Return to Seven Fountain

You hold the Power

As Simoné stepped into the pack house, the echoes of her sparring sessions still pulsed through her. She felt an undeniable satisfaction after the morning's intense challenges with Chase, Rupert, and finally Duncan. She hadn't expected things to escalate with her brother, especially to the point where he shifted in his anger. The scene played over in her mind as she moved through the corridors, her body still alert from the adrenaline that coursed through her veins.

Just as she turned a corner, she spotted two familiar faces: the ex-Alpha Chris and her father, Thamus, standing together. Their expressions were unreadable, but the second they saw her, they both waved her over.

"Simoné, a word?" Chris's voice was calm but held a touch of concern. She felt the weight of his gaze as she approached, and her father's face was marked with lines of worry.

"Of course," she said, straightening her posture.

Chris led her into the Alpha's office, and she felt a sense of anticipation growing. The room, with its familiar scent of aged leather and cedar, felt unusually tense.

Once they were seated, Chris folded his hands and looked at her seriously. "Simoné, would you mind telling us exactly what happened on the training field?"

She took a steadying breath, recounting the events in as much detail as possible, from her sparring sessions with Chase and Rupert to Duncan's escalating anger. When she reached the part about him shifting in the middle of their fight, she noticed her father's jaw tighten, his gaze dropping. She finished by describing how she had, reluctantly, made Duncan submit to her aura and power, and how he'd stormed off into the forest without another word.

When she was done, silence filled the room, thick and heavy. Thamus was the first to speak, his voice low and thoughtful. "Simoné, you know as well as I do that Duncan takes his role as Beta very seriously. Your sparring today... he might perceive it as a challenge, especially given how it ended."

Simoné met her father's gaze, her heart tightening. "Dad, I had no choice. He shifted—I didn't want things to go that far, but he left me no other option."

Chris nodded in agreement, though his expression remained serious. "You handled yourself well, but understand, in a hierarchy like ours, even unintentional challenges can lead to tension. Duncan may be feeling threatened, and in his mind, your win could seem like a direct threat to his rank."

Her father placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his face lined with worry. "Just be mindful, Simoné. Your strength is impressive, and you should never hold back, but... it's important to tread carefully with him. He's your brother, but he's also the Beta."

Simoné nodded, the weight of their words sinking in. Before she could respond, the door to the office opened, and a familiar presence filled the room. She turned, her heart giving a jolt as Keenan entered. His eyes immediately found hers, and she was caught in his piercing gaze—a gaze that seemed to hold a mix of curiosity, admiration, and something else that sent a spark straight through her.

"Keenan," Chris said, acknowledging him with a respectful nod. Her father gave Keenan a brief nod as well before glancing between Simoné and him. An unspoken understanding passed among the men, and Chris placed a hand on Thamus's shoulder. "I think we're done here. Let's give them some time."

Her father's eyes met hers briefly, a silent reminder to tread carefully, before he followed Chris out. When the door clicked shut, the room felt suddenly smaller. The air grew thick with an almost tangible heat as Keenan approached her, his steps slow, each one filled with intent. He stopped close enough that the scent of sandalwood and liquorice drifted from him, curling around her senses. There was a look in his eyes that made her heartbeat quicken—a look that was intense, primal, and almost predatory.

He stopped only inches away, so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body. Keenan's gaze flickered over her face, tracing her features with a searing intensity. His gaze was unwavering, studying her like she was the only thing that mattered in that moment. Slowly, he leaned in, his voice a low, tantalizing seductive murmur that brushed against her ear. "You were absolutely amazing out there, Simoné."

A shiver rippled through her, and she felt her wolf, Shaney, was a purring mess with satisfaction in the back of her mind. The compliment, coming from him, sent her pulse racing. She could feel the heat from his breath against her skin, the tingling sensation spreading down her spine. The sensation sent a thrill through her, making the hairs at the back of her neck stand on end. She swallowed, trying to keep her composure, but his nearness made it nearly impossible. It was as if every nerve in her body was suddenly tuned to him, to his presence.

As if sensing her reaction, Keenan lifted his hand and traced a line up her arm with his fingertips. The touch was light but electrifying, igniting sparks that seemed to race through her veins. The sensation made her insides coil with a delicious tension, and she could feel Shaney practically purring with delight. Heat pooled deep inside her, leaving her feeling disoriented yet fiercely drawn to him.

But she wasn't the only one affected. She caught a flicker of something in his gaze, a subtle shift in his stance, as though he, too, was feeling the pull, the electric charge between them. Yet he maintained his composure, the only sign of his own reaction being the slight clench of his jaw.

Finally, he pulled back, a knowing smirk curving his lips as he stepped away and moved to his desk. He settled into the chair, casually yet purposefully, as if to put distance between them but not entirely sever the connection. She watched as he tried, almost visibly, to regain control, though there was a lingering spark in his gaze, betraying his own discomfort at the undeniable chemistry that hung in the air.

Clearing his throat, he leaned forward, lacing his fingers together. "I'd like to test some of your powers, Simoné," he said, his tone professional, though she could still sense the tension in his voice.

Her curiosity piqued; she raised an eyebrow. "Which of my powers?"

He leaned back, his green eyes holding a mischievous gleam. "All of them," he said simply. "I want to see what you're capable of—and, more importantly, which abilities I might be immune to and which ones I'm not."

A slow smile spread across her face as she considered the challenge. "So, you're curious if I could overpower you like I did Duncan?"

His gaze darkened, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of anticipation and challenge. "Oh, you can overpower me any day you want, anywhere you want," Simoné blushed a deep crimson and avoided his eyes. He cleared his throat "but yes, something like that, I would like to see if I am immune to them." he replied, his voice dropping to a tone that sent a thrill through her.

The room seemed to pulse with unspoken energy, the promise of a test, a game of power and restraint that neither of them was entirely sure how to navigate. But in that moment, one thing was certain: this was more than just a test of strength. It was an exploration of boundaries, of tension, of the magnetic pull that neither of them could ignore any longer. And as she met his gaze, Simoné knew that whatever happened next would change everything.

________________________________________________________________________________

Please like and comment if you are enjoying the story, it helps me as a writer. Would love to get your positive feedback.