Hybrid Luna to the Alpha

The Council I

Kieran’s POV

After breakfast, I left the packhouse with my beta, Xander, to review the day’s priorities and ongoing operations.

“The border guards are requesting additional supplies,” Xander began as we slid into the backseat of the SUV that would take us into town. “They’re also asking for shorter rotation hours. Apparently, many of them are eager to take time to mate and contribute to expanding the pack.”

I leaned back against the leather seat, my jaw tightening slightly. “Their needs are understandable, but we can’t afford to compromise border security. Not with the tensions rising near the Eastern ridge.”

Xander nodded. “Agreed. But their morale is dropping. If we don’t give them some kind of compromise, we might start losing capable wolves to exhaustion… or worse, as pawns to the enemy packs.”

I stayed quiet for a moment, watching the trees blur past the window.

“Draft a new rotation schedule,” I said finally. Rework the shifts to give them time off in turns. Also, arrange for a shipment of additional supplies—blankets, rations, and whatever else they’ve asked for within reason. If they’re risking their lives for the safety of the pack, they deserve to be treated well in the least.”

“Understood,” Xander replied, already typing a note into his tablet. “But there’s more.”

I turned to him, sensing the shift in his tone.

“Some of our guard wolves were attacked at the southern border last night,” Xander continued. “We suspect by rouges. Brutal ones. They were found just before dawn—barely conscious and torn up. They’re in the clinic now, but one of them might not make it through the day.”

My jaw clenched. “Why wasn’t I told the moment it happened?”

“You were still at the Blue Moon Pack, and besides you just landed this morning.”

A low growl rumbled in my chest. “We’ve gone too long without any attacks. I should’ve known something was coming. Did we capture any of the bastards?”

Xander shook his head. “They escaped into the woods before backup arrived. Not a single scent trail. It was clean…too clean.”

“If there wasn't a scent then it's either these rogues found a scent concealer or the Crest Pack is f*****g with me.” I seethed, feeling my body slowly shifting.

The only pack with the ability to conceal their scent was the Crest pack, if other packs wanted to conceal theirs, it would take a great amount of effort and resources, resources that rogues didn't have.

“They could also be Crest Pack's wolves gone rogue, I mean they did have that internal conflict not long ago.” Xander said, typing something into his tablet.

“Well then, get scouts on it now. Double the guards at the south border, and pull in anyone with tracking experience. I want a hint by the end of today, even if it’s just a broken branch or a drop of blood.”

“Already in motion,” he said. “Also, Kieran… one of the injured mentioned something before blacking out.”

I looked at him sharply. “What did he say?”

Xander hesitated. “He said, ‘She was there… but not one of them.’”

I frowned. “She?”

“We don’t know who he meant. Could’ve been a hallucination, but… I thought you should know.”

Xander cleared his throat, clearly hesitating. “There’s also one more thing… the council has called a meeting.”

I didn’t even look at him. “About the attacks?”

“No… about her—your mate”

That made me turn my head. My eyes narrowed. “They want to question her already?”

“She’s your mate, Kieran. You brought her back from the Blue Moon Pack. The elders want information—about her origins, her bloodline, her power, and what her presence means for the Nightbane Pack.”

I let out a humorless breath. “Of course they do. They’re always quick to jump when something doesn’t fit their idea of tradition.”

I exhaled through my nose, the pressure building behind my temples.

“When is it?”

“Tonight. Council chamber. They want you there… and they want to meet her.”

I stared ahead, they couldn't meet her not just yet, it was already disappointing to me to have been mated to a weak omega, I could imagine the faces of the council when they saw her.

“They'll get their meeting but she won't be present.”

Xander was silent for a moment. “You think that’s wise?”

“She’s not ready.” I clenched my jaw. “She wouldn’t last a minute in front of the council. They’d tear her apart just by looking at her.”

“Don’t you think she deserves to speak for herself?”

I shot him a glare. “What she deserves isn’t my concern right now. She’s barely pack. Just some beaten-down omega.”

Xander raised an eyebrow. “She’s still your mate.”

“Unfortunately.” The word slipped out before I could stop it, but I didn’t take it back. “I don’t know what the Moon Goddess was thinking, binding me to her. An Alpha doesn’t need deadweight clinging to his heels.”

“You sure you want to say that out loud?” Xander asked, tone sharp now. “Because the Goddess did choose her. Whether you like it or not.”

“And that’s the only reason she’s here,” I snapped. “Don’t mistake my duty for choice. I didn’t ask for her, and I sure as hell didn’t ask for the council to get involved in my personal affairs. She’s weak. They’ll see that and start questioning my leadership. We can’t afford that right now.”

Xander didn’t push. He never did when I got like this.

“I'll brief them before the meeting,” He said. “Tell them what little I know. Her background, her position in her old pack. Nothing more.”

“They don't need to know her position in her old pack, you saw the state we found her in, she'll be easy prey to them and god knows who.” I replied, tapping my fingers restlessly on my lap.

“She should have a beta to protect her, do you think she could bond with one?” Xander asked, his face twisting into a curious gaze.

“It's unlikely, beta's only bond to powerful wolves, in her case, she's barely a wolf. Assign someone to her for the time being, let them sign a confidential contract and act as her beta, it's bad enough that word is already going round within the pack house.”

“I'll have her join the trainings as well, also one more thing, about the councils, what if they ask why she’s not with you?”

“They’ll just assume she’s nervous.”

Xander gave a short nod, though I could sense his unease. “And if they demand to see her?”

I turned to the window again, watching the car stop in front of the pack's elementary school. “Then I’ll remind them that I lead this pack. Not them.”