The Alpha's Dark Solstice Claim

Chapter 9 - Selection.

Marybeth

The phone rang twice before he answered. I didn’t give myself time to think. If I did, I might stop.

“Marybeth.” His voice was calm. Steady. Like it always was when he already knew something had shifted.

“I’m ready,” I said. A pause. Not surprise. Recognition.

“For what?” he asked.

“To move forward.” The words settled heavier than I expected. But I didn’t take them back.

“And how do you plan to do that?” I could tell from his tone that he was almost too scared to ask. I exhaled slowly, my fingers tightening slightly around the phone.

“I want to meet them.” Another pause. Longer this time.

“You’re sure,” he said. Not a question.

“Yes.” Because I had to be. Because standing in that square, watching Rowan decide my son’s future without ever asking where I fit into it … Something in me had closed. Firmly. Finally.

“Alright,” my father said. “I’ll arrange it.” I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me.

“Soon,” I added.

“You don’t waste time.” A faint shift in his tone. Approval.

“No.” Not anymore. Silence stretched for a moment. Then …

“There’s something else,” he said.

“What?” I frowned slightly. A breath. Measured.

“I didn’t bring you back just to help you settle.” Of course, he hadn’t.

“You want me to take over,” I said quietly.

“Yes.” The word landed without hesitation. And this time … It didn’t feel distant. It didn’t feel like something I could push aside for later. It felt immediate. Real. Heavy. I looked toward the living room, where Eli’s voice carried faintly, bright and unaware.

Everything shifted. Not all at once. But enough. Enough that I couldn’t pretend this was just about starting over anymore.

“I haven’t decided that,” I said.

“You will.” His tone was calm. Certain. Not pressure. Which made it harder to argue. I let out a slow breath. Then forced something lighter into my voice.

“Well,” I said, “I suppose I should start by choosing someone suitable from your list.” A quiet exhale on the other end. Almost a laugh.

“That would be a good place to start.” I could just see him smiling on the other side of the line.

“Efficient,” I added. “You’ve always been.” I ended the call a moment later. And stood there. Still. Because the decision had already been made. Not by him. Not by Rowan. By me. I slipped the phone back into my pocket.

Wiped the last trace of emotion from my face. And stepped back into the living room. Eli looked up immediately.

“Who was that?” He frowned.

“My father,” I said.

“What did he want?” Eli was always so curious. I hesitated for half a second. Then …

“To help us figure out what comes next.” He accepted that easily. Of course, he did. Children trusted the future more than they should. I watched him for a moment longer. Then turned away. Because if Rowan thought he could decide what Eli’s life would look like … He was wrong. I already had.

A COUPLE OF NIGHTS LATER, I sat in the restaurant that was warm. Too warm. The kind that softened edges and blurred decisions if you let it. I didn’t. Lina slid into the seat across from me, already studying my face. Lina was the daughter of my father’s Beta and now my assistant.

“You look different,” she said.

“I made a decision.” I pulled at my shirt that suddenly felt too tight.

“That explains it.” She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice. “Are you sure about this?” She was also one of my oldest and dearest friends from school and probably knew me better than I knew myself sometimes.

“No,” I said honestly. “But I’m doing it anyway.” That earned me a small, knowing smile.

“Good. That’s usually when it matters.” She tapped her phone lightly. “I’ve set up four. You’ve already met three.”

“And they were all … fine.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes. They were bland … Not exciting, and not boring … Just bleh. “Which is the problem,” I rolled my eyes. “None of them felt like anything.” I exhaled softly.

“They’re not supposed to,” Lina replied. “They’re supposed to work.” Work. That was the word. Not love. Not connection. Function. Structure. Support. A man who could stand beside me. Help manage what was coming.

Help guide Eli when the time came. Not replace anything. Not mean anything. Just … fit. The thought sat quietly in my chest. Not comforting. But not wrong either.

“The fourth one is different,” Lina winked.

“How?”

“You’ll see.” She glanced over my shoulder, but before I could ask more questions she answered. “He’s here.” I turned. And immediately understood. He moved like someone who knew exactly where he belonged.

Not arrogant. Not hesitant. Just … certain. Tall. Well-built. Balanced in a way that suggested control rather than force. When he smiled, it was easy. Natural. Not practiced. He reached the table and extended his hand.

“Marybeth Calloway.” His voice was steady. Warm.

“Daniel.” I took his hand. Firm grip. No hesitation. “Sit,” I said. He did.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Lina slipped out of the booth with perfect timing. Of course, she would.

“You know why you’re here.” I turned back to him.

“I do.” He looked relaxed.

“And?” I was intrigued. A small smile.

“I’m not going to pretend this is anything else.” That caught my attention.

“Which is?” I sat back and studied him.

“A conversation,” he said. “Not a performance.” Interesting. I leaned back slightly.

“Good.” We talked. Not about the pack at first. Not about expectations or roles. Just … Normal things. His studies. Economics and management. His plans. His thoughts about the town. He was younger. By a year. But it didn’t show.

Not in the way he spoke. Not in the way he listened. There was something steady about him. Grounded. Present. And for the first time that evening … I didn’t feel like I was interviewing someone. I felt like I was … considering.

Maybe this could work. Maybe this was enough. Not love. Not even close. But something stable. Something Eli could grow into. Something that wouldn’t shift under him. That was all I needed. Wasn’t it?

The thought lingered … Almost convincing. Then … The door opened. And everything inside me stilled. I felt it before I saw it. That shift. That quiet pressure in the air. Rowan. Of course, it was Rowan. I looked.

Seraphina entered first. Elegant. Composed. Untouchable. Her hand rested lightly on Rowan’s arm. Like it belonged there. Like it always had. Rowan followed. Controlled. Measured. Alpha. Until his eyes found mine. And stopped.

Not obvious. Not dramatic. But I saw it. Recognition. Tension. Something sharp beneath the surface. Seraphina followed his gaze. Her expression didn’t change. But her eyes … They sharpened. Locked onto me.

Then shifted briefly to Daniel. Assessing. Understanding. Calculating. I held her gaze. Didn’t look away. Wouldn’t. Not this time. Across from me, Daniel glanced between us.

“Do you know them?” he asked. I didn’t answer immediately. Because Rowan was still looking at me. And for a second … Just a second … Everything narrowed to that space between us. Then I leaned back. Picked up my glass. And broke it cleanly.

“Yes,” I said. “I do.”