Chapter 34 ~Haunted by the past~
(Xander's POV)
As I stepped out of the main house—which was the only house standing at the moment —my heart broke at the sight before me.
To cut things short, Silvereign Packhouse was in ruins.
I caught the glint in Fiona's eyes from my side view; she looked close to tears as well.
“What's going to happen now?” She asked in a hoarse whisper.
The same thoughts wafted through my mind. Where would the pack move to? How would we proceed with the reconstruction?
But I didn't voice my fears, lest they become real.
I turned to her. “That's why we're going for this council meeting. We’ll figure something out, princess.”
Maybe it was the pet name, but her demeanor seemed lighter as we approached the council hall.
We met Calvin at the entrance. He looked disturbed. “Alpha. There's a visitor.”
“Who?”
But my question was answered almost immediately because upon opening the door, my eyes skimmed over the faces of the council members, the elders… surprisingly, my father. And beside him was none other than Alpha Varon, Nova's father.
They all looked far from pleased. Calvin looked uneasy.
Before long, my eyes met with Loki's. He still burned with fury.
The elders all had a questioning look… at us. Fiona and I.
“Alpha Varon.” I extended my hands for a handshake of greeting to the older Alpha. But he didn't budge.
I spoke to no one in particular. “Is there supposed to be something wrong?”
Fiona held my hands in hers.
My father spoke. “Tell me, Alexander. Is what Loki said true?”
I tried to keep my voice leveled when I spoke. I shrugged. “Depends on what he said.”
An awkward silence fell in the room.
Why was Alpha Varon even here?
“Loki said that Fiona's lover is responsible for the attack. Alpha Beckett of Ashridge.”
Fiona's mouth fell open. And I knew she was thinking the exact same thing I was. Loki had eavesdropped on our conversation.
I had nothing to say.
Alpha Varon looked at Fiona sternly. “You know… it's not even because of the Xander and Nova situation… but, as a family friend of the Graysons and the entire Silvereign pack, I think you both are very reckless.”
A grunt of approval ran round the room from the Elders. My father sighed tiredly. “I had to call him all the way from Nightfang for an intervention.”
Alpha Varon continued, glaring pointedly at Fiona and I. “Look around you. See the result of your recklessness. Ruins!”
I finally regained my momentum to respond. “Beckett is not Fiona's lover. She was his rejected mate. The past is the past.”
My father chuckled, rough and humorless. “Well, apparently the past has come back to haunt us all. When you make stupid decisions, you have to deal with the consequences.”
So mating Fiona is a stupid decision? I scoffed.
Alpha Varon sat up. “She knew! She received threats about the attack but decided to remain silent.”
Elder Cyrus and Julius, probably for the first time in their lives, were at a loss for words.
Loki shifted in his chair, his face etched with a scowl and an expression I couldn't quite place. Fury?
In all, I knew they were right. Fiona's actions had probably led to an otherwise unnecessary evil.
But, there were other questions? Why was the attack by rogues? How was Beckett able to form an alliance with them? How did they get in?
There are other situations where they might have wanted to attack. How would we have stopped them?
“The deed has been done, no?” My voice came out way harsher than I intended it to. “The most important thing now is how to find a way out of this awful situation.”
“It's good you brought this up because that's why I brought Alpha Varon here in the first place. We've spoken.” My father spoke coldly. “And we've arrived at a conclusion.”
The smell of ashes wafted past my nose. For some reason I could see Vivienne laying dead on Loki’s feet. His despair. I could see the deadness in Fiona's eyes. The light was lost in them.
So yes, I'd take whatever remedy they brought. “And this conclusion is what?”
My father stood up, and with the aid of his cane, he walked towards the windows. “The packhouse is too destroyed for the pack to stay in.”
He lit a cigar and moved towards me, placing a hardened palm on my shoulders. “The strength of an Alpha is in his ability to defend his people. To maintain legacy. And at this point, Silvereign pack has been reduced to a child's plaything.”
Alpha Varon nodded. “There has to be a counterattack launched on Ashridge. One that'll leave them buried to the ground.”
This was absurd. I looked at Fiona and her slight head shake told me all I needed to know.
“And how is this supposed to happen? We barge in there with fire and brimstone? Where's the proof that Beckett is responsible?”
Don't get me wrong. I hated the shit out of the scumbag, Beckett. But this idea was unreasonable.
Elder Cyrus spoke for the first time. “The… Luna was responsible for this. So she'll lead us to them. We'll use her as bait to get to Ashridge and, in turn, Alpha Beckett and destroy them.”
Bait?
“And if I disapprove?" I chuckled dryly. “Okay. Let's say we go with this ‘brilliant’ plan of yours… What makes you think my mate has any effect on this Beckett as bait?”
“She ‘was’ his lover, wasn't she?” Loki spat out. “Or would you rather I'm used as bait, Xander? Or maybe you'll be chivalrous to opt in — get Beckett with your charm.”
Calvin cleared his throat noisily, interrupting my comeback.
Fiona paled instantly, her eyes focused on nothing.
“Alpha, what do we do about the other pack members?” Calvin said. “Everyone is more or less homeless.”
I… I just didn't know what to do. My father buried his head in his hands in thought.
The words I heard next were unexpected.
From Alpha Varon.
“You can move to Nightfang. We'll be happy to accommodate you until Silvereign is restored.”
Fiona settled her gaze on me.
Move to Nova's father's pack? Bad idea… no, terrible idea.
But what other option did we have?