Chapter 84Dylan's POVThere was silence in the room after my beta vowed to do everything. For a moment, I thought he would leave as he did every time I sent him away, but he did not move. He just stood there, his arms behind his back, looking at me like he was weighing if he should speak or not.I raised an eyebrow. "You're still here," I stated, my voice had a trace of irritation. "Is there something more you'd like to say?"He paused. I saw the flash of doubt in his eyes before he finally spoke. "Alpha, I apologize for overstepping, but is it only Shane's daughter you're willing to marry?"I stood rigid, the words echoing in my head. I moved gradually towards him, my gaze piercing and unwavering. "What did you just say?"My beta swallowed, but continued. "I merely asked because I have a cousin. She is a good person, well-raised and strong. She has always looked up to you, Alpha. Always spoke of you in respect and admiration. If getting a Luna is the goal, then”…"Enough." The word
Chapter 84Dylan's POVThere was silence in the room after my beta vowed to do everything. For a moment, I thought he would leave as he did every time I sent him away, but he did not move. He just stood there, his arms behind his back, looking at me like he was weighing if he should speak or not.I raised an eyebrow. "You're still here," I stated, my voice had a trace of irritation. "Is there something more you'd like to say?"He paused. I saw the flash of doubt in his eyes before he finally spoke. "Alpha, I apologize for overstepping, but is it only Shane's daughter you're willing to marry?"I stood rigid, the words echoing in my head. I moved gradually towards him, my gaze piercing and unwavering. "What did you just say?"My beta swallowed, but continued. "I merely asked because I have a cousin. She is a good person, well-raised and strong. She has always looked up to you, Alpha. Always spoke of you in respect and admiration. If getting a Luna is the goal, then”…"Enough." The word
Chapter 83Dylan's POVThe room was silent save for the quiet rumble of the fireplace in the corner. I sat at the head of the massive table, staring into the warm, glowing red coals as if the flames contained the secrets of the storm brewing within me.All I had was about a few weeks. That was the best they had given me, a meager month to come up with a Luna or give up the throne for my little brother. An absurd ultimatum, I protested but the council told me firmly that they would not budge.I gritted my teeth as I recalled how disgusting their snobbish faces appeared during that meeting, especially the oldest Elder, who patronizingly believed himself to be superior, kept saying, "An Alpha without a Luna is incomplete. Our pack cannot afford such weakness."Weakness. The word had tasted bitter as ash on my tongue. I was not a weak Alpha. I'd fought to get here, trained for years, and earned every scar on my skin in blood and tears. But tradition did not concern itself with strength w
Chapter 82Duaine's POVAfter our conversations, Lessie left closing the door quietly and for an instant the silence filled me. I took a deep breath and placed my hands on the edge of my desk, allowing the weight of everything that had transpired sit on my shoulders. Her words still echoed in my head, I think it’s better if I go back to my father, she had said.No. That was not going to happen. Not in this lifetime.I paced deliberately across the room, step by measured step, in a bid to abate the storm raging inside me. My wolf ached to tear something apart. How dare she even think of leaving? Did she not realize that she was mine? That the possibility of her leaving was destroying my very existence?Even the thought was sufficient to provoke my wolf shift into restlessness beneath me, snarling in anger. Remain calm, I told myself, but the effort was pointless.Dave had left almost immediately after having a quick discussion with me about pack issues to run some errands, it was s
Chapter 81Lessie's POVThe office was so heavy in silence. Alpha Duaine fixed me with a cold, hard stare like two blades slicing through the entire length of my head."What did you tell him?" He queried, his voice even surprised me.I took a deep breath, my own heart pounding away like mad in my chest. Dave stood leaning against the wall, his arms crossed and his eyes were shifting back and forth between I and Alpha Duaine as if he was anticipating the detonation of a time bomb.The last thing on the earth I wanted to do was upset Alpha Duaine especially since he already had too much to trouble him."I…I, I stammered. I caught my breath and continued. "I had a run-in with Dr. Nathan when I went for a walk."Immediately I had said the word, something flared in the eyes of Alpha Duaine. I curled up my fingers and continued. "It was not on purpose," I informed him, tapping my fingers together in frustration. "I was walking and I bumped into him. He asked me who I was.""That's it?" Al
Chapter 80Duiane's POVI needed to get my head around things.All of it, the council, Nathan's scheming, Shane's imminent attack, all of it had been roiling inside me like a rock I couldn’t dislodge. My blood was boiling, I felt like doing something to release the tension within me before it hurt me badly. I had no course of action yet but I was working on it.So I did the best thing I could for myself at the moment.Which was taking a walk. I walked beyond the school building , left the familiar walls surrounding the school and headed straight into the main village in my pack. I walked through the busy market square where peddlers called upon customers with wide grins, their baskets were filled with fresh meat and fresh fruit.This was my existence. My own pack and people. They trusted me, they depended on me. And now, due to one girl who is my mate, it was all coming apart.Lessie, I said her name aloud.I shoved my thoughts aside as I intended to enjoy every bit of my walk, so