9. MATEO

9

MATEO

The packlands are quiet, save for the crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant rustle of the forest. Spring is peeking through the last frost, tangling with the magic pulsing through the area. The air is crisp, tinged with the faint scent of pine and damp earth but it does little to ease the restless energy coiled in my chest. Bo walks at my right while River flanks my left, ever the silent sentinel.

The others returned to the pack house and although I feel the absence of Remi on my other side, I know he’s happier doing what he loves. I’ll never take that from him—or any of my mates.

I glance back toward the heart, barely able to see the house that seats the council. Leaving the two Omegas has my nerves on edge—not because I don’t trust Nepheline but because there’s a strange energy that comes with the Sapphire wolves’ presence. It wasn’t here when we first met but now it’s all I can focus on. An almost visible blue aura with wisps of black tangled throughout.

It rubs me the wrong way but I have to trust that Nepheline can take care of herself. I just hope she’ll ask for help when she needs it. Gently, I tug on our bond, smiling as fierce determination and happiness flood my senses. It’s good enough for me now.

To keep myself occupied, I thought bringing Bo and River along to show Victoria’s Alpha and Beta—Kehlani and Lawrence—the lay of the land would keep me at ease. They walk ahead of us, their heads close as they murmur to each other. Kehlani moves with the sharp precision of someone used to command, while Lawrence’s calm demeanor balances his intensity.

I pick up my pace until I’m walking beside them. “We’ve always had a pretty good rapport with the nearby town,” I say, breaking the silence. “A few of our wolves work at the diner at the edge of the woods, so we make a point of maintaining strong ties. Keeps things… uncomplicated.”

Kehlani glances at me, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Uncomplicated how?”

I gesture toward one of the houses we’re passing, the windows glowing softly with warm light. “We make sure they know we’re not a threat. We help out when we can—repairs, supplies, whatever they need. In return, they don’t ask too many questions.”

Lawrence nods thoughtfully, his gaze flicking toward the house. “Smart. Keeps the balance intact.”

“Exactly. Most of the people in the town think we’re just a close-knit community that keeps to ourselves. The fewer questions, the better. Some know that we’re shifters but it’s never been an issue and if there’s ever a problem, the police let us handle it first.” I pride myself in my father’s rules and the way he’s taken care of the packlands and the nearby town. We’ve garnered a lot of respect because we in turn give it to the nonshifters.

We walk on, the path curving back toward the heart of the packlands. The houses become fewer and farther between, giving way to open fields and dense forest on the right. Asani used to live back there, away from all of this and I’m not sure how we would survive if it was still that way. If Calista had poisoned me against him, we wouldn’t be as strong as we are right now.

My lips curve up as I point to a few other spots, older buildings that we no longer use but that I want to bring back. After my father died, the community he had worked so hard to build was lost. Calista made sure of that and Kylan enforced it. But I want to see the happiness return to the old meeting hall and the abandoned training areas where new pups learn to be one with their wolves.

My attention drifts to Maverick and Ilara, the two Alphas standing off to the side near one of the larger trees. I for sure thought that Maverick had returned to the pack house with the others. Seeing him standing there without a coat tells me he had but for some reason left again. Ilara’s sharp gaze is fixed on Maverick like she’s dissecting him with her eyes. Maverick stands still, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable, but there’s a tension in his posture that sets me on edge.

I pause mid-step, my eyes narrowing as I watch them. Something about the way Ilara looks at him—like she’s trying to unravel a puzzle only she can see—makes my stomach twist.

“Everything okay?” Bo’s voice breaks through my thoughts, his hand clasping my shoulder. Kehlani mutters his disgust with Bo’s gesture as if touching the pack Alpha is only reserved for mates but I shrug it off. Bo is one of my newer confidants and a man I trust.

“Fine,” I mutter, though the word feels like a lie.

River steps closer, his silence more telling than any words. He’s my guard, my second set of eyes, and I know he’s picked up on the same tension I have. His gaze flicks toward Ilara and Maverick, lingering for a moment before returning to me.

“We’ve got a lot to learn,” I say, my voice low enough that only Bo and River can hear. “But something feels… off.”

Bo doesn’t respond right away, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. Finally, he nods. “I’ve felt it too. There’s more to this seer than she’s letting on.”

I glance at him, my jaw tightening. “Keep an eye on her.”

Bo grins, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Always.”

We move on, but my attention keeps flickering back to Ilara and Maverick. The seer’s presence has been unsettling since she walked into the council room, but now it feels like a threat I can’t quite name. And Maverick…

I shake the thought away, forcing myself to focus. For now, the packlands need my attention and we need answers that only the Sapphire wolves can give. But in the back of my mind, a seed of doubt takes root, growing with every step.

By the time we reach the center of the pack, the uneasy feeling has become impossible to ignore. River remains silent at my side, his eyes scanning every shadow, every movement, his hand resting lightly on his side. It takes a few moments to realize that he’s digging his nails into his own skin to keep from unleashing his Alpha instincts.

Maverick and Ilara soon join us, walking in silence until Kehlani’s voice fills the clearing, his words painting a picture of centuries of peace and prosperity within the Sapphire pack. The tales he tells are smooth, polished, as if he’s recited them a hundred times. He speaks of balance and harmony, of a life so perfect it almost feels like a fairy tale.

Lawrence nods along beside him, his stoic expression softening as he describes the pack’s cohesion, their unwavering unity. Bo listens quietly, his sharp gaze occasionally flicking toward me as if to gauge my reaction. River remains silent at my side, his presence a steadying force even as my jaw tightens with every passing word.

