Chapter 37 CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ALEX
The council chamber feels suffocating despite its size. Five pack elders sit in a semicircle before me, their expressions ranging from concerned to hostile. Marcus stands at my side, his jaw tight with tension.
"You cannot be serious, Alpha." Elder Thomas's voice cuts through the silence. "A blood-wolf? In our territory? Under your protection?"
I lean back in my chair, forcing my body to remain relaxed even though every instinct screams to show these old wolves exactly who's in charge. "I am completely serious."
"The historical precedent is clear." Elder Margaret shuffles through ancient texts spread before her. "Every Alpha who attempted to bond with a blood-wolf descended into madness. Violence. Paranoia. Complete loss of rational thought."
"I'm aware of the history."
"Then you understand what you're risking?" Elder Thomas stands, his hands planted on the table. "Not just your own sanity, but the safety of this entire pack. When the bond madness takes you—and it will take you—who will protect us from you?"
"I will protect you from myself if it comes to that." I meet each elder's gaze in turn. "But I don't believe it will."
"Belief isn't enough." Elder Margaret's voice is sharp. "We're talking about centuries of documented cases. Alphas far older and more experienced than you who couldn't withstand the bond's intensity. What makes you think you're special?"
"I don't think I'm special." I stand slowly, letting my power fill the room. "I think she is. And I refuse to condemn her for something she can't control."
"She's a blood-wolf," Elder Thomas spits the words like a curse. "She's dangerous by her very nature. Her presence here puts us all at risk."
My hands clench into fists. "Watch your next words carefully, Thomas. You're talking about my mate."
The temperature in the room drops. Marcus shifts beside me, ready to intervene if necessary.
"Your mate." Elder Margaret's eyes narrow. "So the bond has already begun manifesting. That's worse than we thought."
"The bond manifested the moment she entered my territory." I force myself to breathe. To think past the possessive rage building in my chest. "I've been managing it for weeks."
"Managing it?" Elder Thomas laughs bitterly. "You banished Victoria for touching the girl. You've isolated yourself in the east wing. You hunted her through the forest personally when she tried to escape. Those aren't the actions of someone in control, Alpha. Those are the early signs of bond madness."
The words hit too close. I know my behavior has been erratic. I know I've been more volatile, more possessive than usual. But that doesn't mean—
"The Northern Pack is hunting her." I change tactics. "If we turn her out, we're signing her death warrant. Is that what you want? To sacrifice an innocent wolf to save yourselves discomfort?"
"She's not innocent." Elder Margaret's voice is cold. "Blood-wolves are hunted for a reason. Their healing abilities make them valuable commodities. Every pack within five territories will want to claim her, use her, breed her. By keeping her here, you've painted a target on all our backs."
"Then we defend." My voice drops lower. "We've defended our territory against worse threats than rival packs wanting one wolf."
"Have we?" Elder Thomas moves closer. "Have we defended against an Alpha descending into madness from within? Because that's the real threat here, Stone. Not the Northern Pack. You."
The accusation hangs in the air. I can feel Marcus's tension, seeing the other elders shifting uncomfortably.
"I appreciate your concern." I force the words out. "But my decision is final. Alora stays. Under my protection. As my mate."
"Then we formally object." Elder Margaret stands. "Let it be recorded that the council advised against this action. That we warned you of the consequences."
"Noted." I turn toward the door. "Is there anything else?"
"Yes." Elder Thomas's voice stops me. "We want regular evaluations. Monthly assessments of your mental state. Any signs of bond madness, increased aggression, paranoia, violent outbursts, and we reserve the right to intervene."
I spin back around. "Intervene how?"
"By whatever means necessary." His eyes are hard. "We will not allow one Alpha's obsession to destroy this pack. Even if that Alpha is you."
The threat is clear. They're preparing to remove me if they deem me too far gone.
"Fine." The word comes out more growl than speech. "Monthly evaluations. But understand something, any action taken against her will be considered an act of war against me personally. And I don't wage war kindly."
I leave before anyone can respond, Marcus following close behind.
In the hallway, he finally speaks. "That went well."
"Don't." I run a hand through my hair. "Just don't."
"They're not entirely wrong, you know." His voice is careful. "Your behavior has been... intense lately."
"Intense?" I spin to face him. "I'm trying to protect my mate from everyone who wants to use or kill her. What exactly should my behavior look like?"
"More measured. Less volatile." He sighs. "Alex, I'm on your side. But you need to understand how this looks. The obsessive focus. The isolation. The violent reactions to perceived threats—"
"They aren't perceived threats. They're real." I start walking again, needing to move. "The Northern Pack is hunting her. The elders want her gone. Half the unmated males in this territory lose control around her scent—"
"Because you're broadcasting your claim so strongly they can't help but respond." Marcus grabs my arm, forcing me to stop. "Listen to yourself. You're proving their point."
