Chapter 101
(Raiden’s POV)
The council chamber falls into stunned silence as Mia's carefully maintained composure fractures.
"You're suggesting I had something to do with this?" she asks, her voice pitched higher than normal. Her fingers nervously adjust her silver pendant.
"I'm not suggesting anything," I reply evenly. "I'm simply curious about your meeting with Lord Karveth last month—the one you failed to mention in your official reports."
Her eyes widen slightly, a flicker of guilt and fear crossing her face.
"That—that was a personal matter," she stammers. "Family business only."
Elder Tomas leans forward. "Family business with a known conspirator against our territory?"
"I didn't know of his... other associations at the time," Mia insists, her usual elegant poise crumbling. "We're distant cousins. He sought me out regarding an inheritance dispute."
"Strange," I say softly, "considering Lord Karveth has no blood relation to your family line. We checked the genealogical records quite thoroughly."
Raiden's voice cuts through the tension. "Mia, we have signed testimonies from border guards who witnessed your meetings with three exiled pack members."
"This is absurd," she hisses, but her hand trembles as she reaches for her water goblet. "You're twisting innocent encounters into some kind of conspiracy."
"Then perhaps you can explain," I press, sliding a document across the table, "why your personal seal appears on correspondence authorizing weapons shipments to the southern territories?"
The color drains from her face.
"I never signed that," she whispers, but her eyes betray recognition.
"You didn't need to," Raiden says quietly. "The seal is enough. Your seal, your responsibility."
"You don't understand," Mia says, desperation creeping into her voice. I had no choice."
"There's always a choice," Elder Miriam declares, her ancient voice cutting like steel. "You chose to betray your pack rather than seek our protection."
Around the long oak table, council elders shift uncomfortably, sensing the tension thickening like smoke in the room. Mia’s eyes dart briefly toward the exits, panic quickly suppressed behind practiced coolness.
“Surely, Alpha,” she says carefully, voice tight but composed, “you don’t truly believe I would betray Windhowl or Silverfang!”
My eyes narrow subtly, and my midnight gaze is holding hers steadily. “I never said betrayal, Mia,” I reply gently, voice deceptively calm. “Merely concern about recent…alliances. Perhaps you’ve unknowingly been compromised.”
Her cheeks flush softly, her eyes flicker briefly downward, and her fingers tighten silently upon the table edge.“I’ve always been loyal to Windhowl,” she insists quietly, yet her voice lacks genuine conviction. “You must believe me.”
I watch her carefully, “Of course,” I finally reply gently, tone quietly dismissive yet subtly dangerous. “We will investigate fully. Loyalty will always be rewarded…just as betrayal carries consequences.”
She pales visibly, nodding mutely, clearly understanding the quiet threat beneath my diplomacy.
Rising smoothly, I quietly dismiss the council, warriors discreetly escorting Mia out.
"You're going to wear a path in the stone if you keep this up."
"I should be with her," I growl, not breaking my stride. My canines lengthen slightly with my agitation. "Not hiding behind these walls while her scent trail is out there for any enemy to track."
Horace sighs heavily. "You're the Alpha, Raiden. Your place is here, coordinating our pack's defense. That's how the hierarchy works."
"My place is wherever the threat is greatest!" I snap, whirling to face him, eyes flashing gold. "And we both know they're targeting her. I can feel it in my bones."
"Which is precisely why you’ve assigned our four best warriors to her detail," Horace counters. "They'll guard her with their lives."
I slam my fist against the wall, leaving a small crater in the stone. "It's not enough!”
"It has to be. What good does it do the pack if both their Alpha and… Luna are exposed to danger simultaneously? The pack bond would be traumatized if you both fell."
"This isn't about pack politics," I growl, my wolf instincts screaming fiercely to remain at Siena's side personally, protecting her directly rather than entrusting her safety to other wolves, no matter how loyal.
"Isn't it?" Horace challenges, stepping closer, unafraid of my dominance pheromones filling the space between us. "Everything you do is about the pack now. That's the burden you accepted when you took the Alpha mantle."
"I didn't accept leaving my mate vulnerable." The word slips out before I can stop it.
"Mate? Has the bond formed already?"
“It has not been severed, Horace, I will not let her go.”
Minutes later, beneath moonlight filtering gently through gauzy curtains, Siena sits quietly in my private office.
Her amber eyes are cautious yet calm, sensing my tension quietly. “Raiden,” she murmurs softly, her voice gently questioning. What's troubling you?”
"Three council members are compromised," I say quietly, spreading the documents across my desk. "Tomas, Keller, and possibly Laren."
Siena's brow furrows as she examines the evidence. "The trading manifests don't match the reported shipments."
"Exactly. Silver weapons moving through our territory, disguised as farming equipment."
"And the signatures?" she asks, tracing the familiar seal with her fingertip.
"Authentic. Tomas signed these himself," I confirm. "The conspiracy extends perilously deeper than we'd realized."
She listens intently, her posture betraying nothing, though I catch the subtle change in her scent—concern layered with determination.
"The northern packs must be involved," she says finally. "No one else would benefit from this level of infiltration."
I nod. "My thoughts exactly. But we need proof before making accusations against allied territories."
"Let me approach Keller," she suggests. "He trusts me. Thinks I'm naive."
"It's too dangerous," I object.
Surprise flickers gently across Siena's features, breath catching softly in her throat. My quiet honesty reveals clearly more than intended, emotions long suppressed rising swiftly to surface.
Quietly, courage gathers fiercely within my chest, vulnerability trembling dangerously beneath careful composure. “Siena,” I whisper roughly, heart pounding erratically, “there’s something else you deserve to know.”
She nods gently, waiting patiently, amber gaze quietly encouraging honesty despite uncertainty lingering between us. I breathe deeply, steeling myself carefully against lingering prideful fears.
“I've spent these past three years tracking your Italian projects,” I admit hoarsely, my voice raw with vulnerability. I support them anonymously, hoping someday you might allow me to apologize properly.”
Her eyes widen softly. “Raiden,” she murmurs softly, her voice trembling slightly. " Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Shame twists sharply inside my chest, breath catching roughly. “Fear,” I admit quietly, sincerity clear beneath painful honesty. “Fear of rejection, lingering pride—vulnerability felt dangerous.”
Suddenly, a sharp knocking softly interrupts, and a warrior swiftly enters with urgent intelligence. “Alpha, imminent attack confirmed. Scouts report enemy movements along the eastern border.”
My heart leaps sharply, protective instincts surging violently through veins.
Protocol demands delegation, yet fierce determination overrides swiftly, decision firm within a heartbeat.
“I'll personally guard Siena,” I declare firmly, warrior nodding swiftly in silent acceptance. Protocols be damned—her safety remains my highest priority, instincts refusing delegation when danger looms closest.
Respecting Siena’s fierce independence remains critical, yet growing certainty whispers quietly through my heart—I cannot imagine a future without her in it.
Quietly, she steps softly outside, her amber eyes gentle yet cautious beneath the moonlight’s soft glow. “Raiden,” she murmurs softly, her voice quietly questioning, sensing clearly my internal turmoil. Are you alright?”
My pulse quickens softly beneath a calm gaze, my heart stumbling gently. Quietly, carefully, I voice honesty, “Siena, respecting your independence remains crucial—but tonight, instincts demand I remain by your side.”
