Chapter 7: Thane

“What’s wrong with you?” Lyra asked as we got out of our vehicle.

“What do you mean?” I asked gruffly as I signalled to my men to wait by their respective cars as I turned to show the head of security of the Ramsey pack my face.

Without hesitation, he scrambled opening the gates to the manor so that Lyra and I could walk in.

She fell in stride behind me.

“You look like you haven’t slept in weeks.” She commented as she fixed the collar on her uniform.

I huffed. The slight headache that had been bothering me since day break was slowly catching up.

“That’s because I haven’t.” I spoke as the other guards at the door immediately noticed Lyra and I and pretty much bowed and scrambled out of our way. “The little bird kept me up.” I explained to her.

Lyra stopped walking suddenly. I turned and saw her studying me in part confusion and amusement. “Wait, does that mean you two -“

I shot her a hard look at what she was implying. “I’d rather chew a bullet.” I hissed.

She fought a smile. “I mean I wouldn’t blame you. I could barely keep my hands off of Ryan when we first mated - seriously, it was like an addiction and -“

“Lyra, I do not want to hear about your sex life.” I spoke in disgust.

She simply smirked and folded her arms across her chest before looking around to check if anyone was eavesdropping.

“How are you gonna explain any of this to Vanessa?” She asked lowering her voice but still sounding coy.

I sighed. There in lay the problem.

It’s like it never ended. Just when I thought I had found a solution for this war, so many other things sprouted up.

And it was all because of that freaking family.

“Don’t remind me.” I muttered as I turned around.

“Well you better think fast.” Lyra whispered behind me as we approached two great doors. “Alpha Reagan won’t take kindly to this news in particular.”

The doors swung open and I stood up straight feeling like something was lodged in my throat.

The room was silent and the large man in the centre seated on a majestic throne rose to his full height. There were three ladies seated on smaller thrones beside him, the youngest clutching a baby not more than a year.

The servants who were scattering around them paused when they saw Lyra and I.

I walked forward trying to carry all my authority with me as I approached the intimidating man.

“Alpha Reagan.” I spoke stopping right in front of him and bowing.

“Thane.” He spoke, his voice level. “It’s an honour to receive you and your beta today. Rise, son.”

I stood up straight and saw the little baby in the youngest’s arms look up at me curiously before babbling excitedly.

Even I couldn’t help but smile.

“My lady Lunas.” I greeted all three of Alpha Reagan’s wives.

They all rose, the oldest wife, Evangeline smiled gently at me.

“Thane, I see you’re here to steal our husband away from us.” Her eyes glittered with the slight purple tinge native to the Fawn pack.

“Only for a few hours, my lady.” I spoke. “Then he’s all yours again.” I assured her.

She sighed. “I suppose war talks cannot be stopped in this climate. But I will tell Vanessa that you’re here.”

“We’ll.” Ryana, the second oldest spoke as she took the infant from the youngest wife. “Perhaps one day when you have your own wives, you’ll learn how precious even a few hours can be.” She spoke.

“That is if Vanessa lets you have more than one after you wed.” Krista, the youngest wife spoke playfully as she walked by.

I could practically feel Lyra’s gaze harden on my back knowing she was probably fighting either pity or laughter.

The echoes of their voices left the room after they kissed their husband farewell and left with the servants accompanying them.

“Don’t mind my wives.” Alpha Reagan spoke descending the steps of his throne and walking towards the grand war table in the centre.

Lyra and I surrounded it studying the model of the pack territories around us.

He set both his hands on the table.

“Alpha Cameron attacked my eastern zone yesterday and I’m assuming you have something to do with it.” He spoke not even looking up at me.

I bit back a curse and turned to glance at Lyra.

Damn it. Why hadn’t I known about this?

“We kidnapped his sister.” I spoke bluntly not beating around the bush knowing Alpha Reagan would be able to see through me immediately if I tried anyway.

He looked up at me sharply with a mix of curiosity and dare I say, admiration?

The latter was something of a rarity coming from the alpha king..

“Which one?” He asked in interest.

“The youngest.” I spoke.

