Chapter 66 ~The Ultimatum~
(Xander's POV)
“NHL scouts reached out to me today. They said I had the potential to be a pro hockey player,” I began. “They said they would be watching me... in Northvale.”
If he heard me, he showed no sign that he did. He still wore the same expression.
How could he not understand that I could not leave here? My life was here.
“If you refuse, you might be on the road to losing your position as Alpha of Silvereign permanently.”
His words rang in my ears, startling me shut. Whatever protest I had in my mind went out the window. “What?”
“Exactly what you heard.” This time, he was staring directly at me. “Do you think being Alpha is easy? You have to lead, to fight for the welfare of the pack. You have to make decisions that contradict what you want, for the benefit of those you lead.”
I sucked in a deep breath.
“I fear I spoiled you and your brother.” This time, he was talking more to himself than to me.
I couldn't leave hockey. Leave Fiona. My friends...
“...so like I said, it's something I've pondered over, and the decision has been made. Within the next two full moons, you'll be on your way to the academy. I've spoken to the principal informing him beforehand of your arrival.”
“What would I even be doing there that I'm not doing in Northvale?” I quickly added. “That is, assuming I agreed to go there.”
“There's training, combat, and the history of our identity as werewolves. I went there, and my fathers before me. I thought you didn't need to, but apparently, there are some things that are unavoidable, and this is one of them.” He said.
How do I break this news to Fiona? How could I stay away from her?
“Can my mate come along... What are the criteria for attending this academy?”
“It's solely for the gifted. Alphas, hybrids, healers... so no, she can't go with you.”
The news broke me into a thousand pieces. I sank into the other chair there, suddenly weary.
Then, for the first time in a long time, my father placed his hand on my shoulder in a rare and affectionate moment.
“Trust me on this, son. This is our legacy.” He spoke with so much certainty. “There are still a lot of battles ahead of you as Alpha. It's best to be prepared for the future.”
I simply couldn't understand why and how this was necessary... but at this point, it was slowly becoming a certainty.
I looked up to see a figure that was all too familiar approaching us under the pine tree.
Calvin.
What was he doing here?
I could see I wasn't the only tense one. I could feel my father stiffening a bit.
Calvin had the stride of someone who had an important message to deliver. I stood up immediately as he approached us.
“Calvin, what's the matter? What are you doing here?” I asked, confused.
He curtseyed in greeting to my father and then faced me. “Alpha, can we have a word in private?”
In private? That was odd. I moved to follow him, but was stopped by my father.
His voice boomed. “Beta Calvin, if you have anything to say, you can say it here, to my hearing.”
We stopped in our tracks and turned back. Calvin looked a little hesitant, but I guess he knew he had no choice.
“Very well then,” he began. Our eyes met for a short while before they returned to my father. “We had an altercation with Alpha Beckett of Ashridge pack-"
Father cut him abruptly. “What... when?”
Shit! I just realised that he wasn't aware we snuck into Ashridge to save Fiona.
“W.. we broke into the Ashridge packhouse in an attempt to save Luna Fiona.”
“You did what?” My father looked alarmed and dumbfounded at the same time. He turned to me. “How could you be so reckless?”
I shrugged, not knowing what to say.
He shook his head in disappointment. I guess this was going to solidify his decision for me to go to werewolf academy.
Nevertheless, he turned to Calvin. “So what happened then?”
“We were able to escape unscathed, but it turns out it wasn't the same for Alpha Beckett. He was... severely wounded, according to the reports my spies brought back. But that's not the real problem...”
By this time, my attention was fully on him and so was my father's. We both stared at him in anticipation.
“... Beckett plans to seek revenge against Alpha Xander and Luna Fiona. And he has allies. One of which is the banished Gamma, Loki.”
What? How?
My father's eyebrows shot up. “Loki?”
Calvin nodded. “Yes. Apparently, Loki is now a member of the Ashridge pack. He's the new beta. It was said that Alpha Beckett found out that his Luna was having... intimate relations with his former Gamma, Horace. So he had her, the Gamma and her brother, Otto, who was the former beta, executed.”
He continued. “Presently, their heads hang on a stake at the entrance gates of Ashridge.”
I was just as dumbfounded as my father.
I sank into a chair in a flimsy attempt to absorb all the information I'd just been given.
There was a moment of silence in which neither of us said a word.
Finally, my father gritted his teeth quietly. “I should have killed that boy when I had the chance.”
I couldn't help but exclaim. “He's your son!”
“He's his mother's son.” My father boomed. “No son of mine is a brother killer. No son of mine is this diabolical. And as for Beckett of Ashridge, leave them both to me. I'll put a stop to this once and for all.”
What was happening?
Loki and Beckett were out to kill me and Fiona?
I would bet my life that now that his mate had betrayed him, the vermin would want to reclaim Fiona. I could bet he is now regretting rejecting her.
But one thing was sure, before he got to Fiona, he'd have me to contend with.
“I need to leave, father.” I stood up. I needed to tell Fiona all I have just learnt. As a heads-up.
He nodded simply. “Stay safe, son. And don't be weighed down by everything you just heard. Leave it all to me. Just prepare... for what we spoke about.”
Oh... that.
Calvin and I headed towards his truck parked at the far end of his private road.
“Just drive me to the hospital. I need to see Fiona.”
“I will, but before that, I think we need to go to Nightfang now.” Calvin turned to look at me, a look of dismay in his eyes.
The gods!
What was it this time around?
“Why?” I asked.
“It's Dakota... she's in Nightfang now.”
“Doing what?” What the hell would Dakota be doing in Nightfang?
“It's a long story... I think it'd be best you hear it from her mouth.”