Chapter 3

• Chapter three
• The club’s heavy door thudded shut behind me, muting the pulse of bass and Selene’s gaze. The cool night air greeted me like an old friend as I strode to the curb where my Rolls-Royce Cullinan waited, its curves a silent extension of my will. I slid into the back as the car surged toward my penthouse.
• The private elevator sighed opened to my sanctuary, glass walls framing the city’s restless sprawl. I shed the night’s grime and residue and stepped into the shower. Scalding water cascaded over my shoulders, grounding me.
• I dressed with casual precision, slipping into a navy button-down and tailored slacks. Tonight wasn’t about deals or dominance, just dinner with my parents at the pack house. No fanfare, only the steady warmth of family.
• Downstairs, Nathan stood sentinel by the Cullinan, his gray eyes scanning the street with a soldier’s vigilance. My driver for eight years, he was a man of few words, his loyalty carved deeper than any oath. “To the mountains,” I said, as I adjusted the cuff of my watch and slid into the passenger seat. He gave a respectful nod as he opened the door.
• The engine’s low growl answered as we left the city’s glare behind for the pack’s shadowed heart. As the road blurred past, I mind-linked Vaughan, who, for once, was done with his indulgence for the night.
• “On your way?” I asked.
• “Yeah, heading to the pack house now,” he responded.
• “Figured I’d eat something decent for once before we leave tomorrow.”I smirked, picturing him dodging the city’s flash for the pack’s quieter hearth. Vaughan savored life’s finer edges, wine, fast cars, but never let them own him. Unlike some of the younger wolves, all bravado and excess, he carried a rare restraint I admired.
• Tomorrow, I’d board a flight to Geneva, where VaelTech’s expansion plans awaited scrutiny,
• I checked in with my assistant Elias, confirming the hotel check-in time, itinerary and that my private jet was prepped and ready.
• Then, I informed my house staff to pack my things, minimal but precise. I traveled light, but everything I needed had to be impeccably arranged.
• Despite my knack for order, a knot tightened in my chest at the thought of sitting across from my father tonight. No fanfare, just family, I’d told myself, but I already knew what was coming.
• The pestering about taking a chosen mate since I had yet to claim my fated one.
• I could only hope, the larger the crowd tonight, the better. With enough people, maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t have time to bring up the one topic.
• We pulled up to Obsidian a few minutes prior to the scheduled dinner. Rising before me, covered by an impenetrable veil, hidden behind towering black cliffs and dense evergreen forests, our sprawling, self-sustaining city. An ancient dynasty hidden in the Canadian Rockies, made of glass, stone, and shadowed steel, where nature and technology coexist, blended seamlessly into the wild.
• It was a symbol of our strength, grand yet practical built not just for governance but for unity, a testament to our power, prestige, and divine authority that rendered us untouchable.
• As I crossed the threshold to the main estate I spotted Rowan, my Gamma, striding through the courtyard, his sharp gaze already scanning for me, ready to report before the dinner began. I noticed a particular pair of eyes lingering on me, Rowan’s sister. Her gaze clung to me, the same way it always did,with interest.
• I suppressed a sigh.
• She was a good warrior, a loyal pack member, but she was also persistent.
• I didn’t even bother addressing it, the answer had never changed.
• Moving on, I caught sight of Vaughan walking up the steps, his lazy stride unbothered by the world.“You packed?” I called. He tossed his jacket over one shoulder, shrugging. “Mostly, Elias won’t let me forget anything important. Passport, wallet, my natural charm, that’s enough.”
• “So, nothing essential then.”
• That smug grin of his flashed. “You wound me, Alpha.”Before I could retort, Aria barreled into me, arms locking around my waist in a fierce hug. “Took you long enough, big brother.”I ruffled her hair, ignoring her squawk of protest. “Missed me that much, huh?”“Obviously.” She swatted my hand away, smoothing her hair with a mock glare. “You’re the only one who keeps Dad from chaining me to his rules.”Aria Vaelthorn, my only sister, matched my fire but burned with rebellion. She never hesitated to challenge my decisions or anyone’s.
