Logan’s POV
My carriage stopped in front of the Wolf Moon pack house a few hours later. This month’s Council of Alphas meeting was scheduled to be held here, a tradition that rotated among the twelve Alphas. It ensured that each hosted at least once a year. Unlike last month’s meeting, I felt a thrill of anticipation.
At last month’s meeting, I remembered being in the heat of things, being threatened from every corner by the Council to produce an heir. But things have changed for the better now.
I climbed down from the carriage, my boots crunching on the gravel path. As I approached the pack house, the large double doors swung open, and I was greeted by the pack’s Beta, a tall, stern-faced man who bowed respectfully.
“Welcome, Alpha Logan,” the Beta said, stepping aside to let me pass.
I nodded curtly. “Thank you. I trust everything is in order?”
“Yes, Alpha. The other Alphas have already arrived. The meeting room is prepared.”
My excitement grew as I entered the pack house, the familiar scent of pinewood and earth filling my senses. The Council of Alphas was not just a gathering for discussions; it was a chance to assert dominance, form alliances, and gauge the strength of my peers. Last month’s meeting had been a tense affair, but this time, I felt more confident, more prepared.
I made my way confidently to the meeting room. I pushed open the heavy oak doors and stepped inside. The room was filled with a low hum of conversation, ten powerful figures seated around a large, circular table.
“Logan,” Alpha Marcus greeted me, rising to shake my hand. Marcus was the oldest among us, and the host of this month’s meeting. His once-black hair was now silver, but his presence still commanded respect.
“Marcus,” I replied, returning the handshake with a firm grip. “Good to see you.”
As I took my seat, I glanced around the table, taking in the expressions of the other Alphas. Each carried their own burdens, their own pack’s troubles and triumphs. But we all understood the importance of these meetings. It was here that decisions were made, pacts were formed, and rivalries were controlled.
The meeting commenced, discussions ranging from territory disputes to trade agreements. I found myself engaging more confidently.
These men treated me with more respect now, because of my recent success with securing an heir. As the hours passed, the conversation turned to the recent unrest caused by Alpha Denderick’s actions.
Alpha Rowan glanced around the room, his brow furrowing. “Where is Denderick?” he asked with irritation in his voice. “His absence is noticeable.”
I looked around as well, my eyes landing on the empty seat where Alpha Denderick should have been. Only eleven Alphas sat around the table.
“He’s not here,” I replied. Denderick’s absence was a bold statement in itself.
Alpha Harris scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “Typical. Denderick is as obnoxious as he is powerless. Can’t even show his face when his actions are the topic of discussion.”
The others murmured in agreement. Denderick had always been a stubborn figure among us, but his recent actions had pushed the boundaries even further.
“Alpha Denderick has overstepped,” Alpha Rowan who sat to my left declared, his voice tinged with anger. “His search for the runaway breeder has caused chaos in multiple packs, especially mine!”
I nodded in agreement, my mind flashing back to the chaos outside my own pack house. I remembered the pregnant women going missing recently, and smiled to myself. This was as good a chance as any to pin the blame on Alpha Denderick.
“He’s creating instability. It’s unacceptable!” I declared. “These days, pregnant female wolves have been going missing. I suspect he is the one!”
The Alphas murmured their agreement. Denderick’s actions were a breach of the unspoken rules that governed our world.
“In fact,” I leaned forward, lowering my voice to a whisper. “I daresay he is capturing and killing these pregnant women, in order to get his breeder back. He is that desperate!”
“How do we address this?” Alpha Kieran asked, his eyes locking onto me. “You’ve dealt with his men recently, haven’t you?”
I nodded, leaning back into my chair. “Yes. I turned them away from my pack house. But this issue needs a united front. We can’t allow one Alpha to disrupt the peace and safety of our packs.”
“How does he manage to even lose a mere breeder?” Harris continued, his tone dripping with disdain. “After years and years of searching, he finally secures an heir and then loses the woman carrying his child. It’s laughable.”
“It’s more than laughable,” Alpha Kiera interjected. “It’s dangerous. His inability to control his own affairs is causing chaos in our packs. Pregnant women are going missing because of his incompetence.”
“Agreed,” I chimed in, leaning forward. “His desperation is making him reckless. And now, he’s causing unrest in our territories. We need to address this before it escalates further.”
Alpha Marcus nodded. “Logan is right. But how do we handle this? We can’t allow him to continue unchecked!”
The room fell silent, each Alpha lost in thought.
“We need to present a united front,” Alpha Rowan finally said. “If we all agree to a course of action, Denderick will have no choice but to comply.”
“And what course of action would that be?” Alpha Kieran asked.
“First, we need to locate him,” Harris suggested. “If he’s hiding, he’s more of a coward than I thought.”
“Once we find him, we demand a council meeting with him present,” I replied. “He needs to answer for his actions directly. If he refuses, then we take measures to limit his influence and protect our packs.”
The others nodded in agreement, and I smiled to myself. Everyone present here believed that Alpha Denderick was behind the missing women. This was going even better than I thought.
Just as we were about to continue with other matters, the door swung open with a loud creak. All heads turned, and there he stood-Alpha Denderick himself.
He was an imposing figure, dark and fiercely handsome, with an air of danger that clung to him like a second skin.
Dressed like a ranger, his long black coat billowed slightly in the doorway. His tall, muscular frame filled the space. With thick eyebrows, gray beards, sandy hair, and a scar on his left eye, this man looked as fearless as everyone claimed.
His piercing green eyes scanned the room with a predatory gleam. A dark stubble lined his chiseled jaw, adding to his rugged appeal. His presence was magnetic and unsettling all at once.
After scanning everyone’s face, he scoffed. “You all were talking about me, weren’t you?”