LM0047The Price of Power

The private jet's interior was a display of refined luxury, befitting the Alpha of the Langeveld Clan. Polished mahogany panels gleamed under the soft glow of recessed lighting, and plush cream leather seats lined the spacious cabin. A long, glossy conference table sat in the middle, surrounded by reclining chairs, each equipped with individual controls for comfort. A bar stocked with fine Dutch liquors and crystal glasses stood at the far end, while large windows framed the endless stretch of sky outside. The hum of the jet's engines was steady, a background lull to the serious discussion at hand.

Alpha Roderik Langeveld sat in his usual seat, positioned at the head of the conference table. His piercing blue eyes were focused ahead, his fingers rhythmically drumming against the armrest. His younger half-sister, Astrid, sat beside him, elegantly poised yet exuding an aura of barely contained excitement. Opposite them sat their Delta, Bastiaan Veldhuis, a sharp-minded and pragmatic man who had served Roderik loyally for years. He adjusted his cuffs before sliding a folder across the table to his Alpha.

"Alpha, here's the information you requested yesterday," Bastiaan said, his voice steady and professional.

Roderik took the folder and flipped it open. His sharp gaze scanned through the pages before his expression darkened, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. He let out a short snort of disdain.

"That Ookaze is getting bolder," he remarked, tapping his finger against the document.

Bastiaan inclined his head. "But if the news is true, he has a reason to be bold. Had the old healer clan still been active, the Ookaze wouldn't be so brazen—they'd be too aware of their own limitations in the face of such formidable healing power."

The three of them knew exactly what was being referred to: the Wind Pack's recent announcement about a supposed cure for the afflictions plaguing many of their kind. The curse of the Moon Goddess had weakened even some of the strongest wolves, while others, unable to control the overwhelming power surging through their bodies, had fallen into painful deterioration. This so-called cure, if real, could change everything. Had the ancient healer clan still been around, the news would have been inconsequential—the ailments wrought by the curse were trivial for a clan renowned for its unparalleled healing arts. But with the healer clan long extinct, only the Ookaze clan remained to offer help, emboldened by their newfound indispensability.

"It must be true," another voice chimed in. The speaker was Matthijs van Doren, Roderik's secretary and the one who had gathered Mizuki Wolfe's information earlier. His role was to ensure Roderik was never caught off guard by political shifts within the lycan world. "I heard that Rina Ookaze was able to cure Izumi Kagerou using the method."

Roderik's brows lifted slightly at the mention of the name. Although many among their kind knew of the Shadow Wolf Pack, few had ever met its reclusive Alpha. But Izumi Kagerou was different. She and her father, Iori, had always acted as their pack's diplomats, maintaining a rare connection with the outside world. Izumi, however, had suffered for years, her frail body struggling to contain the overwhelming force of her aura. If she had truly been cured, then the implications were staggering.

"Alpha McCann gave me a call. That's why we're heading there now," Roderik said, closing the folder with a decisive snap.

Roderik Langeveld was the second most powerful Alpha in the world, older even than Hizuki Kagerou himself. He was not a man easily swayed by invitations, especially those requiring extensive travel. Normally, it was others who sought an audience with him, not the other way around. When the Wind Pack first extended their invitation, he found it laughable and had intended to dismiss it outright.

However, Alpha McCann, leader of the last remaining Scottish wolves, had personally reached out. That alone had given Roderik pause. European lycanthropes maintained a general sense of camaraderie, unlike the more volatile packs of other continents. There was little infighting, no desperate bids for dominance—at least, not as long as Roderik remained alive to keep order. It was the Asian packs that had always been more unpredictable. The Ookaze Clan, in particular, had an unrelenting tendency to stir conflict, constantly seeking ways to keep the spotlight on themselves.

But this news—this so-called cure—was too significant to ignore. Even among his own pack, there were those suffering under the curse's influence. If the cure was real, it could alter the future of their entire kind. It was this realization that finally convinced Roderik to see for himself. The Ookaze Clan would not dare attempt deception, not when dealing with him. After all, aside from Hizuki and Iori Kagerou, there was no other wolf or lycan alive who could stand against Roderik in battle.

Leaning back in his seat, Roderik steepled his fingers together, deep in thought. Astrid observed him quietly, her sharp eyes glittering with intrigue. She was not as patient as her brother, and the prospect of meeting the Wind Pack held its own excitement for her.

Bastiaan, ever the realist, folded his arms. "Do you believe they would share this cure freely?"

Roderik scoffed. "Nothing in this world is given freely. They will want something in return. The question is—what price will they name?"

No one in the jet had an answer. But soon, they would find out.

Astrid huffed in frustration but didn't press further. She had never been one to back down easily, especially not when it came to her ambitions. Hizuki Kagerou was the one prize she had her sights set on, and she wouldn't let anyone—especially not a human or a lesser pack member—stand in her way.

Roderik, ever the more measured one, stood up, his gaze drifting toward the horizon, lost in thought. "We'll play their game for now, Astrid. But know this—you can't force fate. If Hizuki is meant to be with someone else, no amount of bloodline or strength will change that."

Astrid's lips curled into a small, defiant smile. "We'll see about that. I've never failed at what I set my mind to."

As they stood there, the weight of their family's legacy hung in the air. Roderik's mind, sharp and calculating, was already strategizing their next move, but for Astrid, this was personal. She would fight for her place as the Luna of the Shadow Wolf Pack, no matter the cost.

But deep down, Roderik knew something his sister didn't—Hizuki Kagerou wasn't a simple prize to be won. He was a force of nature, far more complex than she could imagine, and his fate would not be easily shaped by anyone, even someone with pure alpha blood.