Chapter 17 - Wren

"So, what's it really like over there?" Martha, the housekeeper, asked as she dusted the ornate mantelpiece in Articus' living room. Her eyes were alight with curiosity.

Wren paused, considering how to describe her former home to someone who had only ever known the peaceful side of the mountain. "It's... different," she said finally. "Rougher. Everyone's just trying to survive day by day."

Martha nodded, her dusting slowing as she became engrossed in the conversation. "I've heard stories, of course. Rogues running wild, no law or order. Is it really that bad?"

"Not exactly," Wren replied. She sat down on the plush sofa, gathering her thoughts. "There are rogues, yes. But most of us just want to live our lives in peace. We form our own communities, look out for each other when we can."

"But what about the violence? The snatchings?" Martha pressed, moving to polish a nearby mirror.

Wren sighed. "Those things happen, I won't lie. But it's not constant chaos like some people seem to think. We have our own sort of order, even if it's not as structured as things are here."

Martha's eyes widened. "I can't imagine living like that. Always looking over your shoulder, never knowing if you're safe."

"You get used to it," Wren said with a shrug. "It's all I've ever known. This place..." She gestured around at the opulent room. "This feels stranger to me than anything on the other side of the mountain."

"I suppose it would," Martha mused. She hesitated, then asked, "What about your family? Are they still over there?"

Wren felt a pang in her chest at the mention of her parents. "No," she said softly. "They died when I was fifteen. I've been on my own since then."

Martha's face fell. "Oh, I'm so sorry, dear. I shouldn't have pried."

"It's okay," Wren assured her. "It was a long time ago." She managed a small smile. "Besides, I'm not alone anymore."

Martha's expression brightened at that. "No, you're certainly not. The whole town's been buzzing about you and Articus. It's not every day our Alpha brings home a bride!"

Wren felt her cheeks warm. "I'm sure it's quite the scandal," she said dryly.

"Oh, not at all!" Martha exclaimed. "Everyone's excited. It's like something out of a fairy tale—the handsome Alpha rescuing the beautiful rogue and bringing her home as his wife."

Wren couldn't help but laugh at that characterization of events. If only they knew the full story. "I'm not sure 'fairy tale' is quite the right description," she said.

Martha waved a hand dismissively. "Details, details. The important thing is, you're here now. And from what I've seen, you've been good for Articus. He seems happier, more relaxed."

Wren felt a warmth bloom in her chest at Martha's words. She'd noticed changes in Articus too—the way his smiles came more easily now, how he seemed more at ease. But to hear someone else had noticed it too... it made everything feel more real somehow.

"He's been good for me too," Wren admitted softly.

Martha's eyes twinkled knowingly. "I can see that, dear. Now, why don't you tell me more about life on the other side? I'm sure you must have some exciting stories."

As Wren began to share some of her experiences, carefully editing out the more harrowing details, she found herself relaxing. Martha was easy to talk to and genuinely interested in learning about Wren's background without judgment. It was a refreshing change from the wary looks she sometimes still got from others in town.

Their conversation meandered through various topics—the differences in cuisine between the two sides of the mountain, the challenges of adapting to pack life, and Martha's own experiences growing up in Articus' pack. Before Wren knew it, nearly an hour had passed.

"Oh, goodness!" Martha exclaimed, glancing at her watch. "I've let the time get away from me. Articus will be back soon, and I haven't even started on the kitchen yet."

"I can help," Wren offered, standing up.

Martha waved her off. "Nonsense, dear. You're the Alpha's wife, not the help. You just relax and wait for Articus to return."

As Martha bustled off to the kitchen, Wren found herself mulling over her words. The Alpha's wife. It still felt strange to hear herself described that way. Their marriage had been so unconventional, thrust upon them by circumstances neither of them had chosen. And yet...

Wren's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening. She turned to see Articus striding in.

"Wren," Articus said warmly, his eyes lighting up as he saw her. He crossed the room in a few long strides and pulled her into a brief embrace. "I hope you weren't too bored while I was gone."

"Not at all," Wren replied, breathing in his familiar scent. "Martha kept me company."

Articus smiled. "I'm glad. Wren, you remember my cousin Cassius?"

Wren nodded. She had seen him enter with Articus at the bar, albeit briefly, and she knew she had met him briefly during her first chaotic days in Articus' home but hadn't interacted with him much since then.

Articus gestured toward his study. "I’m going to join him for a call now. Would you like to join us?"

