Steve let out a small, uneasy chuckle. The sound carried nerves behind it, trembling just beneath the surface of his voice. He was afraid, afraid of what his brother might say next.
âJack... Iâm sorry,â Steve said, forcing a smile that didnât reach his eyes. âI donât know if youâre joking or not, but if you are, please, can we be serious for a moment?â
Jack didnât interrupt. He simply watched his brother, expression unreadable.
âThere were some young ones from our pack,â Steve continued. âOthers who decided to leave, who wanted to come here, to join the Redwing Kingdom. They should have arrived long before I did. They were Omega Wolves, so they werenât even part of our pack anymore. I just... need to know if they made it here.â
The room went quiet.
For a few seconds, the soft, welcoming expression Jack had worn since their reunion faded away. His eyes hardened, not in anger, but in contemplation, and his silence pressed on Steve like a weight.
When Jack finally spoke, his tone was measured, each word chosen with care.
âWeâve had Omega Wolves come to the city,â he said slowly. âSome have joined us. Youâre free to meet them, to speak with them, so long as Iâm with you when you do.â
He leaned back in his chair, exhaling. âYou have to understand, Steve. Many of these Omegas come from brutal environments. Theyâve suffered more than most can imagine. Some are still learning how to live freely again. Others havenât joined the pack at all and still carry their Omega status. We do what we can to help them feel comfortable, but introducing someone from another pack too suddenly could startle them.â
Steve nodded faintly. It made sense, yet his stomach twisted. He knew Jack wasnât lying, but he was cautious, guarded in a way that made Steve uneasy.
Jackâs eyes flicked toward him again. âEvery person who joins the Redwing Kingdom goes through me first. Theyâre all vetted. And while thereâs always a chance someone arrived without telling me their full story, no one has ever mentioned coming from another pack. I want to curb your expectations now, brother. Because if your wolves had arrived here, Iâm sure I would have heard about it by now.â
Steveâs heart sank at the honesty in Jackâs tone.
Still, Jack agreed to take him. The two left the office and began moving through the quieter parts of the Redwing settlement, where new arrivals stayed until they adjusted to city life.
Jackâs words echoed in Steveâs mind as they walked. Curb your expectations.
He tried to prepare himself for disappointment, but the thought of the missing wolves refused to leave him.
As they passed through the training grounds and into a shaded courtyard, Steve saw them, the newly joined Omega Wolves. A handful of them sat near the stone fountain, some talking, some just staring into space. They looked exhausted, worn down by whatever lives they had lived before arriving here.
Steve scanned their faces one by one, waiting for that flicker of recognition. Waiting to see anyone he knew.
But there was no one.
His expression tightened. He shook his head slightly, disbelief creeping in.
There werenât many to begin with, only a few Omegas had left his pack at that time, and he remembered each of their faces clearly. He remembered the day theyâd asked him for help, how they had believed in him, trusted him to make things better.
He had promised them safety.
Now, looking around, there was no trace of them anywhere.
Jack spoke quietly beside him. âSee? We have a few whoâve just joined, but none from your side, as far as I can tell.â
Steve barely heard him. His thoughts were already spiraling.
What happened to them?
Did they never make it?
Were they attacked by beasts on the way?
That explanation almost made sense. For a lone traveler, the road could be deadly. But these wolves had gone together, as a group. They were experienced, capable. They wouldnât have fallen so easily.
And if other Omega Wolves had managed to make it safely to Redwing since then... why not his people?
Something wasnât adding up.
With his head hung low, Steve followed Jack back toward his office. The walk felt longer this time, each step heavier than the last.
Inside, Jack watched his brother silently for a while before speaking. âWhat are you thinking?â
Steve looked up, his eyes shadowed with guilt. âThe members of my pack,â he said slowly. âThey came to me asking if they could join the Redwing group. They trusted me. They believed I could make it happen, that I could do something for them. I thought I was helping them, Jack. I thought I was changing something... but now it feels like I mightâve made things worse.â
Jack stayed quiet, giving him space to speak.
âThereâs only one person who would know the truth,â Steve said finally. His voice steadied, gaining strength with every word. âI have to talk to Rogan. I have to hear his side.â
Determination replaced the uncertainty in his gaze.
Outside the office, the other werewolves who had traveled with Steve stood waiting. They had overheard enough to piece together what was happening, and concern showed plainly on their faces.
âAre we going to be okay?â one of them asked cautiously.
Steve turned toward them. His expression softened, but his tone carried firm authority. âYouâll stay here,â he said. âRight now, itâs safer for all of you. Iâll head back and speak with Rogan myself. Until I know whatâs happening, none of you are to leave the Redwing Kingdom. Understood?â
The group exchanged uncertain glances, but they nodded. They trusted him enough not to question the order.
Inside, though, Steveâs thoughts were far less steady. His mind raced with possibilities, each one darker than the last.
Why hadnât they arrived?
Were they ambushed?
Captured?
Or... was it something even worse?
The silence stretched until Jack finally broke it.
âIf you find out that Rogan is the one behind your pack members disappearing,â Jack said quietly, âwhat will you do?â
Steve didnât answer right away. He felt Jackâs hand rest on his shoulder, a gesture of comfort, but also of restraint. Jackâs fingers trembled faintly, the instinct of one Alpha touching another member of a pack that wasnât his own. Yet his voice remained calm, grounded in reason.
Steve met his brotherâs eyes, his jaw tight. âIf Rogan had anything to do with it,â he said, his voice low,, âthen Iâll do whatever it takes to make it right. I canât let something like this continue.â
He took a step back, breathing deeply. âJack... forget about this, okay? Help your people. Focus on keeping this place safe. But this isnât your fight. Stay out of it.â
Jack didnât reply, but the look in his eyes said enough. He knew Steve wouldnât let this go, and that the truth, whatever it was, might tear everything apart.
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