Hiding the Alpha's Twins

9~ Dilemma

Five years later...

~King~

Kristopher and I strode into the conference room, our presence casting an immediate hush over the gathered group. Seven pairs of eyes, belonging to four men and three women, all clad in business attire that spoke of power and resolve, turned towards us. Each face was etched with a seriousness that showed the gravity of the situation. I was well aware of the reason for this assembly, and I felt a simmering fury inside me, a tempest barely contained. It seemed like lately, everything only served to fuel my anger. The urge to lash out pulsed through me, but I knew better than to act on it. My knuckles still bore the scars and bandages of recent outbursts.

I took my place at the head of the grand oak table. Drawing a deep, steadying breath, I scanned the room, meeting the lowered gazes that avoided my own. The air was thick with unspoken words, waiting to burst forth.

The recent passing of my mother had left more than just a void in my heart; it had plunged Thornwood Enterprises into chaos. She had run one branch to the ground and had used company funds to host luxurious and extravagant parties, that now haunted us like extravagant ghosts. To make matters worse, she had been duped hundreds of millions by some offshore company. Somehow, we couldn't manage to recover, and everything was falling apart. I had reached out to business allies for support, but the responses were disheartening. Some proposed buying out the company, while others suggested a joint ownership arrangement that threatened my sovereignty.

I was a man who liked to rule my own world, being an Alpha and one who didn't like to share my leadership for any reason, I had refused to share ownership of a company my father worked so hard to build from scratch with any other Alpha. Selling Thornwood's only legacy was out of the question. I was confident that I could devise an extraordinary solution to rescue my company. After all, I am King Thornwood, I always have a solution, I had not just thought so hard. Kristopher settled into the seat beside me.

"We shall proceed," declared the eldest among the group, met with unanimous nods of agreement from the others.

"Has anyone devised a viable solution or a comprehensive plan?" I inquired, my voice carrying a rough undertone, my piercing gaze sweeping across the faces assembled around the table.

Clement, the elder statesman of the group, cleared his throat, drawing attention. "The most viable option still remains a partnership with Steel Corporations. We have a measure of trust in them, and considering your longstanding relationship with his daughter, we believe we can leverage this to our advantage."

My eyes narrowed at Clement's suggestion, but I maintained a stoic calm. I sensed that Clement was leading somewhere, and I decided to listen further. When Clement saw my silence as a cue to continue, he pressed on.

"I propose that you consider marrying Miss Regina Steel. Your fated mate has been absent for five years, with no signs of returning, and no prospect of a second chance mate, this could be a strategic move. I believe you and Miss Steel understand each other more because you've been together the longest. Marrying her would make owning the company easier. Moreover, Oliver Steel's time in this world is limited. By becoming the husband of his only heir, you not only gain control of his company but also ascend to the Alpha position of his entire pack. While it may seem like a desperate move now, it could pave the way for a more promising future."

Kristopher, ever the sceptic, interjected. "And what if the plan doesn't unfold as anticipated?"

"This isn't merely a plan, and not as devious as you might want to think, beta," Mrs. Johnson interjected, her tone firm yet measured. "It's a practical solution to our predicament, one that could benefit both parties."

I remained silent, contemplating the proposal laid out before me. The idea wasn't entirely new to me; it had fleetingly crossed my mind before, only to be dismissed amidst a whirlwind of emotions linked to Avery. The mere thought of her stirred a mix of longing and regret within me. Despite rejecting her, my heart ached for the connection we once shared, especially recalling the intimacy of that one unforgettable night. Its memory haunted me every night when I went to bed. I even thought about her when I slept with other women, and I had lost count of how many times I and Regina had quarrelled about me moaning out Avery's name when we were having s*x. I could not fathom how one night could alter my whole life. The truth was that I had never felt the way I felt that night with any other woman.

