Alpha Varkon’s Human Antidote

7| IMPOSING…

VARKON

“I came as fast as I could.” I took a seat in the midst of the council elders.

I was lying.

I took my sweet time arguing with my little human mate before I came here, even when I’d gotten their invite two hours before the coffee trip at the cafe. Yes. It was truly her. My wolf had sung it in my head and fought me for minutes in my car on my way here.

He wanted to go back to her.

I caught Joe shaking his head at my lie. I didn’t care. Not for any of them.

The way I felt right now… it was the most alive I’d felt in years. I knew they were all looking at me weird because of the smile that had refused to leave my face. I didn’t bother to hide it away.

No harm in being a little jolly, is there?

“What’s the matter?” I waved my hand in the air in question when they weren’t saying anything. They exchanged glances.

Joe cleared his throat. “We needed to speak to you.”

He paused, and I didn’t know what he was waiting for, but I didn’t say another word. Joe went on,

“You have less than three months to live, Alpha. I’m sure you’re aware of that…”

Again, he paused. And again, I waited for him to go straight to the point.

“We need an heir. And we have the perfect candidate for you.”

Alaric walked into the meeting at the same time, apologizing for his lateness. He caught my light smirk from across the room, after which he folded his fist in front of his mouth and cleared his throat, focusing back on the meeting.

“A perfect candidate?”

Joe nodded. “The bloodline cannot die with you. If it does, we’d have to wait six months before we can reappoint a new leader. You know that. For someone to take over immediately, there must be a heir on standby. We have a Luna that can stand in the gap until your heir is grown, and ready to rule.”

I didn’t like where this was going. My jaw clenched, and I struggled to maintain my cool.

Around the grand oak table, the scent of five older wolves grew sour with tension and authority. Joe, the oldest elder in the pack, leaned forward. His dull silver eyes locked onto mine.

“Without wasting much time,” Joe continued, tapping his claws against the polished wood, “we’ve arranged a match with the SilverMoon pack’s high-ranking female. She’s pureblood, proven fertile, and her wolf is strong enough to bear an Alpha pup before your clock runs out.”

A low growl came from my chest before I could stop it. My wolf, who had been calm with the scent of the auburn-haired human girl still on my skin, snapped to full alert. He bared his fangs, fighting to tear through these old fools.

The sudden surge of my Alpha aura hit the room hard. The air grew formidably thick, making the weaker elders sink into their chairs and bow their heads in submission. Even Joe flinched, stiffening as the room filled with my rising fury.

“You’re asking me to knot a stranger and leave her as Luna over my pack,” I said, my voice dropping an octave, carrying the dangerous rumble of a beast on the edge of shifting. “Three months before my skin rots from this curse, and you want me playing stud.”

Alaric straightened near the door, looking between me and the council. He of all people knew how close my wolf was to losing control.

“It’s not a request, Varkon,” Elder Silas cut in, trying to sound brave despite the sweat on his forehead. “It’s pack law. An Alpha without an heir leaves the pack vulnerable to rogue attacks and takeover from neighboring packs. If your fated mate hasn't appeared by now—if she even exists—you have to secure the bloodline.”

I sneered, leaning back in my leather seat, though my knuckles turned white against the armrests. The sweet smell of my human was still in my nose, making the thought of any other female make me sick.

Joe watched me for another five seconds, then he nodded to the guard at the door. “Bring her in.”

My gaze sharpened at the entrance, my fingers drumming on the handles of my chair. The door finally opened, and a tall female stepped in, her teeth bared at us all. She was pretty, but it struck me as a kind of common beauty, the kind I saw on several women in the pack. Even her scent threw me off. Lilies. I didn’t realize how much I disliked lilies until today.

Nothing like the red haired woman that lived rent free in my head.

She had her chin raised high as she walked in, carrying a flair of confidence with the charisma. Alaric broke into a smile of his own, ever so easily impressed.

Her gaze locked on mine, and I saw her smile falter for a second. She fixed it quick, but I knew I had scared her for a moment. Good.

“This is Isla.” Joe introduced. “She’s a Veryas.”

Veryas. It clicked right away.

“Her father is Roman Veryas?” I asked, noting how identical they both looked now.

“Correct. He’s an elite. Like I said before, Isla is high-ranked. She deserves to carry your children.” Joe pressed.

“Hmm.” I muttered, dragging my attention back to Isla.

She smiled, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alpha. I can’t wait to be your perfect female, and carry all your children.”

I scoffed. “Get in line.”

That elicited gasps from half the people on the table.

Elder Silas muttered, “Alpha Varkon, please.”

“Please what? Did I lie? And what’s with the picking for me? What happened to throwing balls where I can pick my woman after a dance contest or something?”

“We have thrown twenty one of those balls!” Joe’s voice was a pitch higher. My nostrils flared.

He bowed his head immediately. “I’m sorry, alpha. I lost my temper.”

I thrummed my fingers on the chair to keep me from reacting. Then I turned to Elder Silas.

“And what if I’ve found my mate?”

The table fell silent.

“Uh… then I guess you can bring her here. She can take Isla’s place. But you know the rules. No humans. No low ranked females. Those kinds cannot breed your offsprings, Alpha. They will die.”

Isla spoke again, “Allow me to prove myself, Alpha Varkon. You will never need another female after me.”

“Is that so?” I tilted my head to the side in question.

“I swear it.”