Monica's point of view
As I watch Mr. Hamilton lead Mathias away from me, I realize they're talking about me. Even though I'm too far away to hear their words, I see them turn their heads towards me from time to time.
Nevertheless, I decide to wait where I am, near the pool, until their conversation is over.
Adrian:"You're a little shy. Is that a common characteristic of beta-type people, or is it just you?"
I look up and see Rezus Hamilton standing in front of me. Their conversation seems to have already ended.
The alpha male raises his hand and signals me to approach. Although it is a simple gesture, it carries the natural authority inherent to alphas.
I hesitate to approach him, but Rezus Hamilton clicks his tongue impatiently at my hesitation. I take a deep breath before taking my first step under his scrutinizing gaze.
Monica:"Hello, Mr. Hamilton. I am Monica… Grenwe."
Rezus Hamilton:"It seems you wish to speak with me..."
Monica:"I am the wolf chief of the Snow Tribe… or at least of what was once the Snow Tribe. I need your help."
Even though I try to speak as calmly as possible in front of this imposing alpha, I feel stress and exhaustion gradually overwhelm me.
A long silence falls between us.
Rezus Hamilton:"I heard about the vampire attack," Rezus Hamilton finally said."But I don't see how that concerns me."
End of Monica's point of view
Monica felt all the hopes she had placed in this encounter crumble at that single sentence. Hamilton was her only hope of saving what remained of her people… her family.
"We did our best to fight them," Monica said calmly."But we couldn't stop them… they killed so many of us."
Fear and grief begin to overwhelm her. Memories of the vampire attack flood her mind: brutal and merciless.
She cannot forget how her mother's heart was ripped from her chest by a vampire right in front of her.
Nor how the vampire leader sliced her father in two.
The horror she and her people faced that night was indescribable. That's why she traveled all this way to get here.
"I see…" Rezus Hamilton said coldly. A mocking smile appeared on his lips, as if he were amused by the poor omega in front of him.
"So you want my people to fight for you."
"Why would I do that?" Rezus Hamilton continued."They're yours, not mine. I have no reason to help you."
"Vampires are our common enemy," Monica insisted."Once the rest of my people have fallen… yours will be next."
Monica hopes this warning will awaken a sense of responsibility in the alpha.
Instead, Rezus Hamilton bursts out laughing, as if Monica had just told the funniest joke imaginable.
"Let them come!" Rezus Hamilton shouted."We'll show them what a real fight is!"
At these words, the other alphas nearby began to shout and cheer enthusiastically. The Night Tribe is renowned as a clan of powerful warriors eager for battle.
"My parents told me to come and ask you for help," explains Monica.
Rezus Hamilton is getting closer to Monica.
It was only then that Monica realized the immense difference in size between them. The man looked like a giant, forcing Monica to crane her neck to meet his gaze.
The alpha's warm breath brushes against her. His breath gives off a faint, strangely pleasant smell of alcohol and food.
Now that he is so close, the small beauty mark on the lower left side of Rezus Hamilton's chin is clearly visible, and his blue eyes shine with a hypnotic intensity.
"You will have to earn our help."
"What do you mean?" asked Monica, perplexed.
Rezus Hamilton takes a red-handled knife from its sheath on his belt and raises it for the assembled alphas and omegas to see.
"You say you fought alongside your people," said Rezus Hamilton."That makes you a warrior."
Rezus Hamilton:"Prove it."
Everyone around them is looking at them now.
Rezus Hamilton suddenly throws the knife towards a tree in the distance, where it sticks deep into the trunk.
"Go get the knife," he said calmly."And all the wolves here will be your enemies."
"Show us what you're made of, you little dimwit chief."
Alexandre smiled slyly.
"You're not going to back down now, are you?"
Monica's point of view
He doesn't leave me much of a choice.
Just me… against dozens of alphas.
Looking around me, I see them all staring at me excitedly; the smell of alcohol is very present in the air.
But I know I can't back down.
I must protect my tribe. Otherwise, everything will be lost.
Without hesitation, I started running towards the tree.
At the same time, I hear the heavy footsteps of alphas chasing me.
Within seconds, the air fills with the heady scent of alpha pheromones, stimulating the instincts of all the omegas present… including mine.
I am outnumbered, and my suppressors will not last long in this situation.
I run with all my might, doing my best to dodge the alphas trying to catch me.
One of them lunges at me.
I give him a violent kick in the stomach.
But another wolf grabs my arm.
I'm having trouble breaking free. The alpha reeks of alcohol and pheromones, and I know I can't compete with his strength.
But I'm faster.
Suddenly, I push back the wolf that was holding me upright into the group of alphas behind him, knocking several of them to the ground.
I then rush towards the tree and yank the knife out of the trunk.
I turn to Rezus Hamilton, raising the knife high above my head.
I see Rezus Hamilton raise an eyebrow, his eyes lighting up when he notices the blade in my hand.
That was the signal I needed to know that I had impressed him.
Rezus Hamilton raises his hand towards me.
"Give it to me."
I frown slightly. This man is playing me… but what he doesn't know is that I know how to play too.
I raise my arm and place the knife handle between my teeth, silently signaling to Rezus Hamilton that if he wants to get his dagger back, he will have to come and get it.
I then begin to walk slowly towards him, my gaze fixed on his in a deliberately provocative manner.
The silver-haired alpha narrowed his eyes, as if trying to decide if I would really bite him if he tried to seize the dagger.
Our eyes meet.
Slowly, Rezus Hamilton raises his hand towards my face.
He gently caresses my cheek in a way that sends a strangely pleasant shiver through me… before removing the dagger from my mouth.
Then he turns around and heads towards the manor.
I stand there for a moment, trying to understand what just happened.
My hand slowly moves to my cheek, still feeling the warmth where he touched me.
His pheromones linger around me — a sweet scent of lavender and citrus.
"Come on, idiot," Rezus Hamilton said over his shoulder.
"Let's talk about all of this."