The Wolf The Called Weak

Dallas held many wolf packs, but Riley Cold’s pack stood apart in its own quiet way. Her father carried influence and power, yet she carried a flaw in his eyes. She was a latent wolf shifter. She never completed a full shift, but her claws and teeth still answered her call. That truth alone made her a disappointment he never tried to hide.

She slept deeply until a strange scent pulled her from her dreams.

Riley woke with a sharp breath.

Something smelled wrong.

The scent felt warm and rich, filled with lavender and something darker beneath it. It did not belong to her room. Her mind sorted it fast. The scent belonged to a person. A male. A wolf shifter. Her heart skipped as she realized one more thing. The scent felt intimate, as if it had lingered close to her skin.

She turned her head and found the space beside her empty.

The bed felt unfamiliar.

Riley sat up at once. These were not her sheets. The mattress felt too wide, too soft. Panic crept in as she scanned the room. This was not her bedroom. It was not even her house.

She rubbed her eyes and looked again.

The room stunned her. Smooth stone walls curved around her, shaped with care rather than nature. A thick taupe rug covered the floor. Dark oak furniture stood against the walls, heavy and masculine. A large bed rested beneath an arch carved directly into the stone.

“A cave?” she muttered.

Her wolf stayed oddly calm, alert but not afraid. That alone unsettled her. She remembered nothing about coming here. No fight. No fear. No warning.

She checked herself. She wore simple clothes, the kind she wore on errands. There was no scent of sex on her skin or the bed. That ruled out one ugly idea.

Her memory stopped around noon. She remembered heading toward an internet café. After that, nothing remained.

Riley drew in a deep breath and sorted the air. She smelled herself, the lavender male, and two others. A male and a female. All wolves. All strangers.

At least Cody was not here. That alpha had chased her for years despite her refusal. Her father had encouraged it. Alliances mattered more to him than his only child. As a latent, she embarrassed him. He never hid his resentment. If she vanished, he would barely notice.

She rose from the bed and nearly fell as dizziness swept over her. She steadied herself and moved toward white curtains near the wall. She pulled them aside and found a locked window. Evening light spilled in.

Outside, her breath caught.

The structure did not sit on a cliff. It was carved into one. Balconies curved along stone walls. Stairways connected different levels like an ancient city reborn. Below stretched grass, forest, and wild land.

“What the hell,” she whispered.

She had no purse. No phone. No answers.

Annoyance replaced fear.

She walked to the door and tried the handle. Locked.

“Hello!” she shouted.

No reply.

Her wolf snapped awake at that. Being confined angered every shifter instinct. Riley slammed her fist against the door.

“Open the damn door!”

A low chuckle sounded from the other side. A key turned. The door opened.

A massive male filled the doorway.

He smelled like iron, earth, and strength. His grin looked lazy and sharp at the same time.

“You woke up,” he said. “Good.”

“And you are?” she asked flatly.

“The Alpha wanted to see you.”

“Which Alpha?”

He stepped aside. “Follow me.”

She followed him through wide tunnels that curved deeper into the mountain. Lights glowed softly from the walls. The place felt alive. Her wolf strained against her skin, eager and restless.

“Tell me where I am,” she demanded.

“You will hear it soon.”

“And how I got here?”

“The Alpha explained everything.”

They stopped before a large black door. Inside waited a modern kitchen carved from stone. Several male wolves stood around a long oak table.

They moved aside.

Riley froze.

Rex Goodwin sat at the head of the table.

Her stomach dropped.

Every rumor she ever heard about him rushed back. Violent. Unstable. Unbeaten. Banished after nearly killing his own father. A wolf who ruled through fear and raw power.

She had not come here by choice.

Rex rose slowly. His blue eyes locked onto her. Power rolled from him in waves. Her wolf stirred, thrilled and drawn despite her anger. The scent from the bedroom wrapped around her again.

She hated that her body reacted.

She lifted her chin and met his stare.

“Do you know who I am?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said coldly. “And I want to know why I’m here.”

Silence fell around them.

Rex studied her with open interest. He had expected fear. He found fury instead. That pleased something deep inside him.

He gestured to the chair across from him. “Sit.”

She did.

“So,” Riley said, keeping her voice steady. “You planned to explain this mess?”

Rex leaned back, eyes dark and intent.

“Yes,” he said. “That was always the plan.”

