Chapter 160 The Council's Decision
Chapter 160 The Council's Decision
Pete's POV
The hospital door closed behind me and I didn't move. For several seconds, I simply stood there, staring at the door as though I could see through it.
Diya was on the other side and so was Matt. The two people I had spent the last few hours desperately trying to protect.
And I was walking away from them.
I hated every second of it.
My hand still remembered the warmth of Diya's fingers. Even after I'd let go, I could still feel the faint pressure of her hand against mine, as though some part of her was still holding on.
I wanted to turn around.
I actually took half a step back toward the door before forcing myself to stop.
Damn it.
She needed me. Matt needed me, and I was leaving them anyway.
I clenched my jaw.
Because when the council summoned an Alpha, ignoring them wasn't something I could simply do…Especially not tonight.
Too much had already happened. Lisa was pregnant, my mother had been arrested and Dimon had threatened us.
Matt was in a hospital bed because the stress surrounding all of this had affected him.
And now the council wanted me.
Goddess. What the hell did they want?
“Alpha.”
Mike's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I turned and faced him. He was standing a few feet away, his expression unusually serious.
“What exactly did they say?”
“They said you need to report to the council chamber immediately.”
I frowned.
“Immediately?”
“Yes. And from what I gathered, the meeting is going to be very long.”
I looked back at the hospital room.
“No.”
Mike blinked.
“No?”
“I'm not leaving Diya and Matt tonight.”
I started toward the elevator.
“Whatever they have to say shouldn't take more than an hour. If it does, I'm leaving.”
Mike followed me.
“There is something else.”
I stopped.
“What?”
He hesitated.
“They specifically said you have to come alone.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“They didn't say.”
A cold feeling settled in my stomach.
That wasn't normal.
The council could summon me for a formal matter, but why insist that I come without my guards? Without Mike?
Why tonight? Why immediately? And why alone?
I pressed the elevator button.
“Did they say if this was about my mother?”
“No.”
“Lisa?”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“Then what the hell is it?”
Mike shook his head.
“I don't know.”
The elevator doors opened. I stepped inside, and Mike followed and the doors closed. For a moment, there was only the quiet hum of the elevator.
Then Mike spoke.
“You think they know?”
I glanced at him.
“About my mother?”
He nodded.
I exhaled through my nose.
“They will eventually.”
There was no point pretending otherwise.
My mother's arrest wasn't something that could remain a secret. Not when she had committed crimes against people under my protection. Not when she had deliberately interfered with Diya and Matt.
Not when she'd gone as far as she had.
Still…Thinking about it made something twist painfully inside my chest.
She was my mother. The woman who had raised me. The woman whose approval I'd spent most of my life trying to earn.
The woman I'd once believed could never do wrong. And now she was sitting behind bars because of my decision.
I swallowed.
She had made her choices and I had made mine….But knowing that didn't make it easier.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. I stepped out and Mike followed me toward the entrance.
I stopped before the doors.
“You're not coming.”
He sighed.
“Huh…”
“Stay here.”
His brows rose.
“You're telling me to wait at the hospital?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Diya needs someone she trusts.”
I looked directly at him.
“If anything happens while I'm gone, I want you there.”
Mike's expression softened slightly.
“Alright.”
I nodded.
“And keep your phone on.”
“Always.”
I pushed through the doors and the night air hit me immediately. It was cold and sharp. I stood outside for a moment and looked back at the hospital. One window was still illuminated and somewhere behind it was Diya.
Goddess…I wanted to go back. Instead, I got into the waiting car.
“Drive.”
The car pulled away and I leaned back against the seat, but my body refused to relax. My fingers tapped impatiently against my thigh. Once….Twice….Again.
I stopped myself.
I was an Alpha. I shouldn't be this unsettled by a council summons. But something was wrong and I could feel it.
My eyes drifted toward the passing streets.
Then, inevitably, my thoughts returned to Lisa.
My sister is pregnant.
I shut my eyes.
Damn it.
Why had that bastard, Dimon chosen tonight to say that? Why now?
I could still hear his voice and still see his face.
And for the first time, I allowed myself to think about the possibility I had been avoiding. What if the child really was mine?
My chest tightened.
I would take responsibility.
Of course I would. The child wouldn't be responsible for the sins of its mother.
But Lisa…
I opened my eyes.
No. I couldn't let myself get dragged back into that mess. Not after everything she'd done. Not after what she'd tried to do to Diya.
Then another thought came.
How far along is she?
My brows pulled together and I started calculating.
Weeks? The last time I'd been with Lisa.
I frowned.
No. That couldn't be right.
I calculated again and my stomach twisted. Something wasn't adding up.
Not quite.
I leaned forward.
“How long until we get there?”
The driver glanced at me through the mirror.
“About ten minutes, Alpha.”
“Make it five.”
He nodded and I leaned back again.
If Lisa was truly pregnant, then I needed answers. Real ones. Not Dimon's accusations or assumptions. But…answers.
The car finally turned onto the road leading to the council district.
I looked through the window and the council chamber appeared ahead.
The enormous stone structure stood beneath the night sky, its tall windows glowing faintly against the darkness.
I had been here countless times.
But tonight, it looked different….Almost threatening.
The council consisted of elders from different packs. Their purpose was to maintain peace between packs, enforce the ancient laws and prevent disputes from becoming wars. They weren't supposed to involve themselves in every Alpha's personal affairs.
Which meant one thing….Whatever they wanted from me tonight was serious.
The car stopped and I stepped out.
The moment I entered the building, the familiar scent of old stone and incense hit me.
Two guards opened the inner doors and I walked through. The council chamber was colder than I remembered.
