Chapter Seven: The Call of the Pack

The following days passed in a blur. Alex couldn't escape the weight of the decisions ahead of him. Each moment seemed to stretch on forever, yet he still found himself wrestling with uncertainty. Katherine's words echoed in his mind—the world of the wolves is waiting for you. But what did that mean? What kind of leader was he supposed to be? And more importantly, how could he possibly step into that role when every part of him felt unprepared, unsure, and overwhelmed?

He spent most of his time alone in his penthouse, the isolation almost suffocating. The city outside continued to bustle, indifferent to his inner turmoil. His phone buzzed on the table, but he barely registered the incoming message. The truth was, nothing mattered right now except finding the answers to the questions that plagued him.

His uncle's betrayal still stung, sharp and fresh, like a wound that refused to heal. Robert had always been a father figure to him, a constant presence in his life. To think that the man who had helped raise him had betrayed his own family, orchestrating the deaths of Alex's parents, felt like a betrayal of everything Alex had ever believed in. And now, it was his turn to take up the mantle, to carry the legacy his parents had left behind, even if it meant stepping into a world he didn't fully understand.

The truth was, Alex had always been good at controlling things—his business, his life, his relationships. But this... this was different. He wasn't just controlling a company or managing assets; he was leading a pack, a group of ancient, powerful creatures who were bound by traditions Alex didn't fully grasp. He had no idea where to start.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Startled, Alex stood up, walking across the room to answer it. He didn't know who it could be, but when he opened the door, his eyes landed on a familiar face.

"Mary?" Alex's voice cracked slightly as he spoke her name. The sight of her standing there, so unexpectedly, brought both a sense of relief and a rush of guilt. She hadn't known anything about the truth of his family, of the world he was now part of. But that had to change. It had to.

"Alex, you look…" Mary's words trailed off as she took in his disheveled appearance. "You've been shutting yourself away again, haven't you?"

He gave her a sheepish smile, but the exhaustion was evident in his eyes. "Yeah, I guess you could say that." He stepped aside, opening the door wider. "Come in."

Mary hesitated for just a moment before stepping inside. Her presence was a comforting reminder of a life that Alex once had—before all of this. She was a part of the world he wanted to return to, the one before his parents' death, before his inheritance, before the dark, twisted legacy of the Wilson family. But now, that world felt far away.

"What's going on, Alex?" she asked softly, sitting down on the couch, her eyes full of concern. "You've been distant lately. We used to talk about everything, but now... it's like you've shut me out."

Alex felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He knew she was right. He had kept her at arm's length ever since he had learned the truth about his parents and the pack. He couldn't risk dragging her into this—he couldn't risk endangering her. But as he looked at her now, he realized just how much he needed her in his life. She was the one person who had always been there for him, the one person who hadn't changed.

"I don't know how to explain it, Mary," he said, sinking into the chair opposite her. "There's so much I haven't told you—so much I haven't wanted to say."

Mary's expression softened as she leaned forward, her eyes full of empathy. "Alex, whatever it is, you don't have to face it alone. You can trust me. You've always trusted me, right?"

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. Trust. It was something he had never truly given to anyone, not since the loss of his parents. But Mary was different. She had always been there for him, and she deserved to know the truth.

"I don't know how to tell you this, but…" He paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm not who you think I am, Mary. My family, my name—everything I've told you about myself—it's all been a lie."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? Alex, you're scaring me."

He stood up, pacing the room as the words spilled out. "I'm not just some businessman, Mary. I'm not just a guy who's inherited a company. My family... they're not who we've claimed to be. My parents—they were part of something bigger, something darker. They were werewolves. And now, I am too."

He could feel the weight of his own words as he spoke them. The truth was out now, raw and unfiltered. There was no turning back.

Mary's face was a mix of disbelief and shock. "Wait… what? Werewolves? Alex, are you serious? Is this some kind of joke?"

Alex shook his head, his chest tight with emotion. "I wish it were. But it's not. I'm part of this world—a world of wolves and power and bloodlines that stretch back centuries. My uncle... he killed my parents. He betrayed me, and now I'm supposed to take their place. I'm supposed to lead, but I don't know how. I don't even know if I'm ready."

Mary's eyes searched his face, trying to make sense of what he was saying. She didn't speak for a long time, and Alex could feel the weight of her silence. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but firm.

"You don't have to do this alone, Alex. I'm here for you. I may not understand everything about this world you're talking about, but I understand you. And that's all that matters."

Alex felt a wave of relief wash over him, as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Mary had always been the anchor in his life, the person who kept him grounded. In a world that had suddenly turned upside down, it was her presence that brought him some semblance of peace.

"I don't deserve you, Mary," Alex said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You're not alone, Alex," she repeated, her voice steady. "And you don't have to be. We'll figure this out together."

For the first time in days, Alex allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was still hope. He didn't know what the future held or what kind of leader he would become, but one thing was clear: he didn't have to face it alone.

And that, for the first time, felt like enough.