Chapter 147 The Alpha Summit

Chapter 147 The Alpha Summit
POV: Darius
The Alphas started arriving at dawn.
I watched from my dorm window as limousines and luxury cars pulled up to Silverwood's gates.
Northern pack leaders. Southern territories. Coastal clans.
Every major wolf kingdom was sending representatives.
This was unprecedented.
"Impressive turnout," my father said, appearing beside me.
Alpha Kane. My father. One of the most powerful wolves in the region.
And the reason I was stuck at this miserable school instead of leading our pack.
"What's really going on?" I asked. "This isn't just about the princess."
"You're right. It's not." He gestured to the window. "The rogue attacks aren't isolated. They're happening across multiple territories. Coordinated. Organized."
"Someone's building an army."
"Exactly. And using it to destabilize pack hierarchies."
"Why?"
"That's what we're here to figure out."
The Summit was being held in the Great Hall. Security had been tripled. Students were confined to dorms except for essential activities.
The whole Academy felt like it was holding its breath.
I wasn't technically supposed to attend the Summit. But my father had insisted.
"You're the heir," he'd said. "You need to understand pack politics. How power really works."
So here I was. Sitting in the back of the Great Hall, watching Alpha wolves posture and politic.
The Headmaster opened the proceedings. "Thank you all for coming. The situation is grave. Rogue attacks across six territories in the past month alone."
Murmurs rippled through the assembled Alphas.
"We believe these attacks are coordinated," the Headmaster continued. "Someone is organizing rogue packs. Using them as weapons."
"Against who?" an Alpha from the Southern territories asked.
"Against anyone who opposes them. Against royal bloodlines specifically."
All eyes turned to the Northern King. Selene's father.
He stood. "My daughter is in danger. Multiple assassination attempts. And now she's gone missing from your Academy."
Wait. What?
I sat up straighter. Luna's princess was missing?
"We're searching for her now," the Headmaster said. "Our best students are—"
"Your best students are children," the Northern King interrupted. "My daughter needs professional protection. Royal guards. Not Academy students playing hero."
"With respect, Your Majesty, your royal guards failed to protect her. That's why she's here."
Tension crackled through the room.
"Gentlemen," my father said, standing. "Fighting amongst ourselves serves our enemy's purpose. We need unity. Cooperation."
"Kane is right," another Alpha agreed. "But we also need information. Who's behind the attacks?"
"We have suspects," the Headmaster said carefully.
"Suspects aren't enough. We need proof. Names."
The doors opened. Professor Cael entered, looking grim.
She whispered something to the Headmaster.
His expression darkened. "Excuse me. There's been a development."
He left with Professor Cael.
The Alphas immediately started arguing.
Some wanted to pull their children from Silverwood. Others wanted to send reinforcements.
My father remained calm. Watching. Assessing.
"You see it, don't you?" he said quietly.
"See what?"
"The division. The fear. Someone's using these attacks to fracture our alliances."
He was right. Every Alpha in this room was scared. And scared wolves made stupid decisions.
"What about the princess?" I asked. "Do you think she's really the target?"
"She's a target. But not the only one."
"Then who else?"
Before he could answer, someone else entered the Hall.
Cole.
He walked in like he owned the place, flanked by several students I recognized. Victoria's former clan members.
And seated with them at a table marked "Thornheart Representatives" was—
"Victoria," I breathed.
She was supposed to be in custody. How was she here?
Cole caught my eye. Smiled coldly.
Then he took his seat at the table.
I grabbed my father's arm. "That's Cole. Luna's boyfriend. Or ex-boyfriend. He's been—"
"I know who he is," my father said. "And I know what he's been doing."
"What?"
"Watch. And learn."
The Headmaster returned. "Apologies for the interruption. Now, where were we?"
"We were discussing protection for the royal bloodlines," the Northern King said.
"Actually," Cole said, standing. "We were discussing who's really behind the attacks."
Everyone turned to look at him.
"And you know?" the Headmaster asked.
"I do. Because I've been investigating. Gathering evidence. Building a case."
"A case against who?" my father asked.
Cole smiled. "Against the Eclipse wolf."
Silence.
Then chaos.
Every Alpha started talking at once.
"Ridiculous!"
"Impossible!"
"She's saved this school multiple times!"
But Cole was ready. He pulled out documents. Photos. Magical trace evidence.
"Luna Eclipse has access to otherworld magic. Power that shouldn't exist. And every major attack this year has happened after she used that power."
"Correlation isn't causation," the Headmaster said.
