, Nyx. I don’t need you questioning how I lead."
My stomach twisted. He wasn’t listening.
"I’m not questioning you," I whispered. "I just want you to take this seriously. For the pack."
He stood, turning away. "There’s no danger," he said, his tone final. "You’re worrying over nothing."
I swallowed back the sting of his words, realizing that he had already made up his mind. He wouldn’t listen. And that terrified me.
