RALPH
I walked with the council members toward the grand hall, the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me. My grip tightened on Keilah’s hand before I let her go, the memory of her unsettled eyes lingering in my mind. The council’s compound loomed before me, a stark reminder of the power they held over us. Each step echoed with the authority they wielded, and I knew that what awaited inside would be no small matter.
As we entered the hall, the murmurs of gathered Alphas from different packs filled the air. Jeffrey, the top council leader, seated at a long, imposing table, turned their attention to me. My eyes scanned the room, noting the presence of Ellena, the most powerful witch of all time. She belonged exclusively to the council and only appeared when there was a significant threat to the werewolves. My heart began to throb against my chest, wondering what dire issue had brought her here. The fact that they had summoned me with Keilah made my heart thunder even harder. I turned to Alexander. “Alexander, what’s going on? Why is the council witch here?” I demanded, my voice low but urgent.
Before Alexander could respond, the head of the council rose from his seat. His presence commanded immediate attention, and the hall fell silent. “Alpha Ralph,” he began, his voice carrying the weight of his authority. “There are matters we must discuss, matters that concern your mate.”
“What about her?” I asked, feeling my wolf tense up.
The leader’s eyes bore into mine, unyielding. “We’ve conducted extensive research, Alpha Ralph. We found information linking her mother to your mother’s death.”
His words hit me like a physical blow, and the room seemed to spin. “What are you talking about?” I demanded, “Keilah’s mother? How could she be involved in something that happened so long ago? What you’re saying doesn’t make sense, Alpha Jeffrey. Are you trying to make me break the bond with her?”
“Exactly,” he replied. “It’s the reason why we called you to bring her here. All the Alphas are here to witness this before it’s too late to regret, like in the past.”
“Hell no,” I growled, my fury boiling over.
Another council leader, the second-in-command, stepped forward and interjected. “Whether you like it or not, Alpha Ralph, this is happening today.”
His words carried a grim finality as he continued, “Remember your mother, Alpha Ralph? She trusted a human, claiming him to be her mate. But in the end, he betrayed her. That betrayal led to her death and left many of our pack members lost and fatherless. Do you want history to repeat itself?”
“Don’t bring my mother into this,” I snapped, cutting him off. “Her situation doesn’t match what you’re saying about my mate. It’s a different matter entirely.”
As I spoke, Ellena stepped in front of me. “That’s the reason I am here, Alpha Ralph,” she said, her voice firm. “We knew you wouldn’t believe us, so I’ll show you everything.”
She raised her hand towards my forehead, and I instinctively stepped back. “You’re all crazy!” I growled. Turning to leave, I paused and faced them again, my voice steady. “Leave my mate alone. Whatever you all think will happen, I’ll take the responsibility.”
I looked down in frustration, my thoughts racing. “What responsibility will I even take? I’ll prove to you that there will be none.”
With those words, I walked away, ignoring the other council members calling after me. My heart pounded in my chest, my thoughts a whirlwind of anger.
I burst into the room, my eyes zeroing in on Keilah, surrounded by the Lunas’. Without a second thought, I grabbed her hand, ignoring their startled greetings. Anger simmered inside me, my mind fixated on getting my mate out of this place. Dragging Keilah through the grand halls, I didn’t pause as the council members called out for me, their voices blending into the background. I reached my car, threw open the door, and urged her in. As she tried to ask what was wrong, I snapped, “Not now, Keilah.”
I revved the engine and sped out of the council’s territories, the roar of the car matching the fury simmering inside me. The words of the council replayed in my mind, each one like a dagger aimed at my heart.
As I drove, my grip on the steering wheel tightened, my knuckles turning white. My thoughts were a turbulent storm of anger and defiance. Suddenly, my wolf’s voice cut through.
“Don’t let their words get to you, Ralph. We both know it’s not true. They just want us to break the bond with our mate.”
“I know that, wolf,” I mind-linked back. “So don’t worry. None of that will happen.”
Keilah looked over at me, concern etched across her face. “You’re worrying me. Is everything alright? What happened where you went?”
I took her hand and squeezed it, trying to offer some reassurance. “Nothing much, just Alpha stuff,” I said, forcing calmness into my voice.
She nodded, trying to smile, but the fear in her eyes was still palpable.
“Can I turn on some music?” she asked, her voice soft.
“Sure,” I agreed, grateful for the distraction.
Instead of music, she turned on the radio.
A sudden announcement blared through the speakers, the tone urgent. “Attention, everyone. A heavy rainstorm is expected to hit within the next hour. Please stay indoors and those on the road, and find a safe place until the storm passes.”
The announcement was clear and urgent, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions inside me. I glanced at Keilah, her eyes reflecting a new worry.
