Chapter 4
1683 Words
Ethan's POV
I sat on the soft leather sofa, holding an iPad in my hand.
The screen was playing the hottest video clip right now.
Olivia's voice filled the silent council chamber. Her tone sounded both relaxed and sharp.
"When someone is desperate to carry away two hundred pounds of useless deadweight garbage from your side, believe me, darling, all you will feel is relief."
In the video, she looked like a true Alpha.
She stood tall in front of the cameras, using a gentle yet cutting manner to mock the Alpha of Auris Pack.
Immediately afterward, a new report came from the news.
"According to Voss Astor, Alpha of Starveil Pack, starting today, he will officially step down as Alpha of Starveil Pack and transfer full inheritance rights of the Pack to his heir, Olivia Astor."
An Alpha aura filled with anger spread through the room in an instant.
I looked up.
Behind the heavy stone council table, Kael, once a dignified and imposing Alpha, now looked like an immovable ice sculpture.
A chill radiated from his entire body, almost cold enough to freeze the air.
"Kael, my brother."
I spoke carefully.
"Things shouldn't be this bad, right? You and Olivia..."
As if I had touched some taboo, Kael suddenly raised his head.
The color of his eyes gradually turned steel gray, and a storm seemed to be surging in their depths.
This was a sign that he was about to lose control.
I immediately shut my mouth.
It looked like I should find an excuse to leave.
Just then, the door suddenly opened.
A sweet, cloying Omega scent slipped into the council chamber.
Meg walked in.
She was wearing a pale pink custom-made dress, with a deliberate, saccharine fake smile on her face.
While touching her stomach, she walked toward Kael with a deliberately fragile gait, completely ignoring my existence.
I quietly watched her performance.
"Kael."
She walked up to Kael's council table and said softly, "The pup and I miss you."
She exaggeratedly rubbed her stomach, then added, "And Stacy wants to talk to Leonardo. When can they meet?"
I was so shocked my jaw almost dropped.
A pup?
Kael had actually gotten someone other than his own Luna pregnant?
And her wolf wanted to talk to Leonardo?
With Leonardo's fiery temper, it would probably tear this Omega who had driven away its mate into pieces.
She truly was fearless because she knew nothing.
I stood up, my heart full of panic.
"I should go."
"Wait."
Kael's sharp gaze swept over, and my movements immediately stopped.
But soon, he looked at Meg again.
There was no expression on his face, as if he were looking at a spreadsheet on a computer screen.
"You go back first."
Meg's smile disappeared.
She blinked, looking very confused.
"But, Kael."
She bit her lower lip, and tears quickly gathered in her eyes.
"I just got here. I thought we could have lunch together."
Kael only looked at her with an Alpha's gaze.
The temperature in that gaze was enough to freeze any wolf.
Meg forced down the grievance that was about to rise into her throat and quickly controlled her expression.
"Okay."
She said softly, "I'll be good and wait at home for you to come back for dinner."
After saying that, she turned and left.
The crisp sound of her high heels striking the floor echoed through the council chamber.
Before leaving, she looked back again.
But Kael had already lowered his head, focused on the documents on the table, without sparing her even half a glance.
The door clicked shut.
Only after the sweet, cloying scent in the room gradually faded did I slowly let out the breath I had been holding for a long time.
"All right."
I sat down again and said, "I have far too many questions now."
Kael still did not raise his head.
"You rejected Olivia for her."
I raised my hand and pointed toward the door.
"She's carrying your pup, but you treat her like she's a rogue wolf. Everyone outside says you've never gotten over your first-love Omega, but judging from how you're acting now, honestly, I don't see the slightest bit of favoritism toward her. And I'd bet Leonardo absolutely won't like that cheap perfume mixed into her scent."
Kael lifted his eyes and looked at me. "don't speculate about the thoughts of another Pack Alpha. Not even you, Ethan."
A chill instantly shot up my spine.
"Nothing." I quickly raised my hands in surrender. "Pretend I never asked."
I hurriedly changed the subject.
"I came today only to confirm the border supply passage alliance between our two Packs. Now all that's missing is the final authorization from the Alpha of Auris Pack."
I took the document out of my briefcase and pushed it across the table along with a pen.