Wren hesitated, surprised by the offer. She wasn't used to being included in pack business. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," Articus said easily. "It concerns our work on helping the rogues on the Dark Side, so your input is valuable."

Warmth bloomed in Wren's chest at his words. She followed Articus into the study, settling into one of the comfortable leather chairs as Articus took his place behind the desk and turned on the laptop, his blue eyes focused on the screen.

It was a far cry from the fiery atmosphere that had marked their early days together. Now, there was a different type of fire.

The memory of his touch sent a shiver down her spine, a warmth blooming in her core. It wasn't just the lust; there was a tenderness in the way he caressed her, a care in how he made sure she was comfortable and satisfied.

Focus on the meeting, not being flipped over, WREN!

The scene was so normal, so peaceful, that for a moment, Wren could almost forget the extraordinary circumstances that had brought her here.

Almost.

"How are things going, Cassius?" Articus's question drew Wren's attention back to his conversation. “Settling into the new position?”

“All good,” Cassius replied, clear and confident. There was a pause, followed by the faint sound of papers shuffling on the other end. “Fully settled in, and everything’s running smoothly. The transition has been easier than expected.”

Wren could hear the pride in Cassius's voice. She remembered meeting him, his blonde hair and blue eyes so similar to Articus's, yet so different. Where Articus was ice, Cassius was sunshine.

"It's good to see you again, Wren, and under better circumstances," Cassius said, his tone friendly but his eyes assessing. "I hope you're settling in well?"

“Yes, I am,” Wren answered softly. “Thank you for all you did, Cassius.”

Articus cast a glance at Wren, his expression softening for a split second before he turned his attention back to the screen.

Wren could sense the shift in his tone when he spoke again. “And the situation with the rogues? Are they still getting snatched? We spoke about setting some measures in place before I left.”

Cassius’s tone grew more serious. “We’ve increased protection around the younger wolves, especially those who haven’t done anything wrong but are rogues by birth. I’m doing everything I can to make sure they’re not easy targets anymore.”

He actually took what happened to heart.

"Now then," Cassius began, leaning forward. "I've been giving a lot of thought to your... unique situation." His eyes flicked briefly to Wren.

Articus raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Cassius nodded. "I think we have an opportunity here. A chance to bridge the gap between our two sides of the mountain."

Wren felt herself tense slightly. She wasn't used to being seen as a political tool.

But Cassius continued, his tone thoughtful rather than calculating. "For too long, we've kept ourselves separate from the other side. We've let fear and mistrust dictate our actions. But you, Articus, by bringing Wren here, by making her your wife—you've shown that it doesn't have to be that way."

Articus leaned back in his chair, considering. "What exactly are you proposing?"

"Nothing concrete yet," Cassius said. "But I think we should start looking for ways to open up more communication, more exchange between our two sides. We could learn from each other, grow stronger together instead of remaining divided."

“And how are the other packs reacting?” Articus’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“They’re taking it seriously, at least,” Cassius replied. “It’s a big step forward. The Alphas know this isn’t just a rogue problem; it affects everyone. We can’t afford to be divided on this anymore. It's actually a very big step—what has happened between you and Wren."

"How so?" Articus asked, echoing Wren's own curiosity.

"Well," Cassius explained, "this is the first time anybody from the Dark Side of the mountain has been taken to the light side. Ever."

The first time?

Wren’s heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t something she’d ever thought about before, but now that Cassius had said it, she realized it was true. Everyone on the Dark Side of the mountain came from generations of wolves who had been banished, cast out from the light side long ago.

"What do you think, Wren?" Articus asked, turning to her.

Wren took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts. "I think... it's a good idea," she said slowly. "There's a lot of misunderstanding on both sides. If we could find a way to bridge that gap, to show that we're not so different after all... it could make a real difference."

Cassius smiled, looking pleased. "Exactly. And you two are living proof that it can work. An Alpha from our side and a rogue from the other, coming together? It's unprecedented. But look how well it's turned out."

Wren felt a flush creep up her neck at Cassius' words. Had it turned out well? She cared for Articus, certainly. More than she had ever expected to. But their relationship was still so new, so fragile in many ways.

"I think we need to be careful," Articus said, his tone measured. "We can't rush into anything. There's a lot of history, a lot of hurt on both sides to overcome."

Cassius nodded. "Of course, of course. We'll take it slow. But I truly believe this could be the start of a new era for all of us."

The conversation continued, with Cassius and Articus discussing potential first steps—perhaps organizing a cultural exchange or setting up a neutral meeting ground where members from both sides could interact safely.

