The Towering Alpha

~Elsa~

Even with how dangerous the night felt, Seraphina moved around the room like nothing in the world could touch her. She stood before the open wardrobe with one hand on her waist while the other searched through rows of old dresses.

“Do you believe in the rumours about Lucien Draegor, Elsa?” Seraphina asked as if she had been reading my mind.

And truly, she was reminding us about what we could be facing tonight. That name she just mentioned was a name many avoided, even detested calling all over Hoston city and beyond.

I fully focused on her but she didn't look at me, just busy with the selection of dresses. “What rumours precisely?” I asked.

“That the dude is very powerful. There was news that he is a giant also. Almost eight feet tall.” Seraphina said.

“Really?” I asked, surprised, because I was slightly ignorant.

“That's what I heard. No one can tell if they are correct or not. I just hope Lucien doesn't display his rumoured insanity when he comes here tonight. Because I don’t really fancy wealthy werewolves for their pride.” Seraphina declared.

“Do you think he is proud?” I questioned.

Seraphina looked at me briefly then turned back to the clothes. “Wealth is a great medicine to evoke pride, sister.” she said.

I nodded at her philosophical idea. It's normal to hear something about that and the urge of meeting Alpha Lucien for the first time grew stronger.

Then Seraphina pulled a dress and put it on. “I think this is too flashy.” she muttered looking at herself.

“Please, Sera. That one is just perfect.” I pleaded.

Seraphina had been changing into different clothes with no one pleasing her and I wished she finally settled for this.

She looked at me. ““Fine,” she muttered. “But if anyone stares too much, I’m blaming you.”

I smiled. “I can survive that.”

For a brief moment, the room became peaceful again. I simply stood there watching her adjust the gown carefully, and like always, the sight of her pulled something deep inside my chest.

Seraphina looked so much like our mother that sometimes it frightened me. The same beautiful face. The same fiery eyes. The same silent confidence that made people look twice without realizing it.

Losing our mother had left an emptiness inside our home that never truly healed, but Seraphina somehow carried pieces of her everywhere she went. Sometimes, when she laughed or frowned a certain way, it almost felt like Mom was still somewhere near us.

Maybe that was why I valued her so much. Or maybe it was because Seraphina had absolutely no fear. She feared absolutely nothing. Not powerful wolves. Not consequences. Not even our father when he was angry.

Tonight of all nights, that behavior terrified me. Because tonight was not ordinary. Tonight, the Draegor Pack was visiting. Just thinking about that name made the atmosphere feel unsettling.

Lucien Draegor.

Even saying his name silently felt strange somehow. Stories about him traveled through every pack in Hoston. Some called him brilliant. Some called him ruthless. Others simply lowered their voices whenever they spoke about him at all.

Alpha Lucien was the man no one wanted as an enemy. And tonight, he was coming here. To our den.

Father had spent the entire week preparing for this visit as if royalty itself was arriving. Everyone in the pack had been warned repeatedly to behave properly, avoid unnecessary conversation, and most importantly, never offend the Draegors.

Still, despite all the pressure surrounding tonight, a small part of me felt curious instead of afraid.

Mostly because of Jacob.

The last time I saw him, we had both been much younger. Father took me along to the remembrance ceremony held for Lycan Frank Draegor, Jacob and Lucien’s father. Wolves from several packs attended that gathering, and while most children stayed away from outsiders, Jacob had approached me first. He had smiled easily back then.

We spoke for almost an hour that night while adults mourned inside the grand estate. Jacob told me small things about the Draegors, about the estate grounds.

I remembered laughing with him. Strangely enough, that memory stayed with me for years. But despite hearing countless stories about Lucien Draegor, I had never once seen him myself. Not even from a distance.

The sudden hiss of the bedroom door startled both Seraphina and I.

We turned. Alpha Seth, our father stepped inside with his usual calm expression. His broad shoulders filled the doorway while his neatly trimmed beard and dark clothing made me recall how hardworking he was. He was not an Alpha in abundance but he strove much to carter for his pack. I had seen Dad's subtle act that told me this.

“You girls are still here?” he asked.

“We’re done,” I answered quickly.

His gaze moved between us slowly before he nodded in approval. “You both look good.”

Seraphina smiled proudly at that while I fought the urge to laugh.

Father stepped fully into the room. “Now listen carefully. Tonight is important.”

Immediately, Seraphina’s smile disappeared. That alone nearly made me grin. Father always became unbearably serious whenever important guests were involved.

“Show respect at all times,” he continued. “Do not make conversations. Keep your tone polite. And most importantly...” He paused. “Do not get too close to Alpha Lucien.”

I blinked.

Seraphina frowned openly.

Father noticed our expressions immediately. “What?” he asked cautiously.

I tilted my head. “What exactly does that mean?”

For the first time since entering the room, Father looked slightly uncomfortable. “I should have mentioned it earlier,” he admitted. “But I’ve heard... certain things regarding Lucien Draegor.”

Seraphina crossed her arms. “What things?” her eyes squinted.

Father exhaled quietly. “There are rumors that he dislikes physical contact from women.”

The silence lasted only one second before Seraphina burst into muffled laughter.

I pressed my lips together hard.

“Allergic to women?” she whispered.

Father’s expression darkened instantly. “It may sound amusing to you both, but I am serious.”

