369 Brackham’s Call
Draven.
TWO DAYS LATER.
The afternoon light streamed through therge windows of my study, casting long golden bars across the floor and my desk.
The air was still, calm and filled only with the faint rustle of papers as I sifted through reports and tactical
notes.
The next few weeks would be decisive. Duskmoor was
already cracking under its own fear, and the vampires would use that chaos well. So, I needed every move ready, every strike, and every distraction all nned before Brackham’s inevitable call.
Across the room, Meredith’s soft footsteps drew my attention. She was at the far wall, her fingers trailing over the spines of my old history collection.
She always paused there every time she was bored, like the past whispered to her in a way it never did to
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369 Brackham’s Call <ol><li>me. </li></ol>
When she finally plucked one of the volumes from the shelf—an old, worn book on early werewolf dynasties, I couldn’t help the faint smile that tugged at my mouth.
She crossed to the sitting area, tucking one leg beneath her as she opened the book, the afternoon sun catching the strands of her hair.
The sight was grounding, and for a moment, I almost forgot the maps and the blood that waited ahead.
But just then, the sudden buzz of my phone on the desk shattered the stillness. I reached for it slowly. But when I saw the name shing on the screen, a slow, amused smirk curved my lips.
Brackham.
<i>‘</i><i>So</i><i>, </i><i>the </i><i>proud </i>Mayor had finally <i>swallowed </i><i>his </i>pride.‘
I leaned back in my chair, watching the screen ring for a few seconds longer, letting the sound fill the silence.
Meredith looked up from her book. “Who is it?”
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369 Brackham’s Call
“Someone who should have called me since two days. ago,” I said, the corner of my mouth lifting.
She arched a brow. “Brackham?”
I nodded once, letting the phone ring again before finally pressing the ‘ept‘ button.
“Alpha Draven speaking,” I said smoothly, leaning an
elbow on the armrest.
There was a moment of heavy silence on the other end, the kind that carried defeat disguised as diplomacy. Then Brackham’s voice came, low and measured, but I could hear the strain beneath it.
“Alpha Draven… I believe we have a situation that requires your particr expertise.”
For a moment, I said nothing. I let him feel that silence and let it stretch across the line until he shifted in his
seat on the other end.
When I finally spoke, my voice was deliberately calm.
“I thought you were handling things just fine, Mayor. I’ve seen the reports of lockdown, soldiers on the streets, and endless press statements about
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369 Brackham’s Call
unidentified creatures. Sounds like you’ve got
everything under control.”
He exhaled sharply, the sound tight with frustration. “Don’t mock me, Alpha. You know exactly what we are dealing with.”
“I do,” I said simply, swirling the pen between my fingers. “But I wasn’t the one who dered war on
creatures I didn’t understand.”
Another silence again followed, this one heavier. I could almost hear the muscles in his jaw tightening.
“Let’s not waste time on me, Alpha,” he said finally. “You and I both know what these attacks mean. The vampires are retaliating, and they won’t stop. If Duskmoor falls, the chaos will spread beyond these borders. Your kind will suffer too.”
I leaned back, my gaze drifting to Meredith. She was still seated quietly, pretending to read, but I could feel her listening.
“Interesting choice of words,” I murmured. “Your kind.”
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369 Brackham’s Call
He didn’t answer right away. But when he did, his tone was softer and more urgent. “I’m asking for help, Alpha. We need someone who knows how to handle this. You were at the scene; you fought them. If anyone can stop this, it’s you.”
A small, controlled smile loosened on my face. So, the footage had reached him exactly as I had nned.
“You want my help,” I said, letting the truth sit in between us. “What do you propose?”
“Meet me,” he said, surprisingly blunt. “In my office. We can discuss terms in person. Name the time.”
There was an honesty to that, probably a gamble. I weighed it on one slow heartbeat, then answered. “Tomorrow, at 10 a.m.”
“Tomorrow at ten, then,” he replied. “I will have my staff prepare a private room. We will speak face to face.”
Then the line clicked, and the connection was lost.
I set my phone down and watched the screen dim. Across the study, Meredith closed the book and looked
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369 Brackham’s Call
up at me with a small, knowing smile.
“You are really going to make him crawl, aren’t you?”
she said.
I let the smile stay on my face. “He started crawling
when he called.”
The corners of her lips curled into a smile, then I said, “I need to inform Dennis and Jeffery to get ready for tomorrow’s meeting. We are all going.”
Her brow creased. “You think Brackham is nning something?”
I stood, smoothing the front of my shirt before stepping around the desk to perch on its edge. “Yes,” I said, sliding my hands into my pockets. “But not
something dangerous. Just, messy.”
I let my gaze drift briefly toward the window and continued, “Brackham said it would be a private meeting. But I don’t believe that. That man has too much pride to face me without an audience, or a hidden agenda.”
Her eyes followed me quietly, searching my face. I
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369 Brackham’s Call
could feel her concern, her curiosity, and beneath that, the faint pulse of her wolf – calm but alert.
“So, the four of us will go together,” I continued, my tone decisive. “If Brackham wants to y politics, then he can y with an audience of my own.” I looked at her again, meeting her gaze. “But first, we need to n
for tomorrow.”
She gave a small nod, the faintest trace of a smile tugging at her lips. “I suppose that means I should cancel the evening training?”
“It’s not necessary,” I said, returning her smile. “The meeting will be quick.”
Then, I reached for my phone once more. The line clicked after two rings.
“Jeffery,” I said, my voice even, “I want you and Dennis in my office immediately.”
“Yes, Alpha,” came his prompt reply.
Cede
<strong>Cede</strong> is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a ir for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cede’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.