The sun peeked through the curtains, a soft, golden light pulling me from sleep. For a moment, I lay still, letting the warmth soothe my body. The events of the previous day played in my mind—the meeting with Alpha Francis, the tense conversation about the rogue attacks, and, of course, the figure in the forest.

I pushed the blankets aside, stretching as I rose from the bed. The encounter from last night felt more vivid now, replaying in sharper detail. Those golden eyes—they were burned into my memory. But there was no use dwelling on it. I had to focus on today. The truth about the rogue attacks was buried somewhere in this pack, and I had to dig it out.

After a quick shower, I dressed and headed downstairs. The halls of Alpha Francis's house were eerily quiet, the pack still seemingly at rest from the night. Rei was nowhere to be seen, likely up early and scouting for more information on the situation. Typical. I couldn't help but smile at her efficiency.

As I made my way toward the dining hall, I spotted Sarah down the corridor. Her expression was unreadable, but there was an intensity to her presence. She greeted me with a nod, her movements brisk as usual.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked, her voice polite but distant.

"Well enough," I replied, stepping closer. I decided to address the issue directly. "That figure I saw last night. In the forest. Do you know anything about it?"

Sarah's eyes flickered with a brief hesitation before her mask returned. "It's not uncommon for rogues to lurk at the edges of the territory," she said carefully. "We've had to deal with a few over the years."

Something about her tone felt... off. She was holding something back, just as Francis had done. I wanted to press further, but I knew pushing too hard might only make them close off more.

Before I could respond, Sarah added, "Alpha Francis is waiting for you in his office. He's expecting you shortly."

I nodded, letting the matter drop for now. The real conversation would happen with Francis.

As I approached the Alpha's office, my stomach knotted slightly. He had been cordial last night, but there was an underlying tension between us—something unspoken that made me wary. I knocked, and a moment later, his voice called for me to enter.

Francis sat behind his desk, his hands folded neatly in front of him. He looked up as I stepped in, offering me a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Naomi, good morning," he greeted, his tone light, but there was a guardedness beneath it. "I trust you slept well?"

"Well enough," I echoed my earlier response, taking a seat across from him. "I wanted to continue our conversation from last night, if that's alright."

Francis's smile faltered slightly, and I noticed the same tapping of his fingers on the desk that I had observed the night before. A tell.

"Of course," he said, though his posture tensed. "What more would you like to know?"

I decided to get straight to the point. "You mentioned last night that rogue attacks happen about once or twice a month, but from what I've observed, it seems like there's more to it. These attacks—are they more frequent than you're letting on?"

Francis's fingers stilled on the desk. His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might deny it again, but instead, he leaned back in his chair, exhaling sharply.

"It's true," he admitted, his voice low. "The attacks have been... more frequent lately. But they're not something I want to advertise. It would cause panic within the pack."

"More frequent?" I pressed, sensing I was finally getting closer to the truth. "How many have there been in the last few months?"

Francis's jaw tightened. "Six. Perhaps seven."

Seven attacks in just a few months? That was far beyond the 'minimal' amount they had claimed earlier. My mind raced, trying to piece it together. Was this pack under siege? Or was something else at play?

"And these rogues," I continued, my voice steady, "do you know where they're coming from?"

"No," Francis said quickly, a little too quickly. "They're rogues. They come from anywhere, nowhere."

His defensiveness set off alarms in my head. He was hiding something—something bigger than just a few rogue wolves straying into his territory. I wanted to push him further, but before I could, he stood abruptly, his hands slamming down on the desk.

"That's enough for today," he said, his voice hardening. "I've told you what I know. We can continue this conversation tomorrow."

I heard Rei shift behind me, her presence a silent warning. Alpha Francis glanced at him, then back at me, and seemed to realize he had lost control of his temper. He cleared his throat and straightened his posture, forcing a tight smile.

"I apologize for my outburst," he said, more composed. "It's been... stressful, dealing with these matters. Let's continue tomorrow, after we've all had some rest."

I nodded slowly, though I had no intention of letting this go so easily. "Thank you, Alpha," I said, standing from my chair. "We'll speak again tomorrow."

