Emilia’s POV:

The door slammed behind me with such force it rattled the walls. My breath came out in shallow gasps as I stood frozen in the center of my father’s study, staring at the bloodstained letter in my hands.

The words burned into my brain, each one more absurd than the last:

“Alpha Gabriel Grant is dead.”

I wasn’t prepared for this. No one ever told me how I was supposed to deal with something like this. One minute, my father was a man of power and influence. The next? He was gone—murdered, left behind like an unwanted relic of a past I was supposed to inherit.

Everything I had once known about my world—about my life—was crumbling before me.

I stumbled back against the desk, my fingers gripping the edge for support. My eyes burned, but I refused to cry. I was supposed to be strong, to hold my ground as the new leader of the Crescent Moon Pack. But how could I lead when I hadn’t even been trained for this?

I never wanted to be Alpha. I never wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. My life was supposed to be different—quiet, normal, away from the politics and violence of the pack.

But now... now everything had changed.

There was no choice but to face the harsh reality of what had been thrust upon me.

And then the door opened behind me, slow and deliberate.

I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

Damian Wolfe.

The Alpha of the Silverthorn Pack.

The last person I ever wanted to see.

“You knew,” I whispered, not turning to face him. I could feel his presence behind me, heavy and suffocating, like a storm cloud about to burst.

“I didn’t know he would die tonight,” Damian replied, his voice smooth, too calm. “But I knew your father’s time was running out.”

My heart pounded harder in my chest, like a drum signaling an inevitable war.

Damian had always been a threat. We both knew that. Our packs had been at war for as long as I could remember. But now, with my father dead and me standing here, heir to a pack I didn’t want... it seemed like fate had just made him my worst nightmare.

“I didn’t ask for this,” I said, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. I could feel my pulse in my throat, the weight of the pack’s responsibility pressing down on my shoulders.

“You don’t get a choice, Emilia,” Damian said, his voice low and chilling. “You’re the heir now. Whether you like it or not, this pack is yours to lead.”

I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to lash out at him. My hands were shaking, but I forced myself to hold the letter tightly in my grip.

“You may have the title of Alpha, but that doesn’t mean you control me,” I spat, my back still turned to him.

“I’m not here to control you,” he said, his voice almost too calm. “But if you want to survive, you’ll need me.”

I finally turned to face him, and the sight of him sent a chill down my spine. Damian was tall, his broad shoulders and strong jawline a testament to his power. His eyes, dark and unforgiving, were fixed on me with an intensity that made my breath catch. He wasn’t just an Alpha—he was a force of nature.

And he was right. Whether I wanted him to be or not, he could help me. I needed him.

“I don’t need you, Damian,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, though I knew he heard every word. “I need my father.”

His gaze softened for the briefest moment, but it quickly hardened again. “Your father is gone. And you’re all that’s left of the Crescent Moon Pack. You’ll need every ally you can get.”

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the knot that had formed in my stomach. It wasn’t just that I was suddenly thrust into a position of power. It wasn’t just that I had to lead a pack of werewolves. It was him. Damian.

The very thought of him sent waves of unease through me. He was dangerous. He was ruthless. And—worst of all—he was my fated mate.

I couldn’t deny the pull between us. It was there, raw and undeniable. But that didn’t mean I had to like it.

“I’ll never be your pawn, Damian,” I said firmly. “I’ll make my own decisions.”

“You don’t have that luxury anymore,” he said, his voice hardening. “If you want your pack to survive, you’ll have to listen to me. We’ll have to work together.”

I shook my head, taking a step back. “No. I won’t.”

He stepped forward, his movements fluid and predatory. “You’re going to have to learn to trust me, Emilia,” he said, his voice lowering, the intensity of his gaze almost suffocating. “Because whether you like it or not, we’re bound by more than just fate.”

I froze, my breath catching in my throat.

What did he mean by that?

Before I could respond, the door to the study burst open. My head snapped toward the sound, and I saw one of the pack’s sentinels standing there, eyes wide with panic.

“Alpha Emilia,” the man said urgently, his voice trembling. “There’s something you need to see. It’s about your father’s death.”