Rick leaned back in his chair, brows furrowed as he stared at the mountain of paperwork on his desk. The ink on the page blurred before his eyes, his signature resting on a document he hadn’t finished reading.
He couldn’t shake the image of Emerald from his thoughts. Her fierce gaze remained with him, and the piercing howl she let out before she fell still echoed in his mind.
"Focus," he muttered to himself.
He reached for his coffee mug, only to grasp at empty air. His hand hovered for a moment before curling into a fist.
She wasn’t here anymore.
It struck him then: Emerald always brought him his coffee, even without having to ask or call for it.
He grunted and sat back, rubbing his temples as he tried to push the image out of his head. "She’s nothing," he said aloud, trying to convince himself. "She made her choice."
He yanked his attention back to the papers when a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.
"What?" Rick snapped.
The door creaked open, and a young messenger entered, his gaze lowered, holding a sealed envelope with a crimson ribbon around it.
"This just arrived for you, Alpha."
Rick scowled. "Can’t you see I’m busy?"
"Apologies, Alpha," the boy stammered. He placed the envelope gently on his desk and backed out of the room as if the very paper might ignite.
Rick rolled his eyes. "Useless."
He eyed the envelope for a second. It was sealed with black wax and stamped with a crest he didn’t immediately recognise.
Still, he didn’t open it. Instead, he shoved it aside and stood.
Alia lay in bed, wrapped in blankets and strategically placed pillows. She stared at the ceiling like a fragile, broken doll waiting to be pitied.
The moment Rick entered, she let out a soft moan and turned toward him with teary eyes.
He sat on the edge of the bed, brushing her copper hair from her face. "How are you feeling?"
"I try to be strong," she whispered, her voice shaking just enough. "But... it’s hard. The pain... it... it keeps coming back."
Rick exhaled heavily, brushing his thumb across her knuckles. "You’ve been through a lot, and I’m so sorry."
A small, sad smile touched her lips. "I know. And I know you’re hurting too."
He looked away, jaw tight.
"You lost a child as much as I did," Alia continued softly. "We had plans, Rick. We were going to raise him with the pack. Make him strong like his father."
Rick closed his eyes, jaw clenched.
Alia let out a long breath. "I’m sorry. For being a burden."
"You’re not," he said automatically, though the hesitation in his tone lingered like a shadow.
She sniffled. "I keep dreaming about him... about Lucien. I see his little face... smiling at me. Like nothing ever happened."
Rick’s eyes darkened.
Alia turned toward him, her lashes damp with perfectly timed tears. "Why did Emerald hate me so much, Rick? Why would she do something like that? Did I make her feel that threatened?"
Rick’s hand clenched, knuckles whitening.
"She didn’t even flinch," Alia whispered. "She pushed me like I was nothing."
Rick’s voice came low and hard. "She never confessed. Not once. Even with blood on her hands. Even when she was on her knees, I gave her a chance. She still lied."
"She must’ve felt so insecure..." Alia murmured. "Maybe if I hadn’t been here, if I hadn’t been close to you... Maybe none of this would’ve happened. Maybe... our baby would still be alive."
"Don’t you dare blame yourself," Rick snapped. "This is on her. All of it."
Alia let out a broken sob, burying her face into the pillow. "I didn’t mean to be a wedge between you two... I only wanted peace. I just... wanted to belong."
Rick stood abruptly, pacing. "She was jealous. Possessive. Weak. Always thought she was better than everyone else. She craved power more than she cared about the pack."
Alia’s voice cracked as she wiped fresh tears from her cheeks. "Maybe I made her feel small. Maybe it was my smile... the way I looked at you. Maybe that was enough."
Rick growled under his breath. "Stop. You did nothing wrong."
She hesitated, then gave him a teary smile, voice trembling. "She wanted your attention, Rick. And maybe I was wrong to stay close... but I never thought she’d do this. I never thought she’d be this cruel."
Rick turned toward the window, his thoughts spinning into darkness.
"She made her choice," he muttered. "She was never meant to be Luna. She couldn’t lead. She couldn’t even love."
Alia’s next words were barely audible. "Do you think she regrets it?"
Rick didn’t answer right away. His voice, when it finally came, was icy. "I hope she does. I hope she suffers for what she’s done. I hope she dies slowly... and alone. She’s probably dead already for all I know."
Rick left Alia’s room after putting her to sleep, even though his temper was still simmering. Darren was waiting at the end of the hall.
Rick stopped short. "Darren."
Rick stepped closer. "You didn’t say a word when I punished her. Not one. No protests. No opinions."
"I serve you, Alpha," Darren replied. "My loyalty is yours."
Rick studied his face. "And you agree with what I did?"
"I trust your judgement," Darren said evenly.
Rick gave a stiff nod. "Good."
Together, they walked back toward the study.
When they entered, Darren’s eyes flicked to the black-sealed envelope still sitting untouched on the desk.
"What’s that?" Darren asked.
Rick raised an eyebrow. "No idea," he said, tossing it to Darren. "Open it."
"Seal looks familiar," Darren muttered. "I think it’s one of the High Houses."
Darren slit the wax and unfolded the letter, his eyes scanning it quickly. Then he froze.
Rick frowned. "What?"
Darren looked up, eyes wide. "It’s an invitation. Coronation ceremony. The Western Shadow Fang Pack."
Rick’s brow twitched. "Coronation?"
"Of their new Alpha."
Rick let out a dry laugh. "Vale Lycanis died? Damn. That old bastard was tough."
Rick turned back to his desk, but something about the letter pulled his attention.
He snatched it and scanned the calligraphy: "You are cordially invited to witness the coronation of Late Alpha Vale Lycanis’ daughter, the rightful heir to the Western Shadow Fang Pack."
The words hit him like a punch to the chest.
"What the hell—" he muttered.
Darren stepped back, brows furrowed. "A female Alpha? That’s..."
"Unheard of," Rick finished. "Lunas rule through their Alphas. Not alone. Pfft. Nonsense. You know what this means?"
"That she earned it?" Darren offered dryly.
Rick shot him a look. "It means some power-hungry she-wolf who should be a support to the alpha thinks she can run a pack and kingdom all by herself."
He stared at the invitation again, his fingers twitching.
"I’m curious to see who this... female Alpha is."