Chapter Ten: The Wolf's Dilemma

The moon hung low in the sky, casting its silver light over the sprawling city below. Alex stood at the window of his penthouse, watching the streets below as his mind raced. The decision Joseph had placed before him was not something he could take lightly. The alliance, the offer of support—it was tempting, but there was something about Joseph's smooth, calculating demeanor that left a bad taste in his mouth. It wasn't just that Joseph wanted something from him; it was that Alex could feel the danger simmering beneath the surface.

He had been forced into this world, but he hadn't yet fully embraced it. The wolf inside him—the one he had tried to deny, the one he feared—was a constant presence, its hunger growing with each passing day. The power that came with his inheritance was undeniable, and it was demanding his attention. Every instinct in his body told him to take control, to step into his role as the leader he was meant to be. But the price of that power was steep, and Alex didn't know if he was willing to pay it.

The sound of his phone vibrating on the table broke through his thoughts. He turned, and the screen flashed with a message from Mary.

Meet me. We need to talk.

Alex's stomach tightened. Mary had been a constant in his life, a grounding presence when everything else felt like it was slipping through his fingers. But now, with everything he had learned about his family, his legacy, the wolf inside him—he wasn't sure what role she would play in his future. He wasn't sure what role he would play.

He quickly typed a response.

Where?

A minute passed, then the reply came: The park. Near the old fountain.

Alex hesitated for a moment, then grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.

The night air was crisp, biting at his skin as he made his way through the streets. The park was quieter than usual, the sound of distant traffic a constant hum in the background. As he approached the old fountain, he saw her standing there, waiting. Mary's figure was illuminated by the soft glow of a nearby streetlamp, her face unreadable as she watched him approach.

"Hey," Alex said softly, as he walked up to her.

Mary turned to face him, her expression guarded. "Alex, you've been avoiding me," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "What's going on? You've been shutting me out."

He stopped a few feet away, feeling the weight of her gaze. "I didn't mean to, Mary. It's just… a lot. There's a lot I'm still trying to figure out."

Mary took a step closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You've been distant. You won't let me in. And I know it's because of all this... werewolf stuff. But I'm not going to let you do this alone, Alex. Whatever's happening, you don't have to face it on your own."

Alex swallowed hard, looking away. "I'm not sure I can let you in, Mary. I don't know how to explain any of this. I don't even know if I'm ready to face it myself."

She was silent for a moment, letting his words settle between them. Then, with a soft sigh, she stepped closer. "Alex, you're not alone in this. You keep pushing people away, but that's not going to help you. You can't fight this by yourself. I'm not going anywhere. I want to help."

He could feel the pull of her sincerity, her unwavering presence. But as much as he wanted to let her in, a part of him still wanted to push her away. The wolf inside him was a constant reminder of what he had become—something dangerous, something other. He couldn't afford to let anyone too close. But here, standing in front of Mary, he realized how much he needed her. How much he had always needed her.

"I don't know if I can protect you from this, Mary," Alex said, his voice raw. "The power inside me, the things I've learned about my family—it's too much. I can't ask you to be part of this."

Mary reached out, placing her hand gently on his arm. "I'm not asking you to protect me, Alex. I'm asking you to trust me. I can handle whatever this is. But you have to stop pushing me away. You can't do this alone."

Alex looked down at her hand on his arm, feeling the warmth of her touch seep into him. For a brief moment, the turmoil inside him quieted. But that calm was fleeting. His mind was racing, torn between the past and the future, between his human side and the wolf inside him that was growing stronger by the day.

He shook his head slowly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't know if I can be the leader my parents wanted me to be. I don't even know if I can control this power."

Mary's eyes softened, and she stepped even closer, standing directly in front of him now. "You don't have to be perfect, Alex. You just have to be yourself. You've always been strong, even when you didn't believe it. And you don't have to control everything. You just have to choose what's important."

He stared at her, his heart pounding. He had spent so much time fighting against the wolf inside him, afraid of losing himself, afraid of what he could become. But in this moment, standing here with Mary, he realized something important. He didn't have to do it alone. He didn't have to choose between the man he had been and the leader he was meant to become. He could be both.

"Maybe you're right," he said, his voice gaining strength. "Maybe I don't have to control everything. Maybe I just need to stop running."

Mary smiled, the warmth of her expression pulling him back from the edge. "You don't have to run anymore, Alex. We'll face this together."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Alex allowed himself to believe that maybe—just maybe—there was a way forward. The power inside him was still there, still fierce, still demanding. But it didn't have to define him. He was more than just the wolf. He was Alex Wilson, and he had people who cared about him. People who would stand by him.

The full moon was rising, but Alex didn't feel the same terror he had before. The wolf would come. But this time, he would face it on his own terms.

"Thanks, Mary," he said quietly, his voice filled with gratitude. "For everything."

She smiled at him, a reassuring, gentle smile that made him believe, for the first time, that he wasn't as lost as he had felt.

"You don't have to thank me, Alex," she replied. "You never have to thank me. I'm just here."

And in that moment, Alex realized that no matter what came next, he wasn't facing it alone.