As I left the office, Francis called for his Beta, Sarah, to escort us to our quarters. We walked in silence for a while, the weight of the conversation still hanging over me.

Finally, I turned to Sarah. "What can you tell me about Alpha Francis's approach to rogue wolves?" I asked quietly. "He seems... deeply affected by them."

Sarah glanced at me, her expression careful. "He doesn't take the issue lightly," she said, her voice measured. "Francis is protective of this pack. He'll do whatever it takes to ensure their safety."

"Even if it means keeping secrets?" I asked, watching her closely.

She hesitated before answering, but eventually, she said, "Alpha Francis makes the decisions he feels are best for the pack. Sometimes that means not everyone can know everything."

Her words lingered with me as we arrived back at my quarters. There was more going on here than I had anticipated. And I intended to uncover every bit of it.

As Sarah and I walked through the hallways of the pack house, the weight of my conversation with Alpha Francis still lingered. His admission about the rogue attacks being more frequent, his defensiveness, the golden-eyed figure from last night—it all pointed to something much deeper than what he had let on. I needed to get to the bottom of it.

Sarah's voice broke through my thoughts. "It's almost lunchtime. Would you like a tour of the pack grounds before we eat? It might help clear your mind."

I glanced at her, sensing an opportunity. "A tour sounds good," I replied. "Rei will likely want to rest for now. She's more suited to nighttime tasks, anyway."

Rei, ever perceptive, nodded without argument. "I'll catch up with you later," she said, turning toward her quarters, already knowing I'd gather more intel this way.

Sarah led me through the pack's territory, pointing out the different areas where they trained, lived, and gathered. Her explanations were brief, but I could feel her loyalty to this place in every word she spoke. Eventually, we arrived at the training grounds, where pack members sparred under the midday sun, their movements swift and calculated.

It wasn't long before I spotted Alpha Francis at the center of it all, fighting hand-to-hand with one of his pack members. His movements were powerful yet controlled, and despite the tension from our earlier conversation, I couldn't help but admire his strength.

Francis caught sight of us and, with a grin, waved me over. "Naomi! Care to join us?" he called out, his voice carrying across the field.

I raised a brow, not expecting the invitation. "I'm not sure that's necessary," I said, hesitant.His grin widened, clearly amused by my reluctance. "What's the matter? Afraid you'll lose?" he taunted lightly, the challenge clear in his eyes.

The pack members around us chuckled softly, and I could feel the heat rising in me. I wasn't one to back down from a challenge, especially not from someone like Francis. "Fine," I said, stepping forward. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

The moment I entered the sparring circle, I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. The other pack members watched closely, curious to see how I, a vampire, would fare against their Alpha. Francis positioned himself across from me, his stance relaxed but his eyes sharp.

We circled each other for a moment, sizing one another up. Then, without warning, he lunged. His speed was impressive, but I had centuries of experience on my side. I dodged his initial strike, countering with a quick jab to his side. He grunted but recovered quickly, throwing a punch that grazed my cheek.

I retaliated, aiming a series of swift kicks and strikes, each one designed to wear him down. The pack watched in silence, their Alpha now fully engaged in the fight. Francis was relentless, but so was I. My movements were fluid, my body instinctively reacting to every shift in his stance.

The fight escalated, each blow heavier than the last. Francis's strength was undeniable, but I had the upper hand in speed and strategy. I sidestepped his final punch and, with a quick sweep of my leg, brought him crashing to the ground. Before he could react, I had him pinned, my hand at his throat—not enough to hurt, but enough to prove my point.

The pack was silent, and for a moment, the only sound was Francis's heavy breathing. Then, to my surprise, he laughed—a deep, genuine laugh. "Impressive," he said, his voice strained but good-natured. "You've been trained well."

I released him, stepping back as he rose to his feet. "I had a good teacher," I replied, brushing the dirt from my clothes.

Francis nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Your father prepared you well for moments like this," he said, his voice softer now, more personal. "You've done him proud."

I didn't reply to that, unsure of how to respond. Instead, I followed him as he gestured for us to walk together. We moved toward the pack's restaurant, the tension between us somewhat eased by the fight.

As we walked, I decided it was time to ask about the golden-eyed figure. "Francis," I began, my tone careful, "last night, I saw something near the pack house. A wolf with golden eyes. It was just standing there, watching. Do you know anything about it?"

