Chapter 30 ALLIES AND ENEMIES

Chapter 30 ALLIES AND ENEMIES
Joyce's POV

I had never seen so many alphas in one room. The tension made my skin crawl as I stood against the wall and watched them circle each other like predators.

Four neighbouring packs’  alphas who barely tolerated each other on good days. And Dalton had called them all here to accuse one of treason.

This was going to end badly.

"Thank you for coming on short notice." Dalton stood at the head of the conference table. His voice was calm, but I heard the harshness underneath. "We have a situation that affects all of us."

Alpha David from Crescent Falls leaned back in his chair. He was older than Dalton by twenty years and built like a mountain. "You said it was urgent. So talk."

Dalton nodded to Victoria. She placed a folder in front of each alpha.

"Two days ago, we captured a Hunter operative who claims to have information about an attack planned for Christmas Eve." Dalton's eyes swept the room. "He also claims one of our neighbouring packs has made a deal with the Hunters. An alliance in exchange for Pine Ridge territory."

The room exploded.

"That is absurd," Alpha Cynthia from Willowbrook said. She was small and fierce with silver hair. "No pack would ally with Hunters."

"Someone did." Victoria crossed her arms. "And we need to know who before Christmas Eve turns into a massacre."

Alpha David slammed his hand on the table. "You bring us here to accuse us of treason? On the word of a Hunter?"

"I bring you here because three hundred people will die if we do not stop this." Dalton's voice cut through the noise. "Including children. So yes, I am asking uncomfortable questions. And you are going to answer them."

I watched him command the room. Five years ago, he would have lost his temper by now, but this Dalton was different. 

He had grown into being alpha in ways I had not expected.

Alpha Thomas from Shadowmere sat at the far end of the table and said nothing. He was thin and pale with dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he had not slept in weeks.

"Open the folders," Dalton said.

The alphas obeyed. Inside was evidence that Victoria had compiled over the past six hours.

"Someone has been moving large money to untraceable accounts." Victoria pointed to the documents. "Someone also travelled three times in the past month to meet with unknown individuals."

"This proves nothing." Alpha David threw the folder down. "We all have business outside our territories."

"True, but how many of you were contacted by someone claiming to represent the Hunters?" Dalton looked at each alpha in turn. "How many of you were offered a deal?"

They all went silent.

Then Alpha Cynthia raised her hand slowly. "Somebody contacted me, too, four weeks ago. A man called my personal line and said he represented an organisation that wanted to eliminate Pine Ridge. He offered me territory and resources in exchange for my cooperation."

Every eye turned to her.

"What did you say?" Dalton asked quietly.

"I told him to go to hell and hung up. Then I reported it to the Regional Council." She met his gaze without flinching. "I have the documentation if you want to see it."

Dalton nodded. "Thank you for being honest."

"I was contacted, too." Alpha Claire from Riverside spoke up. She was young for an alpha and looked nervous. "Same offer. I also refused and reported it, but I did not keep documentation."

That left David and Thomas.

"I received no such call," David said. His tone was defensive. "And I resent the implication that I would ever work with Hunters."

All eyes shifted to Thomas. He sat perfectly still and stared at his hands.

"Thomas?" Dalton's voice was gentle. "Were you contacted?"

Thomas looked up. His eyes were red. "Yes."

The room went quiet.

"When?" Dalton asked.

"Six weeks ago. A man named Elias Cross called and said he worked for someone who could help me." Thomas's voice shook. "He knew things about my family."

"What did he offer you?" Victoria moved closer.

"My daughter back." Thomas's face crumpled. "Helen disappeared three months ago on her way home from college, with no trace." He looked at Dalton with desperate eyes. "Elias said they had her. Said if I helped them, they would return her alive, and if I refused, they would send me pieces."

My stomach turned. I thought about Megan, and about what I would do if someone took her.

"Why did you not come to us?" Dalton asked. "The Regional Council could have helped."

"Because they said they were watching. That if I told anyone, Helen would die immediately." Thomas stood slowly. "I have been stalling them for weeks. Giving them useless information and trying to figure out how to save her without betraying my pack or yours."

"What information did you give them?" Victoria's hand moved to her weapon.

"Patrol schedules and guard rotations. Nothing that would get anyone killed." Thomas backed toward the window. "But last week they said time was up. That I had to commit or they would kill Helen and come for my son next."

"Thomas, we can help you." Dalton took a step forward. "We can find your daughter, but you have to trust us."

"I wanted to trust you. I did." Thomas's eyes filled with tears. "I cannot watch my children die because I chose honour over their lives."

"No one is asking you to choose," I spoke without thinking. Everyone looked at me. "We are asking you to let us fight with you and help carry this so you do not have to do it alone."

Thomas looked at me for a long moment. Then he shook his head.

"I am sorry. But I made my choice." He met Dalton's eyes. "You are right. I was approached, and I accepted, but not for territory. Vane has my daughter. If I do not help him, she dies. So yes, I am your enemy. And I am sorry."

He shifted mid-sentence. Bones cracked. Fur rippled across his skin. His wolf form crashed through the window in an explosion.

Guards rushed forward, but he was already gone. Disappearing into the trees beyond the pack house.