  &quot;I expected something a little less run down, grander. Do you wolves not believe in modern conveniences like electricity and running water?&quot; Varro mocks as he scans the large hall of the manor, scoffing at its dark and drab appearance. I can t blame him, as since we ve been gone this place has fallen into some urban war disarray that I never imagined could possibly happen. It feels and looks abandoned. Dust and dirt on every available surface from neglect. I have no idea what happened and why Juan returned the valley to the dark ages. 
  &quot;Funny.&quot; Colton dismisses him with the dry tone he reserves for people liked Deacon; a wolf who once stood against him.
  &quot;We could try find the generators and power them up.&quot; Meadow followed us in here when we moved and cuts in with a snappy tone, also peeved at having her home turf mocked. The other subs are here too, th

  I can t tear my eyes away from Juan, as he sits helpless in his binds on the dirty floor. All eyes around the room on him, except Colton s. He s turned away and seems unable to bring himself to look at all. A sense of desolation swirling around him like a dense fog. I sense Sierra and Radar entering the room from the main door, followed by more pack wolves and realize we now have an attentive audience to our ex-alpha s fate. It feels like we are hitting some sort of crescendo in a power struggle that began long ago in this very house.
  &quot;You think you ve won, just because you have me here?&quot; Juan sneers my way, eyes amber and full of hatred yet he stays in human form, and I wonder why. He s stronger as a wolf and more likely to make a break for it that way, so I don t get why he s sitting human and even seems strangely calm and submissive. I ignore his attempts to bait me and 

  &quot;Be quiet. You don t belong among my kind, you never have, and it s become tiresome to protect you against others. You can be of more use with my daughter and her babies than constantly watching your back and shadowing Darrius. I believe it s where fate always intended to put you. To protect my blood in place of me.&quot; Varro turns to him and heavily places a hand on his shoulder, his aura emanating sheer authority. It s clear he doesn t like to be questioned.
  &quot;You want me to live among those that took everything from me?&quot; Jasper spits it at him and winces at the pressure applied on his shoulder as punishment. I get the vibe you don t question or disobey this one at all. 
  My heart aches for my brother though, knowing that at the root of his resistance is an inability to let go of his own pain. With good reason. Being all alone among their kind for a decade with onl

&quot;I expected something a little less run down, grander. Do you wolves not believe in modern conveniences like electricity and running water?&quot; Varro mocks as he scans the large hall of the manor, scoffing at its dark and drab appearance. I can t blame him, as since we ve been gone this place has fallen into some urban war disarray that I never imagined could possibly happen. It feels and looks abandoned. Dust and dirt on every available surface from neglect. I have no idea what happened and why Juan returned the valley to the dark ages. 
  &quot;Funny.&quot; Colton dismisses him with the dry tone he reserves for people liked Deacon; a wolf who once stood against him.
  &quot;We could try find the generators and power them up.&quot; Meadow followed us in here when we moved and cuts in with a snappy tone, also peeved at having her home turf mocked. The other subs are here too, those who didn t follow Jasper in pursuit of Juan, and I give her a smile and nod in answer. 
  &quot

chapter 121