-FINN-
Finn jogged up the steps of the packhouse, the faint tattoo on his wrist almost seeming to pulse as he moved. Why does it always have to be me? he thought. George’s orders had been clear: wake Freya and Tobias, no matter what. Still, Finn wasn’t thrilled about the task. They’d only just mated, and he wasn’t eager to interrupt… whatever they might be doing.
He paused outside their door, hesitating. What if they’re still—nope, don’t go there. He shook his head and knocked lightly. There was no answer. He waited a few moments, then knocked again, a little harder this time. “Tobias? Freya? Uh, it’s Finn. George sent me. Something’s happening at the training grounds, and he said you should come.”
Nothing.
Finn groaned and muttered to himself, “Great. Just great.” He rapped on the door again, harder now, and called, “Look, don’t make me knock this door down. I don’t want to see something I’ll regret!”
The door opened abruptly, and Finn found himself face to face with Tobias, shirtless, his blue eyes blazing with irritation. His wolf was clearly on edge, and Finn immediately took a step back, holding up his hands. “Whoa! Don’t bite the messenger, all right?”
Tobias growled softly, but before he could say anything, Freya appeared behind him, her hazel eyes curious and slightly concerned. She rested a hand on Tobias’s arm, and his expression softened just slightly, though his glare at Finn remained.
“What is it?” Tobias asked, his tone clipped.
Finn swallowed hard, his wolf nudging him to get the words out quickly. “Uh… George sent me. There’s… someone at the training grounds. You need to see for yourself.”
Freya frowned. “Who is it?”
Finn shook his head. “I don’t know. Just… someone unexpected. George and the others thought you should come. That’s all I know.” He glanced at Tobias’s tense expression and added quickly, “Look, I’m just following orders, okay?”
Tobias muttered something under his breath but nodded. “We’ll be down in a minute.”
Freya turned to Tobias, concern flickering in her eyes. “Do you think something’s wrong?”
Tobias placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch steadying. “We’ll find out soon enough.” He shot a look at Finn. “Go on. We’ll be right behind you.”
Finn didn’t need to be told twice. He turned and jogged back down the hallway, exhaling heavily as he reached the stairs. “Next time, someone else gets the fun job,” he muttered, shaking his head as he headed back toward the training grounds.
-ALPHA‐
The training grounds were tense, the air thick with unease as the Alpha’s piercing gaze swept over the group. Daemon stood tall, his grey eyes calm but sharp, taking in every detail. The tattoo on his wrist, a faint white band that glowed softly in the moonlight, felt like both a beacon and a chain.
The Alpha’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Well, Daemon. It’s been… years.” His tone was carefully measured, but there was no mistaking the undertone of suspicion.
Daemon didn’t flinch under the scrutiny, his stance relaxed yet firm. “It has. I didn’t expect to return.”
“And yet, here you are,” the Alpha said, his gaze narrowing. “Care to explain why?”
“I came for answers,” Daemon replied smoothly, his voice even. “There’s a lot I don’t remember. A lot I need to understand. And it starts here.”
The Alpha’s lips thinned, but before he could press further, George stepped forward, subtly placing himself between Daemon and the Alpha. “Daemon’s not a threat,” George said firmly, his dark eyes steady. “He’s here to help.”
The Alpha’s brow lifted. “Help? With what, exactly?”
George hesitated, exchanging a glance with Liam, Mira, and Zara. None of them spoke, their silence heavy with unspoken truths. They didn’t trust the Alpha with the full story—not yet. Helena looked between all of them unsure what was happening but knowing to stay quiet right now.
“Help us train,” George said finally, his tone carefully neutral. “He’s got skills we can use.”
The Alpha’s eyes narrowed further, flicking between them. “Is that so?” He studied Daemon for a long moment before nodding slowly. “We’ll see.” His gaze lingered on Daemon’s wrist, the faint tattoo visible even in the low light. “Interesting mark you’ve got there. Same as the others, I see.”
Daemon’s expression didn’t falter, but his wolf stirred uneasily. “It’s nothing. Just a bond we share. A club if you like…”
The Alpha’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “A bond, you say? Bonds can be powerful… or dangerous.”