I jerk away from his grip. "Whose side are you on?"
"Yours. Always yours." His expression is serious. "But that means being honest with you, even when it's hard. The bond is affecting you, Alex. More than you want to admit."
"So what?" The admission tears out of me. "So what if it is? What's the alternative? Send her away? Let her die alone because I'm too afraid of what might happen?"
"No one's saying that—"
"That's exactly what they're saying." I press my hands against the wall, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. "They want me to choose between my pack and my mate. Between duty and—" I can't finish the sentence.
"Love?" Marcus supplies quietly.
The word makes my chest tight. Is that what this is? This consuming need to protect her, claim her, keep her safe from everything? Or is it just the bond madness taking hold?
"I don't know," I admit. "I don't know what's real anymore and what's the bond influencing me."
"Then maybe the elders have a point about the evaluations."
I turn to look at him. "You think I'm going mad?"
"I think you're walking a very dangerous line." His voice is gentle. "And I think you need someone to pull you back if you start to fall."
"Will you?" The question comes out smaller than I intend. "If I start to lose myself, will you stop me?"
Marcus's expression hardens with resolve. "Yes. Even if it means going against you. Even if you hate me for it." He grips my shoulder. "That's what brothers do."
I nod, not trusting my voice.
"What does she say about all this?" he asks. "About the bond? The risks?"
"She's terrified." I start walking again, slower this time. "Convinced we're doomed to repeat history. That bonding with her will destroy me."
"Maybe she's right."
"Maybe she is." I stop at the window overlooking her wing. "But I'd rather burn with her than live without her. Is that madness? Probably. But it's my choice to make."
"And if that choice endangers the pack?"
The question hangs heavy between us. Because that's the real issue, isn't it? My responsibility to the pack versus my need for her.
"Then I'll do what I've always done." I meet his eyes. "Protect them both. Whatever it takes."
"Even if protecting them means different things?"
"It won't come to that."
"But if it does—"
"It won't." I cut him off. "I won't let it."
But even as I say the words, doubt creeps in. Because the elders are right about one thing, every Alpha before me failed. Every bond between Alpha and blood-wolf ended in tragedy.
What makes me think I'll be different?
Nothing.
Except the absolute certainty that losing her would destroy me faster than any bond madness could.
"The moon run is tonight," Marcus says quietly. "She's planning to reveal herself to the pack."
"I know."
"Is that wise? The unmated males—"
"Will control themselves or answer to me." My voice hardens. "She's done hiding. Done living in fear. And I'll kill anyone who gives her reason to regret that choice."
Marcus studies my face for a long moment. "See? That right there. That's what worries everyone. The casual threats of violence. The hair-trigger temper. The possessive—"
"I've always been possessive of what's mine."
"Not like this." He moves closer. "Alex, please. Just consider the possibility that the bond is influencing you more than you think. That maybe you need help managing it."
"I'm managing fine."
"Are you? Because from where I'm standing, you're one wrong look at her away from starting a war with your own pack."
The words hit like a slap. Is he right? Am I already too far gone to see it?
I think about the rage I feel when anyone threatens her. The way my wolf snarls at any male who looks at her too long. The violent fantasies I have about anyone who would hurt her.
Maybe I am losing it.
Or maybe I'm just finally letting myself feel something real after years of being the perfect, controlled Alpha.
"I need to check on her," I say instead of addressing his concerns.
"Alex—"
"I need to see her. Make sure she's okay." The compulsion is too strong to resist. "You understand?"
Marcus sighs. "That's the bond talking."
"So what if it is?" I start toward her wing. "She's alone in there. Probably terrified about tonight. I need—"
"Need? Or want?"
I stop, the question cutting deeper than it should. Because he's right to ask. How much of this desperate need to be near her is real, and how much is the bond pulling my strings?
"Does it matter?" I ask quietly.
"Yes. Because if you can't tell the difference between your own feelings and the bond's influence, then you're already further gone than any of us thought."
The words settle over me like a weight. He's not wrong. I can't distinguish anymore where I end and the bond begins. Every thought, every feeling, every action—all of it tangled up with this overwhelming need for her.
"I'm going to see her," I say finally. "You can either support me or stand aside. But you won't stop me."
Marcus doesn't move. "I'm not trying to stop you. I'm trying to save you."
"Then trust that I know what I'm doing."
"Do you?" His eyes search mine. "Do you really? Because I'm not sure you do anymore."
I don't answer. Can't answer. Because deep down, I'm not sure either.
But I keep walking toward her anyway.
Because bond madness or not, she's mine.
And I chose her.
Every time.
No matter the cost.
Even if it destroys me.
Even if it destroys everything.