Chapter 71 The Alpha Council
Kael froze under Derek's cold, penetrating gaze. His heart pounded, knowing he was caught with no clear way to explain himself. The Alpha of the Moonstone Pack stepped closer, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
“What are you doing out here, Kael?” Derek’s voice was cold, and his posture screamed suspicion.
Kael straightened, forcing himself to meet Derek’s eyes. “I have something important to tell you,” he said carefully.
Derek’s brow arched, his expression unreadable. “Important enough to sneak in and out of my territory in the middle of the night?”
Kael exhaled sharply, knowing he had no time to dance around the truth. “I’ve been to Kevin’s hideout. I heard him talking about the plague…”
Derek’s eyes narrowed, his stance remaining defensive. “And why should I believe anything you say? You’ve been working with him.”
Kael felt the weight of those words. He couldn’t deny the truth, but there was more at stake now. “Because I know what he’s planning this time,” Kael replied, his tone resolute. “And I want to stop him.”
Derek took a step closer, his towering frame radiating authority. “Why the sudden change of heart?”
Kael hesitated. He could still hear Kevin’s mocking laughter echoing in his mind, the betrayal cutting deeper than any wound. “Because he played me,” Kael admitted, his voice low. “Kevin used me, fed me lies about you and your pack. I believed him, but now I know the truth. I heard everything tonight—his plans for the plague, his disdain for me, and the real reason I was banished.”
Derek’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of curiosity breaking through his icy demeanor. “What did you hear?”
Kael took a deep breath and recounted everything—the conversation about the new strain of the plague, Kevin’s alliance with corrupt elders, and the web of lies spun to manipulate him. With each word, Derek’s face grew darker, the fury simmering beneath his calm exterior becoming more evident.
When Kael finished, Derek stared at him for a long moment, his silence unnerving. Finally, he spoke, his voice sharp. “If what you’re saying is true, then Kevin has declared war on every pack, not just mine.”
Kael nodded. “I know. I’ve made mistakes. I believed his lies, and I turned my anger on the wrong people. But I’m here now, telling you the truth. He’s planning to unleash a new strain of the plague, worse than anything we’ve seen before. If we don’t act, it’ll destroy us all.” Kael said, his voice firm.
“I don’t expect trust. Kael admitted. But I know Kevin better than anyone. I can help you stay one step ahead of him. Use me or don’t, but if you want to protect your pack, you’ll need every advantage you can get.”
Derek’s jaw tightened as he considered Kael’s words.
He remained silent for a moment, then said, “The council isn’t going to take your word for it. They’ll see you as a traitor.”
Kael frowned. “Then don’t let it be just my word. Call the Alpha Council. Let them hear everything. If they don’t believe me, at least let them investigate Kevin themselves.”
Derek fixed Kael with a piercing gaze, his voice cold and unwavering. “I’ve been watching you, Kael—every move, every hesitation, every flicker of doubt when you thought no one was paying attention. This time, I know you’re telling the truth. That’s the only reason you’re not dead where you stand.”
Kael swallowed hard, the tension in his chest easing as relief flooded through him. Grateful to still have a chance to correct his mistakes. “I won't let you down. I swear it” Kael said firmly, his voice resolute and unwavering.
By mid-morning, the meeting hall was buzzing with tension. The Alpha Council—a mix of seasoned leaders and younger, ambitious Alphas—sat around the long table, their expressions ranging from irritation to worry. All Alphas were present except Alpha Kelvin.
“Derek, what’s the meaning of this? Summoning the council without notice? This had better be good,” Alpha Gideon rumbled, his voice filling the room. “You don’t just summon the council like this. Some of us have more important things to do.
Derek didn’t flinch at Gideon’s tone. “What’s more important than the survival of your pack?” he shot back, his voice calm but cutting.
Gideon leaned back, folding his massive arms across his chest. “You’re talking like the end of the world is coming. Is it?”
Derek stood at the head of the table, his presence commanding the room. He signaled to Kael.
Kael stepped forward, drawing the attention of the room. He felt their distrust like a physical weight, but he pushed on. “It will be the end of the world soon if Alpha Kevin isn’t stopped,” he said. “Kevin’s actions have crossed every line. He’s orchestrating the spread of a new strain of the plague, one designed to wipe out entire packs.”
A murmur of disbelief rippled through the room.
“What's he talking about Derek?” Alpha Seraphina, a sharp-eyed woman with an air of authority, asked.
“I got an Intel that Alpha Kevin was the one behind the plague. I didn't want to call the council without getting my facts right” Derek answered.
