GRAY

I didn't know what came over me. But I was drawn to her. I believed her. I believed she'd help me conquer the Silver Claw pack.

Everyone knows me to be ruthless, so of course they were shocked, mouths parted, brows furrowed, eyes darting between me and her, when I didn’t chop her head off the moment she stepped into our borders. Instead, I gave her a second chance.

What the hell was I thinking?

There was something about her. An aura. A pull. It wasn’t just her words, it was her scent. A unique scent. I didn’t have time to figure it out.

“How could you, Gray?” Reid’s voice tore through my thoughts like a whip.

I turned sharply, blinking back to the present as the sound of his boots echoed off the cold stone walls of the war chamber.

He took a step forward, fists clenched at his sides, his jaw ticking as if he were trying to hold back the urge to punch me.

“You let her go,” he growled. “After what she did, after everything, how could you?”

"You're the Alpha, for the love of the goddess! You are supposed to protect us, not harbor a traitor!" Reid's eyes blazed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides as he glared at me while I drummed on the table with my fingers paying no attention to them.

The grand hall of the palace was in an uproar, with my Beta, Reid, and several elders yelling at me, their faces red with rage as I made no attempt to leave anyone any comment or whatsoever.

"You know, this would be a lot easier for us to process and try to understand if you actually say something, Gray." Reid demanded and I clenched my teeth before raising my gaze to meet his.

"A little disrespect but I'll let that pass for today. Reid, you seem to be forgetting that I'm your Alpha. Let's throw in the title and start over." I smirked and he swallowed, visibly trying to ease off his anger.

Anyone can get angry, just for today. I don't mind.

"Aye, why did you spare her life?" one of the elders demanded, his bushy eyebrows bristling with indignation as he stood to his feet.

"She's a threat to our very existence!" The elder's voice trembled with fear, his eyes darting nervously towards me and I nodded slowly.

"Hold on a little second, I wasn't so sure until this moment that the council was filled with weaklings. You all look like you're going to shit your pants because of a rogue."

"I made the decision to spare her life for the good of the pack," I growled, my voice rising above theirs as I leaned forward, crossing my arms together.

"And I've ignored your complaints but I won't be questioned about it by any of you!" My face reddened, my chest heaving with emotion as pin drop silence enveloped the hall.

The room erupted into a cacophony of shouting and arguing, with everyone talking at once. I winced at the chaos, feeling a headache brewing as I tapped my temples slowly.

They can vent, that's okay.

"Alpha, with all due respect, you can't just… "

"Enough. I can and I have." I bellowed, slamming my fist on the table.

The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on me while I surveyed them all at once.

"I am the Alpha of this pack," I reminded calmly. "And it's totally okay to feel angry by my decision but that doesn't mean I'll change it. It also doesn't mean that I will be swayed . My decision is final. Myra will live, and she will be under my protection." I started and they all exchanged glances before hushing and sitting back down.

Reid's face twisted in disgust as he tried to withhold himself.

"You're blinded by your stupid obsession with the silver Claw pack and it's obvious she knows that. You're putting the entire pack at risk!" Reid's voice dripped with venom, his eyes blazing with anger while I remained as calm as ever.

"That's enough words already, Reid. Please make your way to Tribulation." I ordered and the elders gasped.

"Wait what? You're sending me to Tribulation because of her? You're not even sure she's telling the truth about helping yet." He yelled, trashing out as the guards bundled him, taking him away.

"My beta is the closest to me and I just sent him to tribulation. I can do the same to anyone else here so have your pick. I'll hear no more of the matter." I stood up and walked out of the hall.

"Get the rogue, Myra, to the garden immediately. I won't wait long." I instructed a guard and they nodded.

The scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass filled my lungs as I walked into the garden and stared at the lavender plant.

I needed a moment to clear my head, to think through the chaos that had erupted in the palace. The elders and Reid were still fuming, and I knew it would take time to convince them that sparing Myra's life was the right decision or was it?

I must admit that the bitch was one suspicious and conniving wolf but perhaps, I could use that to my advantage.

I turned when I heard feet thudding and caught sight of the guard approaching with Myra behind him.

I nodded to the guard, and he bowed before turning and leaving.

Myra's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something there; fear, maybe, or uncertainty. It almost looks like she was confused.

But it was quickly replaced by a mask of calm, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of suspicion.

What was she hiding? Well hiding was typical of rogue behaviours.

I pushed the thought aside for now and focused on the task at hand.

"Myra, I've been thinking," I started... "You want to prove yourself, to show that you're committed to our pack. I'm willing to give you that chance."

Myra's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded.

"I'm ready. What do you need me to do?" Her voice was steady, but I could sense a hint of wariness beneath the surface.

"I need you to capture the rogue leader. Bring them to me, alive if possible." I smiled as she tensed up immediately.

Myra's face went white, her eyes widening in horror. She took a step back, her hands rising as if to ward off the very idea.

"You can't be serious," she whispered, her voice trembling. "That's...that's impossible. I don't even know..." She trailed off, perhaps deciding against saying what she wanted to.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. What was it about this mission that scared her so much? Well. That was more reason why she had to go.

"I'm dead serious," I said, my voice firm. "You want to prove yourself? This is your chance."

“That's not what I bargained for. I said that I would share information about the Silver Claw pack.” She muttered and I shrugged.

“Do you want your life or not? You're enjoying the luxury of breathing the same air I breathe and that's a privilege. I can cut off that privilege as quickly as the speed of light.” I stated and she gulped.

Myra's eyes locked onto mine, and I saw the terror there, the sheer panic. It was as if she'd been punched in the gut, all the air sucked out of her.

"You don't understand," she whispered, her voice cracking. "They'll kill me. They'll kill me the moment they see me."

I took a step closer, my eyes boring into hers. "I'm not giving you a choice," I said, my voice cold. "You'll do this, or you'll face the consequences."

"I'll do it," she said.

But then, she paused. Her lips pressed into a thin line before parting again.

"But on one condition."

I raised an eyebrow, the corner of my mouth twitching into something that wasn’t quite a smirk, more of a warning. The audacity. She's bold for someone who was nearly dead just hours ago.

I took a slow step toward her, folding my arms over my chest.

“What condition?” I asked, my voice even, though my eyes narrowed with suspicion.

Her jaw clenched, the muscle there twitching like she was wrestling with something inside her. Then, she looked up at me, her gaze burning with something sharp and wild. Vengeance.

"You’d help me get back at someone," she said, her words clipped and clear.