Wren listened, offering her perspective when asked, but her mind was whirling with the implications of what Cassius had said. She and Articus, a symbol of unity between the two sides? It seemed like such a heavy responsibility to place on their still-new relationship.

Still, the weight of the realization settled on her shoulders. She was the first one of all the people who, generations before, had been banished to ‘where the sun doesn’t shine’, to now be back on the light side of the mountain.

Cassius continued, unaware of Wren’s internal struggle. “It’s a big step, especially since the packs haven’t banished anyone in a long time. The whole concept of light and Dark Sides of the mountain isn’t really a thing anymore. But the fact that you took Wren there, that you chose to bring someone from the other side into your pack, it’s… significant.”

Significant.

Articus’ voice pulled her back to the present. “And the news has spread?”

Cassius chuckled. “Oh, it’s spread, all right. Everyone’s talking about it. An Alpha from the light side of the mountain taking a rogue girl as his bride? It’s the kind of news that travels fast.”

Wren’s cheeks flushed with heat, a mix of embarrassment and something else she couldn’t quite name. She glanced at Articus, who seemed unfazed by Cassius’s words, his expression calm as ever.

As the meeting wound down, Cassius stood to leave. "Think about what we've discussed," he said to Articus. "I'll start feeling out some of the other Alphas to see how receptive they might be to the idea."

After Cassius had gone, Wren remained in the study with Articus. He came around the desk to perch on its edge in front of her, his expression thoughtful.

"What did you think of all that?" he asked.

Wren considered for a moment. "It's... a lot to take in," she admitted. "I never thought of our relationship as having political implications."

Articus ran a hand through his hair, a gesture Wren had gotten used to now. "That wasn't my intention when I brought you here," he said softly. "You know that, right?"

Wren nodded. "I know. It's just... strange to think about."

The two of them headed back to the kitchen to have the meal that Martha had already laid out. The spread of pancake, eggs, and bacon looked inviting, and Wren's mouth started to water.

"Breakfast smells amazing," Articus said, making the older lady blush. His smile was warm, genuine in a way that still surprised Wren sometimes.

“It truly does, Martha, you’re a magician,” Wren praised.

Martha beamed then excused herself, muttering something about going to the farmer's market before evening as Articus took a seat at the kitchen island. Wren settled into the chair across from him, her mind still buzzing with everything she'd heard.

"So," she began, trying to keep her voice light, "tell me more about yourself. I feel like I hardly know anything about you, despite..." she trailed off, gesturing vaguely at their surroundings.

Although I know everything about that body now.

Articus chuckled, the sound sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. "What would you like to know?"

"Everything! Give me all the juice." Wren found herself leaning in, eager to learn more about the man who had become such a significant part of her life.

Articus lifted the jar of freshly squeezed orange juice and pointed it toward her. Wren blinked for a second at his half-smile before playfully pushing his hand away. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

The clown.

"Okay. Okay. Well," Articus started, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips, "I grew up here in the White Moon pack. I always had good people around me. My parents were supportive, and I had Rowan."

His smile widened at the mention of his best friend. "We've been inseparable since we were pups. He always just saw me as a friend."

"He's the one married to Juniper? Tell me about him," Wren prompted, enjoying this glimpse into Articus' past.

Articus chuckled. "Rowan's a character. Always has been. There was this one time when we were still kids..." He launched into a story about a prank gone wrong that had them both cleaning the general meeting hall for a month.

Wren found herself laughing along, picturing a younger Articus and Rowan causing mischief. It was a side of him she'd never seen before, and she found herself warming to it.

But as Articus continued, his expression grew more serious. "It wasn't all fun and games, though," he said, his voice lower. "When we were teenagers, something happened that changed everything."

Wren leaned forward, sensing the shift in mood. "What was it?" she asked gently.

Articus took a deep breath. "A crazed rogue somehow managed to break through to the light side of the mountain. He... he killed Rowan's parents."

Wren gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh, Articus, that's terrible."

He nodded, his eyes distant with the memory. "It was a dark time for all of us, but especially for Rowan. He was devastated, angry. For a while, I thought I might lose him to that anger."

"What happened?" Wren asked, her heart aching for both Articus and Rowan.

"We rallied around him," Articus said. "My pack, his, our friends. And slowly, he started to heal. But it changed things. We took protecting the divide more seriously after that. My father implemented stricter patrols, better security measures."

Wren nodded, understanding dawning. "Is that why you were so quick to help when Cassius brought up the rogues being snatched?"

