Chapter 43 43
Zane
“Alpha,” Tiana’s voice rang out. “It’s not okay to say ridiculous things like that.”
“Ridiculous,” I repeated. “Is it?”
Her jaw tightened, but I noticed the way her hands trembled slightly at her sides. “Yes. You’re trying to twist something that doesn’t exist into—”
“Into what?” I stepped closer. “Into evidence that you’re hiding something from me?”
“I’m not hiding anything.”
“Then answer the question.” My voice dropped lower. “Do you have any feelings for my nephew, Kaius?”
“No.” The word came out too fast, and she immediately looked away, fixing her gaze on the floor.
There it was.
“You can’t even look at me when you say it.”
Her eyes snapped back to mine, but there was fear behind the defiance now. “Because you’re…” She stopped, swallowing hard. “Because this isn’t fair. You’re asking me things that don’t make sense.”
“Don’t they?”
“No.” Her voice wavered. “Kaius has been kind to me. That’s all. I don’t understand why that bothers you so much when you—” She cut herself off.
“When I what?”
She pressed her lips together, shaking her head. “Nothing. Forget it.”
“Tiana.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Her hands curled into fists at her side. “You want me to convince him to get married. Fine. I understand. But don’t, please…” Her voice cracked slightly. “Don’t accuse me of things that aren’t true just because I do not want to.”
The exhaustion in her voice cut through my anger.
I saw it then. The shadows under her eyes. The way she held herself like she was barely staying upright.
My chest twisted uncomfortably.
“Tiana—”
“Alpha.” Beta Ezra’s voice came. “My apologies for the interruption, but the council is waiting. They’ve been in the hall for twenty minutes.”
I didn’t move immediately. Just stood there, contemplating between the meeting I couldn’t miss and my mate in front of me whom I had pushed a bit too far.
Tiana took the opportunity to step back, putting distance between us.
“Go,” she said quietly, not meeting my eyes. “They’re waiting for you.”
“This conversation isn’t finished.”
“Yes, it is.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I’ve told you everything I can tell you. If that’s not enough…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “Just go, Alpha.”
The formality of the title felt like a slap.
I wanted to say something—what, I didn’t know. But Ezra cleared his throat pointedly, and I forced myself to turn away.
When I glanced back over my shoulder, Tiana was already walking in the opposite direction, her shoulders drawn in like she was trying to make herself smaller.
The uncomfortable feeling in my chest spread at the sight of it.
Stepping into the hall, the council chambers felt more oppressive than usual.
It had dark wood paneling. Heavy curtains that blocked most of the natural light and in there, five elder wolves sat around the massive table, their expressions ranging from impatient to openly irritated.
“Alpha Zane.” Elder Marius spoke first, his voice carrying the arrogance of seventy years and the authority of someone who had advised three Alphas before me. “Thank you for finally joining us.” He emphasized.
“My apologies for the delay.” I took my seat at the head of the table, Ezra settling into the chair to my right. “There was a matter that required attention.”
“I see.” Elder Cora’s sharp eyes assessed me. “Well, let’s not waste any more time. We have concerns that need addressing.”
Elder Tobias unrolled a map across the table. Our territory was marked in dark ink, surrounded by neighboring packs whose borders had been carefully outlined.
“The Silvercrest Pack,” he said, pointing to the eastern border, “has been testing our boundaries. Small incursions at first, but they’re growing bolder. We have recorded three incidents in the past month alone.”
“And to the north,” Elder Cora added, “the Ironridge Pack has requested renegotiation of our trade agreements. They claim our terms are no longer advantageous.”
Elder Marius leaned forward. “But our primary concern, Alpha Zane, is more fundamental than border disputes or trade negotiations.”
I already knew what was coming.
“The matter of succession,” he continued. “You’re unmated—” He paused, correcting himself. “You were unmated until recently. And while the Luna’s presence is… noted… You still have no heir.”
“It’s only been a short while. The Luna is undergoing treatments and will soon carry my heir,” I said evenly. “The healers—”
“The healers have a process that takes time,” Elder Cora interrupted. “Time we may not have.”
My jaw clenched. “Elaborate.”
“Alpha Zane, we remember what this pack looked like before you took control,” Marius said carefully. “We won’t go back to that. But our enemies also remember and they’re watching for cracks.”
The words took me down memory lane faster than the count of five seconds.
They didn’t elaborate. Didn’t need to. Everyone in this room knew what had happened before I had taken the Alpha position.
The instability. The vulnerability.
The way other packs had circled on us like wolves around wounded prey.
I had spent years rebuilding what had been lost. Years proving that Fangstain was strong again.
But without an heir, all of that could unravel the moment something happened to me.
“Our allies are nervous,” Elder Tobias said. “They see an Alpha without a clear successor, and they question whether their treaties will hold.”
“And our enemies,” Elder Cora added, “see an opportunity. They’re testing us because they believe we’re vulnerable.”
“I’m aware of the political situation,” I said, keeping my voice controlled even as frustration coiled tighter in my chest. “Which is why I bonded with the Luna and why she’s undergoing treatments. I’m handling it.”
“Are you?” Marius’s tone sharpened. “Because from where we sit, the situation appears… uncertain.”
“The healers have assured me.”
“The healers can’t guarantee success,” Cora interrupted. “What happens if the treatments fail? What happens if it takes years? Do we simply wait while our borders are tested and our alliances crumble?”
Now that was the question. The priestess had assured me that Tiana carrying my heir was the goddess's instruction and I completely believed in the goddess.
But when? It being fulfilled was a certainty but what was the time frame we had to work with?
My hands clenched beneath the table. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
“Contingency plans,” Marius said. “Alternative options for securing succession.”
“Such as?”