Kael

The moment Alpha William walked into the antechamber, I felt my mood worsen.

Wonderful! Just when I thought my day could not become any more irritating.

The familiar scent reached me before the man himself did. He stepped into the room with four warriors behind him, carrying himself with that same confidence that had made lesser Alphas fear him and made me want to punch him in the throat.

For a few moments, neither of us spoke. We simply glared at each other and the room seemed to grow quieter around us.

Even Councilman Cedric, who never seemed capable of shutting his mouth for more than a minute, wisely remained silent.

Alpha William’s gaze settled on me as mine settled on him.

The old bastard smiled first and called out, "Alpha Kael."

His voice was smooth and pleasant to others who didn’t know him. But it’s mainly a lie. Everything about that man was a lie.

I leaned back in my chair and reciprocated by calling out too, "Alpha William."

His smile widened slightly. "I must admit, I didn’t think you’d attend."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?" I asked with a feign surprise.

He shrugged casually. "You’ve always possessed a rather rebellious spirit."

There it was... the first jab. The meeting had not even begun and he was already trying to paint me as some unruly Alpha incapable of respecting authority.

I smiled before saying, "Unlike you, I don’t feel bigger than the Council."

The smile disappeared from his face for a fraction of a second.

Councilman Cedric immediately cleared his throat. "Gentlemen..."

Neither of us looked at him. Alpha William folded his hands behind his back. "That is an interesting accusation."

"Not an accusation." I said and rose from my chair. "It’s a simple observation."

The room became noticeably tenser as his warriors straightened while my wolf stirred inside me.

Alpha William’s expression hardened. "I find it amusing that you’re questioning anyone’s respect for the Council."

I folded my arms. "And I find it amusing that you’ve been lying to them."

Silence as his warriors looked between us while councilman Cedric froze.

Alpha William tilted his head slightly. "Explain what that means."

"You told the Council I knew your daughter was promised to the vampires."

His expression didn’t change. Not even slightly. The old wolf had spent decades mastering his face.

"You did know."

"What implied that?" I asked with a creased brow.

Alpha William looked at me and said, "Even if I never directly told you about my daughter, you would’ve known eventually."

Fortunately for him before I could respond, a scribe chose that exact moment to enter the room.

The young man looked nervous and I couldn’t blame him. Being trapped between two Alphas who wanted to tear each other’s throats out was not an enviable position.

"The Council is ready to begin," he announced.

Finally!

Alpha William adjusted the sleeves of his robe while Councilman Cedric looked relieved.

I was relieved too because another five minutes and I might’ve forgotten where we were.

The three of us began walking toward the council chamber and the silence lasted only a few moments.

Then I asked the question that had been burning in my head ever since Selena told me the truth.

"What kind of Alpha allows his own daughter to be sold to those monsters?"

The corridor immediately fell silent and even Alpha William’s warriors looked uncomfortable.

Alpha William didn’t stop walking as he replied. "The kind of Alpha who has a pack to protect."

I stared at him as the answer disgusted me then I shook my head before saying. "Such a weak Alpha."

His footsteps stopped and the air seemed to freeze. Then slowly, he turned toward me that I could practically feel the anger rolling off him.

For a moment, I genuinely thought he might attack me. Part of me hoped he would.

Unfortunately, Alpha William still possessed enough self-control not to lose his mind in the middle of Council grounds. Such a Pity.

Without another word, he continued walking and I followed. Soon, we reached the Great Council Chamber and the massive doors stood open.

Inside, nine councilmen sat upon the elevated semicircle overlooking the hall and each of them were representing one region of the realm.

Years ago, before Cedric rose to the position, the representative of Vargwyn which is the same region where Nightbane and Blackborne packs are situated— had been a scholar from the Nightbane pack.

Replacing him had been one of the few political victories I’d genuinely enjoyed watching.

I took my seat without ceremony and unfortunately, Alpha William sat opposite me.

Councilman Cedric stood first. "This emergency gathering of the Realm Council is hereby called to order."

A few councilmen looked annoyed. One old Alpha from the northern territories sighed loudly.

"A family dispute should not be wasting the Realm Court’s time."

Another nodded. "I agree. This matter should have remained within the Vargwyn Regional Court."

Alpha William immediately rose to his feet. "This is not a family dispute."

The room quieted as he continued. "My daughter was promised to the vampires from birth."

Even after hearing it before, my jaw still tightened. Every time those words were spoken, they sounded worse.

Alpha William continued. "She was not merely another yearly tribute."

His voice deepened. "She was the highest royalty scheduled to be sent this year."

Several councilmen exchanged uneasy looks as he proceeded. "If the vampires do not receive what they were promised, the consequences will not stop with Nightbane."

He swept his gaze across the room. "They will affect every pack represented here."

Nobody argued because everybody knew it was true. "Cowards!" I said underneath my breath while gritting my teeth in anger.

Alpha William continued speaking. "The night before transportation to the East, she disappeared. I have searched relentlessly."

A councilman snorted. "Apparently not hard enough."

A few chuckles followed as Alpha William’s expression darkened.

Another councilman folded his arms. "You lost your own daughter?"

The mockery continued. "Perhaps your pack security isn’t as impressive as we’ve been told."

Several men laughed while others glared at them.

One councilman slammed his hand on the table. "Enough." His voice echoed. "A missing daughter is not entertainment."

The room settled again as Alpha William inclined his head slightly then he continued explaining the circumstances of Selena’s disappearance.

