Xander’s POV
The library was airy quiet, except for the faint scratching of my pen against paper. Even the air seemed heavy, pressing against my chest like an unseen weight. I had been here for hours, trying to steady my thoughts, rehearsing the defenses I might offer to the Alpha Council. A single misstep today could spell disaster.. not just for me but for my entire pack.
The scent of leather-bound books and aged parchment mixed with my own unease. My wolf stirred, restless and irritable. The beast had been on edge ever since I received the third and final summon. Ignoring this one wasn’t an option.
Suddenly, the faint creak of the library door interrupted my thoughts. I didn’t look up. I didn’t have to. His scent… clean, sharp, tinged with pine was unmistakable. Luke.
“They’re ready,” his voice broke the silence, steady as ever, but carrying a subtle undertone of concern.
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I capped my pen and leaned back in the chair, exhaling slowly. My fingers traced the edge of the desk, the wood cool beneath my touch. “Is this the part where you remind me how suicidal it is to walk into a den of Alphas with accusations hanging over my head?”
Luke chuckled softly, stepping further into the room. “No, Alpha. I think you already know that.”
I finally turned my chair to face him. Luke stood straight, dressed in his duty attire. He was the picture of discipline, but I caught the faint quirk of a smile on his lips.
“And what’s so amusing?” I raised an eyebrow.
He shrugged, an easy, unbothered motion. “You smiled just now. First time I’ve seen that in weeks. I thought I’d imagined it.”
I let out a short laugh… gruff, but genuine. “Careful, Luke. If you keep making me laugh, I might start thinking you’re angling for a promotion.”
He grinned, but his humor faded quickly. “I just wish you’d let the warriors come with us, Alpha. The council is unpredictable. You know they’ll pull something. They always do.”
I rose from my chair, clapping a hand on his shoulder as I moved past him. “And you know me better than anyone else that I don’t need a squad of warriors to handle a room full of bickering Alphas.”
We stepped outside, and sure enough, three black cars waited in formation. Warriors stood at attention beside them, their gazes sharp and vigilant. My wolf stirred again, a low growl reverberating through my chest as I took in the display.
“Luke.”
“Yes, Alpha?”
“This isn’t a damn parade. Send them back.”
He hesitated, but only for a moment. “They’re here for security-”
“I said send them back.” My voice left no room for argument.
Luke sighed but relayed the order. The warriors dispersed, and soon it was just the two of us climbing into the car.
The drive to Shadow Claw Pack was uneventful, the silence broken only by Luke’s attempts to prepare me for the council’s questioning. He spoke with conviction, listing strategies and hypothetical rebuttals. I listened quietly, my lips twitching at his protectiveness.
“You’re a damn good Beta, Luke,” I said when he finally paused for breath.
He glanced at me, his usually stoic face softening. “I serve the best Alpha.”
The car rolled to a stop in front of the council hall, a towering structure of stone and glass. Shadows played across its surface, casting long, jagged shapes on the ground. As we stepped out, I adjusted my jacket, squaring my shoulders. The scent of other Alpha’s.. powerful, pungent, and cloying was already heavy in the air.
Inside, the hall was as grand and imposingc as ever. Rows of Alphas and their Betas sat in a semi-circle, their gazes locking onto me the moment I entered. I walked toward the front, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous space. Luke stayed a few paces behind, his presence solid and reassuring.
As I approached the center seat, a flicker of satisfaction danced through me. Fear. It was etched across their faces, barely concealed by their feigned calm. They should be afraid.
The clerk’s voice cut through the tension, calling for order. “The first case: Alpha Xander Kane of the NightFang Pack versus the Council.”
I stood as the head Alpha began his questioning. His voice was sharp, his words dripping with disdain.
“Alpha Kane, you’ve ignored two summons. Do you understand the severity of this?”
I met his gaze, my expression cold. “I understand it well. What I don’t understand is why I’m being summoned over a retaliation that was entirely justified.”
Murmurs rippled through the room.
“Justified?” the head Alpha sneered. “You attacked Silver Moon Pack unprovoked…”
“Unprovoked?” I cut him off, my voice rising. “My pack was attacked first. My mate was poisoned and killed by the Luna of Silver Moon. You call that unprovoked?”
The tension in the room thickened. Luke shifted slightly behind me, a silent reminder to keep my composure.
Evidence was presented, witness accounts, screenshot of the text messages from Alpha Kendrick luring her out if the pack to the attack, even a vial of the wolfsbane that had left Alison like a couch vegetable. The council members debated amongst themselves, their voices a cacophony of judgment and skepticism.
“That was not enough reason for retaliation, your first decision was supposed to be bringing it before the council for first hand clarification, then the judgements from here would for the basis of your action” one of the Elder Alpha said
“I should waste precious time bringing it as a case for hearing while my Luna dies painfully and slowly?” I questioned beginning to feek through
By the time the head Alpha called for judgment, my patience was wearing thin.
“This council will now decide. ”
The heavy oak doors to the hall swung open with a resounding crash, cutting him off mid-sentence. Every head turned, mine included.
The figure that entered commanded immediate attention. His steps were deliberate, his presence magnetic. Even without catching his scent, I could feel his dominance rolling off him in waves. He wasn’t just an Alpha; he was a powerful one, he led the second most powerful pack in the entire city m .
“I demand a recess,” the man’s voice boomed, deep and authoritative. “I have evidence strong enough to justify Alpha Kane’s actions.”
Gasps echoed through the room as the stranger continued his approach, his steps unhurried, his gaze piercing.
I didn’t move. My wolf stirred, but I held him back, my eyes locked on the man who had just turned the council on its head.
What the hell was he going to show?
And how did he know?