Alpha Reagan nodded slowly. He was silent for a few seconds and I knew if it was any of the other alphas, they’d be on my neck about how I could dare make a move like this on my own without informing everyone else.

“Bold move.” He spoke after what felt like minutes.

“We were getting desperate.” Lyra spoke up from beside me.

Alpha Reagan sighed and even though he was a mighty legend boys like me had grown up fearing, his age was starting to show. “I suppose we were.” He spoke.

His eyes focused on one of the regions and I suspected it was his own. The largest in the territory.

“Listen Thane, I knew your father well, and I know how smart you are but we need to end this war and end it soon. We’ve lost too much already.” He spoke.

Try telling Alpha Cameron that. I thought to myself.

“We will.” I spoke. “Cameron is stubborn but eventually he’ll want to negotiate for his sister’s safe return. Him attacking you was a pathetic and desperate grab at control.”

Control which he would never have again if I had anything to do with it.

“Negotiations can’t remedy what he has done to us. We need his head.” Alpha Reagan spoke, bitterness dripping through.

“And you will have it. You have my word. I don’t intend on letting either of them live.” I promised.

A promise I couldn’t fulfil right now but one I intended to as soon as this stupid mating bond faded.

He nodded in approval.

“Where is she?” He asked.

Lyra gave me a warning look and I knew I had to be careful with my words.

Everything right now was too complicated. And I might have looked to Reagan as a father figure but even he wouldn’t look upon what was going on lightly.

The bad blood ran too deep.

“In my custody.” I spoke.

He snorted in amusement but his eyes told a different story. “Well, boy, I thought you’d want to deliver her to me as is your duty to your king.”

His gaze was probing and scrutinising as if he were searching every angle of me trying to find any weaknesses. Any angles of rebellion.

I fought to maintain my poker face. Werewolves are pack creatures. We’re not like humans, so easily liable to turn on each other. That’s why when we swore our loyalty to each other, blood was shed in the face of betrayal.

Alpha Reagan wouldn’t hesitate to slay me where I stood if he knew I was lying to him.

“If it pleases you, my king, I want to keep her in my territory.” I spoke looking straight ahead.

“Is that so?” I heard him huff slightly, his wolf clearly agitated.

I kept my ground not showing any fear or intimidation as I looked ahead.

“I have the the means to keep her secure. Alpha Cameron won’t dare infiltrate my territory. It’s the only one his never dared to. I’ll keep her in my possession until we decide what to do with her.”

Alpha Reagan studied me intently again.

He couldn’t tolerate disrespect but he admired bravery and courage. This much I knew about him.

He nodded. “Very well, son. I’ll call a council meeting in the next two weeks when the moon nears its peak so that the other alphas can be present to decide the fate of the traitor scum.”

I tried not to show my relief. For now, my secret was safe at least.

“In the meantime we’ll have to keep Alpha Cameron’s attacks at bay.” He spoke with an exhausted sigh. “He’ll want to retaliate no doubt.”

I didn’t expect anything less from the bastard. But at least, this time we’d be ready for him.

“Anyway.” Alpha Reagan spoke. “The holy books state that tomorrow has enough troubles of its own. Let’s focus on something more positive.

In the spirit of this small victory, I was thinking of setting a date for the union between you and my daughter, Vanessa.”

He walked around the table towards me.

He beamed at me and held onto my shoulder. “The sooner the better, I say.” He spoke jovially.

I tensed up knowing that would be a problem with the current state of things.

Alpha Reagan gave me a sharp look as if he sensed my discomfort. “You still intend on honouring our deal and marrying her, right?”

I opened my mouth feeling like a piece of crap knowing I wasn’t being completely honest to the man who had more or less raised me when my own parents were gone.

“Yes Thane,” a velvety smooth voice filled the room and I turned to see a gorgeous dark haired woman walk in. She strode over, her magenta gown sweeping the ground as she advanced towards me with a mischievous look on her face. “You’re not getting cold feet on me now, are you?”

She placed a hand on her jutted out hip and gave me a sultry look.

I couldn’t help but smile at her appearance

I saw Lyra frown at me slightly from my periphery.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I responded.