Chapter Two – Ultimatums and Unwanted Advances
It had only been a week since Rowan returned to his home pack tucked away in the quiet mountains, and already, his patience was wearing thin. The air felt different—thicker somehow, charged with a pressure that hadn't existed before. Whether that was due to the elders breathing down his neck or the rogue activity creeping closer to their borders, Rowan wasn’t entirely sure. What he did know, however, was that peace—true peace—was becoming harder to grasp.
Since his return, the elders had done everything short of chaining him to a she-wolf to ensure he chose a Luna. Six separate times, they’d orchestrated what they assumed were innocent encounters but were anything but subtle.
The first had been at the training fields, where he'd found Sylah waiting with a tray of refreshments she claimed to have brought “out of kindness.” The moment his warriors cleared the field, she'd slid far too close, pressing a water flask into his hand and her chest against his side.
The second time, he'd found Rhea—sweet, too-sweet Rhea—in the library, bent over a pile of books that just so happened to be all about Luna responsibilities. She’d batted her lashes and asked if he’d “sit with her a while and discuss the future of the pack.”
The third had been during dinner. The kitchen staff, clearly coached, had served him beside Eliaa, the third of the elder-favored candidates. The two of them had been seated at the head table, and she’d spent the entire meal commenting on how well he’d lead, how strong and virile he looked. He’d nearly choked on his stew.
Then came the fourth—a "random" late-night walk where Sylah just happened to be stargazing near his favorite clearing. Dressed in barely a slip, she’d greeted him with a sultry smile and words that curled like smoke. He’d left her mid-sentence.
The fifth had been a sparring session with Liora, who "insisted" on training privately. Halfway through, she’d dropped her blade and reached for his chest instead. He’d promptly ended the session and called for a warrior to escort her out.
The sixth—Rhea again—had shown up at the war room with a basket of baked goods and a note from the elders reminding him of his “duty.”
Rowan was tired. Tired of the games. Tired of the pressure. And tired of waiting.
He paused outside the war room now, rubbing the back of his neck as the meeting with his warriors concluded. The reports from the border were troubling. There had been three rogue sightings in the past week alone—each closer than the last.
“No markings, Alpha,” his scout had said. “But they were definitely watching.”
That unsettled Rowan more than he cared to admit. No one had found their hidden location for centuries. The idea that someone might now… it made his skin crawl.
They were too exposed. Too complacent.
He needed more patrols. More traps laid along the outer trails. Maybe even magical wards, if the witches they worked with in the past would honor another favor.
He shook off the weight of strategy as he climbed the stairs to his room, only to freeze when he opened the door.
There, sprawled across his bed like some damn siren, was Sylah.
Naked.
Her long red curls fanned across his pillow, one leg bent just enough to hint at what lay between her thighs. She smiled like a woman who knew she would get what she wanted.
Rowan growled, the sound low and full of warning. “Sylah. Get. Out.”
She pouted. “Why the rush, Alpha? I thought you’d be tired. Stressed.” Her voice dripped with sultry confidence. “I can help you relax.”
He didn’t budge. “You’re trespassing.”
“You don’t look mad,” she murmured, rising to her knees, her body on full display.
“You don’t know me as well as you think,” he snapped, stepping further into the room, fists clenched. “I’ve told the elders and each of you—I will not be coerced into choosing.”
“You’ll need someone soon,” she purred. “Your time is almost up. Why not make the obvious choice?”
Rowan’s eyes darkened. “And if I did choose you, would this be how you rule? Naked in my bed, defying my orders?”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Get. Out,” he repeated. She tried once more to crawl toward him, but he stepped aside and opened the door. “Leave now, or I’ll make sure the elders hear about this. And next time, I won’t be so forgiving.”
She hesitated, pride crumbling in her eyes before she grabbed her discarded robe and stormed out with a huff.
Alone again, Rowan exhaled through his nose and called for a maid. “Fetch Rhea. Bring her here. Tell her I wish to speak with her.” The girl nodded and scurried off.
Rhea had maintained a respectful distance from Rowan this past week, her interactions with him mostly limited to polite nods and brief exchanges.
Rhea arrived fifteen minutes later, eyes wary, posture stiff. She had golden-brown hair always tied back in a simple braid and sharp gray eyes that missed nothing. She was the quietest of the three, and never once had she thrown herself at him.
He respected that.
“Alpha,” she greeted softly, her voice calm but steady.
“Rhea,” he said, motioning for her to sit.
She did.
“I’ll be blunt. The elders won’t stop. They’ve made it clear—if I don’t choose a Luna within the time they gave me, they’ll hand over leadership to my cousin.” His jaw clenched at the thought. “I don’t want that,” he continued. “But I also won’t be forced into a bond that means nothing. So here’s my proposal. If I don’t find my mate before the deadline, I’ll choose you.”
Rhea’s brows rose. “Why me?”
“You’re the only one who hasn’t tried to seduce or manipulate me,” he said simply. “You’ve shown nothing but respect for me and the position. If I have to name a Luna, I’d rather it be someone I can work with. Not someone who wants power for the sake of it.”
She was quiet for a moment before nodding. “I accept. On one condition.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
“If you find your mate—even on the final day—you choose her.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “Deal.”
He stood. “Also, I need you to move into the packhouse.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“It’s just an appearance,” he said. “If we’re pretending to court, we need to make it look believable. Stay in the wing with the other unmated she-wolves. Be present for events. If the elders ask, we’re getting to know each other.”
“Understood,” she said, standing. “Anything else?”
He shook his head. “Be presentable in the morning. I’ll be announcing our courtship first thing.”
She gave him a nod, then turned and left the room. When the door shut behind her, Rowan leaned back in his chair and exhaled.
It wasn’t perfect.
But it bought him time. Time to find his true mate. Time to rewrite his fate. Time to lead as the Alpha his pack deserved.
And if he had to play the game to win?
Then so be it.
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