Chapter 102: Too eager.

July 17 2026, 11:49am.

When Rowan learned that the Alphas had tasked him with visiting Moonshine pack for something very important, he had dismissed his worries, saying that it was nothing over the top. However, when he learned that he was to bring a certain woman and her family to the Stormborn pack, his worry grew into something more serious, and he immediately deduced that there had to be a problem.

Because why not?

They were asking him to fetch a somewhat ’insignificant’ person all of a sudden, but that was not just the problem. The main problem was the fact that the woman in question was Berlin.

His Berlin.

And now, he could not help the unsettling feeling brewing at the base of his stomach like boiling coffee. His fingers gripped hard against the gun resting on his hilt. The cool metallic surface felt smooth against his calloused hands.

His head shot up to cast Emeriel, the bodyguard, a look and a frown so deep—it almost cracked his face in two—etched into his skin as he drawled, "What is the reason for this sudden visit?"

Emeriel lowered his head, his shoulders sinking. He was a young boy, not more than nineteen, who had joined the force simply because his father was neck-deep in gambling, had racked up so much debt, his family was literally basking in poverty... and that was pretty much his only motivation. He was shy and meek. He was also weak, hence the reason the Alphas placed him within the palace walls and not outside.

His body shook like a leaf caught in the wind under Rowan’s sharp glare, and after a moment of awkward silence, he finally rasped; "I...I don’t know, Beta. I o...only overheard the Alphas talking about protecting someone. Th...they also want to find out some truth. But besides that, I know nothing else, I swear. I am only relaying the message they asked me to share with you."

"And they want me to get her immediately?"

"Yes... and her family. Maybe they’re trying to protect her... or maybe they’re trying to protect someone from her."

That response settled deep into Rowan’s bones. It vibrated against his soul, sending out shockwaves spreading even to the tips of his fingers. Panic and caution slammed into his ribs like a ton of bricks and at the moment, he could not help but find himself wondering if perhaps the Alphas were indeed trying to protect her or protect him from her.

Have they somehow heard about his affair with her?

Have they found out that she was the reason behind his numerous sudden disappearances these past few days?

Hell, was this an attempt to put an end to whatever was between both of them?

"No!" The word escaped his lips before he could stop it. It made his body thrum with fear and discomfort. His hands clenched into fists as he took a step back, ignoring the weary look that Emeriel cast at him before he turned and walked away.

As he went, his heart jumped wildly against his chest. Something dark settled somewhere in his guts. His body shook with emotions he could barely tame and with all of these emotions clashing inside of him, he hopped into his waiting car and drove off.

Rowan arrived at Moonshine pack about three hours later and that was because he drove so fast, one would think the devil was hot on his tail. His car glided to a halt at the large silver gates of the main pack house— Flynn’s mansion— and as soon as the bodyguards standing guard saw him, their cocky expressions faded almost instantly. One with sandy blonde hair and a wide mouth openly bowed so deeply that his head nearly touched the floor and then they hurriedly ushered him in like he was a VIP.

In truth, the only reason they feared him this much was the quads. They were beasts in a literal sense of the word.

Not like he was complaining at the moment... he was only worried.

He marched into the throne room and stopped when he found Flynn already waiting for him. The leech had his back to him with his perfectly manicured hand resting atop his throne.

Weakling.

To everyone, his stance was domineering and prideful, but Rowan could see the slight quaking of his shoulders and his desperate attempt to hide it. He also did not miss the way his left eyebrow twitched uncontrollably when he turned around to acknowledge him.

A smile was smeared across his face but even the blind could see how fake it was. "Beta Rowan..." he drawled, his voice cold and hoarse. "Or should I call you Beta Blackthorne?"

Rowan did not respond visibly to that. If anything, the only reaction he gave was the almost imperceptible shrug of his shoulders. He bowed again— not out of respect— and drawled; "Whatever rocks your boat is fine by me, Alpha Ravenscroft. I am only here because my Alphas seek the presence of a maiden in your pack, one of your subjects."

Rowan’s direct response made warning bells go off in Flynn’s head. He staggered backward— slightly— then frowned. His well-toned muscles rested over his chest as he crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing into slits as he regarded the beta coldly.

"And who might this be?" He asked, and for some reason, Rowan hesitated.

For a split second, he contemplated stopping right there and then. His mind hammered at him that something was wrong. Hell, he could feel it in the ’impromptu-ness’ of this errand.

However, at this point, he knew there was no need to lie so he settled for something softer... nicer. He said;

"Her name is Berlin."

"Berlin?" Flynn’s heart kicked in his chest.

His face suddenly went pale and his knuckles became so white he could easily rival vampires. His overall reaction and shift in countenance solidified Rowan’s suspicions that something was wrong, so he faked a smile, pretended not to see Flynn’s quiet crash out, and continued;

"The Luna, Nyx’ara, has been ill for a couple of days now. She has refused all forms of treatment despite all our attempts at making her feel better. We asked to know if there was anyone here she would like to see and she mentioned Berlin, her friend."

Some muscles on Flynn’s face loosened. "She... she didn’t mention her family?" He asked, unable to hide that stutter.

Rowan shook his head. "No. She said she doesn’t have any family left. So we’ll be borrowing Berlin for a day or two."

"No problem!" He answered quickly— almost too quickly. Like the flash, his emotions had zapped back to being boisterous and eager. He waved Rowan off with a flick of his wrist and smiled provocatively at him as he added;

"You are free to do whatever you want. Take her for as long as you wish, as long as Nyx’ara gets better. I’ll ask one of my servants to go with you to her house..."

"I can find it just fine if you tell me where it is." Rowan cut in, his voice grave.

However, Flynn shook his head one more time, his face scrunched up into a look of pure amusement. He shrugged. "It is not easily found by people who don’t live in the pack. She’s a slave. An omega. Her parents are demoted elite wolves who now live as omegas... so she lives amongst the filthiest of the filthy. You get me?"

"No."

"Well, she used to do just fine until she associated herself too much with Nyx’ara, your current Luna. That girl used to carry so much bad luck which rubbed off on Berlin. It is a shame that she now bears the crown of Stormborn pack... but you ought to be careful around that one!"

He ended his speech with a boastful laugh, pressing his hand to his chest.

Rowan watched him closely for a moment with his eyes narrowed and his chest boiling with the growing desire to hang him on a pyke.

He nodded once then turned around to walk out of the room while a scrunchy little bodyguard rushed after him.

He sighed. "What is my deal with scrunchy bodyguards today? Goddess, what does this infidel mean by Nyx’ara rubbed off on Berlin?"

His suspicions twisted until they became something even darker and with it burning through his veins, he marched through the hot streets, ignoring the young girls openly ogling him as he headed for Berlin’s house.

He needed to get her out of here... and quickly.