“And then,” Kehlani continues, his tone light but purposeful, “Victoria said it was time. She felt the pull and Ilara confirmed it. Fate guided us here.”

Ilara glances at me, her dark eyes glinting in the fading light. “You don’t fight fate, Mateo. You move with it. Let it guide you.”

My tight smile flips into a frown, unable to agree with those words. I can’t let it slide, not this. “If we let fate win,” I growl, “if we just followed it, Nepheline wouldn’t be at my side today.”

Kehlani slows, his head tilting slightly as he regards me. “What do you mean?”

I stop walking, turning to face the Alpha fully. River and Bo pause as well, their eyes darting between us. “Nepheline was supposed to belong to Silas, the true Alpha of the pack of the Forbidden,” I say, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “Some deal my father made to strengthen alliances, to secure his power. She was supposed to be his Omega, to be bound to that monster for life.”

Kehlani’s brows knit together, but I keep going, my voice sharp and unrelenting. “Fate demanded that she be reduced to whatever he was going to make her. Hell, even Asani was supposed to suffer in that pack and he would have if we had just left it all up to fate.”

Kehlani sighs, a sound heavy with something I can’t quite place. Pity? Disapproval? “And now you have a wolf from the pack of the Forbidden at your side,” he says, his tone even but pointed. “That may not be the best decision, Mateo.”

My anger flares but I clamp it down, forcing myself to stay composed. River’s hand comes to rest on my back, a silent reminder to keep my temper and wolf in check. “Asani has proven himself time and time again,” I spit out, hating that once again Asani’s loyalty is in question. I could understand it with Calista but with a wolf who hardly knows me or my pack is disrespectful. “He’s loyal. He’s brave. He’s everything a pack could ask for.”

Kehlani doesn’t respond, his gaze drifting away as if dismissing the conversation entirely. It only fuels the fire in my chest, but I swallow it down, keeping my expression neutral.

The more he speaks, the more I feel like the Sapphire wolves are picking and choosing the parts of the magic they want to nurture. The parts that fit their ideals, their narrative. And the rest? The rest is cast aside, deemed too dangerous, too inconvenient.

I tuck the thought away, shoving it into the back of my mind to revisit later. This isn’t the time or place to start a confrontation. But I know one thing for certain—I need to talk to my mates about this. About Kehlani, about Victoria, about the way they seem to twist the idea of fate to suit their needs.

For now, I let him finish his tale but my focus isn’t on his words anymore. It’s on the future, on my pack, and on the steps we’ll need to take to ensure our survival.

Because fate? Fate doesn’t guide me. It never has.

I make my own way. Always.

When Kehlani finishes his spiel, I’m more than happy to hear them say their goodbyes, Victoria and Nepheline rejoining us. She steps into my chest, her posture stiff until the Sapphire wolves shift and make their way into the crystal forest. It isn’t until they’re out of sight that Nepheline relaxes against me, letting out a heavy sigh, her scent sweetening ever so silent. The tension in her shoulders is unmistakable and I’m pretty sure Victoria gave off the same vibes that Kehlani and the others did.

The silence they leave behind is heavy, almost suffocating. I glance down at Nepheline, who’s staring after them with an intensity that makes my chest tighten. Slowly, I reach for her hand, my fingers wrapping around hers as I pull it to my lips. My voice is low, meant for her ears alone. “We need to talk.”

Her gaze snaps to mine as she nods, her grip tightening just slightly as we head for the pack house. Bo peels off to head home, the silence continuing until we’re in the living room. Remi is sprawled across the couch, his usual soft smile absent, replaced by a thoughtful frown. Darius stands near the window, his gaze distant. Asani leans against the wall, his sharp eyes scanning all of us like he’s dissecting the mood of the room.

Nepheline lets go of my hand, stepping into the center of the room. Her hair catches the warm glow of the overhead lights and for a moment, she looks almost untouchable. Then she speaks, her voice much firmer than it has been. “I don’t trust Victoria.”

I exhale sharply, a weight I didn’t realize I was carrying lifting from my chest. “Fuck,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. I step forward, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into my lap as I sink into the nearest chair. “I thought it was just me.”

Her hands rest lightly on my shoulders, her expression softening as she looks up at me. “It’s not just you,” she mumbles.

I rest my forehead against hers, my voice low enough that only she can hear. “I’m not saying the Sapphire wolves aren’t here to help, but there’s something else. Something I can’t put my finger on, but it doesn’t feel good.”

Remi sits up and leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he studies us. “Do you think it’s just Victoria?”

“I don’t know,” Nepheline admits, her voice steady but thoughtful. “But she’s… too polished. Too perfect. And the way she talks about fate, about magic—it feels like she’s using it to justify something. Like she has an agenda and it doesn’t align with ours.” She buries her face into my chest, taking a deep sniff of my scent before her body relaxes further.

Darius scoots toward us, sitting by my feet and resting his head against her thigh. He relaxes as well, almost as if he is lost without his Omega at his side. Knowing that she’s completely safe with her mates is reassuring.

I tighten my hold on Nepheline, some part of me needing to have her here—pressed against me, finding strength in my embrace. “Whatever it is, we need to figure it out. We’ll play nice for now, but we’re not blindly following their lead.”

There’s a murmur of agreement and then Nepheline’s stomach growls, everyone bursting into laughter as she just groans. A delicate smile plays on her lips as I bend down to kiss her, ‘I love you’ whispered against her mouth.