Chapter 8 The Flicker Of Instinct
The council hall stood at the highest point of the northern ridge, an ancient stone structure that had witnessed generations of power and blood. Its tall columns were carved with symbols of wolves, battles, and the lineage of the ruling family. The morning sun filtered through the narrow windows, casting angled beams across the circular table where the elders had already gathered. Their voices murmured through the air like restless wind, low and steady, each carrying its own weight of age and authority.
Fernando sat at the head of the table, back straight, hands clasped loosely before him. The Alpha carried an aura that silenced even the most stubborn elder. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, scanned the room as he listened to the ongoing discussion. Darius stood at his right, expression cool and disciplined, his presence a steady anchor beside his Alpha.
The eldest among them, Elder Rhen, leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly against the polished wood. He had long silver hair tied neatly at the back, and his voice carried the rasp of years spent commanding battlefields.
“The southern rogues have increased in number,” Rhen said. “Reports from our scouts suggest they have fortified their main encampment near the river. If we do not act now, they will grow bold enough to threaten our borders.”
Another elder, Marlo, nodded in agreement. His broad shoulders and heavy brow gave him the appearance of a warrior even in old age. “We should raid them. Cut off their resources and scatter their forces before they grow any stronger. The southern woods may be their turf, but we have young soldiers ready to prove themselves.”
Darius gave a subtle sideways glance toward Fernando. The Alpha had not yet spoken. His silence often held more power than words, yet today the elders were restless.
Elder Liana folded her hands in her lap, her calm gaze sweeping across the room. “A raid would show strength, but it would also risk unnecessary loss. The rogues are unpredictable. We cannot assume they have no allies.”
“They are savages,” Marlo countered. “They only understand force.”
“And force without precision is foolishness,” Liana replied evenly.
The tension rose like heat between them. Some elders nodded with Marlo, others with Liana. The debate threatened to circle endlessly until Fernando finally shifted in his chair, the faintest movement drawing every eye in the room.
“We will not raid them,” Fernando said with steady authority.
The room fell silent at once.
Marlo frowned. “Alpha, with all respect, they grow bolder by the day. If we wait any longer—”
Fernando raised a hand. Marlo stopped immediately.
“A raid may satisfy pride,” Fernando said, “but pride does not win wars. The southern woods belong to them. They know every path, every trap, every shadow that can hide a blade. Entering their territory would put our soldiers at a disadvantage, no matter how skilled they are.”
Rhen stroked his beard thoughtfully. “You speak truth, Alpha. The forest there is treacherous. Their familiarity with the land gives them an edge.”
Fernando nodded once. “We are strong, but strength without strategy only leads to graves. We will weaken them indirectly. Cut off their smaller camps, intercept their supplies, and monitor their movements closely. When the time comes to strike, it will be when the odds favor us, not them.”
The elders murmured in agreement, though Marlo’s displeasure was clear in the tightness of his jaw. Still, he did not challenge the Alpha further. No one dared.
Just as Fernando prepared to move to the next topic, a sudden sharp pain lanced through the back of his neck. It was swift and violent, like a hot blade piercing the base of his spine. His breath caught, and his vision blurred at the edges.
His hands gripped the armrests of his chair.
Darius’s attention snapped toward him instantly. The Beta stepped closer, voice low but firm. “Alpha? What is it?”
Fernando’s pupils flickered. His eyes flashed red for a brief moment, the color bright and unnatural. A sound escaped him — not a gasp, not a growl, something rawer, deeper. His wolf stirred inside him with force, pushing against the confines of his control.
Darius placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. “Fernando, talk to me.”
The pain pulsed again, and with it came something else — a sensation, faint but undeniable. A tug deep within his core, instinctive and primal. A warning. A call. His pulse quickened.
He forced a breath past clenched teeth. “Something is wrong.”
Darius’s expression tightened. “With who?”
Fernando closed his eyes for a moment. The pain sharpened, followed by a flicker of alarm that did not belong to him. It was distant yet intimate, as if his own breath had been pulled from his lungs and thrown into the forest beyond the walls.
His eyes opened again, cold and certain. “Check on Alberto.”
The elders exchanged confused looks. Some frowned, others whispered among themselves. Darius did not question it. He nodded once sharply.
“I’ll go immediately.”
Before the Beta could move, Elder Marlo scoffed loudly enough for the room to hear. “Alberto? The servant boy? Why is he of concern to the Alpha during a council meeting?”
Another elder leaned close to Marlo, whispering but not quietly enough. “Perhaps the rumors are true. Perhaps the boy is the Alpha’s mate.”
A ripple of amusement and suspicion moved through the room.
Darius shot them a warning look, but he waited for Fernando to respond. The Alpha’s expression did not shift. Instead, he let out a slow breath and turned his gaze toward the elder who had spoken.
His lips curved into a smirk, one that carried no warmth.
“Alberto is just a servant,” Fernando said calmly. “One I bought with my own money. There is nothing important about him.”
Some elders nodded as if satisfied. Others exchanged uncertain glances. Darius studied Fernando closely, catching the faint tension in his jaw, the coldness in his eyes that did not match the ease of his words.
But Fernando did not elaborate. He simply tapped his fingers once against the armrest, signaling the end of the discussion.
“Go,” he said to Darius. “Now.”
Darius bowed his head and strode out of the hall without another word. The heavy doors shut behind him, leaving Fernando surrounded by the murmurs of the council. Yet he did not hear them.