Chapter 76 AN ULTIMATUM

Chapter 76 AN ULTIMATUM
(Caden's POV)

Marcus grabbed my arm the second I stepped back into the ballroom.

“We need to discuss the rogue situation. Now.”

His voice stayed calm, but the grip on my arm tightened hard enough to warn me this wasn’t a conversation. Around us, the gala continued like nothing was wrong—music playing, glasses clinking, wolves laughing while cameras still flashed across the room.

I pulled free the moment we entered a private lounge near the west wing. The door slammed shut behind us.

“You’re making a scene,” I said coldly.

Marcus turned slowly, expression unreadable. “No, son. You already handled that for both of us.”

The words landed hard.

He walked toward the liquor cabinet, poured himself a drink, then faced me again. “Those photos will be everywhere by morning. Every pack in the territory will see them.”

I crossed my arms. “And?”

“And?” He laughed once, sharp and humorless. “The headlines will read Alpha’s Pregnant Mistress. Do you understand what that does to Silverpine’s reputation?”

I stared at him. “I didn’t invite the reporters.”

“You protected her in front of them.” His eyes narrowed. “You touched her. Led her away like a jealous mate claiming territory.”

“She was being harassed.”

“She was being exposed.”

My jaw tightened. “What exactly do you want from me?”

Marcus took a slow sip from his glass. “I want you to stop thinking with emotion and start thinking like an alpha.”

I almost laughed at that.

“You mean like you?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “Because unlike you, I understand sacrifice.”

The room went silent for a beat.

Then he set the glass down carefully. “I’m calling an emergency council vote tomorrow.”

My stomach dropped. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“You can’t force an emergency vote over gossip articles.”

Marcus stepped closer. “This stopped being gossip the moment you publicly defended her.”

“She’s pregnant.”

“She’s a liability.”

The words snapped something in me. “Watch how you speak about her.”

His eyes sharpened instantly. “There it is again. Protectiveness. Attachment. Weakness.”

“There’s nothing weak about me.” I snapped.

“Manipulation then.”

“She didn’t manipulate me.”

“Then why are you destroying yourself for her?”

The question hit harder than it should have.

Because I didn’t have an answer.

Not one that made sense.

Not one my mind could fully hold onto without pain ripping through my skull.

Marcus watched me carefully, like he saw the hesitation. “Tomorrow,” he continued, voice colder now, “the council votes. Either you exile her yourself… or they remove you as alpha for compromising pack integrity.”

I stared at him. “You’d actually do that.”

“Yes.”

The answer came instantly.

No hesitation.

No regret.

I shook my head slowly. “You’d remove your own son?”

“I’d remove a weak alpha who lets sentiment override duty.”

Anger surged hot and fast through me. “You keep calling it duty, but all I see is obsession. You want her gone so badly it’s becoming suspicious.”

His expression didn’t move, but something flickered in his eyes.

Brief.

Controlled.

Then gone.

“You’re emotional,” he said. “That makes you paranoid.”

“No,” I shot back. “What makes me paranoid is the way everyone reacts whenever Aria asks questions about her parents.”

Marcus went still.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

He spoke carefully this time. “Her parents died over a decade ago.”

“And yet everyone keeps warning her to stop investigating.”

His gaze hardened. “You need to let this go.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s irrelevant.”

“It clearly isn’t.”

A headache slammed into me without warning.

Sharp.

Violent.

I grabbed the edge of the table as pain exploded behind my eyes.

Marcus noticed immediately.

His expression shifted—not concern. Calculation.

“You’re exhausted,” he said smoothly. “This is exactly what she does. Confuses you. Distracts you.”

Another flash hit me.

Aria crying.

My office.

Marcus standing behind me.

The memory vanished before I could fully catch it.

I sucked in a breath.

“Caden?”

I looked up sharply.

Marcus stepped closer. “You’re spiraling because of her. End this now before you lose everything.”

My wolf snarled violently inside me.

Protect mate.

The instinct hit so hard my chest tightened.

Marcus noticed that too.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“You hear it, don’t you?” he said quietly. “That weakness inside you.”

Weakness.

The word made my wolf go feral.

“She isn’t weakness,” I growled.

“Then choose her.” Marcus spread his hands mockingly. “Go ahead. Choose the rogue over your pack. Over your bloodline. Over your position.”

I stared at him, breathing hard.

He stepped closer until we were almost chest to chest.

“You choose,” he said softly. “Her or the pack. Not both.”

The words hung between us like a blade.

For the first time in years, I didn’t know what the right answer was supposed to be.

Because every instinct inside me screamed to protect Aria.

But every thought in my head twisted into pain whenever I tried to understand why.

I dragged a hand through my hair. “I need time.”

Marcus laughed quietly. “Time ended the moment those cameras started flashing.”

“You can’t force this overnight.”

“I can.”

“You’re pushing too hard.”

“And you’re failing as alpha.”

The words hit deliberately.

Precise.

I looked away before I did something reckless.

Marcus moved toward the door. “Tomorrow. Noon. Council chamber.” He glanced back at me. “Decide before then.”

My fists clenched.

“You can’t do this.”

He paused.

Then slowly turned back toward me.

“I already have.”

The room seemed colder suddenly.

“You think the council will stand behind this?” I asked. “Luca won’t.”

“Luca doesn’t matter.”

“And the others?”

“They care about stability.” Marcus adjusted his cuffs calmly. “After tomorrow’s headlines, supporting her becomes political suicide.”

I hated that he was probably right.

The media storm alone would turn half the pack against her by sunrise.

Marcus studied me for another long second. “There’s still a path out of this.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Meaning?”

“Exile her quietly. Before the vote.” His tone softened artificially. “Send her away somewhere safe. The council sees decisive leadership, your reputation recovers, and the problem disappears.”

Problem.

That was what he kept calling her.

Like she wasn’t a person.

Like she wasn’t carrying my child.

The thought hit hard enough to make my wolf surge again.

Protect them.

Pain ripped through my skull immediately after.

I staggered slightly.

Marcus watched carefully.

“What’s happening to you?” I muttered before I could stop myself.

His expression shifted for the smallest second.

Then smoothed over instantly.

“You’re under stress.”

“No.” I looked at him directly now. “Something’s wrong.”

“With her,” he corrected sharply. “Every issue started when she came back.”

That wasn’t true.

Deep down, somewhere beneath the pain and confusion, I knew it wasn’t true.

Marcus opened the door. “Get some sleep, son. Tomorrow requires a clear mind.”

Then he left.

But I wasn't done with him. So, I rushed out pulled into another room.

“What's the meaning of this Caden?”

“I'm alpha and whatever I say in this pack goes.”