Alpha Rolan’s POV
The room was dimly lit, shadows flickering off the walls from the fire burning in the hearth. I sat at the head of the table, my fingers drumming lightly against the carved wood, listening as my councilmen discussed the upcoming full moon festival.
Tradition demanded that I lead the hunting wolves into the forest under the full moon, a ceremonial hunt that reinforced my strength and authority as Alpha.
My attention drifted for a moment, but I snapped back as one of the councilmen, Darius began detailing the logistics.
“The pack will assemble at the pack house before midnight, as usual. We’ll ensure the perimeter is secure, and the younger wolves will stay behind while you lead the hunt, Alpha.”
I nodded, my gaze sharp. “I know my duties, Darius. The festival is always a grand affair, and it will remain so under my leadership.”
The others murmured their agreement, but something about the mood in the room felt… off. It wasn’t the first time I’d sensed it, a subtle tension that slithered beneath their words, as though there was something unspoken lingering between us.
I didn’t show any sign of noticing. Patience and observation were key, especially in times like these. My father had drilled that into me long ago. And right now, I need patience more than ever.
“How are your districts faring?” I asked, shifting the conversation.
As Alpha, it was my duty to keep an eye on every district under the pack’s control. These councilmen represented their respective districts, and any instability in their regions could threaten the pack as a whole.
Darius, whose district bordered the northern mountains, spoke first. “My district remains strong, Alpha. The harvest has been fruitful, and the wolves are content. We’ve had no issues with outsiders.”
The next few councilmen echoed similar sentiments, things were stable, and the pack was secure. Until Roderick, the councilman overseeing the eastern district, cleared his throat. His eyes flickered nervously as he spoke, his voice lower than usual.
“Alpha… there is a matter of concern in my district.”
I arched my brow, leaning slightly forward. “Go on.”
“Our water supply has been disrupted,” he said, his tone cautious. “The wells that feed the villages have run dry… and we’ve had reports of Shadow Hunters, moving through the outskirts of our lands at night.”
I stilled. Shadow Hunters. They were nothing but whispers in dark alleys, myths of creatures who lived in the shadows and thrived in chaos.
They hadn’t been seen in this territory for years, not since my grandfather had driven them out. That they would dare enter my pack’s land now, under my reign, felt like a direct challenge to my authority.
“You’ve seen them?” I asked, my voice steady but cold.
Roderick hesitated. “Not personally, Alpha, but the villagers… they are terrified. The hunters claim to have seen dark shapes, faster than any wolf, stalking the forests at night.”
I glanced at Caleb, my right-hand man, who stood just behind my chair. He gave me a barely perceptible nod, already understanding my unspoken command. I turned back to Roderick. “Caleb will look into this. If Shadow Hunters are in our lands, I’ll have them dealt with swiftly.”
But before Caleb could respond, Roderick spoke again. “Alpha, with all due respect, I believe it would help the people if you, as their leader, addressed them directly. Investigations are important, but sometimes the pack needs to see their Alpha, and hear his reassurance.”
I didn’t miss the flicker of something in Roderick’s eyes, a challenge, perhaps? Or a test? The idea of publicly addressing the district seemed harmless, but I knew better.
There were too many moving parts in this game. And Griffin was always one step ahead, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Was Roderick acting on his behalf?
Still, I kept my face neutral. “Your suggestion has merit,” I said calmly. “I’ll visit the district tomorrow.”
The council murmured in approval, but my instincts told me there was more to this than a simple disruption in the water supply. Something deeper was at play, and I had to stay vigilant.
The meeting continued for a few more minutes, with discussions about the festival preparations and minor issues in other districts. But my mind was elsewhere. The moment the meeting ended, I signaled for Caleb to follow me out.
We walked in silence through the palace corridors until we reached my private chambers. Once inside, I turned to face him, my expression hardening. “Griffin’s changing his plans.”
Caleb furrowed his brow. “What makes you think that? The informant has been reliable so far.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s too clean. The timing, the way the councilman suggested I address the people directly, it feels orchestrated. And the Shadow Hunters? There’s no way they would dare move into our territory without me hearing about it from my own men. I have loyal wolves in every district who report to me. If something that dangerous was happening, they would have alerted me long before now.”
Caleb’s eyes widened slightly. “Then why would Roderick lie? And why would the rest of the council stay silent?”
“Because they’re afraid of what Griffin is planning,” I replied darkly. “He’s playing a bigger game than we anticipated. A direct challenge to my position as Alpha would be too obvious, too risky. No, he’s laying the groundwork for something else, something that involves dividing the pack, sowing doubt among the council and the people.”
Caleb crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “But what could he gain by lying about the Shadow Hunters?”
I stared out the window at the darkening sky, my jaw clenched. “Fear. Distrust. If people start to believe that I can’t protect them from external threats, they’ll begin looking for someone who can.”
“Griffin.”
“Exactly. He’s positioning himself as that someone, slowly building alliances behind my back. He knows he can’t challenge me directly and win, so he’s turning my own pack against me.”
Caleb let out a slow breath. “What do you want to do?”
I turned to face him, my eyes cold and calculating. “We play along, for now. Let him think his plan is working. But I need you to double our security at the full moon festival. I don’t trust Griffin or anyone aligned with him. We’re walking into a trap, and I intend to spring it on them first.”
Caleb nodded. “Consider it done.”
As he turned to leave, I stopped him with a final thought. “And Caleb, keep an eye on Roderick. If he’s lying, I want to know why and who he’s lying for.”