Chapter 120 ALPHA’S DILEMMA
Edeline
"William!" Conor snapped, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "We discussed this on the phone! You were supposed to keep Percival away from this young one until we figured out if Tatiana was going to keep the pup or not! I will not stand for my daughter being deceived... him marking his mate behind Tatiana’s back while she’s pregnant with his pup... that could harm the pup! If she loses her honor, no Alpha will accept her. I assure you, I will demand what is rightfully mine, whether it's land or females for my unmated males!" His voice was thunderous, each word slamming into me like a wave, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
In that silence, I heard a soft whimper from deep within my thoughts... My wolf was waking up, stretching after a long, long sleep. A smile tugged at my lips. She was back. I felt strong again. We were strong.
As Percival stood up, cutting off Alpha William mid-sentence, I moved around the room, feeling my wolf’s strength surging through me. Percival walked over and sat beside my dad, reaching out to hold my hand. His smile was wide and proud. My mom smiled too, but I couldn’t bring myself to return it. Her betrayal still gnawed at me. I was with my dad now—the one who had been betrayed by his own mate and best friend. The one who stayed loyal. I couldn't stand Alpha William for what he did. How could he betray his beta, his closest friend, like that?
I glanced at Percival again. He looked... bigger somehow, stronger.
"Dad, I’ve got this. He needs to know," Percival said, his voice firm and filled with a confidence that seemed to command the room. Alpha William looked annoyed by the interruption, but he allowed his son to speak.
"Conor, no offense, but your daughter totally trapped me." I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing, and Tatiana looked just as shocked, her eyes darting between Percival and Anita. Anita frowned, but Percival didn’t stop.
"We have reason to believe your daughter might not be biologically related to you," Percival continued, his voice steady. "And if she had waited for her mate—who may or may not have been an Alpha—this secret would have come out. It’s funny... I never noticed her going into heat until it was too late. That’s where I thought you came into the picture... but now, seeing you here, I’m starting to think this has more to do with Tatiana." He smirked at Anita, who shot him a deadly glare. Conor remained silent, his expression unreadable, though the tension in the air was palpable.
"Tatiana has been nothing but cruel, provoking Edeline’s wolf at every turn. But we’re soulmates, and we couldn’t stay away from each other. She knew there would be consequences, but she thought she’d be protected. However, our pack doesn’t agree with mating with a female who isn’t from our pack. They’ve been preparing to challenge me if I chose her. My wolf doesn’t want your daughter—he wants his pup. But we both know the chances of the pup surviving a mate bond, even a half-bond. Since Tatiana arrived, our oracle in training got poisoned from a tea meant for Edeline. We’re investigating because we think Tatiana might be involved, but it seems like we’ve all been played. If my pup is born, I’ll do right by it, but I won’t be with your daughter. I’m sorry, but I don’t like being manipulated."
Percival held Alpha Conor’s gaze, unwavering. He didn’t flinch, didn’t back down—just long enough to show respect without conceding to a threat.
Conor sank back into his seat with a frustrated sigh, his eyes shooting daggers at both his daughter and Anita. His gaze swept over the rest of us, taking in our reactions with a steely intensity. "I understand that you're looking for some reassurance. We'll arrange for an alpha blood test as soon as we can get a kit, which will be tomorrow. However, if my daughter passes, she should receive what is rightfully hers—specifically, Alpha William, land, and females, if your son won’t be with Tatiana. If you refuse, we might have to resort to war. The choice is yours. Regarding your claim that my daughter poisoned your oracle, do you have any proof?" His raised eyebrow and piercing gaze left no room for doubt about his seriousness.
"The investigation is ongoing. However, we do have evidence suggesting that your daughter was collaborating with my son, Darius. He was tasked with monitoring Percival and Edeline, gathering evidence that she later used to confront Edeline’s wolf and potentially have her confined in the cellar." Alpha William stood, challenging Conor to refute the involvement of his daughter.
I was stunned. How could they have evidence? Why weren’t they doing more to catch Anita? That wasn’t Tatiana causing trouble; it was Anita. What on earth were they up to? If there was evidence implicating Darius, then it all made sense. He had been the one behind the breakfast incident with my underwear. He had seen me with Percival and had likely been behind the letters that were supposedly from him.
The pieces fell into place. Those letters that never sounded like Percival. Percival himself had mentioned that I suggested he be with Tatiana.
A surge of intense anger erupted within me, a fiery torrent coursing through my veins. I wanted to confront Darius. I needed him to respond to my questions, no matter how much it irked me to be near him.
Why wasn’t more blame being placed on Anita? Why was she escaping scrutiny?
I wanted to confront Tatiana right then and there.
Conor said with a mischievous grin. "Without concrete evidence, neither of us can take action. I'll stay here until we can conduct the blood test. We’ll do it by tomorrow. Once you confirm that my daughter is who I claim she is, I’ll take her and Anita back with me. Her health is at risk here. While you may agree to the terms regarding land and females, if Edeline and Percival complete their bonding before the pup is born and she loses it as a result... well, William, I assure you there will be a war." Conor's anger was palpable as he stood up from the table, his frustration evident.