Ever since I left my father's study yesterday, a storm brewed within me—a storm of doubts and questions, sadness and heartbreak. But when I woke up this morning from the nightmare in which I was killed by that Rogue, I resigned my fate to the Moon Goddess and prayed that this arrangement with Alpha Azriel shall be my salvation.

“Here we are, Rhiannon,” my father said beside the driver. Rowan and I both sat at the back seat and exchanged knowing glances.

Our navy blue car rumbled to a halt at the grand gates of Alpha Azriel's pack. I pulled the windows open and leaned out slightly, my breath catching at the sight before me. I’ve never been to the Moonborn Pack.

To be honest, it rivals the beauty of the Moonbeam Pack. The sprawling territory was a harmonious blend of soft tones and bold themes—tall trees along with pine trees framed elegant stone pathways alternately, and a statue of the Moon Goddess greeted us as the car started again and drove past the entrance. Fields and flower gardens of various colors stretched toward distant hills. The packhouse and the Alpha’s mansion itself loomed in the distance, an impressive structure of black wood and transparent glass that gleamed under the afternoon sun.

“It really speaks rich,” Rowan muttered as he too surveyed the lands.

“I think it speaks as the richest!” I joked, but immediately silenced myself when none of us in the car laughed or smiled.

It was beautiful, far different from my own pack’s rugged landscape. This place felt more refined, like a hidden gem tucked away from the sight of others’ peering eyes.

“Rhiannon!” Catrin waved at me in the distance. She has a relative in this pack hence she arrived first. “First time here, bestie?” my best friend, Catrin, pinched my arm softly as she walked beside me as if to wake me up from my gaping and admiring.

“Ye-yes!” I nodded absently, my senses heightened as I took in the surrounding sight, the scent, the sound of the rustling trees and the touch of the foxglove that hung from the entrance arch and grazed my cheek.

This visit was supposed to focus on politics and my arranged marriage, yet my thoughts kept drifting to the beauty of the pack, how a pack’s richness can really be seen in its place. From packhouses to gardens and decorations. Even their temple seemed to cost twice than the overall wealth of my pack.

Catrin kept talking and I just let her. Glancing ahead, my father, Alpha Dorian, walked a few paces ahead, his posture regal as always. He was already speaking with one of Azriel's pack members, a Beta perhaps, who had come to greet them.

“The Alpha is currently attending to personal matters,” my werewolf hearing faintly picked up at the words the Beta was saying. “He will attend to you as soon as he’s finished.”

“Personal matters?” Catrin chirped beside me. I shushed her immediately.

“Alphas do have personal lives outside of pack duties, you know.”

“You’re the only personal matter I can think of,” she winked.

I rolled my eyes and huffed, “Who knows? He’s masturbating somewhere.”

We both laughed. When my father and brother turned towards us, Catrin and I covered our mouths.

“I’m so glad you’re with me, Cat.”

“I’m happy to help.” She linked her arm with me and we both happily walked, letting the soft breeze ruffle our braided hairs.

“Girls, you can wait here by the rose garden,” my father ordered.

I looked confused at first, but then my brother patted me in the shoulder. “Father has something confidential to see and discuss. We’ll be back right away,” he then winked.

“Well that went fast,” Catrin whistled beside me, “Now what?”

I shrugged and let go of her arm. Caressing a nearby flower, my eyes flicked toward the treeline at the edge of the path. For a brief moment, my heart skipped a beat.

“It’s him,” I whispered, fear slashing my expression.

There, partially hidden among the dense foliage, stood a figure. A Rogue.

I still remember how he stood, like how he approached and attacked me that night when I went alone in the forest.

“Rhiannon? Who are you looking at?” Catrin asked curiously.

I blinked. The sunlight suddenly felt cold. I closed my eyes for a second and opened them right away. Something pulled me to him, like a bond.

The Rogue was still there. Lean and powerful, with eyes that seemed to pierce right through my soul. My breath caught in my throat—

“I’m sure it was him,” I made a step forward. “The Rogue.”

Catrin gasped. I walked towards the treeline and my bestfriend shouted my name, grabbing my arm. “Rhiannon?!”

My pulse quickened as I stared and walked ahead. But the nearer I was, I realized...it was the other Rogue.

The one who saved me.

“Hey!” I called out to my savior.

“Rhiannon!” Catrin shook my shoulders.

I exhaled and whirled my head back to the threes. Just as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone—as if he had never been there.

“He was there,” I muttered to myself. “Perhaps he just slipped deeper into the shadows of the trees?”

I’m sure it was my savior. My attacker and him looked identical in the distance, but my savior’s green eyes are unmistakable.

“You okay?” Catrin’s throat bobbed as her grip softened, noticing my sudden stillness.

I blinked, shaking myself out of the daze. “I—I thought I saw someone,” I murmured.

She arched a brow. “Probably one of Azriel’s patrol guards. They’ve got tight security around here.”

“No,” I kept my voice to a whisper in case someone heard. “It was him.”

Catrin’s expression softened with concern and confusion. “The Rogue from the forest?”

“No,” I said, biting my lip. “The one who saved me.”

And I knew in my guts that I wasn’t imagining any of it. He’s here—in the Moonborn Pack.