**Viktor**

My head pounded as I collapsed into my chair, allowing the seat to spin as I closed my eyes. One of these days, I was gonna put a leash on Rowan and Virgil.

“You look exhausted, my son,” I sat up in my chair as my mother walked into my office, as silent and beautiful as ever. I shook my head as I leaned forward on the desk, running my hand through my hair. “Did something happen during the hunt? Is everyone alright?”

“No, the hunt was fine. Virgil has brought another of his toys to the mansion,” I complained, thinking of the man who had stood in front of me. “I haven’t decided what to do with him yet.”

“Where did he find this one?” My mother asked gently, and I turned as she glided to the window, looking out to the lake that lay behind the house. This high in the mountains, the water was always freezing, but it made for a gorgeous view when the moon shone on its shimmering surface.

“Wolves. The Grave Crest pack,” I groaned, watching for my mother’s reaction. She kept her cold green eyes out the window and I looked away as I continued. “I told him to put them in one of the rooms.”

“And the boy?”

“He didn’t smell like a wolf, but that means nothing. He may simply be too young. He also... didn't smell like he was born a man,” I shrugged, shaking my head as I leaned back in my chair. The scent of his fear came to my mind again, and I closed my eyes as I sighed. “He was afraid.”

“Hmmm,” my mother finally glided away from the window, and I chanced a peek to see what she was doing. She sat elegantly in the armchair next to my desk, watching me with interest. Her long black hair nearly dragged the floor as she sat, but my mother was the perfect picture of elegance. She was the current Queen of the Night, training me to take her place as King. She kept leaving more and more decisions to me, and I knew soon she would give the role to me completely. “Did he anger them?”

“Apparently the boy had fled into the forest and crossed to our side. He merely claimed him under that right,” I repeated what Virgil had told me, keeping my mother’s gaze. “They’ll have to wait until the full moon to complain, but if they were willing to chase him to our lands–”

“Then they will come.” My mother agreed, closing her eyes in thought. I waited eagerly for her council, watching her as she sat still in the chair. A presence stirred in the back of my mind, but I pushed it back down as my mother started to speak again. “You said he had fear?”

“It filled his entire body,” I affirmed, watching as my mother nodded her head in thought. She seemed to be considering the circumstances and I knew her answer would be firm but kind. That was simply the type of woman she was and it was why I admired her so much. If I could only be one tenth of the person she was, my kind would never have to worry again.

“We will need to know exactly what he is and why he fled before they come to claim him. If his cause is just, I will not send him back to them.” My mother advised and I nodded in agreement as she opened her eyes to watch me. “Be sure to learn what you can, and get the truth from him. We do not need conflict with the wolves if it can be avoided.”

“Understood Mother,” I bowed my head as my mother stood and glided out of the office, closing the door as she left. Once I was alone again, I stood and walked to the window, growling softly as I looked out at the lake. I would need to find a role, a task for him in the house, something unimportant so that he wouldn’t be missed if we needed to send him back.

‘Send him back now.’ The presence in my mind insisted and I frowned at my reflection in the glass.

“I have never let you dictate my life before and I will not now,” I insisted out loud, noticing the hint of amber in my own green eyes as my wolf retaliated.

‘He needs to go,’ he repeated and I scowled at his insistence. Being born the hybrid of a wolf and a vampire had its perks, like a tolerance for sunlight and heightened senses that allowed me to outperform both. All of the High Court were aware of my heritage and my father had been an honored guest every time he visited. I had fond memories of him, and both he and my mother helped me to navigate the unique mix of powers I had inherited from them.

Unfortunately, disease had taken him away from my mother and me, and the wolves of his pack hadn’t even had the decency to tell us. My mother had to risk the trip into wolf territory to find out, and I still remembered the heartbroken look on her face when she returned. He hadn't belonged to the Grave Crests and my mother always reminded me they had good reason not to tell us, but I still held disdain for most of the packs that bordered our lands. It was that disdain that led me to never shift, and my wolf remained separate from me, despite the years since his awakening.

The amber flecks in my eyes increased and I cursed Virgil for bringing a potential wolf into the mansion. It wasn't the first time he had done so, and my wolf was nothing if not territorial and protective of my family and friends. Regardless of who he was, he was not a member welcomed into my pack, and my wolf wanted him gone.

“No.” I repeated, glaring at my own reflection until the amber hue faded from my eyes. He still sat in my mind, pacing with annoyance and anxiety at what the boy could mean. I groaned as I closed my eyes, leaning my forehead against the cool glass.

An image of the man flashed in my mind as I remembered how his long dark hair had hidden his face from me, but his fear had filled every cell in his body. It was so great that I could not tell if he had been lying or telling the truth, and I hummed with frustration. It would be difficult to get the truth from him unless I could overcome his fear, and I was unsure if it was of me or the wolves. One thing was certain however; he did not want to return to the Grave Crests.

I pushed myself off the window as I left my office, enjoying the silence in this part of the house. Most of the court will have started making their way to their bedrooms, ready to hide and rest during the day. I shook my head as I started for the courtyard, my thoughts racing as I considered what I should do. I muttered under my breath as I walked, sighing heavily.

“What have you dragged me into, Virgil?”