Chapter 88
Ethan's POV
Marlus strode into my office, his expression grim but focused. He carried a file under one arm, and I could already feel the pending news pressing into the room like a storm cloud.
“Final preparations are in place,” he began without preamble, dropping the folder onto my desk. “Reinforcements are stationed around the Council grounds: our warriors are positioned at key entry points, and allied Pack members are on standby in the perimeter zones.”
I nodded, flipping open the folder. Inside were detailed maps of the Council chambers, marked with defensive placements and fallback positions. It was thorough, but then, Marlus was nothing if not meticulous.
“And the contingencies?” I asked, scanning the map.
“In motion,” Marlus replied. “If the Rogues make a move, we’ll funnel them toward the bottleneck near the south gates. That’s where our strongest fighters will be waiting. If Chloe tries something more covert…well, Kerrick’s been monitoring communications.”
As if summoned, Kerrick stepped into the room, his face a mask of tension. “There’s something you need to see,” he said, holding up a crumpled piece of paper.
I took it from him, unfolding it carefully. The handwriting was hurried, the words sharp and precise: “Ensure Olivia is publicly discredited during the vote. Target her weakness.”
My wolf stirred, a low growl rumbling in my chest. “Target her weakness?” I repeated, my voice cold and dangerous.
“Intercepted message,” Kerrick explained, crossing his arms. “One of Chloe’s Rogues was carrying it. We took it off him before he made it to the Council grounds.”
My grip tightened on the paper, the edges crumpling further. “They’re planning to attack Olivia’s credibility. What’s the plan?”
Kerrick hesitated, glancing at Marlus before answering. “We don’t have specifics yet, but given Chloe’s history, she’s likely dug up something she thinks will shake the Alphas’ trust in Olivia. Or worse, she’s just lying and it could be anything.”
I slammed the paper onto the desk, my wolf snarling at the thought of anyone targeting our Mate. “She’s desperate,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “She knows she can’t win on merit, so she’s trying to destroy Olivia instead.”
Marlus nodded grimly. “Desperate, yes. But if she can’t win through the Council, she’ll settle for chaos. This secondary plan could be her backup to disrupt the vote entirely.”
My jaw clenched as I stared at the map, my mind racing through possible scenarios. “Double the guards at the Council chambers,” I ordered. “And make sure Olivia has protection at all times. Don’t leave her side.”
Kerrick’s voice was calm but firm. “She’s strong, Alpha. You’ve seen it yourself. But you’re right, we need to be prepared for anything.”
I turned my gaze to Marlus. “Do we know if Olivia is aware of this?”
Marlus shook his head. “Not yet. She’s been focused on rallying support and preparing her case. But she needs to know.”
The thought of telling Olivia twisted something in my chest. She’d been through enough – her mother, the Rogue attacks, the Council politics. And now, this.
“I’ll tell her,” I said finally. “She should hear it from me.”
Marlus rested a hand on my shoulder. “She’s your Mate, Alpha. If anyone can handle this, it’s her.”
My wolf settled slightly at his words, but the tension in my body remained. “We’ll protect her,” I said, my voice firm. “And when this is over, Chloe will answer for every single one of her actions.”
As Kerrick and Marlus nodded and turned to leave, I glanced back down at the map, the intercepted message still crumpled beneath my hand.
Whatever Chloe had planned, it wouldn’t be enough. I would make damn sure of it.
The morning air was sharp and cool as I strode across the Pack House grounds, my wolf pacing restlessly just beneath the surface. Chloe’s note had backed me into a corner, and I wouldn’t let her lies about Olivia and me take root unchallenged.
Marlus caught up to me as I headed toward the garage where my car was waiting. “You’re really going to meet with them personally?” he asked, his tone skeptical but tinged with admiration.
I shot him a look. “If Chloe thinks she can sway them with lies, I’m going to make damn sure they hear the truth directly from me. They need to understand the stakes, and I’m not leaving anything to chance.”
He nodded, his jaw tight. “They’ll respect your directness but be careful. Some of these Alphas thrive on chaos. They’ll use anything they can to their advantage.”
“I know,” I said grimly. “But this isn’t just about me or the vote. It’s about protecting Olivia and our Packs. If they can’t see that, they have no business sitting on that Council.”
Marlus grinned faintly. “You sound like an Alpha ready to claim his place.”
I didn’t respond, but my wolf growled in agreement.
As I climbed into the car, the drive to the neutral meeting point felt both too fast and agonizingly slow. My wolf’s restlessness intensified with every mile, the urge to protect Olivia clawing at me.
Her scent lingered on my body and in my mind; It was a grounding force that steadied me.
The gathering was small and intentionally discreet. Kelvin had helped arrange the meeting, using his influence to bring the undecided Alphas together without raising suspicion.
When I arrived, they were already mingling about in the forest clearing, their expressions ranging from wary to outright hostile.
“Alpha Ethan,” one of the older Alphas, a grizzled man named Hawes, greeted me with a curt nod. “You’ve got a lot of people talking these days.”
“Then let’s make sure they’re talking about the truth,” I replied evenly, taking my place among them.
The chatter quieted, and I felt every gaze fixed on me. My wolf bristled under the scrutiny but remained focused.
“I’m not here to waste your time,” I began. “You’ve heard Chloe’s accusations. You’ve seen the shit she’s trying to stir. But what you haven’t seen is the proof of her Rogue alliances, her attempts to destabilize the Council, and her blatant disregard for the Packs she claims to protect.”
Hawes raised an eyebrow. “Big claims, Alpha. Got anything to back them up?”
I leaned forward, my voice steady but firm. “I do. My people intercepted communications tying Chloe directly to Rogues planning to attack during the Council meeting. She’s not trying to lead, she’s trying to overthrow.”
Murmurs rippled through the group, but I continued before they could build.
“This isn’t about me and my Mate. It’s about the Council’s future. Chloe wants to discredit us to position herself as the only viable option. If you let that happen, you hand power to someone who’s already proven she’ll put her ambition above the safety of every Pack here.”
One of the younger Alphas, not on the Council, named Anderson, folded his arms. “And you? What makes you so sure you’re any better?”
I met her gaze without flinching. “Because I’ve fought for my Pack. I’ve rebuilt what was taken from me. And I’ve done it without sacrificing the safety or trust of those who follow me.”
His expression softened slightly, but I wasn’t finished. “Olivia is my Mate. She’s proven her strength and leadership time and again. Together we’ve stood against every threat thrown our way. I’m asking you to see that for what it is: stability, strength, and a vision for the future.”
The group fell silent again, and this time, the tension felt different; less combative, more contemplative.
Kelvin, standing off to the side, spoke up. “Alpha Ethan is right. The Council needs leaders who can weather storms, not create them.”
I inclined my head toward Kelvin in thanks, my wolf settling slightly at the support. “I’m not asking for blind loyalty,” I said, addressing the Alphas. “I’m asking for you to stand with me against a threat that endangers all of us. The choice is yours.”
As I left the meeting, I didn’t feel any lighter, but my resolve was unshakable.
Whatever happened at the Council, I’d be ready. And I’d protect Olivia, even if it cost me the Alpha Council seat.