"We already discussed the details online a few days ago."
But Kael did not pick up the pen.
He picked up the document, glanced at the cover, then tossed it back onto the desk.
"I can't sign it."
His gaze returned to the computer screen.
"You still need Starveil Pack's signature."
"What?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
"I've reviewed your materials."
He explained indifferently, "The entire supply chain is tied to Astor's territorial system. So this contract can't bypass Starveil Pack. You need to obtain the authorization mark of Starveil Pack's Alpha first, then come to me for final confirmation."
"But..."
"Get out." The coldness on his face deepened.
I could only gather up the documents and leave the main house of Auris Pack territory.
Among all werewolf Packs, every Pack's Alpha was the absolute authority and the core of the territorial power structure.
Among them, the Foster family of Auris Pack controlled the broadest territory and had an extremely far-reaching alliance network.
They could almost influence the life-and-death alliances and resource flows of multiple Packs through their own Pack's influence.
That was exactly why I could not argue with Kael too much.
Standing at the public junction on the edge of Auris Pack territory, I felt the sunlight fall on me.
Around me, wolves from various Packs came and went.
"Scott."
I called my wolf in my mind.
"Do wolves really change their hearts that easily? Especially toward their own mates."
A lazy voice sounded in my mind.
"No. We're loyal to death."
I understood then.
Kael did not care whether this project could move forward or not.
He only wanted to use me to get close to Olivia.
Because Olivia definitely would not see him again.
So he deliberately forced me to go to her, then use me to make contact with Olivia.
"Goddess above, he's unimaginably rotten."
I cursed under my breath.
Olivia's POV
The council hall of Astor Manor was located at the highest point of the main building.
It was open on all four sides, allowing one to see the entire Pack territory stretching all the way to the distant tree line.
Alpha Voss stood by the window with a relaxed expression, admiring the scenery outside.
"All of this is yours now, Olivia." He said.
I looked at the documents on the table that had already been signed.
Without the slightest hesitation, he had handed the Pack territory he had built with his own hands over to me.
His manner was so relaxed that it was as if he were giving me a supermarket coupon.
I reached out and brushed my fingers over the elder council chair, then asked, "Just like that?"
Giving up the Alpha position meant placing the entire lifeline of Starveil Pack in my hands.
It was no different from officially crowning me as the next Alpha.
"I've waited a long time for this day." He said, "This Pack is due for a younger, more driven Alpha."
He took a step back, his expression becoming solemn.
"I, Voss Astor, Alpha of Starveil Pack, pass my Alpha position to my heir, Olivia Astor. May she protect Starveil Pack as I once protected this place. Olivia, may your reign be long. May the Moon Goddess grant you a powerful mate and healthy pups."
Only after saying that did he add with a smile, "I want to take your mother somewhere else for a while. This plan has been delayed for too many years."
"What about the Council of Elders?" I crossed my arms and looked at him. "Are they willing to accept a rejected Luna as their Alpha? I've heard they think I'm emotionally unstable."
Dad put away his smile, walked up to me, and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Listen." He said seriously, "I have always firmly believed that you are fully capable of holding this position. Whether it is managing Starveil Pack or leading our entire wolf clan. The blood of Astor flows in your veins, and Astor blood never gives up. We don't deny our own abilities because of one or two mistakes. When I first became Alpha, everyone said I was too young, too hot-blooded, and not steady enough. But look at us now. Your grandfather would never have imagined that Starveil Pack would achieve what it has today. I am stepping down not because I think this is a burden. But because I have long been certain that you are ready. You will lead Starveil Pack toward a great future we can't even imagine."
I blinked. My father had just delivered an inspiring speech. And I needed to respond to his trust.
"I won't let you down." I said firmly, "That is my promise. A promise from an Alpha."
His expression relaxed a little, and a smile returned to his lips.
I saw Dad out through the manor's main entrance.
I watched his car pass through the forest at the territory border until it finally disappeared from view.
I was just about to turn around and go back inside.
But at that moment, a scent that was both familiar and unfamiliar suddenly put me on alert.
"Liv?" A voice came from behind me.
My steps paused.
I recognized that voice.
- Writer
