Chapter 106 What an Alpha Might....

Chapter 106 What an Alpha Might....
"The way I see it, their real plan is to keep your Luna connection, but you'd be serving as a breeder not for Ares, but for Alaor. An entire army of pups, sired by an Alpha and born from a natural-born Luna. There's something you don't know about us—a born Luna is the ultimate pinnacle of attraction for any male werewolf. Just like Alpha wolves attract females like flies to honey, Alaor wants everything that belongs to Ares. Including you."
It was too much information for my head to process, and my vision actually went dizzy. What kind of sick, twisted duo were they? Two brothers, both psychopaths. All for power and wealth. I guess werewolves and humans aren't so different after all.
"But Derik, Ares is strong as hell! His third form would chew up Alaor’s wolf and swallow the bones without even breaking a sweat. How does he think he can possibly kill Ares?"
"Alaor is a coward. He’s never challenged Ares because he knows he’s weak. So, he plans to use his cunning to get someone else to kill Ares for him—legitimately—allowing him to inherit the throne with the pack's full support."
"Who?" I asked, the rising panic for Ares's life beginning to suffocate me.
"Me. Alaor wants me to kill Ares for him. That way, the Council will sentence me to death for kidnapping a Luna and killing her mate. He gets to keep everything, including my lands."
Derik handed me a note written by Ares, threatening war over my kidnapping.
"Oh, no... Ares can't be falling into his trap!"
"Why wouldn't he? You’re here with me, you miraculously escaped your cell, and Alaor is probably already back there, wounded and spinning his lies. It will never cross Ares's mind that his human female could actually harm an Alpha wolf."
"But Alaor’s plan is flawed! I’m fine, you’re innocent, and I can just expose the truth to Ares and fix all of this."
"The plan isn't flawed; it's desperate, but brilliant. They have a very narrow window to eliminate Ares, and this opportunity just fell into their laps."
"I still think it's full of holes, especially since I'm free to rat him out!"
"You’re forgetting that Ares and I have been rivals for a very long time. Our alliance is strictly political and economic—it's not personal, so to speak. On top of that, I am an unmated Alpha with a pack on the brink of extinction. In Alaor’s mind, I wouldn't be able to resist the temptation to mount you to save my pack. My third form has been acting strange lately, my wolf is craving blood... why would I show Ares any mercy? Taking a Luna by force is nothing new in our world."
"Oh..." I felt completely mortified right then. Hearing him speak so bluntly about mounting me made my face flush bright red from pure embarrassment. Plus, the whole concept was just... God forbid!
Fortunately, Derik kept talking, snapping me out of my stupor.
"Alaor's initial plan was to take you somewhere far away, just like you told me. He was going to hurt you, abuse your body, mount you, and try to forcibly mark you over and over again."
A cold shiver ran straight down my spine at his words.
"Ares would feel every ounce of that agonizing betrayal through the bond, without knowing where you were, all while being fed Alaor's lies. At the perfect moment, right before the bastard child is born, Alaor would find a way to frame me. Having access to your body and your blood would make it easy. Blind with rage and driven to the brink of madness, Ares would attack. Even as the strongest of the Chosen, he would be weakened by the insanity of his fractured nature. I would end up killing him, and then the Council would execute me."
"By Allah, what kind of twisted mind breeds that kind of evil? I will be eternally grateful to Allah and every god in this world for escaping that piece of trash's hands."
"I thank you too, Esmeralda. The human Luna, the savior of my species. Without you, a weak, cowardly wolf would have taken down two of Hecate's Chosen."
"And to think everyone thought I was too weak. Look at me now!" I joked, trying to ease the suffocating pressure in my chest.
Derik laughed, seemingly unfazed by the gravity of it all.
"How can you laugh? Aren't you worried about any of this?"
"Your presence on my lands makes me feel like luck is finally on my side. Something tells me the gods sent you here for a reason we don't fully understand yet—but one that will change the future of our lives and the destiny of our world forever."
After his walk with Esmeralda, the smile vanished from Derik’s face. His eyes lost the faint warmth they had shown in her presence, turning cold and severe.
His expression was grim and determined; this was Alpha Derik, the leader of the Black Wolves in his absolute element.
He headed to his office with firm, decisive strides.
"Did you do as I ordered?" he asked, his voice deep and leaving no room for hesitation.
"Yes, Alpha. The females have already been notified. Lord Agar returned early and is currently preparing the brew," the Beta replied. Unlike his Alpha, he was excited—selfishly so—about the situation and the prospect of knocking up his own beloved mate.
Derik was surprised that the old hypocrite hadn't come to him to try and talk him out of the plan he had devised.
"He didn't protest?" Derik asked, filling a mug to the brim with his strongest wine.
"No, Alpha. He said he trusts your decisions, even when he doesn't agree with them."
"Did you warn him that it needs to taste smooth and pleasant for the human?"
"Yes, Alpha. He said he knows his job and that you should focus on yours."
"Any word from Ares since his last message?"
"No, Alpha. He only assured us that he would arrive tonight for the meeting dinner, accompanied only by his Gammas. He doesn't intend to wait until tomorrow to reclaim his Luna."
"May Hecate have mercy and forgive us for what we are about to do tonight, Eli. As much as I understand that we need this, I still feel it’s a sin. We will pay dearly for it."
"We aren't doing anything evil, Alpha. After all, they are fated mates. It's not like they don't want to be together."
"Esmeralda trusts me. I have no idea why. She is far too naive for a Luna in this world..."
"Perhaps this experience will serve as a lesson for her to trust no one, Alpha. By the looks of it, she needs that lesson."
"She already knows she can't trust anyone, not even her own mate. I became the exception, and I am about to break her heart."
"She is a Luna. She will understand your position."
Derik wasn't so sure about Esmeralda's forgiveness. In fact, he believed she would never look him in the eye again. That was why he had taken her for a walk and talked with her—to build memories together. The thought of hurting Esmeralda left a bitter taste on his tongue that he couldn't shake. Internally, he kept repeating to himself:
An Alpha has to do what an Alpha has to do.
A soft knock at the door caught their attention. Hira walked in, her steps light and elegant.
"Derik, I have selected a few unmated females, the strongest and healthiest ones, for you to choose from."
Derik ran a hand over his face, lost in thought.
"I think you should choose at least three females to ensure the plan works."
"Are they on board with my terms, Hira? If they conceive and the pup turns out to be an Alpha, he will be raised solely by me, according to our customs."