That only made the situation harder. I looked at Seraphina. She looked at me. The next thing we knew, we were both struggling not to laugh.

Father narrowed his eyes. “Enough.”

We straightened immediately.

“There will be no mistakes tonight,” he warned firmly. “I will not allow anything to jeopardize this pack.”

The seriousness in his voice finally erased the humor from the room. After a moment, Father turned and left. The door slid shut behind him.

Seraphina stared at it for a few seconds before looking back at me. “Doesn’t that sound ridiculous to you?”

“A little,” I admitted carefully.

“A little?” She scoffed. “Elsa, that man sounds insane already.”

I moved toward the mirror and adjusted my hair quietly, though Father’s warning still lingered inside my mind strangely.

Maybe it truly was just a rumor.

Still… Something about tonight felt off, very off.

Music reverberated loudly outside as we finally left the room together and headed toward the front courtyard where the rest of the pack had already gathered.

The Vance Pack was small compared to most others in Hoston, but what we lacked in numbers, we made up for in loyalty. Everyone stood neatly arranged despite the visible nervousness spreading

Then the vehicles arrived.

My breath caught slightly. I had never seen cars so expensive before. Their black bodies reflected moonlight sharply as they rolled into the courtyard one after another with terrifying elegance. The headlights swept over us. We all straightened instinctively.

Several men stepped out first, all dressed in dark suits with emotionless faces. They scanned the area carefully before one of them opened the back door of a crimson vehicle.

A young man stepped out. Golden hair. Emerald eyes.

Jacob Draegor.

Recognition hit me instantly.

But the boy I remembered no longer existed. This version of Jacob Draegor looked far older, sharper, and painfully handsome. His posture carried confidence naturally. And when his eyes briefly met mine…

My wolf stirred violently.

The sensation shocked me so badly that I nearly stepped backward. Warmth spread beneath my skin.

What was that?

Jacob approached Father first, offering a respectful nod before Father could even bow completely.

“Alpha Lucien dislikes formal welcomes,” Jacob explained politely. “He requested everyone head inside first.”

Even his voice sounded calm and… controlled.

Father nodded immediately. Within seconds, everyone moved toward the court hall while servants resumed preparing food and drinks.

I tried not to search for Jacob constantly after that. I tried and failed. Because every time I remembered the way my wolf reacted earlier, my heart began acting strangely again.

I barely understood most Lunar traditions because Father rarely discussed them openly, but even I knew wolves did not react that strongly without reason.

Still, before I could think deeper about it, the music suddenly stopped throughout the hall. Confused murmurs spread everywhere.

That was when Seraphina leaned toward me. “Apparently Lucien hates music too.”

I stared at her blankly. “What kind of man hates music?”

She snorted softly. “Exactly what I said.”

Honestly, I agreed. The more rumors I heard about Lucien Draegor, the colder he appeared.

Then suddenly, movement near the entrance caught everyone’s attention. The room fell silent.

Jacob had returned. Beside him walked the tallest man I had ever seen in my entire life.

No…

Tall wasn’t enough to describe him. He towered over everyone around him so unnaturally that the entire room seemed smaller because of his presence alone. Even Jacob appeared shorter beside him.

The man wore an expensive dark coat that reached below his knees along with gloves and a black hat tilted low enough to shadow most of his face. A strange translucent spectacle concealed his features further, but his eyes…

His eyes were cold luminous blue. An invisible pressure followed him as he walked and the atmosphere changed.

Every wolf stared openly. Some looked nervous.

Others looked amazed. Father himself appeared tense again.

So this was Lucien Draegor. For some reason, he did not even look human standing there.

He moved with slow control before taking his seat without speaking a single word. Not once did he acknowledge the whispers surrounding him.

Father attempted polite conversation while guards stood rigid, but Lucien barely responded at all.

He simply sat there in silence beneath the shadow of his hat. Watching nothing. Or perhaps watching everything.

Eventually, I retreated toward the kitchen area where Seraphina was already preparing drinks with visible irritation written all over her face.

I leaned against the counter. “What’s wrong now?”

“What’s wrong?” she repeated. “Dad is practically bowing at their feet.”

“Sera—”

“No, seriously. I hate this.” She slammed an orange onto the table harder than necessary. “Just because that man is powerful doesn’t mean everyone should act terrified.”

I lowered my voice quickly. “Careful.”

“I’m serious, Elsa. That giant walks in here acting like some emperor while everyone loses their minds.”

I stepped closer immediately. “Please. Just tonight. Don’t start anything. This is not our first time honouring guests.”

Seraphina looked away with a clenched jaw. “They better leave soon,” she muttered darkly. “Because if they continue acting like this, I might actually say something.”

“You won’t.” I rebuked.

And she didn’t answer, allowing the silence to fill the kitchen.

“I wonder why you are just too tranquil. That man is literally making my father look like a fool.” Seraphina mumbled.

I shot her one last look before she fully remained quiet. That silence worried me more than words. But I knew I resolved a little.

After preparing the drinks, we carried the trays carefully back toward the court hall.

Father was still attempting conversation and Lucien still hadn’t spoken. And somehow, that quiet made the atmosphere even worse.

Then suddenly…

Seraphina’s shoulder clipped against someone. Everything happened too fast.

The tray slipped from her hands.

Glass shattered violently across the floor.

Orange liquid splashed across Lucien Draegor’s polished shoes and the entire hall froze with a gasp.