Chapter 30: A Divided Pack
1056 Words
Ryker’s POV
“You need to take action immediately and send her away.”
That was Councilman Gorr’s words, lacking empathy and sympathy. That was damn ruthless. I clenched my jaw, holding myself as I stared at everyone present, their eyes with venom, but one person was missing: Lucy.
She was supposed to attend the council meeting, but her fate had been determined; it would be wise for her to stay off for the main time.
“She’s from all angles a threat,” Gorr said steely. “How possible is it that a hybrid heir, the one from the Castellano Empire, is mated to the great Alpha of our pack? That’s definitely an indirect way of declaring war on every pureblood in this pack and beyond.”
“Are you forgetting that she's carrying my child,” I said calmly, though it took me a lot to stay calm, my wolf howling in rage to attack.
“That even made it worse!” his brother, Councilman Theron, cut in, almost snapping at me. “What an abomination that a hybrid pup would be the next in line to lead this great pack? When the news gets out, We’ll lose everything, including every form of support from the High Clans. You won't also go free, as you would be branded a traitor to the werewolf kingdom.”
“She’s never the enemy here,” I said. “She’s only here...”
“She’s human born; that alone changes everything. She didn't enter this pack the right way, she lied her way in and...”
“She never knew all of these!” I growled in anger, immediately making everyone silent. No one dared talk again, and they all sat down quietly, waiting for my next command.
Then, all of a sudden, approaching footsteps were heard nearby.
It was no other but Selene.
She was dressed in black leather; it took me a lot not to laugh at her choice of clothing, looking like a discount assassin. She walked towards me, not caring to greet the noblemen of the Council. And with a smirk, she said, "This is really very touching, Ryker. You have indeed fallen shamelessly for your little charity case, an abandoned project. Tell me, I would want to share in this truth how she made you throw away your inherited pride, the pride of many centuries? Did she force it on you, or was it after the unfortunate incidence of her glowing like a witch after a few hours of staying outside under the moonlight?
“Get out, this very moment, Selene,” I said through gritted teeth, almost hitting her.
She stepped rather forward instead of obeying me. “I’m still lawfully married to you before the council.”
“You’re my past, my ex-wife; she's my present.”
“Well, maybe you need to be taken on a new lecture about what real wolves look like,” she snapped at me. “Because the council never goes wrong in decision-making. Keeping Lucy hidden in here? It definitely brings nothing good but war."
“She won't leave this pack because of that, never going anywhere.”
“Then get ready to kiss your reign goodbye; it's as good as over,” Gorr cut in. “It's no more news that your brothers are ready to take the position from you. They have been looking for the opportunity to call you compromised.”
“My brothers should be ashamed of themselves, they are nothing but cowards who couldn’t even as much as lead a squirrel pack,” I spat angrily.
“Still,” Selene added with so much Venom, “they’re better off than you that didn't respect the custom of this pack but mated to a half-blood.”
“You are definitely missing something here; you can't just call her a half-blood,” I growled while defending Lucy. “She’s the known surviving heir of the Castellano empire. If I'm not mistaken, her bloodline is definitely older than most of you sitting here.”
“And in your defence, that alone is your definition of being dangerous!” Theron barked. “You’re finished, a blind alpha, Ryker. Please open your eyes and note that she’ll never be part of us. And right now, you should know that the Empire is keenly watching. If you disobey and bond with her, that implies your loyalty has shifted, making you one of them, not ours."
“I am the Alpha of ShadowFang, no one dares threaten me!” I snarled angrily. “I labored and built this very pack from ashes after its collapse years ago. I ensured I fought every battle that came to destroy the legacy of our past Alphas. And reaching now that I have made a name for us, my rewards would be to part ways with the woman who has my heart, the one carrying my heirs?"
"How rude and condescending of you all to label her a threat!”
She smirked mischievously. “Well… I can clearly see why you are more than willing to destroy everything you have labored for, not minding it being a whole pack just for her. In my view, that baby isn’t just a hybrid, as you claimed. There's nothing to it, but maybe it's leverage. A throne dangerously secured by blood.”
“That baby in her womb,” I snapped, “Belongs to me alone. And as a warning, if anybody of you ever harbors the thought of threatening Lucy again, I won't hesitate to rip off their throat before they get the chance to beg for their lives."
The room immediately went deadly still, like a graveyard.
Councilman Gorr sprang to his feet, slowly agitated. “Then, from all indications, you’ve really made your choice, nothing.”
“I have, with no doubt.”
“You would rather risk creating room for civil war than letting a threat to the pack go?”
“I would rather risk losing everything than blindly and foolishly choosing to betray the only real thing promising to me, the only thing I ever called mine."
Gorr stood speechless like a fool, and then he sighed. “That only means one thing: the pack will have to divide. And you will definitely lose everything you've worked for."
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