He looked around but the others remained silent and he sighed. “We will talk about this again but I have things to do.” He held up a hand as George was about to offer to help. “I do not need you right now. Carry on… bonding” and he stalked off.
The heavy oak door to the Alpha’s study creaked shut, sealing him inside the dimly lit room. A single lantern on his desk cast shadows across an enormous map sprawled over the surface. Red and black pins dotted the territories, marking pack borders, rogue strongholds, and potential battle zones. Beside the map lay an array of rolled-up parchments—letters, meticulously written and sealed with his personal insignia.
The Alpha leaned over the map, his fingers tracing the marked borders with precision. His sharp eyes lingered on the symbols for Freya’s former cottage and Magnus’s territory. He picked up a dagger and stabbed it into the rogue’s area, as if sealing their fate with the force of his ambitions.
“Pawns,” he muttered, his voice low and calculated. “All of them.”
Pulling a fresh sheet of parchment from the stack, he dipped his quill into the inkpot. His handwriting was deliberate and flowing as he crafted another letter. The recipient? An Alpha of a nearby pack with a tenuous allegiance.
To Alpha Graeme of the Northern Frostlands,
I write with urgency and caution. Word of a white wolf has reached your lands, I’m sure. Such creatures are dangerous, but their power can be guided under the right leader. I propose a meeting to discuss our mutual interests and potential cooperation.
With strength and foresight,
Alpha Rowen of the Shadowclaw Pack.
The Alpha set the quill down, letting the ink dry. Nearby, a pile of already-written letters awaited messengers. Each letter sought allies, fuelled by promises of power and carefully planted seeds of distrust toward Magnus, Freya, and any who might stand in his way.
Behind him, a map of the territories hung on the wall, studded with notes and scribbled observations. Scribbled notes near Magnus’s land read, “Rogue King,” while Freya’s name was circled with a question mark. Another mark over Tobias read simply, “Unpredictable.”. He added Daemon’s name with a question mark beside it. He was not sure why Daemon had returned now, but he would find out.
His gaze kept returning to the thread connecting Freya to the prophecy, his mind spinning plans within plans. He didn’t need to confront Magnus outright yet—others could weaken the rogue first. But Freya, she was his key. Her power, fully harnessed, could make him not just an Alpha—but the Alpha King.
-DAEMON-
The training grounds buzzed with quiet tension as the Alpha’s imposing figure finally strode away, his dark eyes sharp and suspicious as they lingered on Daemon one last time. George let out a small sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Thank the Goddess he’s gone,” he muttered under his breath, exchanging a wary glance with Liam.
Daemon stood silently, his piercing grey eyes scanning the gathered group. He could feel their unease, their curiosity, but he held his composure. Helena stood slightly apart, her expression a mix of wonder and confusion, her wolf already restless with the undeniable bond they now shared.
“Alright,” George began, his tone low and cautious. “We’ll keep this between us for now. No one breathes a word of this to the Alpha until we figure out what’s going on.”
A faint rustle reached them, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps. Tobias and Freya appeared, Finn trailing behind with his usual grin, munching noisily on an apple. Tobias’s blue eyes immediately locked on Daemon, his wolf bristling as he instinctively stepped protectively in front of Freya.
“Who’s this?” Tobias growled, his tone low and dangerous.
Daemon turned at the voice, his expression softening as his gaze fell on Freya. Her steps faltered, her hazel eyes widening in shock. Recognition danced in her eyes, though uncertainty clouded her features. “You were in the cottage…” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Daemon nodded, his lips curving into a faint smile. “It’s me, Freya. Daemon.”
Her breath hitched. “Daemon?” she repeated, her voice breaking.
The next moment, she closed the distance between them, throwing herself into his arms with a strangled sob. “You’re alive!” she cried, her hands clutching his shoulders tightly. Tears streamed down her face as she buried her head against his chest, her body trembling with raw emotion. “All this time, I thought you were gone. I thought you were dead…”
Daemon’s arms came around her, tentative at first, before holding her tightly. His voice, thick with emotion, was barely above a whisper. “I’m here now, Freya. I’m here, and I’m not leaving again.”