The road ahead grew darker, thick clouds rolling in as the first gusts of the storm whipped around us. The wind howled outside, shaking the car slightly with each powerful gust. Keilah’s hand instinctively moved to her stomach, her worry evident in every line of her face.
“Ralph, what are we going to do?” she asked, her voice trembling.
I watched her, my heart clenching at the sight of her anxiety. “Don’t worry, mate,” I said, my voice steady and reassuring. “We’re just a few minutes away from a hotel. We’ll be safe there.”
She nodded, trying to smile, but the fear in her eyes was still palpable.
The wind picked up, and the sky darkened even more. Raindrops began to splatter against the windshield, each one a harbinger of the storm to come. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, my focus entirely on getting us to safety. The road ahead seemed to blur as the rain intensified, but I pushed forward, driven by the need to protect Keilah and the child inside her.
As we got closer to the hotel, I realized there was no place to park the car. The only way to get inside was to abandon the car and walk through the rain.
“We have to make a run for it,” I said, looking at Keilah. Her eyes widened, but she nodded, determination mingling with her fear.
We dashed out of the car, the rain instantly soaking through our clothes as we sprinted toward the entrance. The wind lashed at us, the storm unleashing its full fury. I held Keilah’s hand tightly, guiding her through the deluge. By the time we burst through the hotel’s doors, we were both drenched, water pooling around us on the lobby floor. Keilah shivered, and I pulled her close, trying to share my warmth.
The lobby was crowded with people seeking refuge from the storm. Some were dripping like us and others arguing with the receptionist, trying to negotiate the remaining rooms. I glanced around, spotting a line forming at the front desk. Determined to get Keilah out of the cold, I steered her through the crowd and approached the receptionist.
“We need a room,” I said, my voice firm despite the chaos around us. “Something big, with a bathtub.”
The receptionist nodded, typing furiously on her computer. “We have two rooms available, but they’re our deluxe suites,” she explained. “They’re $800 a night.”
Before she could finish, I cut her off. “We’ll take it, whatever the price.”
I handed over my credit card without hesitation, the urgency to get my mate warm and dry outweighing any concerns about the cost. After a quick transaction, we were handed the key to one of the deluxe suites.
As we stepped into the room, a wave of relief washed over me at the sight of Keilah’s relieved expression. The room was indeed spacious, clean, and luxurious. Before we could settle in, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find one of the hotel workers holding a pair of white towel robes.
“Good evening,” she said with a warm smile. “We noticed how soaked you both were. If you give me your clothes, we’ll have them dried for you.” Just leave them outside the door when you’re ready. I’ll come back to collect them shortly.”
As she turned to leave, I closed the door and handed Keilah one of the robes. “Here, get changed before you catch a cold.”
She threw me a long glare but said nothing as she took the robe and slipped into the bathroom. I used that chance to change into mine as well, and by the time she came back, I was done too.
Keilah took our wet clothes and stepped outside to place them in the basket the hotel worker had left. She closed the door behind her and walked back to where I was standing. Her eyes met mine, and I could see the multitude of questions swirling within them. She took a deep breath and spoke softly, “Ralph, can we talk? About us, about Dahlia, about everything.”
Ignoring her request, I just pulled her close to me, my arms wrapping around her tightly. I could feel her body tense slightly against mine. “Forgive me for what I’m about to do,” I murmured, my voice low and rough. “I’m going to become a jerk again.”
With those words, I gently slipped the robe off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. Lifting her effortlessly, I carried her to the bed and laid her down gently. She looked up at me with apprehension in her eyes. I dropped my own robe, feeling the cool air against my skin for a brief moment before I joined her on the bed.
As I moved on top of her, I noticed her body tense again, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features. Ignoring it, I parted her legs, but she reached down to cover herself, hindering me from penetrating. “Ralph, please,” she begged, her voice trembling. “I feel like whatever you’re about to do is connected to the meeting you had with the council and you’re like I have to ease your mind which is not a crime because I’m your woman, but I’m not in the mood for this. Please, Ralph.”
Her words barely registered as my mind drifted back to the conversation with the council. The only thing that seemed to make sense was to claim her all over and all over again, to solidify our bond in the face of their accusations. I swiftly clutched her hand away and pressed it above her head, clasping both her wrists with one hand. With my other hand, I reached down to push into her.
Suddenly, a jolt of electrifying energy surged through her body, feeling like pieces of hot silver searing into my bones. The pain jerked me away from her, and I fell to the floor, groaning in agony. I looked back at Keilah, who was now seated, looking startled and confused. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice shaky.
A glow on her neck caught my attention. It was where Damien had left his mark. The sight of it made my blood run cold. The mark shimmered with an otherworldly light, and the realization of what had just happened hit me like a ton of bricks. This was no ordinary reaction; it was the power of Damien’s mark protecting her.