THE ALPHA WHO DIDN'T BELIEVE IN MATES

Chapter 5

The council chamber in Cathridge was a grand hall made of cold marble and glass, designed to make everyone inside feel small. But as Conrad walked towards the shiny dark glass platform, his commanding presence matched the intensity of the storm outside, causing chills to run through the sturdy windows.

High above, hidden behind intricate ventilation doors, Phiona lay on her stomach. A tablet lay in front of her, casting a soft blue light that shimmered in her amber eyes as she dived into the depths of the building's mainframe. Skillfully, she maneuvered through her bypass codes, breaching the Council's supposedly "impenetrable" firewalls, moving forward with determination like corrosive acid.

"I've spotted them," Phiona murmured over the communication channel. "There are six elders in the room, each with a hidden encrypted tablet on the table. This isn't just a casual meeting, Conrad. They're exchanging information. It seems like someone is currently attempting to expose your whereabouts to the Moonlight Pack."

Conrad stayed quiet, unable to respond without attracting notice, though his jaw tightened in reaction.

"Hey Alpha Conrad," Elder Ragnar began, his voice weak yet resolute. As the oldest member of the pack, he held strong to tradition, believing wolves should stay in caves. "The plant has been completely destroyed. Rumors are spreading that you have taken in a rogue - a female - at the sanctum. They're dubbing her a 'Lonewolf' with a hint of fate in her aura."

"She's a key player in the Moonlight Pack's development," Conrad announced with conviction. "It's my duty to ensure her safety."

"Is it about protection or obsession?" Ragnar challenged. "This bond has a hold on you. A mated alpha is a distracted alpha, and a distracted alpha is a vulnerable one. Maybe it's time we talk about reuniting with your true matches—those who were destined to stand by your side, like Lily."

As soon as Conrad caught wind of the name, his attitude shifted from hostility to unease. High above in the rafters, Phiona was unexpectedly overwhelmed by a sharp wave of jealousy. Lily. The very name that was mentioned in the encrypted files.

Conrad's voice had a sharp edge to it as he declared, "Lily is no longer with us in our group."

Ragnar smirked while talking to Conrad, saying, "She has allies with technology that exceeds even your most daring imaginations."

"Conrad, I'm in," interrupted Phiona's voice, breaking through his anger. "Ragnar's tablet just sent out a burst. He's the mole. He's the one who leaked the plant's coordinates!"

Conrad flashed Ragnar a sly grin, looking mischievous. "So, Marek, talking about weaknesses, huh? Let's dig into yours. What's the deal with those two million credits that showed up in your account right before the plant got hit, just three hours before?"

The room fell quiet as Ragnar's face paled like parchment. "That's... that's pack business!"

"Phiona," Conrad whispered, making sure she could hear him. "Let's bring it up on the main screens."

"Sure thing," Phiona whispered as she ran her finger over the tablet screen. Suddenly, the large screens behind the council members started displaying Ragnar’s private messages. The red highlights drew attention to the blueprints of the stronghold’s ventilation system.

"He's trying to set me up!" Ragnar shouted, casting a desperate glance at the other elders.

"Ragnar," Conraf whispered softly, a touch of fear in his voice. "You called her a weakness, but she was the one who found you. If she's seen as my weakness, then Cathridge could use more people like her."

Ragnar didn't hesitate for a moment, fully aware of the laws. Without delay, he leaped over the table, his body undergoing a swift transformation in mid-air. As his clothes ripped apart, a large, gray-furred wolf manifested, its sharp jaws aimed at Conrad's throat.

Conrad bravely faced the wolf without backing down. With determination, he grabbed the creature by its neck fur and forcefully slammed it onto the marble floor, asserting his strong alpha dominance as the stone cracked under the impact.

"Take him down to the dungeon," Conrad instructed the guards.

While Ragnar was being escorted away by the guards, Phiona frantically began packing her gear, her heart pounding in her chest. All of a sudden, her tablet started vibrating vigorously, showing a flashing red warning on the screen.

[SYSTEM ALERT: UNAUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES DETECTED]

"Conrad!" Phiona whispered urgently. "Ragnar was a Trojan horse! He didn't just leak information. He opened the back door. The Moonlight Pack... they've breached the perimeter already!"

The room was engulfed in darkness as the lights flickered and slowly dimmed. Suddenly, intense emergency red lights illuminated, casting a crimson glow that filled the space. From deep within the mountain, the deafening explosion muffled the distant thunder's roar.

"Phiona, come on down!" Conrad shouted from below.

"I can't!" Phiona shouted, her fingers typing frantically on the keyboard. "They’ve locked the hatches! Conrad, they're not after the pack. They're here for me!"

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from above, drawing Phiona's gaze upwards. She witnessed a team of men clad in advanced light-bending suits, known as the "Annihilators" of the Moonlight Pack, expertly cutting through the roof.

Without skipping a beat, Conrad followed his gut and sprang into action. He moved fast, spotting a big wolf with sleek black fur bounding up the marble pillars. The beast's sharp claws held onto the stone tightly as it closed in on the woman, whom Conrad was sure was more than just a simple "Lonewolf"