As Olivia stepped into the room, the day's weariness still clinging to her, her eyes landed on Simon. He was sitting on the bed, a small envelope clutched in his hands, a wide smile lighting up his face. He looked up, and without a word, handed her the envelope. She tore it open, pulling out the report card. A bright red A+ gleamed at her, and as she scanned the impressive marks, a smile bloomed on her own face, instantly chasing away her exhaustion. She knelt down, pulling him into a hug, and patted his head. "Good job," she murmured, "now keep up the good work in the future too."
Tonight was a treat. Instead of their usual simple fare, they feasted on a meal fit for an Alpha's table. As they savored each bite, she wove tales for him, her voice a comforting murmur in the quiet room. When the last morsel was gone, they nestled into bed, curling close, ready to face whatever new challenges the morning light would bring.
As the morning sun climbed higher, a new day dawned. After seeing Simon off to school, Olivia slipped back into their room. She checked the hallway to make sure no one was around, then quietly locked the door. She walked to the bed, bent down, and crawled underneath it.
With a practiced movement, she carefully pried up a floorboard right in the middle. Reaching into the dark space below, she rummaged around until her fingers closed around a cloth sack. Inside, she could feel the familiar weight of hundreds of copper Solari coins. She added the gold Solari to the growing pile before carefully placing the sack back into its hidden alcove. She then carefully replaced the floorboard and climbed out from under the bed.
She stood for a moment, her mind adrift in thought. For years, she had been meticulously saving every coin, hoping to accumulate enough to escape this life, this place. Now, every single coin was for Simon, a future she was painstakingly building for him.
Afterward, Olivia returned to the kitchen for the usual grind, or so she thought. As she entered, she saw Jennifer standing there with her maid, both staring coldly at her. Jennifer's voice cut through the air, sharp and disdainful: "Don't think that by cozying up to the Earl you'll be able to get together with Andrew, as he will never acknowledge you or your son."
With that, Jennifer stormed out of the kitchen, leaving Olivia frozen for a moment. Olivia shook her head, muttering "idiot" under her breath before getting back to work. She couldn't help but think how far Jennifer's accusations were from the truth. Olivia harbored no dreams of being with Andrew; in fact, she quite disliked him. Yet, she was powerless to change her circumstances, so she had simply decided to ignore it all and focus solely on her son.
The day unfolded with its usual rhythm. When evening came, Simon returned from school, and Olivia had already finished her tasks. Their small room was ready, the table set just for him. As soon as he'd freshened up, she asked about his day, and he began recounting the events, his quiet voice a comforting presence. After they finished eating, they climbed into bed, curled together, and drifted off to sleep.
The next day mirrored the grind of the previous one, with one stark exception. A middle-aged man appeared outside the estate gate, a figure of unremarkable appearance until he presented a guard with a letter. The seal was unmistakable: a black alpha wolf head over a crown, with a scepter crossed behind it. It was the King's own seal.
"Give this letter to Alpha Walter," the man commanded, his voice dripping with arrogance, "and tell him to come out."
Though the guard didn't recognize the man, the King's seal instantly conveyed his importance. He quickly called for a replacement and ran inside with the letter. Arriving at the Alpha's study, he knocked lightly.
"Who is it?" a voice that could freeze his soul replied almost immediately.
"Lord Alpha," he timidly responded, "a man is standing at the estate gate, and he has a letter for you."
"Then just hand the letter to Liam," the cold voice came. "Don't bother me for something trivial like this."
The guard, finally gathering his courage, insisted, "But your Lordship, that letter bears the seal of the King himself."
Silence fell on the other side of the door, heavy and absolute. Then, the voice came again, "Okay, bring me that letter."
The guard slowly opened the door and entered the study. Alpha Walter sat behind a massive desk, his feet propped up. He was a well-built man, with striking blue eyes and streaks of white in his hair. The guard couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine, retracting his gaze immediately from the immense power radiating from the Alpha's stare. He walked slowly towards the desk and held out the letter.
Alpha Walter tore it open. As he read, his aura began to intensify, growing heavier with each line. When he reached the end, he crushed the letter in his hand, his power erupting. His eyes flared, and a vicious smile twisted his lips, causing the guard to finally collapse to the floor in a heap.
"So," the Alpha snarled, his voice a low, dangerous rumble, "just because I haven't shown myself for a decade, some wannabe bastard thinks he can come and challenge me for my rank? I'll definitely make an example out of him, lest the others think I have weakened!"
As quickly as it came, the oppressive aura receded. He turned to the guard, who was now crawling back to his feet. "Take me to him."
The guard scrambled up and quickly headed outside, the Alpha following close behind. When Alpha Walter finally laid eyes on the man standing outside the gate, his gaze narrowed slightly. The man was clearly no weakling, and the King's approval of the challenge confirmed it.
He walked towards the challenger. "We will hold the fight this evening, when my granddaughter returns from school," he stated, "as I want her to watch. Hope you don't mind."
The man merely nodded, a light smile playing on his lips. "It's quite alright."
When evening finally came and the children returned from school, a girl, no older than four, ran towards the Alpha. He scooped her into his arms and hugged her. She turned her signature blue eyes towards him and slowly said, "Grandpa, I learned in school that titles are handed down from generation to generation. So what is this fight about?"
He ruffled her hair. "Even though noble titles are often assigned by lineage, they can change hands if the holder isn't strong enough. The current holder of a title can be challenged by another, and if he loses, he forfeits the title and all the privileges that come with it." He then added, "Why do you think the current king holds the throne, Liana?" She looked confused, so he continued, "The wolves, especially the Alphas, are very proud. If he weren't the strongest, why else would they listen to him?" He looked into her eyes, his voice firm. "Liana, always remember that in this world, only strength reigns supreme. If you're weak, then even your life is not your own."
She nodded, her small face serious.
An hour later, as the sun began to set, all the members of the pack, including the servants, gathered around the large open area behind the Mansion. They gave a wide berth to the two combatants who now stood in the middle, staring at each other.