Chapter 349

Olivia

I stared up at Edward, taken aback by his question. He still sat across from me, his elbows on my desk, his eyes twinkling with something that I couldn’t quite read.

“Sorry?” I asked, confused.

“Do you want to be Alpha?” he repeated.

I stared at him, still utterly baffled. Had I really given that impression? That I didn’t want to be Alpha anymore? “Is that what you think this is about? You think I don’t want to be Alpha?” I found myself asking.

Edward lifted a hand defensively. “No, no, that’s not what I meant. I’m just asking if you enjoy it. You’ve had a lot on your plate recently.”

“Of course I enjoy it,” I retorted, perhaps a bit too defensively. “Being Alpha isn’t just a title to me. It’s in my blood. It’s my calling, and I would never turn my back on this pack or this town.”

Edward’s eyes softened, and he nodded. “I didn’t mean to suggest you would. I was just curious. We’ve never had the pleasure of meeting in person; I want to understand what drives you.”

I took a deep breath, calming my racing heart. “It’s not just about being in charge. I have a duty to these people, to this place. And I love it here. I love it so much that I want to make it better for Aurora and Elliot. For Olivia. For our next child.”

Edward smiled warmly. “That’s what I hoped you would say. You’ve grown into an impressive leader, you know.”

“I… appreciate that,” I said. “But it’s not all rainbows and roses. Being Alpha carries its own burdens. Stress, responsibilities, threats. It’s been hard, especially lately.”

“You took care of the Redclaws, didn’t you?” Edward pointed out. “They attempted to attack the town, and you thwarted them. It’s been the talk of the year; a young Alpha taking down a warring pack like that.”

“Sure, that’s one problem down,” I acknowledged. “But we still have the witch to deal with. Remember I told you about her? Until she’s gone, I can never feel like my town—my pack—is safe.”

Edward leaned in, placing his hands on the table. “I already told you this, but I’ll say it again: if you want my help, Nathan, you’ve got it. In fact, I already have a plan in mind.”

My curiosity was piqued. “A plan? What is it?”

Edward leaned back, his face thoughtful. “Maybe we should wait until Olivia is around. She’s going to want to hear it, and she may actually play a crucial role.”

My eyebrows knitted together in hesitation. The thought of Olivia playing a large role in this gave me pause, but I trusted Edward. And if it was too dangerous, we could always say no. “All right. We can discuss it with Olivia then.”

Edward looked genuinely happy, and slapped his hand on the desk with a grin. “I’m glad to hear that. And Nathan, if you ever need guidance in other areas, don’t hesitate to ask. It would be my honor to assist you.”

I looked at him, really looked at him, and felt a mixture of trust and caution churn inside of me.

Could Edward serve as a good advisor? He was family, and he had experience. But he was also a mystery, a puzzle that neither Olivia nor I had fully solved. Would bringing him into the mix as an advisor be a wise decision?

“Thank you, Edward,” I said, choosing the vague route for now. “I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

Edward nodded, seemingly content with my answer.

My mind spun as I prepared for my next meeting of the day. I was grappling with so much already—trust, caution, duty, responsibility. Edward had given me a lot to think about. And as I walked out of the room, one thing was clear: decisions lay ahead, choices that could alter the course of my leadership and the safety of my family and pack.

Would Edward’s plan to stop the witch offer a solution to our problems? Could he become the advisor I needed? Or was I opening the door to a whole new set of challenges?

…

After wrapping up a series of meetings that seemed to stretch on forever, I found myself in the Council chamber with Mark, a former Alpha who had once served on the Council with my dad, Colin.

He had that puffed-up look today, like an overinflated balloon ready to burst.

“Nathan, I’ve been an Alpha long enough to know when I need more land for my family,” Mark said, his hands spread across the table. “I want to expand my territory.”

“Mark, you know as well as I do that we’ve been working on unifying the pack,” I countered. “The old system of mini-territories within our territory is outdated. We’re focusing on the pack as a whole now. I’ll see what I can do, but no promises. We need land for more housing, farms, businesses.”

Mark scoffed. “So what? You’re the dictator now? Deciding for everyone?”

I felt a fire ignite within me. “Don’t call me a dictator. If anyone was a dictator around here, it was my father, not me. I’m trying to create a unified pack, one that stands together. Isn’t that what we all want?”

Mark slammed his hand on the table. “A unified pack? I’ll bring this up at the next Council meeting with all of the other Alphas present. We’ll see how ‘unified’ everyone thinks we should be.”

“Okay,” I said, exasperated. “Bring it up. Let’s put it to a vote if that’s what you want.”

Mark glared at me, muttered something under his breath, and left the room. I sighed, my shoulders dropping as the tension oozed out of me. Being the Supreme Alpha was not for the faint of heart.

As I walked out of the chamber, I noticed Edward leaning against the wall, his eyes meeting mine.

“How much of that did you hear?” I asked.

“Most of it,” Edward replied.

I looked at him expectantly. “Well? Any advice?”

Edward seemed to consider the question for a moment, then finally spoke. “You’re on the right track, Nathan. If someone like Mark disagrees with your vision for a unified pack, he’s more than welcome to start his own pack.”

I frowned. “Isn’t that just going to create more tension, more division? The last thing we need is splinter packs breaking away. Especially ones with bad blood.”

Edward shook his head. “You can’t make everyone happy, Nathan. So, what’s better? Allowing people like Mark to bully you and dictate terms? Or creating a unified pack where everyone is on the same page, even if it ruffles a few feathers?”

I sighed, staring at the worn carpet beneath my feet. “You have a point. I can’t be a pushover. Not when it’s the future of the pack we’re talking about.”

“Exactly,” Edward said, stepping away from the wall. “You’re the Alpha for a reason. Lead, and let those who wish to follow, will follow. And those who don’t can make their own way.”

As I stood there, soaking in Edward’s words, it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t be the worst advisor. He had been through enough to know the weight of the crown, the responsibility it carried. And although I was still cautious, his advice resonated with me.

“I’ll think about it,” I said.

Edward smiled. “Good. Like I said earlier, I’m always here if you ever need any assistance… Alpha Nathan.”