Chapter 004
It was four in the morning.
Sophia tossed and turned under the sheets, her face clenched tight, sweat forming on her forehead. Her breath came in small, fast gasps as she flailed again again.
The dream wasn't letting her go.
There was a forest, and she could hear the sound of drums echoing far away and laughter that didn't sound joyful, but hungry. Sophia was running barefoot, her dress torn up to the side and being chased by people in gold masks while a boy picked her up.
Right on his arm was a tattoo of a crescent twisting around a sword.
"Die!" The boy yelled before throwing her off a cliff.
She screamed as she fell, and all of a sudden, bleeding wounds started to form all over her.
A woman jumped after her, screaming her name.
"Sophia!"
She jerked awake, gasping. Her sheets were wrapped tightly around her body like she'd been fighting them in her sleep and she looked around, worried that whatever it was that scared her so much must have followed her out here.
Her phone started to ring beside her and she jumped, startled.
"I need to calm down." She sighed, picking up her phone.
It was an unknown number.
Sophia hesitated before answering.
"Hello?"
No response. Only silence on the other end.
"Hello? Who is this?" She said again. "Speak now or else I'll cut this call!"
Still nothing. Then whoever it was hung up.
Sophia stared at the screen, her hands trembling.
What the hell was that?
"Nara?" she whispered.
Her wolf's voice responded gently.
“It’s okay, you’re okay. Just breathe."
Sophia got up slowly, rubbing her eyes. Her heart was still racing.
"That dream felt so real.” She muttered. "Like it happened before. Like I was there..."
“Dreams are usually like that. It could have been just a dream, or perhaps you’re starting to remember."
“Remember what?” Sophia asked, but Nara stayed silent.
She turned her head towards the window, and went there to open it up, hoping that the cold air would clear her thoughts.
"Why now?" She whispered. "Why not before?"
"I don’t know why I feel what I feel, but it’s like I'm standing on the edge of something, Nara. And I don't know if I'm ready to fall in or move back"
“Then hold my hand. I'll fall in or back with you."
Sean sat at the head of the long table, flanked by Alphas and Betas from packs across the region. The room was filled with overflowing power.
To anyone else, he looked calm, maybe even relaxed, but Zac's voice was already groaning inside his head.
“They're going to waste our time again. I can feel it.”
Sean agreed silently, adjusting his cufflinks. His watch caught the light, and the crescent moon and sword shone faintly.
He looked around the table. Marcus from Iron Claw Pack was drumming his fingers while Freeman from Gold Rush sat leaning back with a smug look on his face. Even Eloise, Luna of the Silver Fang Pack, was scrolling on her tablet.
Patience was not the room's strength, that much was obvious.
"Alright, let’s begin.” Sean said, voice calm but firm.
A few heads lifted, and Marcus cleared his throat.
"As we all know, the Alpha's Ball is in three weeks.” Marcus said. "And there are still too many unresolved security issues lingering."
"And too many uninvited guests pushing their way onto the list.” Freeman added hitting his fist on the table to prove a point. "I heard the Night Howl Pack wants to show up this year."
A few men growled softly at the name, and Sean’s eyes hardened.
“Night Howl will not be permitted to be in attendance."
Marcus frowned.
“And if they show up anyway? What will we do?”
"We will handle it accordingly.” Sean said simply. "We have our own security. I'll have my men doubling patrols, but I need each of your packs to contribute."
Eloise looked up.
“I know that you’re the head here, but you want our warriors playing bouncers?" She didn’t look too pleased.
“I want everyone safe.” Sean said. "Especially with what happened last year."
The table went quiet.
Last year's Ball had ended in blood. One Alpha was murdered and two heirs had gone missing.
No one had forgotten that. Who could have?
“They'll test us again.” Zac growled. “They must think that we've gone soft."
Sean didn't reply, but his jaw clenched. He hadn't forgotten the smell of that night. Blood and pain.
"Attendance is mandatory.” Sean continued. "No excuses, and no delays. I want a list of every guest your packs are bringing by tomorrow."
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“Even outsiders and plus-ones?”
Sean's eyes narrowed.
“Especially them."
Eloise leaned forward, arms crossed.
“Is this about the accident that occurred?”
Sean raised a brow.
“Accident?” He hadn’t heard of that.
Raymond, his Beta sighed.
“We didn’t want to trouble you with such tribal matters. There was an accident, probably a careless driver. It happened a few months back.”
“Any casualties?”
“Yes. The two people in the accident died, there was no means of identifying them.”
Sean paused, that was horribly tragic, but he wasn’t thinking about the victims now.
“And we heard you finally got a new secretary.” Ursula said, grinning. “Will she be there?”
“I’m not sure, and that’s none of your concern." Sean said.
“None of our concerns? We’ve heard Raymond egg you on and on about getting some help, but you didn’t until now. She must be quite a character.” Marcus nodded, smiling.
Sean wasn’t going to discuss the details of these things with them.
He stood up.
"Meeting is over. Remember to send me your lists."
A few looked they wanted to argue about something, but one look from Sean seemed to make them think otherwise.
The room slowly emptied, Alphas and Betas whispering as they filed out. Sean stayed behind, walking to the window, staring out over the trees beyond the city.
"Zac.” He said put loud, alone in the room. "Do you think she’s connected to that accident?”