The Dangerous Game Begins

Sebastian's POV:

I was in the middle of going through the finance reports when my phone buzzed. It was one of the numbers I’d assigned to the men watching over Valerie, and for a split second, I almost ignored it.

I thought it was another status update. But something in my chest tightened before I even picked up.

“Yeah?” I answered, already pushing the papers aside.

“Alpha, she…” He began, panting heavily. “She's been shot, and we’re taking her to—”

“What?”

“There was an attack, and she got hit in the shoulder. We are currently taking her to Mercy General. She’s still conscious, but there's a lot of blood—”

That was all I needed to hear.

I was already on my feet, knocking over the chair behind me. My hand trembled just slightly as I ended the call.

I didn't wait for the guards posted outside the halls, I didn’t call for someone to get the driver, I just grabbed my damn keys.

I could barely see straight as I tore through the house, pushing past startled staff, the front door slamming behind me hard enough to shake the hinges.

I couldn’t breathe properly. Not when the last thing I’d said to her this morning was some sarcastic remark about the new boots she was wearing.

My fingers fumbled on the ignition for a second before the engine roared to life. The tires screeched as I reversed out of the driveway like a man possessed.

Because I was.

Valerie had been shot.

I gripped the steering wheel so tight I could feel the leather digging into my skin. My mind kept circling back to the words: a lot of blood. Still conscious. Still. But for how long? Who the hell had the audacity? Who touched my wife?

I ran every red light between the Packhouse and Mercy General. I didn’t care if I flipped the damn car. I just had to get to her.

Just let her be okay. Goddess, please—just let her be okay.

I felt a wave of relief when I got to the hospital and learned that she was stable.

Part of me wanted to stay by her side, but I forced myself to leave.

I couldn't let her see how much I cared, not when I’d learned the hard way that caring only brought misfortune, death, and weakness.

Still, it was impossible not to care. Our bond flared so fiercely every time I was near her, and yet—she couldn’t feel a thing.

While Valerie recovered over the next few days, I buried myself in trying to uncover who had dared to attack my wife. But every lead came up empty.

Everyone suspected Clara—even I did. But there was nothing concrete to pin on her.

With a sigh, I fastened the last button on my cuff and glanced at my reflection one final time. I’d been summoned to an emergency meeting with the Elders.

I couldn’t help feeling on edge, because the last time they’d summoned me like this, it was after I publicly rejected Clara.

They’d demanded I take her back—said her connections made her the ideal Luna, and that emotions had no place in politics.

As I stepped into the Council Hall, I immediately sensed the tension in the air. This was a place where Alpha voices were drowned out by men too stuck in their ways to hear anything new.

My eyes scanned the room. All six Elders were already seated, with neutral expressions, which only made my instincts tighten.

“Why was I called here?” I asked, impatiently.

Elder Maelin stood first. “Alpha Sebastian.” He said with a nod. “It’s always an honor to have your presence.”

I gave him nothing in return.

Elder Kael gestured to the seat at the end of the table, the one they always left for me during meetings at the council hall. “Please. Sit. This isn’t a confrontation, it’s just a conversation.”

Right.

I pulled the chair out and sat down slowly. “I’m listening.”

Maelin folded his hands on the table. “We called you here because we’re at a crossroads. The Pack is entering uncertain times—border disputes, resource strain, political fragility. And with all due respect, it is our duty to offer guidance... to ensure survival.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly. “Say what you mean.”

Kael leaned forward. “We believe there is a solution. One that could secure alliances, restore stability, and keep our enemies at bay.”

And there it was.

The prelude to a demand.

Still, I kept my face unreadable. “Go on.”

Elder Maelin cleared his throat for the third time—always a sign he was about to say something I’d hate. “We understand your loyalty to the woman who you claim is your Mate.” Maelin began, politely. “But the Pack is facing territorial pressure from the west, weakened trade ties since the last summit, and growing dissent among the outer rings.”

I didn’t respond. I knew what was coming, and I needed to hear them say it out loud.

“The MoonCrest Pack has extended an offer once again even after the embarrassment you caused his daughter Clara.” Elder Kael continued, leaning forward. “Their Alpha is willing to unite through marriage. You should get back together with his niece, Clara.

