Olivia POV
"He is desperate," my father said.
Mr. Hayes sat in his tufted leather armchair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. He was the Alpha Supreme, a man whose silence carried more weight than most men's shouts.
"Good." I rested my hand on the high curve of my belly. I was eight months along now. The ancient White Wolf energy had accelerated the pup's growth and strength; I felt huge, but undeniably powerful.
"He has been trying to breach the perimeter," Dad continued, his eyes fixed on the fire. "He wants to see you. He wants to know about the child."
My heart gave a painful lurch, but my White Wolf immediately coated it in ice. "He has no child. He forfeited that right when he made his choice."
"We need him away from the territory while you birth the pup," Dad said. "And we need you to fully ascend without interference."
"What do you propose?"
"A diversion," Dad said simply. "We leak information. We tell him there is a chance. That the child survived the rejection, but barely. That if he proves himself, maybe..."
"Hope," I whispered, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. "You want to torture him with hope."
"It is the only thing that will make him leave the city to chase a ghost," Dad said, taking a slow sip of his drink. "I have set up a trail leading to the Northern Mountains. While he is chasing shadows, you will go to the Sacred Grounds."
I nodded. It was cruel, but necessary.
That night, under the watchful eye of a full moon, I entered the Sacred Grounds of the Hayes estate. It was a clearing surrounded by ancient standing stones, the air itself vibrating with energy.
I stripped off my clothes, the night air cool against my feverish skin.
*Shift,* my Inner Wolf commanded.
It didn't hurt like the first time. There was no breaking, only becoming. It felt like coming home. My bones rearranged, fluid and fast, expanding to accommodate the power within. Fur sprouted, thick and white as fresh snow.
I stood on four paws, dwarfing the height of a normal wolf. My vision shifted, the world desaturating into high-contrast shadows and burning heat. I threw my head back and howled at the moon.
The sound resonated through the earth, a deep, guttural vibration. I felt the pack lands responding to me. I felt the location of every Warrior, every Omega.
And then, I felt him. Michael.
He was miles away, lurking near the border. I could feel his misery. It tasted like ash and ruin.
*Leave,* I projected, using the amplified power of the White Wolf.
It wasn't a mere Mind-Link; it was a broadcast—an alpha command written on the wind.
I sensed him flinch physically, as if struck.
My senses expanded further. I checked the perimeter. No Rogues. No Serena. But the shadows whispered that she was still out there, waiting.
I focused on my womb. The pup was safe, encased in my protective energy. He would be an Alpha. A Hayes Alpha.
I shifted back, gasping as I returned to human form. Mom was there instantly, wrapping a heavy wool cloak around me.
"You are radiant," she whispered.
"I am ready," I corrected her, pulling the cloak tighter. "Let him chase the ghosts, Dad. When he comes back, he won't find the wife he rejected. He'll find the Luna who outgrew him."
