Semua Bab Bride of the Human Alpha: Bab 31 - Bab 40

[Daren's Pov] The Deadlands compound loomed before us in the predawn darkness, exactly as Kai's reconnaissance had described. High walls made of reinforced stone, guard towers at strategic positions, magical wards that shimmered faintly in my enhanced vision. And somewhere inside, my mother was chained to an altar while my uncle prepared to steal the power that kept me alive. I looked back at the force assembled behind me—nearly two hundred wolves, the full strength of Freedomborn Pack combined with Kai's rogues, Dominic's Nightshade warriors, and every fighter who'd chosen to stand with us. Not divided, not scattered, but unified in purpose and strength. Shahira stood at my side, her newly awakened Alpha power radiating through the darkness like a beacon. Through our mate bond, I felt her determination, her focus, the absolute certainty that we would succeed. "The ward is weakening," she whispered, her golden eyes glowing as her Ashenvale abilities perceived what others couldn't.

[Daren's Pov] The moment Morgana dissolved and the ritual collapsed, Manel's facade cracked. The cold, calculating mastermind disappeared, replaced by something far more dangerous—a desperate predator backed into a corner. "No," he snarled, dark magic crackling around his hands. "Twenty-five years! Everything I planned! Everything I sacrificed! You can't—you won't—" He lunged at me with inhuman speed, and suddenly we weren't fighting tactically anymore. This was raw, primal violence. Uncle against nephew. The architect of my clan's destruction against its last surviving heir. The three hundred wolves within me roared in response, flooding my body with their combined strength. I met Manel's charge head-on, and the impact sent shockwaves through the chamber. We crashed through stone pillars, shattered magical artifacts, tore apart the carefully constructed ritual space. Every blow I landed, Manel countered with dark magic that seared my flesh. Every time I tried to gain advantage,

[Daren- One week later] The week following our assault on Manel's compound was a blur of recovery, debriefing, and political maneuvering. Our wounded were healing, though two had died from their injuries despite Elena's best efforts. Seven total dead from the operation. Seven wolves who'd trusted us to lead them and paid the ultimate price. I knew their names. Knew their families. Attended their memorial services and spoke words that felt hollow in the face of their sacrifice. Leadership, I was learning, meant carrying the weight of every decision that cost lives. Isabella was stable but declining. Elena gave her weeks, maybe a month. She'd survived twenty-five years of torture only to have her body give out once freed. The irony was bitter. But she was lucid more often now, and we spent hours together talking about the clan, about my childhood, about the years stolen from us. She told me stories about my father I'd never heard. Shared memories of the Methlock clan before the ma

[Daren's Pov] The Council summons arrived via official courier at dawn on the third day. Alpha Daren Methlock and Alpha Shahira Ashenvale-Thorne are hereby summoned to appear before the Pack Council in formal inquiry regarding the unprovoked assault on the Deadlands territory, unauthorized use of magic against pack wolves, and potential violations of inter-pack sovereignty treaties. Failure to appear will result in immediate sanctions against Freedomborn Pack, including but not limited to: cessation of all diplomatic recognition, prohibition of trade and resource sharing, and designation as rogue territory subject to enforcement action. The inquiry will be conducted under the supervision of Council Overseer Alpha Mordecai of Ironwood Pack, with testimony to be heard from relevant parties and judgment rendered by full Council vote. You have fourteen days to prepare your defense. I read it twice, then handed it to Lyanna, who'd arrived with the courier. "It's worse than I thought

[Daren's Pov – Morning of the Hearing] We left for the Council chamber at dawn, a convoy of three vehicles carrying our entire testimony team. Freedomborn felt vulnerable behind us—defended by Sienna, Kai, and our remaining forces, but still exposed if Mordecai chose to strike while we were gone. "They won't move yet," Lyanna assured me during the drive. "Mordecai wants to destroy you legally first. Makes the follow-up easier. No martyrs, no outraged allies. Just a pack that violated Council law and paid the price." "Comforting thought." "I'm not trying to comfort you. I'm trying to keep you tactical." She reviewed her notes one more time. "Remember the structure. We present our case first—the threat Manel posed, the evidence we gathered, the lives we saved. Then Mordecai's people cross-examine. Then they present their case about unauthorized assault and violation of sovereignty. Then we rebut." "And somewhere in there, we expose Mordecai's connection to Manel." "Carefully. Thro