All Chapters of THE ALPHA CHILDREN LIVES: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

"Alpha Morrison of Riverside Pack,'' Elena greets professionally. "Alpha Chen of Mountain Ridge Pack. Thank you for agreeing to this meditation.''Morrison, a gruff man in his fifties, grunts. "Regional Council required it. We're here. Doesn't mean we're happy about it."Chen, younger but equally fierce, crosses his arms. "I'm not negotiating away territory my pack has held for three generations."No one's asking you to, Gabriel says calmly. We're here to find a solution that respects both packs' historical claims while addressing the geographic realities that have changed since the original boundaries were established.The geographic reality is that Mountain Ridge is encroaching on our hunting grounds, Morrison snaps.The geographic reality is that Riverside refuses to acknowledge that the river changed course fifteen years ago, Chen counters.The argument escalates quickly, voices rising, tempers flaring.Elena catches Gabriel's eye across the table. He gives her an almost impercepti

Gabriel's finger hovers over a photo taken a month before their divorce. Elena's face is thinner, shadows under her eyes. But she's smiling at the camera, at him behind it, trying to pretend everything is fine.He remembers that day. Remembers the fight they'd had that morning about Vanessa calling during breakfast. Again. Remembers how Elena had suggested they talk to a marriage counselor and he'd said they didn't need outside help.Remembers thinking the distance between them was temporary.He'd been so wrong about so many things.Gabriel sets his phone down and pulls out his laptop. Opens his email and starts composing a message to the regional council, formally requesting new mediation assignments.If he and Elena work this well together professionally, maybe they can rebuild from there. Maybe professional respect can lead to friendship. Maybe friendship can lead to...He stops himself.Elena is marrying Marcus in six weeks.Elena has three children, but she's keeping a secret from

No need. I'm buried in work anyway.Dinner tomorrow then? We still need to finalize the seating chart.The wedding. Right. In five weeks, she'll be Mrs. Marcus Frost.Five weeks and all of this, Gabriel, Vanessa, the what-ifs and might-have-beens, will be permanently behind her.Tomorrow sounds perfect, Elena types.She sets her phone down and forces herself to focus on the financial reports.She makes it through exactly three minutes before her mind wanders back to Gabriel's bathroom, to Vanessa's perfume, to the casual intimacy implied by belongings scattered through someone's private spaces.Elena stands abruptly and walks to her office window.She's being ridiculous. She has no claim on Gabriel. No right to feel betrayed by his choices.But the hurt sits heavy in her chest anyway.Across town, Gabriel returns home from a long day of pack council meetings to find Derek waiting in his driveway."We need to talk," his Beta says without preamble."Can it wait? It's been a brutal day an

Elena sees Gabriel's text while sitting in her office with Marcus, reviewing the final guest list for their wedding.Her phone buzzes. She glances at the screen. Sees Gabriel's name.Sees the message: I know you don't want to hear from me, but I need you to know the rumors aren't true.She sets the phone face down without reading the rest."Gabriel?" Marcus asks quietly."Just work stuff." Elena forces her attention back to the spreadsheet. "Where were we? Table assignments?"Marcus watches her for a moment. "Elena, if you need to respond to him…""I don't. Now, your parents at table three or table five?""Three. Closer to the head table." Marcus pauses. "The rumors about Gabriel and his secretary. Are they true?""I don't know. I don't care.""You're a terrible liar."Elena looks up sharply. "Marcus…""I'm not angry. I'm not even jealous. I'm just stating facts." Marcus leans back in his chair. "You care. Of course, you care. He was your husband. You have history.""History that's lon

Elena wakes to sunlight streaming through her bedroom window and the smell of fresh coffee.For a moment, she's disoriented. Then she remembers, Marcus stayed over last night. On the couch. Perfectly respectful, perfectly Marcus.She finds him in her kitchen, making breakfast while her children sit at the table with coloring books."Mr Marcus makes funny pancakes!" Asher announces, holding up a plate with a pancake shaped vaguely like a dinosaur."It's supposed to be a dragon," Marcus corrects with mock seriousness.Dragons have bigger wings, Aurora informs him, her artistic eye critical.Ashton just eats his pancake quietly, watching Marcus with those too-perceptive green eyes.Elena's chest tightens at the domestic scene. This is what she wants, isn't it? Stability. A father figure for her children. Normal family breakfasts without secrets and complications."Morning," Marcus greets her. Coffee's ready. I wasn't sure if you wanted…"Coffee is perfect." Elena pours herself a cup, avoi