Book 5: Chapter 50 – Clearing Cerelia’s Name

Book 5: Chapter 50 – Clearing Cerelia’s Name
Alexandrios’s POV 

I drove Leandros’s pickup truck to the packhouse. The sun was already up, and Zephyrus would hold a quick meeting before heading to work. I would address my mate’s issue in everyone’s presence. 

It wasn’t time to wallow in self-pity. I needed to pick myself up and act. I had to seek Alpha Alexios’s help in first clearing Cerelia’s name and then rescuing her. 

I wouldn’t sit back here and just try to mend my broken heart.

Parking the car, I alighted and strode towards the packhouse. Zephyrus hadn’t arrived yet, but Stavros’s car was parked a few feet away. Taking two steps at a time, I headed towards his room. Maybe Stavros would help me. 

I saw him in the lobby, talking to Michael, our Zeta. They turned to look at me, sensing my presence. “Hey, Alex! So nice to see you back!” said Michael, smacking my arm playfully. 

“When did you return? Is Cerelia fine?” asked Stavros. 

My shoulders drooped at the mention of her name. “I lost her, bro.” My voice trembled with grief. I couldn’t control it anymore. All my life I had looked up to Stavros as my older brother. He always had our backs. It seemed I was a young wolf again and my older brother was here to solve all my problems like he used to. 

“Lost her? What do you mean?” he asked as I tried hard to stop the tears threatening to fall from my eyes. 

“Her grandfather, Alpha Cassius Belmont of the Silvermane Warriors of Pieria, Greece, found out about Cerelia from Alpha Alexios. Cerelia’s father, a true silver wolf, had cut ties with his family years ago when he mated with an ordinary shifter wolf. So they had no idea about Cerelia’s existence before. Alpha Cassius summoned us. We were clueless about their motive and traveled to Greece. But Alpha Cassius separated us and threw me out of his mansion without Cerelia’s knowledge. He ordered his wolves to dump me in Pieria Canyon to die, but the cab driver saved my life and took me to Thessaloniki Airport instead. I had no option other than to return home without her.” 

Michael trembled with fury. “Why did he separate you from your mate? He can’t do that.” 

“His command is the law. The Silver Wolves are prohibited from mating outside their species. Alpha Cassius hates Shifter Wolves and would never accept me as Cerelia’s mate.” 

Stavros frowned, looking worried. “What do you want to do now?” 

“I want to rescue her from there. Maybe I’ll seek Alpha Alexios’s help with this.” 

Stavros didn’t share my enthusiasm, frowning instead in concern. “I don’t think that would be a wise thing to do. The Shifter Council respects individual pack rules. The Silver Wolves are elusive creatures with special abilities. Alpha Alexios will never go against the council rules and fight with Alpha Cassius.” 

I felt agitated by his reasoning. My heart didn’t want to pay heed to his advice. I couldn’t sit back and forget about my mate. “Then what do I do? I can’t forget Cerelia.” 

“Lie low for a few months. If you go against Alpha Cassius, he will take matters into his own hands. You don’t want him to harm Cerelia, do you?” Stavros looked so solemn; I knew this was serious. 

“No. But why would he harm his own granddaughter?” Stavros’s reasoning perplexed me. 

“Have you heard about honor killing?” 

Michael and I gasped with horror at what it implied. “He wouldn’t do that to Cerelia.” Panic settled in my heart. I knew the answer to that. Obviously, nothing was beyond Alpha Cassius. He could do anything to save his honor.

“Such orthodox wolves can go to any length to save their pack and uphold their rules. So, give this time, Alex. Don’t rush it. I’m sure Cerelia is safe there. Give her time to fight for you.” I gaped at Stavros, wanting to revolt against his advice. How could I wait for so long? I would go crazy.

“What if she doesn’t fight for me, bro?” My heart seemed to stop beating at the thought.  

Michael listened, nodding to agree with Stavros. “I think that’s the risk you need to take.” 

“Yes, Alex. That will prove her love for you. If she loves you, she’ll fight for you and come to Lucania for you.” 

Stavros’s advice made sense, although my heart didn’t want to accept it. Should I let go? Should I wait for my mate to prove her love? Maybe after I took a second opinion from Alpha Alexios. 

Zephyrus’s car stopped in the packhouse driveway and he alighted. “Let’s go to the conference room. The others are waiting there for us.” Stavros walked away, followed by Michael. I was in two minds about following them, but I had a mission at hand.

I had to talk to Zephyrus and clarify my mate’s name so that if she fought for me, she could live here freely. I wanted her to receive the respect she deserved. 

