THE COUNCIL
1556 Words
The council chamber was already crowded when Harel entered.
The long hall had been built generations ago, when the Blackthorn Pack was still a small territory. Ancient portraits of former Alphas covered the walls, their stern expressions watching over the room.
At the center stood a massive circular table.
The ministers were already seated.
Damon Ravencroft occupied the chair directly opposite Harel.
Several senior warriors sat beside him, along with representatives of the royal family.
Harel walked to his seat.
Every conversation stopped.
He sat down.
“Let us begin,” Damon announced.
Harel remained silent.
He studied the people around the table.
Some looked nervous.
Others appeared completely relaxed.
But one thing immediately caught his attention.
A man he had never seen at a council meeting before was sitting beside Damon.
The stranger was dressed in the dark uniform of a royal official.
Harel looked at him.
“Who is he?”
Damon turned toward the man.
“This is Minister Victor Ashford. He has been appointed by the royal family to assist with matters concerning the transition of power.”
Harel's expression remained neutral.
“Why was I not informed?”
Victor smiled politely.
“Your coronation is approaching, Alpha. The royal family believes it is necessary to ensure that the transition is peaceful.”
Harel leaned back.
“My father ruled this pack for more than twenty years. Why was there never a need for such supervision before?”
Silence.
Damon answered.
“Your circumstances are different.”
“How?”
“You are young.”
Harel's eyes hardened.
“I may be young, Minister, but I am still the rightful Alpha.”
“Of course.”
Victor smiled again.
“No one is questioning your position.”
Harel studied him.
That was exactly what someone would say if they were planning to question it.
He turned his attention to the documents on the table.
“What is today's meeting about?”
Damon opened a folder.
“The coronation.”
Harel frowned.
“I thought the arrangements had already been made.”
“They have.”
“Then why am I here?”
Damon looked at him.
“There are certain conditions the royal family wants you to understand before you assume full authority.”
Harel's expression became colder.
“What conditions?”
Victor answered.
“The royal family expects the Blackthorn Pack to maintain all existing treaties and agreements.”
“Obviously.”
“You will also be required to retain certain ministers appointed during your father's reign.”
Harel immediately understood.
“Which ministers?”
Victor listed several names.
Damon was among them.
Harel said nothing.
He picked up a document.
“I will review every appointment after my coronation.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
“That may create unnecessary instability.”
“My responsibility is to the pack.”
“Your responsibility is also to the kingdom.”
Harel looked directly at him.
“I know.”
The room fell silent.
Then Damon changed the subject.
“Before we continue, there is another matter.”
He placed a document on the table.
“The royal physician has completed his final report concerning Alpha Dominic's death.”
Harel's fingers tightened.
“Let me see it.”
Damon hesitated.
Then he pushed the document across the table.
Harel opened it.
He read the first page.
Cause of death: natural complications following a prolonged illness.
His eyes moved to the next page.
No evidence of poisoning.
No evidence of physical assault.
No evidence of foul play.
Harel stared at the report.
Something didn't feel right.
His father had been sick.
But Dominic had been speaking clearly the night before his death.
He had even been strong enough to give instructions concerning the succession.
Harel looked at the physician's signature.
“Who examined my father?”
Damon answered.
“Dr. Rowan Hale.”
“The royal physician?”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
“He returned to the royal capital.”
Harel closed the report.
“I want him brought back.”
Damon frowned.
“Why?”
“I have questions.”
“That is unnecessary.”
Harel looked up.
“I wasn't asking for permission.”
The room became tense.
Damon slowly nodded.
“Of course, Alpha.”
Harel leaned back.
He glanced at the report again.
Then he noticed something.
The date.
The report had been signed two days after Dominic's death.
Harel frowned.
“Why was this report completed two days later?”
Damon looked at the document.
“The physician needed time to complete his assessment.”
“An assessment that lasted two days?”
“It was a complicated case.”
Harel said nothing.
He knew something was wrong.
He continued reading.
Then he noticed another detail.
The report stated that Dominic had been unconscious for several hours before his death.
But Harel knew that was false.
He had spoken to his father shortly before his death.
Dominic had been conscious.
He had been perfectly capable of communicating.
Harel looked around the table.
Someone had lied.
He closed the report.
“I have no further questions.”
Damon looked relieved.
The meeting continued for another hour.
But Harel barely listened.
He watched.
Victor avoided eye contact whenever Harel looked at him.
One of the warriors kept tapping his fingers against the table.
Another minister repeatedly glanced toward Damon.
And Damon himself seemed unusually careful with every word he spoke.
Harel noticed everything.
When the meeting finally ended, everyone began leaving.
Harel remained seated.
Damon approached him.
“Is something troubling you?”
“No.”
“You seemed distracted.”
“I was thinking.”
“About your father?”
Harel looked up.
“Why do you keep asking about him?”
Damon's expression changed.
“I was merely concerned.”
Harel stood.
“Concerned about me or about what I might discover?”
Damon froze.
For a moment, neither man spoke.
Then Damon smiled.
“You have your father's instincts.”
Harel's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
Damon walked toward the door.
“You'll understand eventually.”
He left.
Harel stood alone in the chamber.
The words echoed in his mind.
You'll understand eventually.
He gathered the documents and returned to his study.
Once inside, he locked the door.
He pulled out his father's letter.
Then he placed it beside the physician's report.
The contradiction was obvious.
His father had been conscious.
The official report claimed he had not been.
Someone had altered the truth.
But why?
Harel opened the drawer and removed the photograph Elias had given him.
He studied Damon.
Then Victor.
Then the black crescent symbol carved into the wall behind them.
Suddenly, something occurred to him.
The photograph had been taken three weeks before Dominic's death.
The report had been completed two days after his death.
The missing document was dated seven days before his death.
And someone had warned Harel to stop investigating.
Everything was happening too quickly.
Harel needed help.
But he could trust no one.
A soft knock came at the door.
Harel immediately hid the evidence.
“Who is it?”
A familiar voice answered.
“It's Mira.”
Harel opened the door.
Mira stepped inside.
She had known Harel since childhood and was one of the few people he trusted.
“You look terrible,” she said.
“I haven't slept.”
“Neither has half the castle.”
Harel smiled faintly.
“What do you want?”
“I heard about the council meeting.”
“And?”
“People are talking.”
“About what?”
“About the royal family.”
Harel's expression changed.
“What are they saying?”
Mira lowered her voice.
“They think the royal family is planning to place someone else on the throne.”
Harel stared at her.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
She paused.
“But there is more.”
“What?”
“Someone has been asking questions about you.”
Harel's face became serious.
“Who?”
Mira shook her head.
“I couldn't find out.”
Harel walked toward the window.
The castle grounds looked peaceful.
But he knew better.
Someone was moving pieces around him.
Someone wanted control of the Blackthorn Pack.
And his father's death was only the beginning.
Harel turned toward Mira.
“I need you to do something for me.”
“What?”
“Find out everything you can about Victor Ashford.”
Mira looked surprised.
“The royal minister?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Harel hesitated.
“Because I think he knows more about my father's death than he's admitting.”
Mira nodded.
“I'll try.”
“And Mira…”
She stopped at the door.
“Be careful.”
She smiled.
“When have I ever not been careful?”
Harel watched her leave.
Then he returned to his desk.
He looked at the physician's report one last time.
Something was hidden inside it.
He was certain.
And if he wanted the truth, he would have to uncover it before the people responsible realized how close he was.
Outside the study, a shadow moved silently past the door.
Someone had been listening.
And the moment the footsteps disappeared, a quiet voice whispered:
“He knows too much already.”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD