Chapter 7

Kael's POV 

I let out a long sigh, leaning back into my seat seeking some sort of comfort within the leather. I stare at the polished table in front of me while beside me my knuckles are white from squeezing it. The chandelier above shows my reflection which is that of pure frustration. I want to drive my fist into one of these Alpha's faces, not minding the consequences, they are hiding something which is making my wolf very angry and threatening to take over but I control him. 

I am in the Alpha's council meeting with other Alphas and their betas in the northern territory, my beta is seated beside me and he releases a slight cough, something he does when everywhere is tense. 

I have reported the Moon's pack attack incident to the other Alphas but the conversation so far is going in a very different direction than I expected. It seems like I am the only Alpha missing something. The Alphas are murmuring in hush tones between themselves, some with their betas.  

Beside me, my Beta, shifts uncomfortably. “Alpha,” he murmurs under his breath, low enough for only me to hear. “Are you sure you want to continue this case?”

“Yes.”

Nodding my head. Maybe it is because it has something to do with the fact it is my mate’s pack. Speaking of, could she be avoiding me? She might just be grieving her pack. 

My chest tightens at the thought of her crying, my wolf howls. Clara's dad, Alpha Brad, is seated across from me and stares at me deeply. 

“This could just be another rogue attack,” Alpha Williams of the knight pack says. “It's just a pity the whole pack was lost.”

Most of the Alphas’ and betas nod in agreement.

“What if another pack is next in line?” my beta asks. 

There's silence then another round of murmuring erupts. 

When the council called for a meeting, I had expected it to be easier to find the rogues with the help of other packs in the region. 

Alpha Radek, the oldest Alpha of the council, stands up and clears his throat. 

“Alpha Kael,” he says. “The tragedy of the Moon Pack is… very unfortunate, but it is not yet clear who the attackers are. So we can't fight blindly and what if we in turn put our packs in danger? ”

“Not clear?” I snap before I can stop myself. My chair scrapes the floor as I lean forward. “An entire pack was wiped out, Alpha Radek. It isn't what if we put our pack in danger, it's what if our pack is next?”

“Or–,” Radek says calmly and sits back in his seat. “Let's look for survivors and question them first.”

I can feel Alpha Brad and my betas eyes on me. My wolf whimpers, I could be giving out my mate when I am not even sure the council will solve her pack issue. 

I never doubt the Alpha's council abilities but for the first time I have doubts. 

I clench my jaw so hard it makes my teeth ache. “The Alpha's daughter of the moon pack ran into my borders the night of the bonfire. What I am surprised about is that the neighbouring pack hasn't said anything about any moon pack members.”

Darius stiffens at my side, his eyes scanning the other Alphas. He can smell it too- fear. Not of me, but what I am discovering. 

Alpha Theron from the East shifts in his chair. “Kael,” he says, in a deliberately light tone. “We are all sad for the Moon Pack, but if I didn't know any better I would say you are accusing the surrounding pack.”

A growl vibrates in my chest. 

For a second, the room is silent. Even Radek’s eyes flickers, betraying something, was it guilt? As quickly as it came it leaves.

“We will continue to… investigate,” he says finally. “In the meantime, Alpha Kael, you are advised to focus on your own borders And Alphas we will be having the alpha banquet the next moon. 

The case is dismissed.

I push my chair back and rise to my feet. “If the Council won’t act,” I say, my voice low, “then I will.”

The room is silent, no one says anything. Alpha Radek gives a gentle nod. I stand up abruptly. I scan the room slowly, all eyes are on me as if waiting for my next move. There's thick tension and if looks could kill I will definitely be six feets under. 

“Excuse me, Alphas,” I say and now slightly, then I head towards the door. 

Darius follows me out. The heavy doors close behind us, fading the voices in the hall. 

We don’t go far down the marble corridor before a voice stops me.

“Alpha Kael.”

I turn. A tall, broad man with silver hair and cold blue eyes comes out from the shadows, Alpha Brad, Clara's father. His musk scent hits me lightly, just as he approaches some. His expression is unreadable and I stretch my hands for a hand shake. 

Ok

“Alpha Brad,” I say evenly. “It’s a—”

He raises a hand, cutting me off. “Drop whatever you're doing with the moon pack.”

I drop my hands beside me and Darius shifts beside me, tension rolling off him. This was a straight forward warning. 

“I came to speak privately,” Alpha Brad continues, his voice low but firm. “Walk with me.”

Against my better judgment, I follow. We step into one of the quieter hallways that is beside the courtyard. Moonlight streams through the tall windows, silvering his face. For a moment, he looks tired. But there’s something else in his eyes — fear.

“Moon pack was attacked by rogues. If you follow them up, your pack will be in danger and I don't want that for my princess,” he says suddenly. I hold his stare and just give a firm nod. He taps my shoulder and turns around.

My chest tightens as I watch him walk away and I squeeze my fingers. I have never felt so powerless before. I couldn't tell him to go fuck himself in the face. My pack needs his alliance and what he said made sense to some extent, but leaving it felt like a betrayal to my mate. 

My mate. 

I continue walking down the hall and my beta follows closely behind me. We walk out of the building, a black, tinted car is waiting outside and a guard is waiting, holding the door open. 

The car ride is silent and I appreciate it, just staring outside. 

My mind plays the conversation with Alpha Brad again.Then it wanders back to the first time we had a conversation. It was after a year I had become Alpha, a lot of packs were enemies with my pack. He proposed an alliance between our packs because Bloodcrest has the strongest army despite its number while the elite pack is in a good grace will most pack and is going to extend it to bloodcrest.

Taking his daughter as my Luna is just to strengthen the alliance between our packs. After four moons I didn't think I had a mate because my dad's Luna was a chosen mate. 

If these rogues were as strong and no pack wants to be on their bad side. What are they really after? 

I let out a heavy sigh as I lean back into the car seat. It was going to take a while to reach the pack. The Alpha's council meeting is usually done in the human world so it was a good distance, but by nightfall we should reach the borders. 

My mate.

She's an alpha's daughter so she will be of great use in the pack. She will be assigned a role, then after Clara becomes my Luna, she will find another fated mate. 

My breath feels heavy. Why does the thought

hurt so much? The memories from the heat in my office rush in and I shake my head to discard