One Love Five Alphas

CHAPTER 7: IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU

Five Years Ago.

Silas was Max's good friend, and he had always taken his side, but they made a pact to always put the pack before their personal interests. Now, he thinks his friend was putting his interest first before the pack.

"It doesn't matter how I know," Silas replied, his tone firm. "What matters is that your relationship with Eve is endangering the future of our pack. She's an omega, Max. She can't bear the next Alpha. The elders are worried, and so is Alpha Kegan."

Max's jaw clenched, his eyes blazing with defiance. "I don't care what they think, Silas. I love Eve. She's the one I want to be with, not Marie or anyone else."

Silas sighed, feeling the deep void between his loyalty to his friend and his duty to the pack.

"Max, listen to me. I understand how you feel, but the survival of the pack is at stake. The Midnight Pack is already the smallest. If we don't secure a strong alliance through your marriage to Marie, the other packs will continue to see us as weak. They'll attack us, and we won't be able to defend ourselves."

“So this is about Marie, right?” Alpha Max asked.

“Yes, and about our future. The risk is too much,” replied Silas.

Max shook his head, frustration evident in his voice. "You think I don't know the risks? But sacrificing my happiness, my love, for political convenience... it's not right, Silas. There has to be another way."

"Max," Silas pleaded, "it's not just about you. It's about everyone, every family, every child in our pack. We need strength and unity. Alpha Kegan has a plan, and you need to trust that he's doing what's best for all of us."

Max's eyes softened momentarily, but the resolve returned quickly. "I can't turn my back on Eve. I won't. She's already sacrificed so much because of me. I won't let her get hurt."

Silas felt a sharp pain of sympathy but knew he had to press on. "Max, please. If you defy the elders and Alpha Kegan, it won't just be your position as Alpha that's at risk, Eve will be in even more danger. The pack won't accept her, and the consequences could be severe."

Max's expression hardened. "Then I'll protect her myself. I'll find a way to keep her safe, to keep us together. I won't abandon her."

Silas saw the unwavering determination in Max's eyes and knew that nothing he said would change his friend's mind. He felt a deep sense of regret, knowing that this refusal would only lead to more conflict and pain.

"Max," he said softly, "I hope you understand the gravity of your decision. I don't want to see you or Eve get hurt. But if you continue down this path, it will only lead to more suffering for both of you."

Max nodded, his resolve unshaken. "I appreciate your concern, Silas. But my decision is made. Eve and I will face whatever comes together."

Silas left him with a heavy heart, knowing that the confrontation he had hoped to avoid was now inevitable. He had tried to persuade Max, but his friend's loyalty and love for Eve were too strong.

Silas sought out Eve. His friend was stubborn, but maybe Eve would be more reasonable. He knew there would be a risk of being hated by both of them, since he could not mention that Alpha Kegan instigated this motion.

“Hello, Eve,” Silas said, waving Eve down as she took down the herbs she went to get for her grandfather.

“Silas, how are you doing?

Silas took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Eve, I need to talk to you. It's important."

Eve nodded, gesturing for him to sit on one of the logs near her house. "What is it?"

Silas sat down, the warmth of the fire contrasting with the chill he felt inside. "Eve, I came to ask you to reconsider your relationship with Max. For the sake of the Midnight Pack."

Eve's eyes hardened, her jaw set in defiance. "Why should I? Max and I love each other. We belong together."

"I know you love each other," Silas said softly. "But this isn't just about the two of you. The pack is facing threats from all sides. We need strength and unity, and the only way to secure that is through Max's marriage to a greater house with power and royalty. It's the best way to ensure our survival."

Eve shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "You think I don't know the risks? I've faced them every day since I fell in love. But Max and I... we've sacrificed so much already. We deserve to be happy."

Silas felt some sort of sympathy but pressed on. "Eve, you know the pack won't accept you as Max's mate. You're an omega, and they believe you can't bear the next Alpha. The elders are resolute, and they made it clear that your presence is a threat to our future."

Eve's voice trembled with emotion. "I never asked for this, Silas. I just want to be with Max. We've already lost so much time."

Silas reached out, taking her hands in his. "Eve, please. I know this is painful, but if you truly love Max, you have to see the bigger picture. If you stay, it will only bring more danger to him and you. The pack's stability is at stake. If we don't secure this alliance, the other packs will attack us. We'll be overrun."

Eve's tears spilled over, her heart breaking with each word. "So, what am I supposed to do? Leave him? Abandon the only happiness I've ever known?"

Silas's voice was gentle but firm. "Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is the right thing. If you leave, you'll be giving Max the chance to fulfill his duty as Alpha, to protect the pack. And maybe, one day, things will be different. But for now, we need to think about the survival of everyone, not just our own desires."

Eve looked away, the weight of his words crushing her spirit. She knew deep down that he was right, that the future of the pack depended on decisions made not from love, but from necessity.

After a long silence, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can do it, Silas. But for Max, for the pack... I'll try. I'll leave."

Silas squeezed her hands, gratitude, and sorrow in his eyes. "Thank you, Eve. I promise we'll find a way to make things right in the future. But for now, your sacrifice means everything."

That same evening, Silas gathered his courage and addressed the council of elders. They sat in a semicircle, their weathered faces reflecting the weight of their collective wisdom and the gravity of the situation.

The room was dimly lit by flickering torches, casting a scary glow that highlighted the tension in the air.

"Elders," Silas began, his voice steady but urgent, "I come to you with a request. We must take action to ensure the survival and future of the Midnight Pack. Eve must be banished for the greater good. Alpha Max's relationship with her threatens our stability and alliances."

The elders exchanged wary glances, murmuring among themselves. Silas pressed on, explaining the dire need for Max to marry Marie and solidify their union with her powerful family.

He outlined Alpha Kegan's concerns and the imminent danger posed by the rival packs. Slowly, the elders began to nod in agreement, understanding the necessity of the harsh decision.

“How are you sure that Eve and Alpha Max are a thing and why is Alpha Max not here? He is our Alpha, not Alpha Kegan,” Elder Lorita asked not sure of what to make of Silas’s request.

“I do not want a biased opinion and that is why I did not inform him,” Silas said pleasingly, as if he were asking to be heard.

“I sensed something was wrong. You are overplaying your influence, and you accused our Alpha because of the desire of another, and you think it is a request?” Elder Lorita said. At this time it was obvious she was angry.

“Even Alpha Max had agreed to this when he became Alpha, nothing had changed except for his love for Eve,” Silas said, insisting that they hear reason. “You cannot downplay that we all know it would come to this.”

“So we should wait for our Alpha then, because you are not him,” Elder Lorita said.

Silas could not take it anymore. “Look around you, we are the smallest and every pack is looking for the opportunity to take us out.”

“ We have been defending our city for ages,” said one of the elders.

“And look at where it got us,” replied Silas. “Stronger Werewolves with no growth and no wealth, therefore no power to do anything.”

“Are you saying Alpha Max should banish the love of his life?” Elder Lorita asked.

“He will find another love,” replied Silas. “ We need to protect the future of the pack or die with it.”

“I won't support this until you summon Alpha and I hear from him,” Elder Lorita said. “ I do not want this to be a meeting where the Alpha of our pack will be slandered for loving another werewolf.