Chapter 88 The Alpha's Return

Chapter 88 The Alpha's Return
The second elder, Gabe, always eager to insert himself, raised his hand. "We're only expressing concern, Alpha. The Luna's been… quiet. Withdrawn. It's only natural for the pack to wonder what's going on."
I pinned him with a glare that made him shift uncomfortably in his seat. 
"Are we gathered here today to talk about the Luna's whereabouts," I said sharply, "or are you going to catch me up on what the hell's been going on in my absence?"
No one answered.

"And spare me the fake sympathy. You're all so concerned about the Luna now? Please. Half of you have spent the last year whispering behind her back, questioning her place beside me, undermining her every step." I continued, my voice lower now, but laced with anger. "Don't pretend you suddenly care."
Silence spread throughout the room. 
A few lowered their eyes. Some shifted and fidgeted in discomfort. 
"Now let's get to business," I said.

Tristan, husband to Rosetta, stood and came forward. He was something like the pack's communication strategist. 
"A formal request came through from Alpha Harold of the PaleMoon Pack two days ago. I would've gotten the information across to you in London, but I chose not to since I heard you would be returning soon."
The statement caught my attention. "What kind of request?"
"He wishes to temporarily place his daughter, Princess Athena, under the protection of this pack for the next three months."

The room immediately became filled with murmurs, but I remained still. 
"They're still waiting on your approval, of course."
I tilted my head. "And why didn't Alpha Harold reach out to me directly?"
"According to the letter, he's currently preoccupied with internal security threats," Tristan replied. "But he intends to speak with you personally as soon as he's able."
He raised a sealed envelope, which Garrett stepped down from the platform to retrieve and hand to me.

"The PaleMoon Pack has been experiencing attacks. Several well-planned incidents have occurred both near and within their borders. Alpha Harold believes these are the work of hired forces to destabilize the pack. There's reason to believe the princess is being watched, and may be a target."
I opened the letter and began reading as Tristan continued.
"The suspected orchestrator is an Alpha from another werewolf pack. One who sought to claim Athena as his mate, but was rejected by her and her family." 

He tucked his hands into his pockets. "Sending her here was deemed the safest option."
The letter was straight to the point, but formal, stamped with the PaleMoon crest.
"Her father also believes time spent here could be… educational. Strategic, even." Tristan finished. "The princess will observe your court, our warriors, our training systems, basically the structure and culture of a larger pack."
"Killing two birds with one stone. Safety and strategy." I muttered, folding the envelope. 
Tristan gave a small smile.

I waved the envelope lightly. "It says here she won't be arriving alone. Two personal guards and a lady's maid will accompany her. Her father will also be covering all expenses for the duration of her stay."
"Yes, Alpha."
"Tell them that won't be necessary," I said flatly. "She'll be under our care. No one insults me by offering money for something I would've done normally."
"Understood, Alpha."
"And let Harold know she's welcome anytime. She'll stay at my mansion, not on the general pack grounds."
"Yes, Alpha." He bowed before returning to his seat.

I exhaled. "Alright. What's next?"
The meeting carried on, but my mind wandered elsewhere. I couldn't stop thinking about how Lyla would react to the news. The moment she heard Athena would be staying with us, she'd probably burst with excitement.
She'd been scheming about how to set her up with Troy since the festival. And now, Athena was going to walk right into our lives.
Strangely, even I was looking forward to it... to helping my brooding right-hand man find love despite his dirty past. 

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I stood by the car, reading through a work report on my phone, after two long hours of listening to pack briefings, when the reason Lyla and I had chosen to act like we were separated showed up behind me. 
She'd been at the meeting, but stayed quiet all through. 
"Alpha Wrath," she purred. 
"Alice," I said flatly, looking up from my phone and turning to face her. 

A sultry expression clung to her face despite my uninterested own. 
"Seems like you're having Luna issues," she said, stepping closer.
"Was I not clear earlier, Alice? It's none of your business."
"Isn't it?" she smirked, faking innocence. "I am part of your pack, right? If our Luna's nowhere to be seen, don't I have the right to be concerned?"
Her voice was mocking. 
"Sod off, Alice" 

Her phone pinged with a notification, and she gracefully slid it out of her back pocket, glancing at it. Her smirk widened to an irritating length, and with a sly glint in her eyes, she turned the screen toward me.
"Oh, damn. I guess that confirms it," she whispered, as if not wanting anyone around to hear. "Looks like your Luna already moved on without you."
I snatched the phone from her and stared at it. The image showed Lyla seated at a diner table, across from the fucking rockstar we'd met in London.
Captioned beneath was a trashy headline:

"Trouble in Paradise? Famous rockstar Marvin Hall spotted cozying up with real estate mogul Zephyr Wrath's wife."

My blood boiled, but I said nothing.
Those fucking bloody paparazzi. 
I knew this wasn't planned and that it was just a coincidence. Marvin must've run into her, or the other way around. And deep down, I knew I had no reason to be jealous. Lyla was loyal.
Besides, situations like this actually worked in our favor by helping sell the illusion that we were truly apart— just like we'd intended—to provoke a reaction from the enemy, who was looking way too pleased. 

But fuck… my possessive instincts weren't so easily reasoned with.
She was mine, even if people had to believe otherwise.
I recognized the diner's interior. It was popular downtown, about a minute's drive from here. I could make my way there and beat the meddlesome twat to a pulp, but it would ruin things.
Besides, I was supposed to be here to watch Alice closely. So, instead of giving in to my instincts, I pushed the phone back into her hands, gritting my teeth.

"It's a bloody tabloid. They thrive on spreading misinformation."
"Oh, really?" she replied, cocking her head. "She looks pretty happy, though. Look how relaxed she is around him."
My eyes dropped to the photo again.
"I think this is a good thing," she continued. "Let her be with someone like her... a fellow human. Since you've refused to grant her the bite. And you…" Her voice dropped into something sultry, more suggestive, "You could be with someone of your own kind. Someone strong. Beautiful. Powerful…"

I cut in flatly, "...someone like you?"
Alice gave a mock curtsey. "If the crown fits."
I folded my arms and leaned back against my SUV, letting a dry chuckle escape. "Believe me, Alice. It doesn't."
Her smile shook, a deep blush appearing in her cheeks. "Your Luna hasn't been around. It's obvious there are problems, and she has clearly moved on. There's no shame in letting go."
I moved closer, lowering my head until I was eye to eye with her. "Is that right? And you'd enjoy that, wouldn't you?"