Amity's POV:
The hum of the car filled the air as we made our way toward the meeting, the familiar beat of the radio setting the mood. The song "Royals" was on, and I couldn't help but smile as Leila belted out the lyrics. She had an incredible voice, always hitting the notes just right, while I sang along to a few parts, letting her take the lead.
As the song played on, my mind began to drift. It was hard not to, given how important today was. The meeting was going to be held in one of my pack houses in the east of my territory, and I had to admit, there was a small knot of nerves in my stomach. This was the first time I would be meeting with the alphas and kings of all the supernatural creatures.
As we neared our destination, Leila snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Am, we're here."
I hadn't even realized how much time had passed, but as I looked around, I saw the imposing packhouse looming in front of us. It had the kind of atmosphere that gave off eerie, ghostly vibes—perfectly fitting for the pack members that lived here. Witches, demons, and the more mysterious creatures of our world called this place home.
"Come on, Leila. Let's get inside," I said, sliding out of the car.
Leila's eyes lit up at the sight of the pack house. "Yay, I can't wait to see Sera!" she said excitedly. Sera was one of my third-in-command and Leila's best friend. They were like sisters, always there for each other despite their different backgrounds.
"Yeah, yeah. You go ahead to Sera's room. I've got some work to finish," I said with a chuckle.
Leila gave me a guilty look, as though she were about to offer help. I waved her off with a smile and pointed toward the stairs.
"I don't need any help. You go ahead and have fun. Relax a little," I added, watching her rush upstairs with a bright smile on her face.
Good girl.
The Next Day - Amity's POV:
I woke to the sounds of growls. The deep, threatening growls of my pack members. But there were others, unfamiliar growls, growls that sent a shiver down my spine.
Without thinking, I jumped out of bed, only wearing my undergarments. My temper flared, and with a snarl, I let out a growl so powerful that it shattered nearby glass and cracked the walls.
I stormed into the living room, already preparing myself for whatever had caused this disturbance. My eyes narrowed as I took in the sight of Sera, Marcus (her demon mate), and Emile (a vampire) growling at a group of unfamiliar wolves. From the way they stood, I could tell they were of high rank.
"What is going on here?!" I growled, my voice sharp and commanding.
The moment they saw my angry face, the pack members quieted down. But the wolves... they didn't stop.
I could feel Arc, my wolf, pushing against my skin, eager to take control. She was the dark side of me—dangerous, cruel, and feral. She was the reason most people feared me, but in moments like this, she was also the reason I would destroy anyone who dared challenge my authority.
I took a deep breath, trying to hold onto control as I looked at the wolves. "You have two choices. Leave or face the consequences," I said coldly.
The wolves didn't back down, and that was enough to push me over the edge. Arc emerged, her energy coursing through me like fire.
Beryl's POV:
"Dammit!" I muttered, slamming my fist against the dashboard. We had been driving for hours, and we still weren't at the pack house.
Devin, the beta, had arrived half an hour ago with our third-in-command and head warrior, but it still felt like forever. We had passed the pack's territory an hour ago, and yet here we were, stuck on this endless road.
"Ber, now I don't think I have to remind you to show respect to the alpha," my father said, his tone stern.
I rolled my eyes, already dreading the lecture. "Yes, Dad. Bow your head and bla bla bla. Am I right?" I said, mimicking his serious tone in a sarcastic drawl.
My father growled, a deep rumble that sent a shiver through the car. "Don't take that tone with me. I'm not just your father. I'm also your alpha," he warned, anger flaring in his voice.
"Yes, Alpha," I muttered, the words bitter on my tongue. Even though I was going to be an alpha in three days, I still had to obey him.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we arrived. I looked up at the eerie mansion in front of me and felt a chill run down my spine.
"Is that really a packhouse?!" I muttered in disbelief.
But my father was already out of the car, greeting a girl with white hair—she looked around my age, maybe a bit younger. She had the kind of angelic appearance that made it impossible not to notice her.
"Ah, Beryl, there you are. Let me introduce you to Leila, the beta and the alpha's adoptive daughter," my father said, gesturing toward the girl.
Leila gave me a brief nod, her face blank. I returned the gesture with a casual nod, not really interested since she wasn't my mate.
"Ber, dude, we need help," I heard Devin's voice crackling through the mind link, urgent and distressed.
"Calm down, dude. What's wrong?" I asked, irritation lacing my words.
"We kind of got into a fight with some of the pack members here," Devin said, clearly wincing as he spoke. "And, uh... we kind of woke up the alpha. Now we're in the dungeon... and the alpha is preparing to, um, torture us."
My eyes went wide, panic surging through me. "I'll be there as fast as I can," I snapped, cutting the mind link.
Turning quickly to Leila, I said, "Excuse me, Beta Leila, I have to go."
"Yes?" she asked, a curious look on her face.
"Some of our pack members were thrown in the dungeon. The alpha is preparing to... do something. I don't know how much time we have," I explained in a rush.
Before she could respond, I was already sprinting toward the door, praying that I would make it in time.