"...and the Sterling City police department is still unable to explain the cause of these deaths but the mysterious ways of these killings have raised suspicions in the hearts of many and this is the bone of contention of our guest today. Mr Malik, you have something to share?" The reporter's voice sound out of the TV and their guest continued
"Yes I do" Mr Malik replied calmly "and thank you for using the word mysterious. Many won't believe what I'm about to say because it sounds fictional but the existence of werewolves is mysterious indeed, it is…"
"Excuse my interruption Mr Malik, are you saying these killings are caused by werewolves?" The reporter asked sarcastically
"Yes! And these creatures live among us as a friend, colleague, boss but in the deep of the night they shift to their animalistic nature and cause these deaths…"
"OK Mr Malik, this sounds like a long topic. It's 9am so how about we continue after our short ad-break. Don't change the channel, we'll be right back"
"9am?" Anya exclaimed from her sleep and jumped out of bed. She looked at the clock at her bedside
"God, I'm late!"
She rushed out of bed, turned off the TV and shot into the bathroom. In five minutes, she came out wet all over. She took her phone and played her voice messages while wearing her clothes
"Hey Anya, it's your friend Betty from college in case you've forgotten me, haha. Girl, it's been months since you came to class, are you okay? If you get this message please call me, let's hang out. Unless you've been abducted by a big bad wolf, grrrr, hahaha" the feminine voice from the phone faded.
Anya forced a small smile at the voice message. She sighed deeply and ignored the message. She was done dressing up, she grabbed her keys and ran out of the house.
After driving for fifteen minutes, she parked in front of a King's Corporation, one of the biggest companies in Sterling City. She entered and reached for the elevator but a voice stopped her
"Miss Anya" A security called her
"Good morning Thomas, I'm late, I have to…"
"You are and Mr Kael have given an order" Thomas said
At the mention of her boss, Anya calmed down waiting for the order.
"You're not allowed to use the elevator, you must take the stairs and meet him in his office" Thomas said sadly
"That's ridiculous, it's 65 floors" Anya complained
"I'm sorry, nothing I can do about it" Thomas sympathised
"It's alright Thomas, it's not your fault" Anya said and walked towards the stairs.
Climbing 65 floors might be a challenge for humans but Anya is a werewolf, she'd do it in under a minute. Unfortunately, rumors about werewolves are spreading fast these days so she can't use her powers.
As she climbed up the stairs she remembered days when she and Kael used to be friends.
Kael, the current CEO of King's Corporation and Alpha of the Wolfbound Pack used to be her best friend until Anya's father, Mr Malik led a rebellion that led to the death of Kael's father. Since then, Kael has been cruel to her. He demoted her from Senior Partner, a position she inherited from her mother. As her Alpha, he ordered her to quit college and work as his secretary, making her run unnecessary errands.
As the memories flash through the 18 years old girl's head, anger and sadness boiled within her. Tears welled up in her eyes but she channeled her anger and walked up the stairs.
In 25 minutes, she reached the 65th floor. She wiped her tears before knocking on Kael's door.
Her fingers trembled as she gripped the doorknob. For a moment, she almost turned back.
On opening and entering Kael's office "You're late" Kael's voice said flatly
"I was overworked yesterday and I overslept" Anya said defensively
"You have no excuse!" Kael exclaimed. He shifted his gaze from the document he was signing and stared at Anya "did you hear the news?" He questioned.
"No" Anya shook her head. She recalled her father's voice on TV but can't remember anything that was said
"Your father, betraying his pack isn't enough for him, now he's spreading the news of werewolves trying to expose us" Kael stood from his seat, taking slow steps towards Anya.
"I have nothing to do with it," Anya said, standing still and staring at the ground.
"Oh no, that's not it. He had us sued. The Hearthlands clearly belongs to King's Corporation but he's claiming it is a land of historical heritage and wants us evacuated." At this time, he was standing in front of Anya "I suppose you have nothing to do with that too, huh, Ms Malik?" he asked coldly.
"No sir" Anya answered now shivering
"Does it matter? His traitor blood runs through your veins. If not for your mother and the elders, I will have you killed immediately" Kael threatened.
Tears welled up in Anya's eyes again, a few drops escaping and dropping to the floor. The mention of her mother, one of the Pack's greatest fighters who had died defending them during the rebellion, was always the deepest cut. She had sacrificed everything for the Pack, only for her daughter to be treated as a political hostage.
"But we must stay professional," Kael said lightly, forcing a smile. "You meet with the lawyer and make sure he has all the details. I'll meet you guys in court" He ordered and head for the exit
"Do your best job this time, you know what happens if we lose the Hearthlands" Kael said with a threatening voice before exiting.
The Hearthlands!
A vast array of woods and trees that always belong to the Wolfbound Pack for generations. If they lose it, Kael will kill her for sure.
Anya stood alone in the center of the vast office feeling a sickening emptiness in her gut. She wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand.
Anya straightened her spine, replacing the tears with a burning knot of resolve. She looked around the office: the mahogany desk, the documents with the King's Corporation crest, and the view that stretched over Sterling City's glass canyons before walking out of it.
She found the conference room where the Pack's legal team was already gathered. The lead lawyer, a sharp, smartly dressed woman named Ms. Davies, looked impatient.
"Ms. Malik, you're late," Davies stated, not bothering to hide her disdain. She, like most of the corporation's inner circle, knew Anya's demotion was more than professional.
"My apologies, Ms. Davies. I've just been briefed by Mr. Kael. Hearthlands, land claim lawsuit. What do we need?" Anya's voice was steady, professional. She had perfected this mask since the rebellion.
Davies slid a thick file across the table. "Malik's angle is vicious. He's not using corporate law; he's claiming the entire area is an indigenous preservation site, a 'place of historical heritage,' and he's using a local government petition to force an immediate evacuation and governmental inspection."
Anya quickly flipped through the documents, her eyes scanning the dense legal jargon with practiced speed. Malik's plan was brilliant and terrifying. If the government sent in inspectors, they wouldn't just find an old industrial site—they'd find the hidden entrance to the Wolfbound packhouse. It will be over.
"Our current counter is weak," Davies admitted, frustrated. "We rely on the deed of ownership, but his historical argument, backed by these expert reports, is gaining traction. If we lose the preliminary motion today, the inspection order is granted immediately."
The gravity of the situation slammed into Anya. Her father wasn't just trying to shame the Pack; he was trying to destroy it. He knew the packhouse was their heart, their weakness.
"The reports are forged," Anya murmured, looking closely at the shaky signatures and questionable academic credentials listed in Malik's filing. "We can't just disprove the heritage claim. We need to disprove the plaintiff."
"We've tried. Malik is a ghost," Davies scoffed. "He operates through layers of shell companies and non-profits."
Anya placed the folder down, her gaze settling on the panoramic view of the city. She knew where Malik operated. She knew the man. She had been his daughter.
"Ms. Davies," Anya said, meeting the lawyer's skeptical gaze. "Please prepare the brief focusing solely on the financial discrepancies in the plaintiff's funding. I need an hour. I can get you something that will discredit his entire claim. Something… undeniable."
Davies raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "And how do you propose to do that, Ms. Malik?"
Anya managed a tight, confident smile. "Let's just say I know where to look for dust in my father's closet."