16~ THE TERITORY

KNIGHT POV

Tracy stepped out of the room and a breath of relief escaped my lips. She froze when she saw me standing there, her brows shooting up.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice low but firm, clearly protective.

I straightened, for once in front of my sister, crazy things the bond is making me do.

“What is she doing now?”

“She’s resting,” Tracy replied flatly. “And you shouldn’t disturb her. If you want her to get better, stay away from her for a while. She’s terrified of you, Knight. You want her to be your Luna? Then control your beast.”

In my head, my beast snarled, (Control? She dares tell you to control me? We should be reminding that little female who we are…)

But my wolf cut him off sharply. (You have done enough damage. She’s right. You keep scaring her half to death, and then you sulk when she hates you. Maybe try something different for once.)

(Shut up,)My beast snapped, but even I could hear his voice hesitate.

Tracy rolled her eyes at me and walked away, leaving me standing there, silent and frustrated.

I stared at the door for a long moment, debating whether to go in, to face her, to demand she speak to me again. The urge to see her, to hold her, to prove to her she was safe here, nearly consumed me. But I didn’t move.

Instead, I turned on my heel and left, shoving my hands in my pockets as if that would keep them from tearing the whole packhouse apart.

Brian met me halfway down the hall, his expression grim. “Alpha… the news just came from Gamma… The bodies have increased and the rogues are starting to target children.”

“What?” My voice was a low growl before I could stop it. Rage exploded through me, hot and vicious. I felt my beast surge forward, demanding release, demanding blood.

I was already halfway shifted when Brian stepped in front of me, holding up a hand.

“Alpha, wait! You can’t just rush in. That’s what they are counting on… It's your temper. If they get you to lose control in front of everyone, they will have exactly what they need to strip you of your Alpha title.”

I forced the shift back with effort, my claws scraping against my own palms until they bled.

(Let me out,) My beast urged, practically foaming. (Let me rip them apart! They dare to hunt our children? To challenge us?)

(You rip one more throat out without thinking,) My wolf said sharply, (and they will take this pack from us before the sun sets. Use your brain for once instead of your claws.)

I snarled under my breath but forced my legs to move, following Brian to my office.

The moment we stepped inside, he dropped a stack of papers on the desk with a loud slap. “Read.”

I sat heavily in my chair, snatching the first file. Petition after petition. Reports of rogue attacks, accusations against me.

My name was everywhere, Alpha Knight is unstable. Alpha Knight is a danger to his own pack. Alpha Knight must be stripped of his title before he destroys us all.

I slammed the file shut, my claws gouging the desk. “Who signed these?”

Brian exhaled loudly before speaking. “Several Alphas from neighboring packs and a few of your so-called allies. They are saying you have ignored too many summons to council meetings, refused too many peace talks. They think you are beyond reason.”

I gritted my teeth so hard I thought they would break.

“They want me out.”

“They want you dead,” Brian corrected, his voice low. “And they are using the rogues to do it. The attacks aren’t random. They are coordinated and I feel insiders are feeding them information. They know where our weak points are.”

A roar tore out of me before I could stop it, shaking the office. The papers were scattered across the floor.

(Let me take over,) My beast hissed again.

(Let me show them what happens when they threaten us. We will burn their packs to the ground. Every last one of them.)

(And then they will have proof you’re the monster they say you are,) My wolf replied, calm but firm. (You want her to look at you the way she did today again? Go ahead. Give them exactly what they want.)

I slammed my fist against the desk, hard enough to crack it. Brian just stood there, waiting.

Finally, I let out a long breath through my nose and shoved my chair back.

“Fine. I will attend the damn meeting.”

Brian blinked in surprise. “Are you sure? This isn’t just any council meeting. They have arranged it off-pack in the human world. Private suite with no warriors. If they wanted to corner you…”

“Let them try,” I growled. “I am done sitting here while they kill my pack members one by one. If they want to talk, I will give them something to talk about.”

“Knight,” Brian called my name carefully, “We don’t even know if your allies are still on your side, this could be a setup.”

I turned my glare on him. “And what would you have me do? Sit here and watch my territory fall apart? Watch my wolves get slaughtered? We need resources, Brian. Better borders, better defenses, new scouts and I can’t get any of that if the council keeps cutting us off. I will face them.”

My beast was pacing inside me, eager, thrilled at the idea of confrontation.

(Finally, we get to remind them who we are.) He hissed out.

(Just try not to kill anyone this time,) My wolf muttered.

I ran a hand down my face and stood, heading for the door.

“Get it arranged,” I ordered. “I want that meeting within the next two nights.”

Brian nodded slowly, though his expression still looked like he would rather chain me to my office than let me go.