The next day, after training, Aliyah knew what she had to do. Garrick's commands had been unusually sharp, his gaze harder than usual. Every time their eyes met, his expression gave her nothing. She could feel the weight of his disappointment pressing through every moment of silence.
She waited until the sun had sunk low before making her way to his chamber.
When she stepped inside, Garrick was seated at his table, finishing a meal. The moment he saw her, his brows furrowed, his expression hardening. He didn't speak.
Aliyah bowed. "Beta Garrick."
He gave a curt nod, eyes returning to his plate.
"May I… may I have a word with you?" she asked quietly.
He didn't look at her, but his voice came firm. "Why are you here, Aliyah? Or should I say, Dara?"
Hearing the name "Dara" sent a chill through Aliyah, and she realized, with a jolt, that Garrick must know more than she expected.
She hesitated, her words tangled in nerves. "I just… I wanted to—"
"Sit," he cut her off, gesturing to the chair across from him. "Take a breath. Then talk."
She sat slowly, folding her hands tightly in her lap. Silence stretched between them before Garrick spoke again, his voice tight.
"I didn't realize you two were so close, for him to care this much about you going to your chamber," he said, his tone sharp with unspoken tension. "I thought you barely knew him."
Aliyah looked down, taking a slow breath, before finally speaking. She recounted everything—how her pack had been attacked, how Leo's father had saved her, and how, over time, she and Leo had become inseparable. She spoke of their bond, the moments that shaped them, and the years that brought them here.
Garrick listened quietly, his face unreadable, but his hands clenched slightly on the table.
When she finished, he leaned back, his eyes dark.
"So," he said softly, his voice tight with restraint. "Do you still have feelings for him?"
The question hit her like a slap. For a long moment, she couldn't find the words—her throat tight, her heart racing—but then she nodded, just once.
Garrick exhaled a bitter laugh, his voice dark. "You don't have to say it. I can see it in your eyes after everything you just said about him."
His next words were sharper, almost venomous. "You've fallen in love with the son of the traitor who killed your whole pack."
The words stung, deep and raw, ripping open old wounds. Dark memories flooded her mind—the blood, the loss, the devastation. But she held her ground, her eyes unwavering.
"I know," she said, her voice steady. "But they still took me in. I'm alive because of them. I owe them that."
The silence between them stretched, thick and uncomfortable, as Garrick processed her words. His eyes darkened, his hands resting on the table as he pushed his half-eaten plate aside. The tension in the room was palpable as he stared at her, his voice low and guarded.
"I've always liked you, Aliyah," he said, the words slower, as though each one weighed on him. "Since the day you arrived." A bitter smile tugged at his lips. "Maybe it was foolish of me… but I thought… maybe, in time…"
He paused, faltering before blurting out, "I love you, Aliyah. I can't imagine my life without you. You'll be my perfect mate. When I become Alpha, you'll be my Luna."
Aliyah tensed, her eyes dark, only listening.
Then Garrick stood, moving closer to her, his eyes intense. His hand hovered near her face, fingers twitching, torn between reaching out or pulling back. Aliyah could feel the warmth of his proximity, the weight of his unspoken desire hanging in the air.
But before he could close the distance, Aliyah shifted her head, avoiding his touch. Her breath caught in her throat, but she forced herself to steady it, meeting his eyes with quiet resolve. The silence stretched, heavy and thick.
"I'm sorry, Beta Garrick," she said, her voice steady despite the tightness in her chest. "I never meant to hurt you. You've always treated me with kindness. I'll never forget that." She paused, emotions threatening to slip. "But I've only ever seen you as a brother… and the Beta of this pack."
A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Right," he said quietly. "The Beta."
Silence fell again, thicker this time, heavy with words neither could bring themselves to say.
Finally, Aliyah stood. "I just wanted to be honest with you. You deserve that."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left, the door closing gently behind her.
Garrick sat motionless, the echo of her words ringing in the silence. Slowly, he rose, his fists clenched, knuckles white.
"I won't let you go, Aliyah," he muttered, the words low and fierce. "You think this ends with a conversation?"
A twisted smirk tugged at his lips as his mind began to race. "I must have a conversation with Bayle," he said, his tone laced with something cold, calculating.
His eyes burned with something darker than heartbreak—something closer to obsession.
---
Tension hung thick in the air. News had spread—Alpha Dominic was returning. During his absence, the pack had tasted a measure of freedom. But with Dominic's reputation for strict discipline and zero tolerance for disobedience, the atmosphere now buzzed with urgency. No one wanted to be caught unprepared—not with him.
For Beta Garrick, the news was more than just a return to order. It was an opportunity. Leo's presence had long overstayed its welcome, and now, with his brother back, Garrick saw a chance to finally restore balance—and reclaim the control he felt slipping.
The heavy thud of boots echoed down the corridor. The room fell into silence as Alpha Dominic crossed the threshold, his cold, commanding aura sweeping through the hall like a winter storm. Wolves dropped their heads in deference, bodies tense.
Beta Garrick stepped forward. "Welcome back, brother," Garrick said with a rare flicker of warmth. "You've been gone far too long."
"Dominic clasped his brother's arm, his expression unreadable. 'It's been long enough to see how things have fared in my absence,'" Dominic said, his tone carrying a hint of authority. "I trust the pack has held its ground."
Garrick chuckled faintly. "Your presence was sorely missed."
Then, with a respectful tilt of his head, Garrick gestured behind him. "Alpha Leo of Blood Crescent Pack—he's waited to speak with you."
Leo stepped forward, posture firm. "Alpha Dominic. An honor."
Dominic studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You've grown strong, Leo. I can see the fire in your eyes, just like your father."
Leo nodded slightly, a quiet acknowledgment, his posture still firm but respectful.
Then, Dominic's tone softened for a brief moment. "I'm sorry for your loss. Your father was a force to be reckoned with."
Leo met Dominic's gaze, his voice steady but tinged with the weight of his father's memory. "Thank you, Alpha. His legacy runs through me."
Dominic's gaze sharpened again. "Let's hope his legacy lives on in you."
Leo dipped his head. "I intend to make him proud."
Dominic regarded him silently, then gave a curt nod. "We'll speak further—after I've seen what your presence means to my pack."
He then turned to Bayle who was standing beside Leo "And you are?"
Bayle stepped forward, offering a respectful bow. "Bayle, Beta of Blood Crescent. We met once during a joint summit—several years past."
"I recall," Dominic replied. "You stood by your Alpha's side. A loyal second."
After a pause, Dominic's voice shifted back into command. "You'll be formally received during council. For now, rest and prepare. We begin anew at first light."
With that, he turned and moved through the hall, his presence cutting through the room like a blade.
The wolves dispersed swiftly, not daring to linger.