The moonlight glistened on the treetops as Serena stood at the edge of her territory, her breath visible in the crisp night air. The low growl from the shadows had stopped, but the tension lingered like static in the air. Then he stepped forward.
Dominic Reign.
He emerged from the tree line with the graceful confidence of a predator. Tall, broad-shouldered, his black coat flowing like a shadow. The golden glint in his eyes never left hers.
"Serena," he said, voice deep and unyielding. "Alpha of the Vale Pack."
Serena stood her ground, spine straight despite the chill. She was shocked he knew who she was and was shocked to see him there but she spoke "Dominic Reign, famous for making people disappear after they sign into his company."
He gave a small nod. "Yurp. Alpha of the Reign Pack."
She tensed. The Reign Pack had always been spoken of in whispers, their name laced with rumors, secrets, and blood.
"W–what? You're a werewolf,?" she asked.
"Yes and an Alpha too. And you're not a werewolf I guess but an Alpha. Impressive. I came to offer you something."
Serena's brow lifted. "What could you possibly offer me?"
He reached into his coat and pulled out a dark leather folder, handing it to her without hesitation. "I'll go straight to the point. An alliance. A contract."
She opened it, her eyes scanning the neat, deliberate lines. It was a merger—a marriage proposal disguised as a political agreement. It would unite their packs under one leadership, grant her people protection, resources, and financial recovery. It would also prevent them from going into wars. By the way she had no finances or much defence. In return, she would become his mate.
Her fingers curled around the folder. And then she combed her hair with her hands and smirked "You think I'll marry you?"
He sniffed, looked sideways and then at her "It is not personal, Serena. This is about survival. Your pack is weak, isolated. My pack has what you need. You have what we want."
"You mean me. And why do you need me"
"You're the daughter of Alpha Vale. And marrying you gives me less people to go into war with. I'm at the losing end, but you know you need it."
She snapped the folder shut and handed it back to him. "You wish."
Dominic's gaze darkened, but he didn't argue. He tucked the folder back into his coat.
"I expected that."
She stepped closer, her voice low and fierce. "You come into my land with an offer like that right after my parents are slaughtered? How dare you."
"Because the world doesn't wait for mourning," he said coldly. "And your enemies won't either."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving her heart pounding in the silence.
Two days ago,
Dominic Reign stood in the dim study of his estate, a glass of strawberry wine untouched in his hand. Across from him sat Dante, his right hand and best friend, human by blood but knew everything werewolves needed to know, if not more.
"You're sure she's the one?" Dante asked, leaning back, arms crossed.
Dominic nodded. "The last of the Vale bloodline. Her father trained her in secret. She hasn't shifted yet, but the power is dormant. Also, she's a lawyer who'd stop at nothing to take me down. I need her close to me. She has a lot of power I need."
Dante looked skeptical. "And you want to marry her? What if she says no?"
"She will."
Dante arched a brow. "Confident."
"It's not about her. It's about what she represents. The power she carries."
"So marriage."
Dominic stepped to the window, staring out into the dark. "A union. We need a reason to merge power without bloodshed. The pack is fragile. She's young, and her people are desperate. If I offer security, she may choose logic over pride."
Dante leaned forward. "And if she doesn't?"
"Then we wait. Pressure builds. Need increases. Eventually, she'll have no choice."
Dante studied his best friend. "Just be careful. You might get more than you bargained for. She may become a ruin"
Dominic's eyes flickered gold in the dark. "I'm counting on it."
Earlier hours of the present day,
"Hey Dom. You heard what happened to your girl's pack." Dante asked Dom who was sitting on his office chair.
"What do you mean?"
Dante narrated everything that had happened in the Vale pack and how their leaders were murdered and he continued with, "I think this is it. The opportunity you've been waiting for."
He raised a brow with a half smirk, "Sad, but this is it man. I didn't think it'd come this way though. I don't know much but I know she's in for some revenge."
Present time,
Serena stood in the war room, the firelight flickering across her face. Ada and Rose were seated across from her, tension thick in the air.
"He wants what?" Ada asked sharply.
"Marriage. A political alliance. It's all in the contract. We join packs, resources, and leadership."
Rose shook her head, horrified. "Serena, you can't! I mean he's Reign. What do we have that he doesn't have? I don't like this."
Serena paced, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "He didn't threaten me. He didn't beg. He just laid it out like a business deal."
"Which is exactly what it is," Ada said. "You marry him, and he controls your future. Your pack's future."
Serena paused, looking down at the folded contract in her hand. "But what other option do we have?"
The silence was enough. The treasury was dry. Allies were gone. Her people were starving and scared.
"If we do this, we rebuild," Serena said, lifting her eyes. "We survive."
Rose reached for her hand. "Are you sure?"
"No," Serena whispered. "But I have to try. For them."
She turned to Ada
.
"Send a messenger. I'll sign it."
The game had just begun.
And Serena Vale had just stepped into it.