Chapter 7.

With a sigh, Nikolai stepped out of his car in front of the Romanov mansion. He had awakened very early in the morning to an alarming call from his cousin, who had invited him to meet at the family mansion to discuss an 'urgent' matter.

Nikolai Romanov was the cousin of the pack's alpha, and the two had a close, but also somewhat complicated relationship. Nikolai was older than Alexis by a couple of months, and being a direct descendant of the family that led the pack, many people from birth wanted Nikolai to take over the pack and replace his cousin; Alexis was a beloved leader, but even beloved leaders have detractors.

However Nikolai and his family never had any interest in power, and although it was debatable whether Nikolai was a stronger alpha than Alexis, the second alpha in the pack's line of succession preferred to have his own way. Nikolai aspired to become the general of the pack soldiers, to be the strongest alpha after the leader, and to stand out not only