CLOVER
The mansion rose like a fortress against the twilight, its stone walls glowing softly under the fading light. Howard’s Beta, Caleb, led the way with precise, silent steps, his presence as imposing as Howard’s unyielding gaze. My fingers tightened around my bag strap as I followed, Cleo’s low hum of unease whispering in the back of my mind.
Stay sharp, she urged.
Inside, the grandeur was suffocating. Howard’s wheelchair moved smoothly as he gestured toward a heavy wooden door. “Follow me.”
He didn’t wait for a response, and I didn’t hesitate. My father had sold me to this man, tied me to this world, and I needed answers.
When the door creaked open, the sight within stunned me. A little girl sat on a plush rug, dark curls tumbling over her shoulders. Her small hands moved in quick, fluid gestures. Blaire. Howard introduced her without preamble. “She’s my daughter.”
I barely processed his words before he continued. “She’s deaf and mute, like you.”
The weight of his intent crushed me. I wasn’t truly mute, but my silence over the years had become my armor. Blaire’s gray eyes flicked up to meet mine, so much like her father’s, yet softer, innocent. Something about her fragility pierced through my defenses.
“She’s why I brought you here,” Howard said, his tone hardening. “No one outside this pack knows about her. Not even her mother.”
The mention of Blaire’s mother sent questions spiraling through my mind, but Howard’s gaze warned me against asking. “Protect her. Help her,” he demanded. “In return, I’ll give you whatever you ask for.”
The room fell silent, his command a heavy weight. I nodded, the pull toward Blaire outweighing my anger at my father’s betrayal.
As I followed Caleb to my room, Cleo’s voice cut through my tangled thoughts. He’s hiding more than he’s telling.
The next morning, a knock jarred me awake. Moments later, Howard rolled into the room, his expression unreadable. “Get ready. We need to talk.”
I obeyed without a word, dressing quickly. As I stepped into the hall, he led me toward a pair of grand double doors. Before we reached them, a guard approached.
“Alpha,” the guard said, his tone urgent. “News from Wildthorn Pack. Thomas Kane and Lucille Weston are to be bonded in five days.”
The name hit me like a blow. Thomas—my former mate. Lucille—my sister.
Howard’s sharp gaze caught my reaction. “Does this affect you?”
I shook my head, swallowing the storm of emotions threatening to spill over. Howard didn’t press further. Instead, his focus shifted as another guard arrived.
“Alpha, Tanya Kane is at the gate.”
Tanya. The name sent a shiver down my spine. Howard’s demeanor darkened instantly. “Don’t let her inside. Send her to the training grounds. I’ll meet her there.”
His sharp command left no room for argument. As he turned to me, his eyes were steely. “You’re coming with me.”
The training grounds buzzed with energy, wolves sparring in synchronized precision. At the center stood Tanya, her imposing presence unmistakable. Her sharp eyes locked on us as we approached.
“Howard,” she drawled, her voice syrupy and mocking. “Is this the replacement you’ve chosen?” Her gaze landed on me, her disdain cutting.
Howard’s response was swift. He reached for my wrist, pulling me toward him. Before I could react, his lips were on mine—decisive and claiming. The world seemed to tilt as Cleo stirred in shock, her presence vibrating through me.
When he pulled back, Howard’s icy gaze met Tanya’s. “Does that answer your question?”
Her smirk faltered, replaced by simmering fury.
Howard’s tone turned deadly. “If you don’t stop meddling, Tanya, I’ll expose everything. When the truth comes out, your father will disown you, and no one will want you.”
Tanya’s confidence cracked, her face paling. Without another word, she stormed away.
As her figure disappeared, Howard exhaled slowly, his wolf’s intensity retreating. “Now you see why Blaire is so important—and why I chose you.”
Before I could respond, his expression shifted, shadowed by something darker. “This is only the beginning, Clover. Brace yourself, Clover. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The truths buried here will shake everything you believe.”
The chill in his voice lingered, leaving me with one question burning in my mind: What else is he hiding?