Tobias growled low in his throat, his wolf surging to the surface. His fists clenched at his sides as he took a step forward. “Freya,” he snapped, his tone sharp, his eyes burning with suspicion. “Who is this?”
Freya pulled back slightly, turning tear-filled eyes to Tobias. “It’s Daemon,” she said softly. “He… he was my friend, my protector, when we were kids.”
“Friend?” Tobias echoed, his voice laced with disbelief. “Protector? Who exactly is he to you?”
Daemon straightened, his gaze locking on Tobias with quiet intensity. “I’m her brother,” he said firmly, his voice unwavering. “Her twin.”
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Freya froze, her breath catching as the weight of Daemon’s revelation sank in. “My… my brother?” she repeated, her voice a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Daemon nodded, his expression tender as he looked at her. “Yes. We were separated when we were babies but were in this pack together until we were 8, when everything fell apart. Our parents separated us to keep us safe.”
Tears welled in Freya’s eyes again, her hands trembling as she brought them to her mouth. “No one told me,” she whispered. “I didn’t know…”
“I know,” Daemon said softly. “It wasn’t safe for you to know. But I’ve been looking for you ever since. I had no idea where I had come from, or how to get back to you”
Freya’s tears spilled over as she flung her arms around him again. “Daemon,” she sobbed. “I missed you so much. I thought I was all alone…”
Daemon’s voice was thick with emotion as he rested his chin on her head. “You were never alone,” he said quietly. “And you never will be again.”
Tobias’s wolf growled again, this time with less menace and more frustration. “Brother or not,” he said, stepping forward, his tone firm, “Freya is my mate. She’s my priority.”
Daemon met Tobias’s gaze evenly, his respect for the other man growing. “Good,” he said simply. “Then we’re on the same side.”
The tension eased slightly, though Tobias’s protective instincts remained sharp. George cleared his throat, drawing attention back to the group. “Well,” he muttered, “that’s a lot to take in before dinner.”
Finn, who had been silent until now, let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, no kidding. Anyone else feel like we’re living a prophecy or something?”
Helena stepped forward, her amber eyes soft as they flicked between Daemon and Freya. “So, you’re family,” she said quietly. “Looks like that makes us family too.” She hesitated before adding, “You’re not going anywhere, Daemon. You’re part of this now.”
Daemon turned to her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I wouldn’t want it any other way,” he said, his voice low.
Freya, still nestled in Daemon’s arms, glanced at Helena and smiled through her tears. “Thank you,” she said softly. “All of you.”
Liam, who had been watching quietly from the side, suddenly stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “Wait a minute,” he said, his voice breaking the momentary calm. “If you’re Freya’s twin, does that mean…?” He trailed off, his gaze sharpening as it locked onto Daemon.
George’s eyes widened as the implication sank in. “Daemon,” he said, his tone cautious but curious, “are you…?”
Daemon straightened slightly, his grey eyes steady as they swept over the group. He nodded once, the motion deliberate. “Yes,” he said simply. “I’m a white wolf too.”
A stunned silence fell over the group, the weight of his words pressing down like a physical force. Freya pulled back just enough to look up at him, her hazel eyes wide. “You are?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Daemon met her gaze, his expression softening. “I am,” he said gently. “We both are.”
Zara’s eyes flickered with shock and a flicker of awe. “Two white wolves,” she murmured, almost to herself. “The prophecy… It’s starting, isn’t it?”
Finn let out a low whistle, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well,” he said with a nervous laugh, “if anyone doubted we were living a prophecy before, this pretty much seals the deal.”
Tobias’s wolf bristled, his jaw tightening as he processed the revelation. His blue eyes flicked to Daemon, then back to Freya. “This changes everything,” he said, his voice low.
“It does,” Daemon agreed, his tone calm but firm. “But it doesn’t change what matters most. Freya is my sister, and I’ll protect her with my life. That hasn’t changed—and it never will.”
Freya’s eyes shimmered with emotion as she reached for Tobias’s hand, her fingers threading through his. She looked at him, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling around them. “We’ll face this together. All of us.”
The group shared a moment of quiet camaraderie, the bonds between them growing stronger with each passing moment. But in the distance, the weight of the prophecy loomed, and the future promised challenges far greater than they could yet imagine.
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