Seven elders sat around the enormous table and seven pairs of eyes turned toward me.
I stopped.
Nobody smiled or greeted me warmly.
The hairs at the back of my neck rose.
“Alpha Pete.”
The oldest elder spoke.
I nodded.
“Elders.”
“Thank you for coming.”
I almost laughed.
“You didn't exactly give me a choice.”
No one reacted.
My amusement disappeared.
“What is this about?”
The woman seated at the center gestured toward the chair opposite her.
“Sit.”
I remained standing.
“I'd rather know why I'm here first.”
A few elders exchanged glances and that irritated me.
“What?”
The woman finally spoke.
“This concerns a matter that has recently been brought before the council.”
My patience was already thinning.
“Lisa?”
Silence.
My jaw tightened.
“It's about Lisa.”
The woman nodded.
“Her brother, Dimon, has submitted a formal petition requesting her immediate release.”
Of course.
I scoffed.
“He would.”
“He claims her pregnancy warrants special consideration.”
I stepped closer.
“Pregnancy doesn't erase a crime.”
“We are aware.”
“Then there is nothing to discuss.”
“There is.”
I stared at them.
“I've already made my decision.”
“And what decision is that?”
“Lisa remains in custody until she's tried.”
My voice left no room for argument.
“She admitted to what she did and she will face the consequences.”
One of the elders leaned forward.
“And if the child is yours?”
The question struck harder than I expected. My jaw clenched.
“If the child is mine, I'll take responsibility.”
I paused.
“But that doesn't make Lisa innocent.”
The elder watched me carefully.
“And if she is truly pregnant?”
I frowned.
“What are you getting at? How certain are you that she is even pregnant?”
That question caught me off guard.
I folded my arms.
“Her pregnancy has been medically confirmed.”
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
Pregnant? Really pregnant?
So it was not a rumor. Not Dimon's attempt to manipulate me. Not some desperate lie Lisa had invented to save herself. This was a confirmed pregnancy.
My stomach twisted.
I lowered my eyes, staring at my hands as an uncomfortable thought settled inside me.
What if the child really was mine?
I didn't want to think about it. I couldn't.
Not when Diya was still in that hospital room with tears on her face. Not when I'd just promised her that nothing would come between us.
But the possibility was there now. And no matter how much I hated it, I couldn't simply wish it away.
Everything inside me went still.
“What?”
The woman repeated calmly.
“She is pregnant.”
I stared at her. And for some reason, hearing it from the council made it feel different and more real.
My stomach tightened.
“So the pregnancy is confirmed.”
“Yes.”
I looked away. Why the fuck didn't she tell me?
My mind immediately went back to Diya. Her face, her tears, the way she'd tried so hard to be strong.
My hand curled into a fist.
I wouldn't let this destroy her. Not again.
Then one of the elders spoke.
“When was the last time you were intimate with Lisa?”
I looked sharply at him.
“Why? What kind of foolish question is that?”
“We need to establish a timeline.”
I didn't like where this was going. But I answered.
“Months ago.”
“How many?”
“A few months back.”
“Are you certain?”
I glared at him.
“Yes.”
There was silence. And I began counting again and again. My heartbeat changed.
No….Wait.
I counted once more.
My eyes narrowed. That didn't make sense. If Lisa's pregnancy was at the stage Dimon had implied…
My stomach dropped.
Something is wrong.
I looked at the elders.
“Why are you asking me this?”
Nobody answered and that silence was worse than any accusation.
My hands tightened.
“What aren't you telling me?”
The woman at the center leaned back slowly.
“There is another matter.”
My entire body stiffened.
“What matter?”
Her eyes settled on me.
“This one concerns Diya.”
Everything inside me stopped.
“Diya?”
“Yes.”
I took a step forward.
“What about her?”
“An official complaint has been filed.”
My blood ran cold.
“Against her?”
“Yes.”
For a moment, I simply stared at them.
Then anger surged through me so quickly that my wolf stirred beneath my skin.
“Who?”
“We'll get to that.”
“No.”
My voice came out lower and more dangerous.
“You'll tell me now.”
One of the elders frowned.
“Alpha, remember where you are.”
I stepped closer to the table.
“I know exactly where I am.”
My eyes moved from one elder to another.
“And I know exactly who you're talking about.”
The woman remained calm.
“The complaint concerns an alleged violation of an ancient pack law.”
“What law?”
“We are still investigating.”
“Then why bring it to me?”
“Because the allegations are serious.”
My jaw clenched.
“What allegations?”
The woman hesitated. Then she said,
“Your mate's position within the pack has been questioned.”
My fists tightened.
“By whom?”
Silence.
“And there are concerns regarding your son's circumstances.”
My head snapped toward her.
“Matt?”
“Yes.”
Something primal rose inside me.
“Leave my son out of this.”
“We aren't accusing your son of anything.”
“Then don't mention him.”
“We are obligated to investigate any matter that may threaten the balance between packs.”
Balance, law, investigation….all bullshit.
Someone had brought this here, someone wanted Diya investigated and wanted my family dragged into the council.
And suddenly, the events of the past few days didn't feel random anymore. Lisa, Dimon, my mother…Now Diya.
My breathing slowed, but my anger didn't.
I stepped closer to the table.
“Who brought this complaint?”
The elders exchanged another look.
My patience snapped.
“I asked you a question.”
Silence.
I stared at every face around that table.
Seven elders and seven unreadable expressions.
And for the first time that night, something far more frightening than Lisa's pregnancy settled into my chest. Someone was playing a game, and somehow, my family had become the pieces.
The elder at the center slowly folded her hands and her eyes remained fixed on mine.
Then she finally opened her mouth.