Chapter three: Axel

Axel's POV

We were both tense, and I could feel my wolf reacting beneath the surface.

Alex turned slightly toward me. “Should we check it out?” His right hand was already turning into claws as long as a cutlass… But I reached out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

“Not now. The sooner we get those apostles out of here, the better.”

Alex sighed dramatically and shoved his hand into his pocket instead. “Frank is such a dickhead for leaving that place uncleaned.”

I said nothing. I just looked back once toward the darkened wing, then turned toward the council room.

We would deal with the apostles first.

Whatever waited down that hall… could wait. We both ignored the noise, turning down the council’s corner.

Walking beside Alex, I let my presence speak, though honestly, I had dressed too well not to be noticed. I didn’t dress casually unless I was planning to sulk, and today, I wasn’t.

A well-fitted blazer, crisp shirt, perfectly tailored trousers… Alex, on the other hand, hadn’t cared if he walked into a room in rags, as long as it meant business. He had this belief that clothes didn’t define him, which was hilarious considering how many eyes still followed him whenever he walked past.

His curly hair was still a priority though.

A perfect example was when we passed some blushing maids. Alex dropped a lazy wink and got a soft squeal from one of them. His charm hadn’t been something he ever needed to work hard for… unlike me.

“Relax, brother. Just know that if any of them says something you don’t like, kill them. I’ll kill them all,” he growled playfully.

The guards lining the hallway heard him but didn’t react much. Still, I caught tiny flashes of either admiration or jealousy on some of their faces.

I paused to stare at him. Alex was actually serious.

“Don’t do anything,” I muttered quickly, turning my face away. “Just keep calm and pretty.”

“Wow, that’s weird.” Alex blinked, a little surprised. That was usually his line, not mine. “Oh, it’s on,” he muttered under his breath.

As we neared the boardroom, the noise spilling through the double doors told us everything we needed to know. The apostles were already arguing.

Honestly, I never understood why we even let them speak first.

“They’re going to try something new and tricky this afternoon,” I said, nodding to Alex. “We need to be ready. Once it gets messy, get Frank’s ass down here.”

Alex nodded, smiling slightly. I didn’t need to tell him twice. We weren’t here for their approval. Frank was our cleanup, Alex was the emotional support, and I was here to remind them whose blood ruled this pack.

I didn’t bother with elegance, didn’t need to knock or pause or pretend to care about protocol. I pushed the door open so hard it almost slammed off its hinges. Grace was for the wolves who still cared what the apostles thought.

The room went quiet fast, and everyone turned to look at us like we were ghosts or time bombs. Either way, they knew something was about to go off.

I was.

All seven apostles were present, and every single one of them wore the same expression… a tight-lipped, fake-calm disapproval layered over years of buried bitterness.

“Alpha,” one of them said, clearing his throat.

I scoffed. Why did his voice sound like disappointment wrapped in gift paper I never asked for?

“Alphas,” he continued, “your lack of a mate is becoming a grave concern for our pack. This responsibility lies on both shoulders, and it is your duty to secure a suitable mate to continue your lineage.”

Of course. That again.

His words remained stale in the air while the Apostles exchanged glances, supportive of Alphonso.

I could feel Alex tensing beside me, resisting the urge to jump in. No. We both needed to be calm first. I leaned forward, resting one hand lightly on the table.

“Alphonso,” my brother suddenly said, smoothly interrupting.

I raised an eyebrow.

"You should allow us to formally greet you before proceeding to talk about a closed case. Or is it the other way around?" Alex sweetly asked, before slipping into the seat beside the Apostle.  

But I saw that he was positioning himself just close enough to snap the man’s neck.

The only problem was… I might not let him have the honor.

I sat down and let my fingers brush against the fur-lined armrest. Something about the feel of it calmed me for a second. It was a subtle acknowledgment of the Alpha instincts that guided our pack. It reminded everyone that even in this modern, civilized setting, our wolf essence remained intact.

