Enzo's POV
The ride to Craven Pack was monotonous and felt like it would never end. Sitting beside Alpha Damien, I found myself battling the weight of his overbearing presence. He said little, but the way he held himself—his aura of authority—was stifling. I wasnt happy to be in the trip, tired but I knew better than to let my discomfort show. When we finally arrived, I didn't expect my breath to be stolen by a vision of beauty.
She stood near the edge of the gathering, her posture timid as if she were trying to disappear into the background. Her worn-out gown couldn't hide her curvaceous figure, and her face radiated a quiet allure. Yet, I couldn't ignore her fleeting glances at Damien. Who was she? She didn't look like the daughter of an Alpha—not with that modest dress and demeanor. My gaze shifted to another woman, dressed provocatively and oozing arrogance. The pride in her stance left no doubt—this had to be the Alpha's daughter. But her ostentatious presence paled in comparison to the quiet beauty hiding in the shadows.
The time for the mating ceremony came faster than I anticipated. I was holding a drink when I realized Damien was no longer beside me when the air around me shifted before the chaos erupted. I caught sight of her again—this mysterious woman—running but she was crying and Damien stood frozen, his face etched with something between shock and fury. My heart clenched painfully when I pieced it together. She was his mate. No, not just a replacement mate—a second chance mate.
The Moon Goddess is cruel.
"She was supposed to be mine!" I roared, slamming my fists against the door of my room. The wood splintered under the force, but I didn't care. The image of her filled my mind, and a storm of rage and longing swirled within me.
Later, Damien came to deliver his decree. "We're leaving Craven Pack tomorrow morning," he said. His tone was flat, but his authority brooked no argument. "She's coming with us."
I bowed slightly, as protocol demanded, but my fists clenched at my sides. Watching him walk away, I felt a dark hatred take root in my heart. My wolf, Zen, growled lowly in agreement. You've taken everything from me, Damien. But soon, I'll take it all back. You'll grovel at my feet, begging for mercy.
As I made my way to my room, her image haunted me. Every detail of her face and eyes was etched into my mind. Lying on the bed, I closed my eyes, and she was there. Her body. Her scent. Her essence. She was intoxicating, a drug I couldn't resist.
The morning of our departure, I tried to suppress my feelings. But when she handed me her bag and our hands brushed, I felt electricity spark through me. Her sweet, flowery scent was enough to make my wolf stir. My restraint was crumbling. I wanted her with me—riding beside me—but Damien claimed her space.
The attack that came during our journey was planned but it felt like fate playing its hand. Watching her fight, I saw her strength and grace. She was magnificent. She will be ours, Zen declared with conviction. I couldn't argue. She belonged to us, not Damien. Now I just had to find a way to show her the truth—show her who Damien really was.
Arriving at Raven pack, retiring to my room, inwa itching to see her again but when I use her scent to trace her she wasn't in her toom, rather I caught her lingering near the forbidden room in the packhouse. Curious, was she? Escorting her back to her room, and when she didn't let me in, a flicker of irritation rose. But I calmed myself when I remembered that her room was separate from Damien's. That knowledge alone soothed my wolf.
Before leaving, I leaned closer. "If you need anything, Luna, you can ask me," I said softly, letting the weight of my words sink in. She froze, and I could tell my presence unnerved her. Satisfied, I clicked the door shut and walked away.
She was consuming my every thought, and I reveled in it. But Damien's mind-link cut through my fantasies, his voice sharp and commanding.
"I received a red note," he said, his tone laced with tension. I smirked internally. The plan was unfolding perfectly. Even the surveillance footage had been erased, leaving no trace of the act.
"I need you to discreetly investigate every pack member. Do not raise suspicion," Damien ordered.
"Yes, Alpha," I replied smoothly, masking my satisfaction.
Moments later, his voice invaded my mind again.
"Why weren't you at the meeting?" he demanded.
"I had something urgent to handle," I replied, my tone carefully controlled. Suppressing my anger was getting harder with each interruption. When he finally severed the link, I exhaled deeply, relief washing over me.
A notification on my burner phone drew my attention. The location was familiar. I moved quickly, changing into dark clothes and slipping out of the packhouse unnoticed. The abandoned building stood as unassuming as ever. Climbing to the third floor, I entered the code, and the door opened to reveal a hidden sanctuary—a well-furnished apartment with a lab filled with scientific equipment and rogue experimentation.
"Grandfather," I greeted the man at the center of it all. The mastermind. He didn't look up, engrossed in his work with vials of liquid.
"Did you kill the rogue as instructed?" he asked without turning.
"Yes, but Damien is becoming suspicious. He's ordered an investigation of the pack."
Grandfather finally glanced at me, his gaze sharp and calculating. "Does he suspect you?"
"No," I assured him. "But we need to lay low for now. The red note has agitated him, and he won't rest until he finds someone who's connected to the rouge attack."
He nodded thoughtfully, his focus shifting back to his work. "I heard Damien has another mate," he said. "Do you think she could be the one from the prophecy?"
I hesitated, recalling every interaction with Zendaya. "I don't think so. She bears no mark, and I haven't seen her wolf."
His expression hardened. "Find someone to take the fall—and ensure they don't survive."
I smirked, my dark plans solidifying. Someone would take the fall, and I would continue to play the loyal Beta. But soon, my revenge would be complete. I would take everything from Damien. I would rise as Alpha. And Zendaya? She would be mine.