The air in the Alpha's study was thick with unspoken tension, a silent battle playing out beneath the guise of polite negotiation. I stood beside Eugene, my gaze fixed on the intricate patterns of the rug, acutely aware of the four powerful wolves from Eiecerunt Pack who dominated the room.

Ciaran, their Alpha, was a formidable presence, his voice a low rumble as he discussed trade agreements with Eugene. Beside him, Ozias, the Beta, occasionally met my downcast eyes with an unnerving intensity. And then there was Maverick, the Gamma, whose presence felt like a mischievous spark, an almost palpable curiosity.

My breath hitched as Eugene's words twisted the trade deal, demanding more than agreed. A cold dread seeped into my bones, knowing the insult he delivered. Just as the atmosphere threatened to shatter, Ozias's calm voice cut through the air, proposing I show him their primary school. A fleeting flicker of hope ignited within me, quickly extinguished by Eugene's swift, possessive refusal.

Yet, Ciaran's offer for the school's upgrade, a seemingly benign gesture, felt like a strategic move. A pawn being shifted. And as Eugene's greed won out, sending me off with Ozias and Maverick, I could feel their eyes on me, a mixture of intent and something else, something familiar and unsettling, stirring beneath the surface.