Francis's steps slowed, his expression tightening. He didn't answer right away, which only confirmed my suspicions that this was no ordinary rogue. "Why do you ask?" he said, his voice cautious.

"Because it didn't act like a rogue," I said, meeting his gaze. "It wasn't erratic or aggressive. It was watching, waiting. That's not typical behavior, is it?"

Francis sighed, clearly weighing his options. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "You're right. It's not rogue behavior. This particular wolf... it's been scouting near our territory for the past few weeks. But it never attacks. It only lingers near the pack house, and nowhere else."

"That's strange," I said, more to myself than to him. "Rogues are unpredictable. They don't follow patterns like that."

Francis nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Which is why I haven't been able to figure out its motives. It's elusive—appears for a few moments, then disappears before we can catch it."A thought occurred to me, and I turned to him, my voice steady. "Could it be Helios?"

The question hung in the air between us. Francis frowned, shaking his head. "I can't say for sure. I've never seen Helios myself, only heard the stories. But if it is him..."

"If it's him," I said, finishing his sentence, "then we have a bigger problem on our hands."

Francis didn't respond, but the look in his eyes told me he was thinking the same thing. The golden-eyed wolf wasn't just any rogue. It could very well be Helios.

Francis's words hung in the air as we continued walking. His gaze was sharp, weighing my every reaction, as if trying to pry something out of me. 

"Have you seen Helios in person before?" he asked, his voice calm but probing.

I froze for a split second. The memory of that night at the club flashed through my mind—those intense, electric eyes, the undeniable connection that crackled between us. Helios. But I couldn't reveal that. I hadn't even processed it fully myself. Keeping my expression neutral, I shook my head.

"No. I've only heard rumors like everyone else."

Francis stared at me for a moment longer, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. I could tell he didn't fully believe me, but he didn't press further. Instead, he sighed and continued , "The truth is, no one knows what Helios looks like. If he's even real."

"Then how do you know this wolf isn't just another rogue?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation.

Francis's jaw tightened. "There's a meeting of alphas soon—one we hold every few years to discuss... matters concerning the packs. It's possible Helios could be one of the alphas there, blending in with the rest of us."

"How would you know?" I asked, my brow furrowing. "If no one knows what he looks like?"

"That's the problem," he said, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. "We've always suspected it could be Acyn, the alpha of the Golden Claw pack. He's a lycan, and from what I've heard, his pack is one of the most powerful among us."

"Acyn?" I repeated, feigning curiosity.

"Yes. He's... different. Quiet. Doesn't engage in the usual power plays like the others. Lycans are known for using their strength and aggression to dominate, but Acyn respects the alpha code. He keeps his distance, doesn't seek conflict unless provoked. It makes him the least suspicious, which is why he could be the perfect candidate for Helios."

His words made sense. Acyn's restraint stood out, especially compared to the other alphas, who thrived on exerting dominance. But the idea that Acyn—no, Helios—was hiding in plain sight among the wolves was unsettling. And if Francis was right, Helios's calculated silence wasn't just a tactic. It was a strategy to avoid detection while pulling the strings from behind the scenes. I glanced at him, trying to hide my frustration.

"How do I get into this meeting?" Francis's lips quirked into a humorless smile. "You don't. It's only for wolves, not for... suckers."

The nickname wasn't new, but it still stung a little. I crossed my arms, feeling the weight of this dead-end settling in. I needed to know more, and the meeting was my best chance. But vampires had no place in such gatherings. 

Seeing my disappointment, Francis's expression softened. "Look, I'll tell you this much—the meeting will be held at Alpha Marcus's pack. It's a day's journey from here, give or take. If you're looking for answers, you might find them there, but..." He trailed off, his meaning clear.

"Only wolves allowed," I muttered, my mind racing for a way around this.

Francis nodded but didn't offer any solutions. I took a deep breath, processing everything. Acyn was connected to this, I knew it. And this meeting might be the only way to confirm it.

"Thank you, Francis," I said, turning to head back to my quarters. There was nothing more to say, not now. I needed to pack. 

Tomorrow would bring new challenges, and I needed to be prepared.