The blackwood heir , the Alpha's stolen legacy

*Chapter 2: Three Claims*

Derek's voice cut through the chamber like a blade.

"That's my daughter."

Selene's blood went cold. She'd spent five years making sure he never found her. Now he stood in the doorway, rain dripping from his coat, staring at Mira like she was a ghost come back to haunt him.

Rowan's wolf snarled, low in his chest. The sound made the Council members shift back in their seats.

"She's not yours," Selene said, stepping back until her shoulders hit the cold stone wall. "You left. You chose your job over us."

"I didn't know," Derek said. His eyes didn't leave Mira. "You disappeared, Selene. No note. No call. I thought-" He stopped, swallowing hard. "I thought you didn't want me."

"Lies," Mara snapped. "She's a rogue. The child is a mongrel. The Council will not be swayed by human sentiment."

Rowan turned his head, gold eyes fixing on Mara. One look and she sat down.

"The child has my scent," Rowan said. His voice was still rough with the change. "Test her if you doubt me. But until then, no one touches her."

Selene felt Mira stir in her arms. The baby's eyes fluttered open, dark blue-Rowan's eyes. Not Derek's brown. Not hers.

Derek saw it too. His face fell.

"Then why did you hide her?" he asked Selene, quieter now. "Why run?"

"Because I knew what would happen," she said. "The Council would call her impure. Humans would call her a freak. And you... you would have tried to take her from me to raise her 'normal.'"

Derek flinched like she'd struck him.

Before he could answer, the doors shook.

A sharp, guttural howl echoed through the stone halls-not one of the Council's wolves. Rogue. Multiple rogues.

Rowan's head snapped up.

"Pack House under attack," he said. "Northern gate."

Mara stood, fear overriding protocol. "Evacuate the chamber. Now."

"Not the child," Rowan said. He stepped forward and shifted back to human in one fluid motion, grabbing a blade from the wall. Naked, blood-slicked, and unashamed. "Selene, stay behind me. Derek-" He paused, jaw tightening. "If you want to prove you're her father, protect her."

Derek didn't hesitate. He moved to Selene's side.

The first rogue burst through the doors.

It was massive, mangy, eyes wild with the feral madness that came from rejecting the pack bond. It lunged straight for Mira.

Selene moved on instinct, throwing herself over the cradle.

A blade flashed.

Rowan's sword took the rogue's head clean off before it could reach her.

Two more followed.

Derek grabbed a fallen guard's spear and drove it through the second rogue's chest. His hands shook, but he didn't run.

Selene didn't have time to be surprised. She grabbed the sword from the dead guard at her feet. She'd never used one before, but her wolf knew.

The third rogue came for her.

She ducked, rolled, and drove the blade up through its jaw. It dropped with a wet choking sound.

Silence fell again.

Rowan was breathing hard, blood streaking his chest. He looked at her-really looked-and something in his expression shifted.

"You can fight," he said.

"I can protect my daughter," she corrected.

Mara was already at the comms panel, voice shaking. "All packs, this is Elder Mara. Code Black. Rogues have breached Blackwood. I repeat-"

"Code Black is for Council assassination," Rowan cut her off. "Not for a rogue breach."

Mara's eyes narrowed. "You think this is a coincidence? On the night you claim a half-breed as heir?"

Selene's stomach dropped.

She was right to be suspicious.

Rogues didn't attack a fortified Pack House during a Council meeting unless someone let them in.

And only one person in the room had the authority to override the wards.

Rowan turned slowly to face Mara.

"Did you let them in, Elder?"

Mara smiled. It didn't reach her eyes.

"The Council protects the bloodline, Alpha. Even from you."

The lights cut out.

And from the darkness, more howls answered.

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