How… calming indeed.

________________

“I am sorry, Alpha, but we cannot afford to have both Alphas without mates or heirs. It undermines our pack’s stability and diminishes our standing among other packs. It is imperative that you fulfill this obligation,” Alphonso said, completely oblivious to his impending demise.

I stared at him. The gall.

“I understand your concerns, and I assure you that finding a suitable mate is a priority for me. However, I will not settle for just anyone. The future of our pack depends on a strong and compatible union.”

My voice was calm, but it carried an absolute irritation I didn’t bother hiding. I wasn’t about to be ordered into a bond just because a few tired old men were scared of war. Our territory wasn’t in crisis. We weren’t weak. So what was their obsession with my love life?

Then I remembered Frank’s voice on the phone. ‘Something’s roasting too close to the borders.’

Maybe… maybe the problems weren’t so far off after all. Whatever that had meant, we still needed to check it out.

Right then, the doors swung open, and in walked Frank with dusty boots, forest stench, and all. He looked like he’d brought the woods in with him. The dirt trailing from his boots left specks on the stone floor… I sighed.

The maids would have a hard time cleaning this up. 

Frank didn’t glance at anyone. Just moved to his seat and dropped his gun on the table with a soft thud. The apostles inhaled subtly, trying to ignore the scent of danger wrapped around him.

I noticed it. 

But, Alphonso kept running his mouth.

“Time is of the essence, Alpha. Our pack needs stability and a clear line of succession. We expect you to act swiftly and make a decision that will benefit us all.”

My wolf bristled at his tone. It lacked respect, and my wolf didn’t appreciate that. Neither did I.

Frank looked up, finally done letting him talk.

“I am aware of the urgency,” he said pointedly, “but we will not have the Alphas rush into a decision that could have long-lasting consequences. They’ll do what’s best for the pack even if it means facing your disapproval.”

The apostles exchanged quiet looks, frustration painting their old, wrinkled faces. I didn’t miss the hint of resignation behind their eyes either. They were testing limits they had no business touching.

“We understand your perspective,” Alphonso said again, clearly not reading the room, “but the longer this matter remains unresolved, the more our pack suffers. We implore you to consider the greater good and make a choice that will ensure our future.”

He still wasn’t getting the message.

Frank looked at me, and I already knew. He didn’t need to say it out loud. His gaze shifted to Alex who nodded ever so slightly, and that was it.

This man was becoming a thorn in my flesh.

Alphonso had crossed the line. Alex stood up slowly, almost lazily, clearing space near the table. I crossed the room in a heartbeat and stood at Alphonso’s side, wrapping my right hand around his neck.

His eyes widened. 

“The pack is strong. A mate won’t change that. But you…” I leaned in just enough for him to see the rage in my eyes. “You should’ve known your place.”

Terror froze his features. His mouth twitched, maybe to plead… but it was too late. 

I twisted.

His bones snapped at unnatural angles, cracking loud enough to silence everyone in the room. Then his body slumped with a graceless thud, revealing his tongue hanging out stupidly.

I turned back to the table, meeting the wide eyes of the remaining apostles.

“While tabling your problems,” I said flatly, “you should know your place. I won’t be kind next time.”

They all nodded quickly, heads bowed low. That would be all for today. I turned and saw Alex grinning, legs crossed, sitting in ‘my’ chair.

“You know, I love you, brother.”

Yeah, right.

Maybe he did. But love from him wasn’t the kind I was worried about. Would my mate love me? Would she accept what I’d become?

I wasn’t sure.

I turned back to Frank.

“Let’s go check out what you found in the forest. I won’t have an enemy camping in my territory. Besides… my wolf needs a run.”

Frank gave a short nod, already motioning to the guards to remove the body for cremation.

Condolences would be sent to Alphonso’s family. They should’ve known his mouth would get him killed eventually. I didn’t feel sorry about it… not one bit.