Chapter 3 The Wolfe Clan

Kai’s eyes lingered over the sprawling grounds of the Wolfe estate, a mansion veiled in the shadows of towering oak trees, the air thick with history—and resentment. It wasn't just the estate that cast a long shadow. It was the weight of generations past, of mistakes carved into the very bones of the Wolfe family. The feud with the D'Alemberts had been a legacy long before Kai's birth, but now, it was his to inherit. As Kai stepped into the mansion's grand hall, a heavy silence hung in the air. The floor, dark marble polished to a reflective shine, stretched before him like a passage to another world—one he didn't quite belong in. As the sole heir to the Wolfe family, the mantle of leadership and responsibility was thrust upon him, a position he neither wanted nor was prepared for. "Your father's waiting for you," a voice rasped from the doorway. Kai didn't need to look to know who it was. Damien, his father, stood in the shadows like the dark spectre of a past that wouldn't release its grip. His father's presence was a constant reminder of the ruthlessness that had forged their family's legacy. The man had always been a pillar of power, not just in New Orleans but in the underworld, his influence running deeper than most could fathom. Kai bristled but said nothing as he went to the study, where Damien awaited. The study walls were lined with books—heavy volumes, their leather covers worn and faded. The room smelled of old paper and cigars, a scent that seemed to cling to the Wolfe name itself. Damien sat at his massive oak desk, an expressionless figure carved from granite. "Sit," his father commanded, his voice as cold as the marble floors beneath them. Kai took a seat, the chair groaning under his weight. The tension between them was palpable. In this room, there were no warm words or fatherly affection. There were only decisions that would shape the family's future and the future of the feud with the D'Alemberts. Damien Wolfe leaned forward, his fingers steepled in front of him. "I need you to understand something, Kai. This family, our name, means something. It demands respect. And respect isn't given freely. It's taken." Kai's stomach churned. He had heard these words his entire life. His father's voice dripped with the same cold conviction, but this time, something else was in the air—an undeniable tension, like a storm gathering on the horizon. "This war, this... vendetta with the D'Alemberts," Damien continued, his eyes hard as steel, "It isn't over. Not by a long shot." Kai clenched his jaw, anger rising in him like fire. "I know that." Damien's lip twitched a slight smirk that barely reached his eyes. "Do you? Don't you think this is just a personal vendetta between families? You think you can walk away from this, that it will resolve itself in time. But you're wrong, Kai. This is bigger than just you, me, or even the D'Alemberts. The power we hold, the influence we've built—it's on the line now. They'll come for us if we don't finish this or end them. They'll take everything." Kai's mind whirled. The D'Alemberts were not just rivals—they were enemies, sworn enemies. His mother, Lucienne, had always told him stories of their bloodline's betrayal, of how their families had been torn apart by years of lies and revenge. The wolves had always been the hunters, but the D'Alemberts—particularly Lucienne's side—had never been the prey. They had fought back fiercely, and that very fire had kept the feud alive. Kai exhaled, trying to steady his thoughts. "What's your plan, Father?” Damien’s eyes darkened. “We strike first. We make them fear us.” There was a silence, broken only by Damien's chair creaking as he leaned back. "I've arranged a meeting with one of their key allies. It's a business deal. You're going to handle it." Kai's heart skipped a beat. This was it. This was when his fate would be sealed, where the lines between his desires and his father's commands would blur beyond recognition. "I'll handle it," Kai said, his voice steady but betraying a hint of reluctance. Damien's eyes flashed with a cold satisfaction. "Good. Don't make me regret it." As Kai rose from his seat, the weight of the situation crushed down on him. He had never been entirely in control of his life—not with a father like Damien, whose very presence demanded obedience. And now, he was being pulled deeper into a game he had never asked to play. The D’Alemberts were no mere rivals. They were a force to be reckoned with, especially with Lucienne D'Alembert's firebrand spirit driving them forward. But there was one thing Kai had always known about himself: he wasn't his father. He was his own man. And he would not let this war swallow him whole, no matter how deep it ran. Later that night, Kai stood outside the Wolfe estate, the moon high above in the inky sky. The light caught the edges of the mansion's towering walls, casting long shadows across the lawn. The night was thick with silence, broken only by the rustling of leaves. Kai's thoughts drifted back to Lila D'Alembert. He had only seen her a handful of times, but the connection had been undeniable each time. She was different from anyone he'd ever met—strong, defiant, and yet there was an unspoken sorrow in her eyes. He'd seen it when their families had crossed paths, when the tension between them had been too thick to ignore. But there was more to it than their families' animosity. There was a pull, an inexplicable force that had drawn them together repeatedly despite the walls they had built between them. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. The past had no place in the present, and he couldn't afford to get distracted. His father's words echoed in his mind: "This war is bigger than you think." And that was the truth. The stakes were higher than ever. This wasn't just about family pride. This was about power, survival, and control. But as much as Kai hated to admit it, a part of him longed for something more than this life of endless conflict. A sudden noise pulled him from his thoughts, and he turned quickly. From the shadows, a figure emerged—tall, imposing, and familiar. "You know what this means, right?" the figure said, stepping into the moonlight. Kai's heart stills. It was Damien. But something about him was different tonight—his expression was colder, more complex than ever. "Don't disappoint me," Damien growled, his voice low and threatening. With that, he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving Kai standing alone beneath the cold, indifferent moon. A shiver ran down Kai's spine. He knew one thing for sure: the game was far from over. And the consequences of this war would be more devastating than anyone could imagine.