“They brought you here a few hours ago,” Rex said casually, leaning against the counter.

Riley blinked, trying to process. “What? Why? And… how did they even get me to go with them?”

“You were drugged,” he replied, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Riley’s eyes narrowed. “They did what?”

“At the café. After you left, the drowsiness kicked in as you were walking home. Duda and Chris handled the rest-they brought you here.” Rex shrugged. “If it makes you feel any better, you fought like a wildcat before finally succumbing.” He lifted his t-shirt, revealing shallow claw marks across his chest. Her marks. Even as a latent, she had left a signature. Amusement flickered in his eyes; he wasn’t angry, just entertained.

“Wildcat is putting it lightly,” said a tall, olive-skinned wolf standing nearby. She assumed it was Chris. He gave a small smirk that made her wolf stir uncomfortably.

Rex’s smile returned inwardly. Perfect. She’d fit exactly into the role he had planned. But first, he needed to test her, measure her strength, and tease out the truth about her supposed mate bond.

“Cody Coleman,” Rex said, watching her reaction.

Her wolf growled at the name. “What about him?”

“He owes me something. You’re… collateral, in a way. A reminder that he owes me, and I’m not patient.”

Riley clenched her fists. “Drugging and kidnapping someone isn’t acceptable in my world. Maybe in yours, but not mine.”

Rex’s lips twitched. “As soon as Cody arrives, you can leave.”

She blinked. That wasn’t exactly reassuring. Part of her wanted to yell, to protest, but she knew resistance would land her back in that bedroom. Better to see her enemies close, keep her wolf in check.

“Have you called him?” she asked, wary.

“He’ll be here soon,” Rex lied smoothly, knowing full well he had no intention of contacting Cody.

Riley’s gaze swept the room. Four more males lingered: a gruff-looking wolf, a blonde with pale skin, a tall dark-curled wolf grinning like a clown, and a muscular man with claw scars on his cheek. Grumpy, Blondie, Smiley, and Musculy. Aside from Duda, none seemed pleased she was there. Her father’s reputation preceded him-alliances built on fear, enemies collected effortlessly.

Rex nodded toward Donny, who started brewing coffee, then regarded her. “You’re not what I expected.”

Riley’s eyebrow lifted. “Oh?”

“Coleman usually goes for submissives,” Rex said, scanning her. “Funny how true mates can surprise you.”

Her response slipped out too quickly. “He’s not my true mate.”

“And if you haven’t found your true mate yet, why settle?” Rex’s tone was teasing, but his eyes measured her carefully. “You can’t be older than twenty-three?”

“My mate’s dead. We were kids,” she said quietly.

Rex’s expression softened slightly. “I lost mine too, long before I could claim her.”

Sympathy pricked Riley. “Sorry.”

“Then you and Cody make even less sense,” Rex said. “If you’re fiery-tempered, he must really want you.”

She snorted. Love? No. Cody wanted her for leverage, for alliances.

“Have they set a mating ceremony?” Rex asked casually.

There wouldn’t be one. Her father had forced it for show, but she wouldn’t bind herself to someone she despised. Cody’s control freak tendencies were obvious; he thrived on fear and dominance. Riley had already learned that the hard way.

She considered telling Rex she liked Cody even less than he did, but keeping quiet was safer. Crossing her legs, she sipped the coffee Smiley had placed before her, keeping her expression neutral.

Rex’s smirk deepened. “Looking forward to becoming an Alpha Female?”

Riley frowned. “Are power-hungry females the only type you’ve known?”

“Isn’t it what they all dream of?”

“Oh yes, I’m thrilled,” she replied sarcastically, her sharp tone making him grin.

“You’re a healer,” he said, genuinely curious.

“I am,” she replied. “And powerful, too. Real healing, not just emotional.”

“Do you always sit in odd positions?” he teased.

“Just be thankful it’s not your countertop,” she replied, letting a hint of humor creep in.

“And in the bedroom?” he asked, eyes glinting with mischief.

“Depends if the male can pin me down,” she said coolly.

He chuckled, appreciating her alpha streak. “Ah, of course. You fight to submit, then.”

Riley reached for a cookie Donny placed beside her coffee, her wolf purring at the small indulgence. Rex watched, intrigued by her defiance and her allure. Why would she want Cody as a mate? It didn’t make sense. And maybe that was the key to discovering the truth about her-and using it.