"True. But motive is. And Luna Eclipse has plenty of motive." Cole addressed the room. "She's bonded to the princess through Guardian magic. She's the primary protector. What better way to ensure her importance than to create threats only she can solve?"
"That's insane," I said, standing. "Luna would never—"
"Wouldn't she?" Cole looked at me. "Darius, you've known her for years. You've seen her power. How she attracts danger. How she always seems to be at the center of every crisis."
"Because she's trying to help!"
"Or because she's causing them." Cole turned back to the Alphas. "I'm not saying she's intentionally evil. But Eclipse power is unstable. Dangerous. What if she's attracting these threats unconsciously? What if her very presence is drawing rogue packs to Silverwood?"
Some Alphas were nodding. Considering.
No. This was wrong. Luna was being framed.
"Where's your proof?" I demanded. "Real proof. Not circumstantial nonsense."
"I have testimony from multiple students about her unstable power displays. I have records of magical disturbances coinciding with her presence. And I have this."
He held up a crystal. Inside, I could see magical energy swirling.
"This is residue from the latest rogue attack. Analyzed by Council magical experts. The signature matches Eclipse magic."
"You're lying," I said.
"I'm presenting evidence. There's a difference."
The Headmaster stood. "This is a serious accusation. Mr. Cole, you're claiming Luna Eclipse is either intentionally or unintentionally responsible for the attacks?"
"I'm saying she should be investigated. Thoroughly. Before more people die."
"She's out there right now!" I shouted. "Trying to save the princess! While you're in here lying about her!"
"Is she saving the princess? Or delivering her to whoever's pulling the strings?"
Before I could respond, an explosion rocked the building.
The walls shook. Windows shattered.
Alphas shifted instantly, ready for battle.
Through the broken windows, I saw them.
Rogue wolves. Dozens of them. Pouring onto campus.
The Summit was under attack.
"Everyone to defensive positions!" the Headmaster shouted.
Alphas mobilized. Some shifted fully. Others began casting protective spells.
I shifted and ran toward the battle.
Outside was chaos. Rogues everywhere. Students fighting back.
But these rogues were different. Organized. Tactical.
Someone was commanding them.
I fought my way through the chaos, looking for whoever was in charge.
Then I saw her.
A woman I didn't recognize. Standing on the roof of the eastern building.
She was directing the rogues with hand signals. Coordinating their attacks.
I ran toward her, but Cole intercepted me.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked.
"To stop whoever's controlling them!"
"You mean Luna's accomplice?"
"Luna doesn't have an accomplice! She's not behind this!"
"Then prove it."
We fought. Tooth and claw.
Cole was good. Better than I remembered.
But I was an Alpha heir. Born and bred for combat.
I had him pinned in seconds.
"Where's Luna?" I demanded. "What did you do with her?"
"I didn't do anything with her. She's exactly where she wants to be. With her true allies."
"You're lying!"
"Am I? Then why hasn't she come back to defend herself? Why isn't she here fighting these rogues?"
Because she was fighting different rogues. At the northern convergence.
But I couldn't tell him that without revealing I knew more than I should.
An Alpha I didn't recognize appeared. "Let him up, Kane."
"He's one of them! He's helping—"
"He's under Council protection. Let him up. Now."
I did. Reluctantly.
Cole stood and brushed himself off. "Thank you, Alpha Reed."
"Don't thank me. Just complete your mission."
Mission?
Cole left, and I turned to Alpha Reed. "What mission?"
"That's classified. Now get back to fighting. We have rogues to eliminate."
The battle raged for hours.
By the time the last rogue fell, the sun was setting.
The Academy was in shambles. Buildings damaged. Students injured.
But we'd survived.
The Alphas gathered again in the Great Hall.
"This was coordinated," my father said. "Timed to coincide with our Summit."
"Agreed," the Northern King said. "Someone wanted us distracted."
"Or divided," another Alpha added. "The accusations against Eclipse. The attack. It's all designed to fracture our unity."
"Then we don't let it work," the Headmaster said. "We investigate thoroughly. Find the real culprits. And we don't jump to conclusions."
"What about the princess?" the Northern King demanded. "Where is my daughter?"
"We have teams searching. They should report back soon."
I looked around the room. At Cole, sitting calmly with the Thornheart representatives. At the Alphas, still arguing about Luna's guilt.
Something was very wrong.
Luna was being set up. Framed for crimes she didn't commit.
And somehow, Cole was at the center of it all.
I needed to find her. Warn her.
Before whatever trap was waiting snapped shut.