Chapter 193

Nathan

When I awoke the morning after the failed ceremony, Olivia was already gone, along with the stroller and the twins.

Her morning walks had become a ritual, a time for her to relax and enjoy the sunshine. I just hoped that today wouldn’t be any different, but considering how quickly gossip spread in this town, I was a bit worried that she would already be facing the cruel stares and whispers.

I was nursing a cup of coffee when I heard the telltale sounds of the mailman dropping our mail off in the box. Within a few minutes, a letter was in my hand. Without thinking, I opened it, my eyes widening upon reading its contents.

Dear Olivia,

I wish I were writing to you under happier circumstances. Our family is in deep pain. Ryan suffered a horrific car accident, and it’s uncertain whether or not he will pull through.

Given the gravity of our situation, and the uncertainty of Ryan’s fate, we urge you to contemplate our family’s future. It’s no secret that Elliot carries Ryan’s blood, and in the tragic eventuality that Ryan may not be with us much longer, he needs an heir.

Elliot must continue his line. I earnestly plead with you to consider granting guardianship of Elliot to us.

Should you refuse this agreement, I’m afraid that we will have to take more drastic actions to secure our pack’s lineage. Please understand that war is not a route that we would like to take, but if Ryan’s biological son is not taken to his rightful home, we will have no choice.

Please consider this a formal request. Failure to heed this request will result in drastic actions being taken, and I’m sure that none of us want that. Return Elliot to his father, and all can be avoided.

Yours sincerely,

Meredith

The letter wasn’t meant for me, and I shouldn’t have opened it. But in a way, I was glad I did.

Without a second thought, I was tugging my shoes on and running out the door with the letter in my hand. The Elders had to know about this. A threat of war? Over a baby? They had to know what to do.

…

Elder Mingan was already there, her piercing eyes observing my every move. The other Elders whispered among themselves, casting anxious glances in my direction as I burst unannounced into the Council chambers.

“Elder Mingan,” I said, my voice wavering slightly and betraying the turmoil within. “This letter arrived today. From Meredith, Ryan’s mother. She demands Elliot in exchange for peace.”

Mingan’s gaze didn’t waver as she took the letter, reading through it slowly, deliberately. When she finally looked up, her eyes held a sadness I had seldom seen before.

“This was to be expected,” she murmured, her voice laced with resignation.

My brows furrowed in confusion. “Expected? What do you mean?”

She sighed, her gaze drifting past me for a moment, as if she were gazing into the mists of time. “First, the Ancient Wolf’s unforeseen death on the day your twins were to be blessed. A terrible omen. And now, a pack demanding one of our own, under the shadow of war.”

“Surely this is just an empty threat,” I said. “I’ve met Ryan. He’s a sniveling, no-good little liar.”

“That may be true,” Mingan said, “but it’s no secret that his pack—the Redclaws—is a war pack. They have a history of violence. I assumed you knew that when you chose to get involved with Olivia.”

I swallowed, feeling as though the chambers were beginning to spin around me. The weight of the Elders’ gazes felt like a ton of bricks. “The Redclaws haven’t been violent in years,” I said. “Ryan showed no interest in Olivia’s children up until recently.”

“Recently?” Mingan asked, cocking her head. “You’re saying this is not the first time they’ve expressed interest?”

My throat felt dry as I thought back on the events of Olivia’s baby shower. Ryan had shown up out of nowhere, acting completely differently than he did when I first met him. When I met him that day outside of the restaurant, he seemed like nothing more than a spoiled little brat. But then, months later, he was showing up at Olivia’s baby shower with his chest puffed out, ready to fight.

“I have heard of this,” Elder Corbin, a gray-haired man with a stern gaze, chimed in. “There were whispers of what happened at Olivia’s baby shower. Ryan showed up, yes?”

I nodded. “I didn’t think much of it,” I admitted. “I guess… I guess I figured that he was just having some doubts, and wanted to make a scene. Prove that he was superior. But nothing more.”

“That’s the issue,” Corbin said, shaking his head disappointedly. “If you had been paying attention and doing your research as any Alpha should, you would know that Ryan’s father, Hendrick, died recently—making Ryan the Supreme Alpha of the Redclaws. Of course he needs an heir.”

“But this,” I said, pointing at the letter, “is no proof. We don’t know if he was really in an accident or not. Last I saw, he was fine.”

“Things change,” Mingan said in her cool and even-tempered voice, clearing her throat.

Suddenly, Elder Amara, who had been silent the entire time, spoke up. “It is true,” she chimed in. “I heard rumors that he was in a horrific car accident; actually, it seems as though the accident and Olivia’s baby shower fell on the same day. There is no coincidence there, surely.”

As the Elders spoke, I felt my blood begin to boil. “Why is it that all of you know this, and I, your Supreme Alpha, am left in the dark?” I growled.

Elder Mingan’s eyes flashed with a momentary betrayal of anger. “You were more preoccupied with Olivia,” she hissed. “You’ve been shirking your duties.”

“She just had twins!” I said, my voice rising. “It’s my duty to be by her side.”

Mingan waved a hand dismissively with a scoff. “It’s no matter,” she said. “It’s not too late to remedy your mistakes. Hand the boy over, and avoid needless violence. It’s simple.”

I felt a lump rise in my throat at the mention of this. The Elders wanted me to just hand Elliot—my son—over to Ryan at the drop of a hat? I wouldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it!

“That won’t happen,” I growled, snatching the letter away from Mingan. “There has to be another way. I won’t just hand Elliot over to Ryan over… over a baseless threat.”

“Then when the bodies begin to pile up, that can be your crowning glory, Alpha,” Corbin hissed, his gray eyes narrowing. “When your people begin to die for this cause, over an infant that doesn’t even carry your blood, you can tell them why you’re allowing such suffering.”

My eyes widened. “There won’t be—”

“Oh, but there will,” Amara interjected. “There will be bloodshed, during a time when our pack is recovering from the transgressions made by your father. You’ll be just like him.”

“How dare you,” I growled. “I am your Alpha. I’ve worked tirelessly to mend my father’s mistakes. How dare you compare me to him, Amara.”

Suddenly, Mingan cleared her throat, standing. “Enough!” Her voice boomed, causing all of us to stiffen. “You will hand the child over, Nathan,” she hissed. “If you don’t, there will be war.”