I had marked Avery as my own that night, only to reject her a few days later. Now, had I regretted that decision. The claim would have bound her to me, preventing her from straying into the arms of another man. That thought weighed heavily on me, mingling with feelings of regret and unresolved anger towards her for leaving so abruptly, vanishing without a trace. Now, I was faced with the daunting choice of still holding on to my desire to lay eyes on her again and take my revenge or saving my future and the future of all the people looking up to me for their daily meals.

"Alpha, decisions like these are filled with consequences at the end," Kristopher persisted now directing his gaze at me.

Kristopher had been my voice of reasoning and my oldest friend. Our friendship had been forged in the fires of childhood and we were now more like brothers. I also had other close men I trusted and worked closely with, but Kristopher was the closest. I acknowledged his warning with a brief glance. Yes, there would be consequences, but those consequences would come in the future. They were a bridge to be crossed in the future.

"This is the most straightforward solution," Mr. Clement said, his statement echoed by nods of agreement from the others.

I knew I had to save my company, Avery could wait, for all I knew, she might be long dead or had ended up with someone else. The image of Avery, possibly in the arms of another, ignited a fierce jealousy in me. But I had to face reality. I had a company to save, and a legacy to uphold. Now, everyone was quiet, their gazes fixed on me, waiting for my decision. I turned to Kristopher with an apologetic look.

"I don't believe I'm left with many choices," I conceded. But I knew it was sheer greed that was driving me to agree to this. I had always heard that those who become greedy lose everything, but Alpha Oliver had gone greedy and heartless first. He was my father's best friend before the man died. He could have just helped, instead of wanting to buy off my company at first and then wanting joint ownership when we had refused, even after all my father did for him when he was alive. "Inform Steel Corporation that we will comply. Arrange a meeting for Friday to discuss our terms. As for Regina, I'll propose to her tonight."

Alpha Oliver might see through my plans, but Regina is too blinded by her obsession with me to think about any possible danger. She was a spoilt princess and didn't care about the company or the pack. I was sure I was the right man to handle all of that for her. Regina was like my mother. If her father left the company in her hands, she would run it into the ground. If I get Regina to agree to marry me, her father will have no choice. His daughter was his weakness, and he would do anything for her. That was why I was going to propose to her tonight before we told her father about our agreement. Regina had waited so long to wear my ring after all; it was due time.

"That should be all," I said, rising to my feet. The others stood in unison, bowing respectfully. They remained in their deferential posture as I and Kristopexited the room.

~*~

I was just finishing signing some documents my assistant had left on my desk, my thoughts bouncing back and forth about the decision I had made. I had proposed to Regina last night, and tonight, I was supposed to finalise everything with her father. I sealed the last document, trying to reassure myself that everything would work out for the best.

A sudden rap on my office door made me jump a little. Before I had a chance to respond, the door swung open and Kristopher walked in, a tablet in his hands. He placed it in front of me, causing me to raise an eyebrow in confusion as I looked from him to the tablet and back again.

"This could be the solution we've been looking for, King," Kristopher said, tapping the article displayed on the tablet's screen.

I glanced at the article, which was about a company called Bells that I was completely unfamiliar with, then back at Kristopher, puzzled. "What's this about?"

"It's Bells Empire," Kristopher clarified.

"I see that, but why are you showing me this?" I asked, still not understanding.

"They're searching for partners here. This could be a far better option than co-owning Thornwood Enterprises with Alpha Oliver. I've done some digging, and Bells Empire is legit. This could be the alternative we need instead of selling or co-owning our company."

Intrigued, I took the tablet and started to read the article more carefully. It seemed almost too good to be true. Bells Empire, was in a distant pack, led by an Alpha who had recently passed away and was looking to expand. This might be the very opportunity we needed to avoid the deal with Alpha Oliver.

"Get in touch with Alpha Oliver immediately. Let him know we're backing out of the deal. Then, reach out to Bells Empire right away and express our interest."

"Yes, sir!" Kristopher responded, clearly excited by the turn of events.