“She is of age, strong-blooded, and well-liked. Such a relationship would not only strengthen our alliance but bring the much-needed stability.” Elder Tyler, joined in.

I shook my head. “I already have a Mate.”

“You’re not married.” Maelin pointed out, too quickly. “The bond is one thing—but legal matrimony, ceremony, alliance? That’s another.”

“You want me to take a woman who isn’t my Mate as my wife, while Valerie stands where? Behind me?” I asked, coldly.

“She would still be yours.” Kael said, as if it were that simple. “She could remain as your concubine. Your Mate should understand the weight you carry. The Pack must come first, Sebastian.”

“No!” I said, without hesitation. “Valerie is not someone I’ll toss aside. So if you think I’ll marry Clara and make Valerie my concubine, then you’ve clearly forgotten who the hell I am.”

The room fell silent and Maelin’s expression soured.

“We had hoped you’d be more reasonable.” He said. “But if you’re determined to put your personal feelings above the survival of the Pack…”

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to.

Kael leaned back in his chair, almost relaxed. “The council has the authority to call a Pack-wide vote. If the people agree that a new Alpha is better suited to lead during this crisis, you can be removed legally.”

My heart pounded against my ribs, but I kept my face calm.

They weren’t bluffing.

I had too many enemies waiting for a reason to stir trouble. Too many border packs circling, waiting for weakness. A vote now, under these conditions would split the Pack in two.

Maybe worse.

I hated them for putting me in this position.

My throat felt tight as I finally spoke. “When?”

Maelin allowed himself to smile widely. “The wedding? Three months from today. That should give you enough time to prepare… both your house and your Mate.”

And just like that, Clara moved into the Packhouse, claiming she wanted to stay close to me while we prepared for the wedding.

I played along—pretending everything was fine, acting like I was genuinely getting ready to marry her.

But behind the scenes, I was still digging for evidence that she had leaked information to Thomas. I was certain she had orchestrated the attack that killed my wife's personal maid, two of my guards, and one of my drivers.

She was a traitor—I just needed proof.

Surprisingly, it seemed Valerie despised Clara's presence even more than I did. She withdrew completely, kept to herself, and stopped speaking to me altogether.

I didn’t owe her an explanation, so I didn’t offer one. But, I still felt guilty.

I was in the living room, half-listening while Luka talked through the updates from the RedHollow project.

He ran me through the supply issues and the territory disputes that had come up. It was nothing urgent, but enough to warrant his presence for two weeks.

“You’d think after the fifth meeting, they’d have some damn sense.” He muttered, pulling out a rolled-up map and flattening it across the coffee table. “Their eastern border is a mess. We’ll have to bring in—”

He couldn't complete the sentence as a scream suddenly tore through the house.

Both our heads snapped toward the staircase.

“Valerie?” I said, already on my feet.

And then I saw her body tumbling down the stairs. Her screams echoed through the building until it was cut short by the sound of her hitting the floor.

“No—Valerie!”

I was at her side in seconds, Luka right behind me. She was crumpled at the foot of the stairs, her head at a twisted angle, one arm pinned awkwardly beneath her.

“Shit!” Luka cursed under his breath.

Blood.

It was the first thing I noticed. Thin, dark streaks trailing down her thigh, pooling beneath her. My heart dropped straight into my stomach.

“Valerie.” I said, kneeling, brushing the hair from her face. “Valerie, open your eyes—baby, please—”

Nothing.

I scooped her into my arms, holding her like she’d break if I moved too fast, even though she already had.

“Clinic.” I barked, not even looking back. Luka cleared the path before me, pushing open doors, yelling ahead for the nurses.

Her head was bleeding, but worse—so much worse—was the blood down her legs.

No.

Not our baby.

Not now.

I burst into the clinic, and they took her from me instantly. My arms felt cold the second she left them.

“Stay outside.” someone ordered, but I barely heard it. I was still rooted to the floor when the door slammed shut in my face.

Seconds turned to minutes. Minutes dragged like hours.

I stood there. Waiting. Hoping. Begging—silently, desperately—just to hear her voice again. Just to hear a nurse say she was awake, that everything was fine, that the baby was okay.

But when the door opened, and the Packhouse's doctor stepped out, I knew before he said a word.

His eyes didn’t meet mine right away. “I’m sorry.” He said quietly. “She lost the baby.”