I strode towards the conference room just in time to see Zephyrus walk in after me. “Alex, when did you return? I’m so relieved to see you. Lena is due this week. I want you to follow her delivery up.” He hugged me, looking so stressed, I felt a little guilty for leaving my patients in a soup. 

“I just returned. Don’t worry about Lena’s delivery, bro. I’ll handle it.” He hugged me and patted my back, looking relieved. 

“Let’s get started with the meeting. Is everyone here?” he addressed Stavros. 

“Yes, Alpha.” 

I sat down beside Stavros, thinking about a way to bring the topic up without hurting my friends. They discussed the pressing matters of the pack while I sat quietly, listening to them. 

“That’s it for the day. Is there any other matter that needs our attention?” asked Zephyrus, shifting his focus to his laptop, to shut it down and leave. 

“There is Alpha. Doctor Alexandrios has lost his mate, and he is devastated. What advice should we give him?” said Stavros, introducing the topic unexpectedly. 

Zephyrus gaped at me for a second. Then his face shuttered, and he nodded. “Please explain what you mean by lost. If she has joined another pack, we can’t help you.” 

“No, she hasn’t joined another pack. As all of you are aware, Cerelia Belmont is a true Silver Wolf, the daughter of Alpha Cedrik Belmont of Silver Trails Pack, Yukon. They were originally from the Silvermane Warriors of Pieria, Greece, but Alpha Cedrik broke ties with his father, Alpha Cassius, and formed his own pack.” I paused and looked around at the jaw-dropped look on everyone’s faces. Most of them maybe didn’t know about my mate’s true identity.

“When the Red Wolves attacked them and destroyed the pack, Cerelia was forced to escape. Alpha Achlys, the leader of the Red Wolves, tried to frame her to get access to her and her family's wealth. Alpha Alexios helped us rescue her and the Red Wolves are no more. It all proves one important thing about my mate. She is not a spy. She is a special wolf with special capabilities. At eighteen, she’s a core member of the famed Stellar Genius Society that helps cybercrime all over the world.”

There was a pin-dropped silence all around the room. “That still doesn’t explain how you lost her, Alex.” 

I turned my attention to Zephyrus. “Yes, I was coming to that. On our return from Whitehorse, we received a call from Alpha Cassius, who had been hunting for his granddaughter for months. He invited us to Pieria Village, Greece. When we went there, he separated us without my mate’s knowledge and threw me out of the mansion, ordering his wolves to kill me. They defied him and dropped me off at Thessaloniki Airport instead. My life was saved. I came home, but my mate was still there amidst unknown people who were supposedly her family. How do I get her back?” 

“I see.” It was all Zephyrus said, but I wasn’t done yet. 

“Alpha Zephyrus, I want you to video call Alpha Alexios. He was the one who called Alpha Cassius to inform him about us. Alpha Alexios will validate my explanation if anyone is in doubt about Cerelia’s true identity.” I saw Zephyrus release a sigh. 

“That won’t be necessary.” 

“No, it is necessary. I’m tired of hearing the rumors about my mate. Wherever I go in Lucania, the pack members call my mate a spy because their Alpha thinks so. I want to clear her name, Alpha, once and for all. How can you believe the fake proof Alpha Achlys had furnished you with?” 

I reached out and started his video-conferencing application. Praying inwardly, I connected to Alpha Alexios and waited for him to accept my call. 

After trying for five long minutes, Alpha Alexios accepted the call finally. His face appeared on the screen and he greeted all of us. “So, to what do I owe this surprise call?” he chuckled. 

“Hello, Alpha! I want you to tell everyone here about Cerelia Belmont, my mate. Also, I want the Shifter Council to issue a written statement that my mate isn’t a spy. It will help her a lot.”

“Sure. I’ll forward it to you.” 

I listened to him narrate all about Cerelia’s courageous battle against the Red Wolves. Alpha Alexios repeated what I told Zephyrus, confirming the truth.

“So what do you think I should do, Alpha? Should I save my mate from her grandfather’s clutches? Will you help me?” I needed a second opinion badly. 

“I can’t go against the council rules and interfere with their pack rules. But I can find out if she’s tortured. If she is tortured, we’ll rescue her. I’ll get back to you soon.” I disconnected the call and turned to Zephyrus, feeling relieved. 

“So we all know your mate’s true identity. I’m sorry for everything she had to go through here. If she returns, I give you my word, she will get the respect she deserves,” said Zephyrus. 

I smiled. My mission was accomplished.