Michael rose from his chair, straightening his jacket. The weight of leadership had aged him; his once bright eyes now carried the burden of regret.
“Let’s go,” he said, striding toward the door. “We need to discuss this so all of us can finally move forward.”
He paused at the threshold, glancing briefly at Calvin. “Did you send word to Alpha Darius and Elaine?” he asked.
“Yes, Alpha,” Calvin replied. “Alpha Darius said he’ll be here, but he insists that Elaine stay with Roselyn for now. He wants to hear what Council Lucius says first before involving her.”
Michael nodded, though a part of him ached at the mention of her name. “Very well. Tell him we’ll have the meeting after lunch. I want everyone present when the time comes.”
“I’ll let him know, Alpha,” Calvin said, bowing his head slightly before following him out.
As they stepped into the front courtyard, the sound of an approaching vehicle broke the silence. The sleek black car rolled to a stop, and moments later, Council Lucius emerged. His presence commanded respect-calm, firm, yet seasoned with the quiet wisdom that only years of service to the Council could bring.
Michael approached him at once, extending his hand. “Lucius, thank you for coming. I know the notice was short, but I appreciate your time.”
Council Lucius clasped his hand firmly, his sharp eyes studying Michael. “Think nothing of it, Alpha. I could sense from your message that the matter you wish to discuss is… significant.”
He paused briefly, his expression thoughtful. “So, let us not waste time. The sooner we understand, the sooner we can bring clarity.”
Michael inclined his head. “Yes. We’ll have the meeting after lunch. There are things that must be said-truths that have been buried for far too long.”
Lucius gave a slow nod, his gaze steady. “Then let us hope this day brings the answers you seek.”
Michael turned toward the pack house, the heavy air pressing around him like a storm about to break. Deep down, he knew this meeting would change everything-again.
By noon, the pack house had fallen into a silence so thick that even the clatter of dishes from the kitchen felt distant, muffled. The long dining table in the meeting hall was set-polished silver, crystal glasses, and steaming trays of food that no one cared to touch. The scent of roasted meat and herbs lingered in the air, but the hunger in the room was not for food-it was for answers.
Michael stood near the tall window that overlooked the training grounds, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. Beyond the glass, warriors sparred in pairs, their precise movements a familiar rhythm of discipline and strength. The sound of fists colliding, of grunts and effort, echoed faintly into the stillness of the hall.
“Alpha Darius has arrived,” Calvin announced from the doorway, his tone respectful but taut with awareness of the tension that hung in the air.
Michael turned, his face unreadable, his authority composed like a shield. “Bring him in.”
The door opened wider, and Darius entered, every movement controlled and deliberate. His mere presence filled the room. He didn’t need to assert dominance-he was power personified, the kind that came from experience, not arrogance. His eyes, a stormy shade of gray, locked onto Michael’s, and for several long seconds, neither man spoke. The silence between them was sharp and heavy, a blade forged from history and regret.
Behind Darius, Council Lucius followed, his calm, steady presence cutting through the tension. The older man’s gaze swept across the room, assessing, weighing. “Shall we sit?” he said, his tone neutral, though his eyes flickered briefly between the two Alphas as if already sensing the gravity of what was to unfold.
Michael gestured toward the table. “Please. Let’s begin.”
They took their seats-Michael at the head, Darius on his left, Lucius directly across. Calvin remained standing by the wall, silent and observant, a loyal Beta ready to intervene if things turned volatile.
Lucius rested his hands lightly on the table. “Let us begin,” he started, his voice even and composed, “Alpha Michael, you said you have things need to discuss that cannot be discussed over the phone”
Michael shake his head. “Yes”
He paused, as though trying to steady his thoughts before voicing them. “Something happened that day-the day I marked Kathy.”
Darius’s gaze hardened, his expression unreadable. “Something happened?” he repeated with a quiet scoff. “That’s one way to put it.”
Michael’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Yes. That day.”
Lucius lifted a hand, gesturing calmly. “Let him speak, Alpha Darius. We need clarity before judgment.”
Michael took a slow, shaky breath. His voice was low, heavy with memory. “When I marked Kathy, I felt… something break inside me. At first, I thought it was just the shock of forming a chosen bond.
But it wasn’t. It was deeper. I felt a bond-my bond-being torn apart.”
Lucius’s brows furrowed slightly. “You’re saying you felt your mate bond sever?”
Michael’s throat worked as he swallowed hard. “Yes. I didn’t realize what it was at first. But now, I know. It was Elaine’s.”
The room fell into silence so complete that even the ticking of the old wall clock sounded deafening. Darius’s fingers curled into fists on the table, the muscle in his jaw twitching.
Lucius blinked slowly, his composure steady but his voice more deliberate. “You believe there is-or was-a bond between you and Elaine? But, Michael… I was under the impression that Kathy was your mate.”
Michael nodded weakly, his hands trembling slightly. “She is. Or rather, she became my chosen mate. But… a month before that, I found my fated mate.”
His voice cracked slightly.” It was Elaine.”
Darius stiffened. His wolf aura rippled faintly, restrained but threatening to surface.
Michael continued, his tone quiet but filled with remorse. “At that time, I had already chosen Kathy and she was already with pup.”
Lucius’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And you went through with it? You ignored the call of the Moon?”
Michael nodded slowly. “Yes. My father gave a direct alpha command. He ordered me and Kathy to proceed with the mating ceremony.”
The air seemed to shift. The revelation sat heavy between them like a curse.
Lucius leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying quiet judgment. “You mean to tell me that you found your fated mate and still chose to form a chosen bond with another? You do realize how rare-and dangerous-that is? Rejecting or suppressing a fated bond is not just frowned upon, Michael. It’s an affront to the Moon herself.”
Michael’s eyes darkened, shame clouding his features. “I know. I knew it even then. But I followed my father’s command.”
Lucius was silent for a long while, the weight of his disapproval evident in the crease of his brow. “So tell me,” he said finally, “why come forward now? After all these years?”
Michael’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke. “Because when Elaine and Alpha Darius came here yesterday… I felt it. The bond. It’s still there.
Weak, distant, but not gone. I thought it broke when I marked Kathy, but it’s still alive.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.