The more he talked, the more irritated I became. Not because he was worried because he wasn’t.

Every word was about the consequences of what might happen to the packs.

Never once did he sound like a father. He sounded like a merchant who had misplaced valuable cargo.

Eventually I had enough so I rose from my seat and asked, "Why am I here?"

Silence fell immediately as the Nine councilmen looked toward me while Alpha William looked annoyed.

Then Councilman Cedric cleared his throat. "We believe you may know something regarding Selena’s whereabouts."

I stared at him then laughed. "You dragged me across half the realm because of a suspicion?"

One councilman spoke up. "You are Alpha William’s greatest rival."

Another nodded. "The most obvious suspect."

A third added, "You have every reason to exploit his weakness. You dislike him, you challenge him constantly so naturally you are the prime suspect."

I looked around the room then slowly stepped forward. "What if I’m his rival?"

Alpha William’s eyes narrowed and I let the silence linger then shrugged before saying. "Fortunately for all of you, I don’t have his daughter."

Several councilmen relaxed. Fools.

I continued. "But has it occurred to anyone that Alpha William possesses enemies beyond myself?"

Nobody answered as I proceeded. "Or are we pretending he is beloved by the entire realm?"

A few smirks appeared while Alpha William looked murderous.

I continued. "Perhaps someone kidnapped her, Perhaps she was taken by rogues." Then I delivered the thought I truly wanted spoken aloud.

"Or perhaps..." I looked directly at Alpha William. "...she discovered she was being sold to undead monsters and ran."

The chamber exploded. "Alpha Kael!"

"Mind your words!"

"That is inappropriate!"

Alpha William shot to his feet as his aura crashed across the room. "Watch yourself."

I met his gaze. "Or what?"

The tension became physical that Councilmen immediately began shouting over one another.

"Enough!"

"Sit down!"

"This is not a battlefield!"

Alpha William pointed at me. "You are crossing a dangerous line."

"No." I smiled coldly. "I merely spoke about the possibility nobody else wanted to acknowledge."

The room remained tense as Alpha William laughed. The sound was completely humorless. "You speak boldly for a man who has achieved so little."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"You criticize decisions you do not understand."

I almost rolled my eyes.

Alpha William spread his hands. "What exactly have you done to end vampire oppression?"

Several councilmen shifted uncomfortably as Alpha William continued. "You inherited a small lowborn pack."

My wolf growled but Alpha William wasn’t finished. "You recently climbed into relevance and suddenly believe yourself qualified to lecture the realm."

The insult rolled off me then he delivered another. "If vampires were not constantly draining resources from the realm, I would have been the first to claim the Wolfsbane Mine years ago."

That caught my attention. Interesting. Very interesting.

I tilted my head. "Would you?"

Alpha William frowned as I stepped closer. "That almost sounds like you’re protecting the vampire’s interests."

Several councilmen gasped as Alpha William’s face darkened instantly as he snapped. "What?"

"A secret arrangement perhaps?" I said with a small smirk playing on my lips.

The room erupted again. "Enough!"

"Stop this immediately!"

"Both of you!" Councilman Cedric looked like he wanted to die.

Alpha William’s aura flared and mine answered. For several seconds neither of us moved.

Then Councilman Cedric practically shouted. "We are returning to the purpose of this meeting!"

The argument finally died as the discussion resumed. For the next hour they debated possibilities of what must have happened to Selena.

Eventually the council reached its conclusion that petitions would be sent throughout every region, search efforts would increase, rewards would be offered, scouts would be mobilized and a realm-wide search like what Alpha William wanted.

Then Councilman Cedric looked at me. "Alpha Kael."

I already disliked where this was going.

"As one of the most influential Alphas in Vargwyn..." There it was. "...will you assist in the search?"

I stared at him then at Alpha William. Then back at Councilman Cedric before saying "No!"

The room groaned as Councilman Cedric rubbed his forehead. "Alpha Kael, Please."

"No." I blatantly said again.

A few councilmen looked ready to throw something at me.

Finally Councilman Cedric sighed before saying again, "Can you at least promise cooperation?"

I considered refusing again then remembered appearances mattered. Sometimes.

"Fine." The word tasted terrible. "I’ll help look for her."

The meeting ended shortly afterward as Councilmen began leaving.

I immediately headed toward the exit then noticed Alpha William gathering several councilmen together in one corner having a quiet, private and suspicious discussion.

I considered listening, then decided against it. If they were plotting something, I’d discover it eventually.

People always underestimated how much information reached Blackbourne.

I continued walking and was almost at the exit when Councilman Cedric appeared beside me.

"Alpha Kael." His tone was low and urgent.

I reluctantly stopped and asked "What now?"

Without answering, he slipped something into my hand. It was a folded parchment and nobody seemed to notice.

"Leave immediately," he muttered.

I narrowed my eyes as I asked. "Why?"

"Just go." He said and swiftly walked away.

I disliked mysteries, especially from councilmen. Still, I left.

Minutes later I was inside my carriage and the estate disappeared behind us as the rider guided the horses onto the main road.

Only then did I unfold the parchment and my eyes moved across the writing.

The message was short.

There was a possible conspiracy among several councilmen. Their plan was to gather a band of werewolves, possibly rogues, possibly hired mercenaries or possibly both to infiltrate Blackbourne and find Selena.

I read it again then slowly folded the parchment as a small smile appeared on my face.

Then I squeezed the parchment tightly in my fist while smiling way harder.