The murmurs started almost immediately.
“Do you have proof of these accusations?” Alpha Seraphina asked
“No,” Kael admitted. “But I overheard Kevin himself. He’s working with Dr. Hallard to create the new strain. They’ve already started spreading it. If we wait until there’s proof, it’ll be too late. And he plans to target the Moonstone pack first.”
Gideon scoffed. “And we’re supposed to take the word of a rogue alpha? The same rogue who obviously has been Kevin’s lapdog for months?”
Kael’s fists clenched, but he forced himself to remain calm. “I’ve made mistakes,” he admitted. “But I’ve also seen Kevin’s true colors. He’s manipulating everyone, playing us against each other. If we don’t act now, it won’t matter who’s right or wrong—there won’t be anyone left to fight for.”
The room fell silent, the gravity of Kael’s words sinking in.
Seraphina leaned forward, her piercing gaze fixed on Kael. “If what you’re saying is true, then this is bigger than any one pack. But how do we know you’re not leading us into a trap?”
Derek stepped in, his voice firm. “Because I trust him.”
The declaration hung in the air, shocking everyone, including Kael.
“I trust him because I’ve been watching him,” Derek said, his voice steady. I discreetly followed him to Kevin’s hideout last night. I heard enough to know he’s telling the truth.”
The room fell silent.
The council members exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, Seraphina spoke. “If we’re going to investigate Alpha Kevin, we need more than just words. We need evidence.”
Kael nodded. “Then let me get it. I’ll go back to Kevin, play along, and gather everything we need to prove his guilt.”
Gideon frowned. “And what if you fail?”
Kael’s expression hardened. “I wont.”
“That’s a dangerous gamble,” Alpha Jaxon said, his voice heavy with doubt. “If you’re wrong, this could turn into a war we can’t win.”
“And if we’re right?” Derek countered. “What happens when Kevin unleashes this plague? Do you think your pack will be safe, Jaxon? Any of you?”
Seraphina tapped her fingers on the table, her expression thoughtful. “If Kevin really has weaponized the plague, it changes everything. But we can’t just charge into his territory without proof. We need a plan.”
Gideon scoffed. “You’re talking like we have time to plan. If this is true, we should attack now, take Kevin out before he can make his move.”
“That’s reckless,” Seraphina snapped. “If we go in blind, we’ll play right into his hands.”
The argument spiraled into chaos, voices rising as the council splintered into factions. Some agreed with Gideon’s aggressive approach, while others sided with Seraphina’s caution.
Kael stepped forward, his voice cutting through the noise. “Listen to me!” he said. “This isn’t just about strategy or politics. Kevin doesn’t care about us or our packs. He’ll use this plague to wipe us out and take what’s left for himself. If we keep fighting each other, we’re doing his work for him.”
The room quieted, his words sinking in.
Derek stood up. “If Kael’s willing to risk his life to help us, we can at least investigate.”
Seraphina broke the silence. “Fine,” she said. “We’ll investigate. But we need more than just your word, Kael. If you’re going back to Kevin, you’ll need to bring us proof—something solid we can use to rally the packs.”
Kael nodded. “I’ll get it.”
Gideon grunted. “You’d better. Because if you’re playing us, I’ll personally see to it that you pay the price.”
Kael met his gaze without flinching. “I’m not playing anyone. I want Kevin gone as much as you do.”
Derek stood, his voice carrying authority. “Then it’s settled. We investigate, we gather evidence, and we prepare for war. Kevin’s time is running out.”
The council eventually agreed, though reluctantly. They would begin a covert investigation into Kevin’s actions, using Kael as their inside man. The decision marked the first step toward what would undoubtedly become a war unlike any they’d faced before.
As the meeting ended, Derek pulled Kael aside. “You’ve got one chance to prove yourself,” he said, his voice low. “Don’t make me regret this.”
Kael met his gaze, determination blazing in his eyes. “I won’t.”
As the council dispersed, Kael lingered near the hall’s entrance, his mind racing. He was walking a dangerous line, but he knew it was the only way to fix the mistakes of his past.
He wasn’t afraid. For the first time in a long time, Kael felt a sense of purpose.
Far away, Kevin sat in his hideout, oblivious to the storm brewing against him. But his smile faltered as a messenger, his spy in the moonstone pack arrived with urgent news.
“Alpha Kevin,” the messenger said, breathless. “The Moonstone pack is calling
for the Alpha Council.
Kevin’s eyes darkened, his expression twisted. They couldn't have found out my plans. He thought.