• Vaughan, “hey little menace,” he tossed her a small box.
• Aria’s eyes lit up as she ripped it open, revealing a delicate silver bracelet with a tiny wolf charm. “You actually have taste, Vaughan,” she teased, slipping it onto her wrist.
• “Don’t get used to it,” he shot back.
• Shaking my head, I headed toward the balcony, where my father and his Beta, Dorian, Vaughan’s father sat. The scent of cigars and whiskey lingered in the air, but another scent pulled me in.
• Something better, infinitely better, aunt Seraphina’s dessert.
• I followed the scent, drawn to the kitchen like a man possessed.
• There, I found my mother, Queen Celeste and Vaughan’s mother.
• Aunt Seraphina was one of my mother’s closest friends and without question, the best baker in the entire pack.
• She possessed a unique and formidable heritage, being a fusion of fae and werewolf.
• She owned a chain of bakeries in human towns, where the lines were never-ending, thanks to rave reviews. Vaughan and I often joked, seriously, at times that she had to be using a bit of fae magic in her pastries, because they were just irresistible.
• I reached for a piece of her famous honey almond torte, but my mother slapped my hand away.
• “Those are for the guests, Seylan.”
• I scowled, but before I could protest, aunt Seraphina chuckled, her violet eyes twinkling.
• “Oh, hush, Celeste. I made a special batch just for him.”
• I grinned, kissing her cheek in thanks.
• She muttered wistfully, “If only my son was this affectionate.”
• I glanced at Vaughan, who was already grabbing a plate, completely unaffected.
• “He’s affectionate, all right,” I teased. “Just not in the way you’d like.”
• Aunt Seraphina sighed dramatically, placing a hand on her chest. “One day, my boy will find his fated mate, settle down and give me grand-pups to spoil.”
• Vaughan snorted. “Not in this lifetime, mom.”
• She gave him a pointed glare, but there was warmth beneath it, a silent tease that felt like home. Standing in the pack house, surrounded by that familiar comfort, I couldn’t help but think of how much we had built. I was proud of what my parents, the pack, and I had accomplished together, a legacy that filled these walls with life.
• With my father as Alpha, and my influence and financial success as VaelTech’s CEO, we had poured our souls into this place, transforming it into something extraordinary.
• Our defense was unmatched, our warriors honed through relentless training, borders no enemy dared test. We had hospitals, schools, daycares, adult learning programs and businesses that kept wealth within our pack.
• VaelTech provided employment to many pack members, ensuring financial stability and personal growth. Hierarchy existed but respect was given to all. Fair policies ensured every rank had a voice and a chance to rise.
• Even Omegas, who were traditionally bound to servitude, were given a choice. Many still chose roles in service, but only because they excelled at it not because they were forced.
• Obsidian thrived with a rhythm of its own, no longer needing my father’s or my constant oversight. Our people weren’t just surviving, they were flourishing, strong and self-governed. Yet, as I found myself on the balcony craving air and in deep reflection, my father’s voice echoed in my mind, relentless as ever. When will you take a chosen mate? The question stung, a reminder that no amount of success could silence his expectations or the quiet ache of my own unresolved heart.
• I left the balcony, bracing for dinner and the inevitable shadow of my father’s scrutiny. The dining hall buzzed with the pack’s warmth, laughter mingling with the clink of glasses. My father sat at the head, his gaze flicking to me between bites. I forced a smile, trading small talk with the pack. At some point, I noticed his seat empty, he’d slipped away without a word, as he often did when pack business called. Seizing the chance, I edged toward the door, hoping to escape his looming questions. But just as I reached for freedom, his voice sliced through my thoughts, sharp and commanding: “Throne room, now!”
• I sighed.