Chapter 31: The Aftermath
1021 Words
Alpha Hassan’s POV
The atmosphere in my office was calm as we reviewed the latest reports.
Beta Zayad sat to my right with a folder open before him, while Gamma Thomas listened from across the desk. My son, Salman, stood near the window with his Beta, Zak.
“We should increase patrols along the eastern boundary,” Zayad said. “The rogue activity hasn’t completely disappeared.”
Thomas nodded. “I agree. We can rotate the warriors so the same teams aren’t carrying the burden.”
Salman pushed away from the window. “I can take one of the patrol groups.”
“You’ve only just returned from the last one.”
“I’m fine, Father.”
Zak glanced at him. “He is, unfortunately, incapable of admitting when he isn’t.”
Salman shot him a look, and I almost smiled.
Then a sudden pull against my mind stopped me.
Dad.
Daliha’s voice was urgent.
Daliha, what is it?
Something happened in the food hall.
My attention sharpened. What happened?
It was Amoura.
My stomach dropped. Is she hurt?
She’s unconscious, but Samir is with her.
Tell me what happened.
Daliha explained everything. Calie had confronted Amoura and continued provoking her until she brought up Amoura’s parents. Amoura had lost control, unleashing a power that shook the entire food hall.
Esmerelda had awakened, and the wolves had been forced to their knees beneath an Alpha aura unlike anything Daliha had ever experienced.
Calie was unconscious as well.
Where is Amoura now?
Samir carried her to her room.
And Calie?
They’re taking her to the pack hospital.
I ended the mind link and looked across the desk. Thomas had been watching me.
“What happened?”
I rose from my chair. “The meeting is over.”
Salman straightened. “Father?”
“Amoura is unconscious. Samir is with her.”
Thomas’s expression changed immediately. “Why?”
“Amoura and Calie got into an altercation in the food hall.”
He went still. “Calie?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“Calie confronted Amoura and pushed her too far. Amoura lost control of her power.”
Thomas’s hands curled into fists. “And Calie?”
“They’re taking her to the pack hospital.”
His face hardened. “My daughter?”
“She’s unconscious.”
Thomas shot to his feet. “What did Amoura do?”
“Her wrist was broken, and Amoura struck her before she lost consciousness.”
He stared at me, anger flashing across his face. “Amoura did this?”
“Yes.”
He turned toward the door. “I’m going to her.”
“Thomas, wait.”
He stopped. “She’s my daughter, Hassan.”
“I know.”
“She could have killed her.”
“But she didn’t.”
“That doesn’t mean I should be expected to ignore this.”
“You’re not. But we need to understand what happened before anyone makes a decision they can’t take back.”
His jaw tightened. “I want answers.”
“You’ll get them.”
Thomas gave a curt nod, though his anger remained. Salman and Zak followed us from the office.
The destruction in the food hall was visible long before we reached it. Tables had been shoved aside, chairs lay scattered across the floor, and deep cracks ran through the stone. Several warriors stood nearby, speaking in low voices.
Thomas surveyed the damage before his gaze settled on the corridor leading toward the pack house.
“Where is Amoura?”
“In her room.”
He started walking, and I followed.
“Thomas, don’t let your anger decide what happens next.”
He glanced back at me. “My daughter is in a hospital.”
“I know.”
“I need to speak to Amoura.”
I didn’t stop him, and neither did Salman or Zak.
When we reached Amoura’s room, I opened the door. Samir stood beside the bed, while Amoura lay unconscious beneath the blankets, her dark curls spread across the pillow.
Samir’s attention shifted toward us as Thomas stepped inside. Thomas looked at Amoura, then at Samir.
“My daughter is in the hospital.”
Samir’s jaw tightened. “I know.”
“Then you understand why I’m here.”
“Calie provoked her.”
Thomas’s expression hardened. “And Amoura still lost control.”
Samir didn’t answer.
Thomas moved closer to the bed. “She could have died.”
“She didn’t.”
Thomas’s eyes snapped toward him. “That isn’t the point.”
Samir remained beside Amoura. “She’s unconscious, Gamma Thomas. Whatever happened, this isn’t the time to turn it into another fight.”
Thomas gave a bitter laugh. “You’re protecting her.”
“She’s my mate.”
“And my daughter is the one lying in a hospital.”
The room fell silent.
I stepped forward. “Enough.”
Thomas looked toward me. “I want answers, Hassan.”
“You’ll have them, but not like this.”
His gaze returned to Samir. “My daughter was hurt because of what happened here.”
Samir held his stare. “Calie chose to keep provoking Amoura.”
Thomas stepped closer. “And Amoura chose to respond.”
His voice dropped. “You may be the next Alpha King, Samir, but that doesn’t give you the right to shield her from the consequences of what she did.”
Something changed in Samir. His shoulders squared, and Enzo surfaced behind his eyes. I felt the shift before I saw it.
The air grew heavy as a powerful presence rolled outward from him. Samir released his Alpha King aura, and the pressure struck the room like a physical force.
Thomas froze. Salman went rigid beside me, and even I felt the sheer weight of it.
Samir’s eyes locked onto Thomas. His voice was low.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
For the first time, Thomas hesitated.
Samir wasn’t simply Amoura’s mate. He was the next Alpha King, and he had made it clear that protecting his mate was not something he would apologise for.
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