Articus met her eyes, his gaze intense. "Partly," he admitted. “What happened to Rowan’s parents... it showed us that the divide between light and dark wasn’t as impenetrable as we thought. And it made us realize that not all rogues are dangerous, but desperation can drive people to do terrible things.”

He reached across the table, taking her hand in his. The gesture sent a warmth spreading through Wren’s body. “Meeting you,” he continued, “seeing firsthand what happens on the Dark Side... it reinforced that we need to do better. For everyone’s sake.”

Wren squeezed his hand, touched by his words and the emotion behind them. “I’m sorry about Rowan’s parents,” she said softly. “But I’m glad some good could come from it, even if it took a while.”

Articus nodded, a small smile returning to his face. “Rowan’s doing well now. He and Juniper have a wonderful family.”

“That’s wonderful,” Wren said, genuinely happy for Articus’ friend. “You must have been excited to be an uncle.”

Articus chuckled. “I was—the first time. But they’ve all gone and had kids now, and I am tired of all my friends calling me ‘Uncle Articus’.”

They shared a laugh, the heavy mood lifting. As their laughter subsided, Wren found herself studying Articus’s face, noticing the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, the warmth in his gaze as he looked at her.

“But it also made me realize how much I want that for myself one day,” Articus admitted.

Wren’s heart skipped a beat at his words. Did that mean he saw a future with her? The thought both thrilled and terrified her.

Is he talking about me?

“I could see you being an amazing dad,” she found herself saying before she could stop herself.

Articus’s smile widened, and he looked at her with an intensity that made her breath hitch. “And I could see you being an incredible mom.”

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken possibilities. Wren’s mind whirled, thoughts of a family she had begun to give up on having entered her mind.

But even as she basked in the warmth of their growing closeness, a nagging thought wormed its way into her mind, sudden and overwhelming.

He hasn’t marked me yet.

The thought hit her like a bucket of cold water, dampening the cozy atmosphere.

Why not? She wondered, her fork pausing halfway to her mouth. In fact, he should have marked her from the beginning. Maybe he didn’t want to mark her at first because of the whole slave thing, but now things were going well. He should mark her—or at least ask if he could. But he hadn’t.

Does he not want to?

The question echoed in her mind, bringing with it a surge of insecurity. At first, she’d thought it was because he didn’t want her, didn’t see her as worthy of being his mate. But now… now things were different. They’d grown closer, and still, he hadn’t marked her.

Or maybe he just doesn’t feel the same way I do.

The idea was almost too painful to contemplate, but she couldn’t stop herself from thinking about it. Wren forced herself to continue eating, to nod and smile at appropriate moments, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

She found her eyes drawn to the strong line of his jaw, the curve of his lips as he smiled, the intensity in his blue eyes. Her heart fluttered in her chest, a sensation that was becoming increasingly familiar.

Oh no, I’m falling in love with him.

The realization hit her like a physical blow. The thought was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

What if he doesn’t love me back?

He had said he was serious about her and was falling for her, but he hadn’t actually used the word love. Wren's mind raced. She thought about all the little moments that had led to this, his determination to help her, the way he listened when she spoke, really listened, their dates, and making love over and over again.

But if it meant something to him, why hasn't he marked me?

The question gnawed at her. Was she reading too much into things? Did he see her as nothing more than a responsibility, a problem to be solved?

Wren's gaze dropped to her plate, her appetite suddenly gone. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she almost missed Articus calling her name.

"Wren? Are you alright?" His voice was laced with concern, bringing her attention back to the present.

She looked up, meeting his worried gaze. For a moment, she considered spilling everything—her fears, her growing feelings, her confusion about the lack of marking. But the words stuck in her throat.

"I'm fine," she said instead, forcing a smile. "Just... thinking about everything Cassius said. It's a lot to take in."

Articus nodded, his expression softening. "It is," he agreed. "But you're handling it all remarkably well."

His praise warmed her, even as it twisted the knife of uncertainty deeper. If only you knew, she thought, her smile becoming a bit more genuine.

As they finished their breakfast and cleared the table together, Wren's mind continued to churn. The intimacy they had shared only made his lack of marking more confusing, more painful. Each time they had come together, a part of her had hoped, had yearned for his teeth at her neck, for that final claim. But each time, she had been left wanting.

She watched him as he loaded the dishwasher, his movements efficient and graceful. As his head turned to her, Wren plastered a smile on her face and pushed her doubts aside.

For now, she would focus on enjoying their time together and getting to know Articus better. The rest, she decided, would sort itself out in time. She just hoped her heart wouldn't be collateral damage in the process.