Chapter 16 A Final Decision
Landon’s POV
The council chamber is silent the second I walk in. Every single elder is already seated, fear etched across every one of their faces, their eyes following me as I take my place at the head of the long stone table.
I already know why I’ve been called here.
And I already know what they’re going to say.
My eyes shift across the room to see Clara standing to the side, her chin lifted slightly like she’s already won whatever argument is about to unfold. The moment our eyes meet, there’s something dark in her gaze that makes my jaw tighten.
Of course.
I should have expected nothing less from a spoiled brat sister like her. A slow exhale leaves my chest as I lean back slightly in my chair, one hand resting against its arms, my fingers tapping once against the wood before going still.
“Let’s get this over with,” I say flatly.
The eldest among the council of elders stands immediately and clears his throat, his voice echoing across the entire room as he finally speaks.
“Alpha Landon, we appreciate your presence. This meeting was called regarding a matter of… great importance to the pack.”
I don’t utter a word back.
I sit there, watching him as he continues anyway.
“It has come to the council’s attention,” he says carefully, “that the rogue currently under your possession is carrying an heir for you,” he pauses for a second. “Your child.”
The entire room goes still the moment he says those words, but I can feel it—the weight of their eyes saying much more than their mouths did.
“And this information,” his voice snaps through my thoughts, glancing briefly toward Clara, “was brought to us by your sister.”
Clara doesn’t even try to hide it. If anything, she looks proud, standing at the far end of the room as though I couldn’t dare hurt her even if I tried to.
Fucking bitch!
“The council has discussed this matter,” another elder’s voice cuts through the silence, his tone firmer now. “And we have reached a conclusion.”
I tilt my head slightly, already bored.
“Go on.”
“That thing in her belly must be terminated.”
The words land in the room without hesitation, no ounce of doubt or softness in them. One after another, the elders begin to speak, their voices blending into a chorus of agreement.
“It is unacceptable for an Alpha’s heir to be carried by a rogue.”
“It weakens the bloodline.”
“It sends the wrong message to the pack.”
“It is a risk we cannot allow.”
Their voices ripple through the room, each one more convinced than the other that their decision is final.
For a moment, I sit there, my fingers curling slightly against the arm of the chair as I let them finish whatever trash is coming out of their mouths.
And when the room finally falls quiet again—
“She’s keeping the baby.”
The words land simple, final. But they hit harder than anything they’ve said because silence follows immediately.
Every single one of them is still in shock, like they’re not sure they heard me right. “Alpha…” one of the elders says quickly, shock still etched across his face. “I don’t think you understand—”
“I understand perfectly,” I cut in coldly before he could finish, my voice calm but dangerous now, “She’s keeping my child.”
The reaction is immediate.
Shock spreads across their faces, disbelief settling in like something they can’t process.
“What?” Clara’s voice cuts through the tension, and the expression on her face looks like she might faint any moment now as she steps forward. “No. No, that’s not happening.”
I don’t look at her.
Not yet.
“You don’t get to decide that,” she continues, her voice echoing loudly in the entire room, “This isn’t just about you, Landon. This is about the pack, about—”
“Watch your fucking tone when you speak to me.” My eyes are on her now, and whatever she sees in my expression makes her tremble in fear for half a second.
“You’re making a mistake,” she shoots back, “Why the hell are you choosing a rogue over your own people? Over your own blood.”
A bitter laughter tears out of me the moment she says those words. “Come on, Clara. Don’t confuse this with something it’s not,” I say coldly. “I’m not choosing anyone over anything.”
“Then what are you doing?!”
“I’m making a decision,” I snap.
“That child shouldn’t exist,” one of the elders' voices interrupts the heated tension, trying to regain control of the conversation. “Alpha, you must reconsider—”
“I don’t recall asking for your stupid opinion.”
The words cut through him instantly and he went quiet, leaning back in his chair like he knew what would come next if he dared to speak again.
“I can’t believe this! Clara barks, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. “You’re actually defending that filthy rogue?”
A low, unimpressed exhale leaves me, and for a second I don’t respond. Then I passed my lips to speak. “You’re really starting to sound desperate, Clara.”
“I’m sounding desperate?! Her eyes flash with anger. “The only reason I sound like this is that you’re not making sense—“
I don’t let her finish her words.
The chair scrapes lightly against the floor as I rise to my full height, and the shift in the room is immediate. The tension spikes, sharp and suffocating as every eye locks onto me.
“I’ll say this once,” I begin, my voice coming out quiet but there’s something deadly underneath it. “That rogue is carrying my child, and that child,” my gaze sweeps across the room before settling on Clara, “will be born whether anyone likes it or not.”
A bitter laughter tears out of her. “You’ve seriously lost your mind..you’re letting a rogue carry your heir,” she presses, stepping closer to me. “Do you even hear yourself? Or have already become too blinded by whatever twisted attachment you’re developing—”
The words don’t finish.
Because I move.
Fast.
Before she can react, my hand is already raised, my body closing the distance between us in a split second.
Clara’s eyes widen instantly—
And for a brief moment, every one of the elders freezes, my hand still hovering mid-air close to Clara’s face.
Too close.
All it would take is one movement for my palms to land hard across her face. But I stop myself immediately, something dark flashing through my eyes before I slowly lower my hand again.
“Don’t push your luck too far, sister,” I step back, the expression on my face hardening into something dangerous. Her lips part slightly to speak, but no words come out as she stares at me, shock written all over her face.
Good.
She better not say a damn word again or I might lose it.
I turn my gaze away from her instantly, my attention shifting back to the council of elders. “My decision stands,” the words land final. “That rogue will carry the child…and she will give birth to it.”
One of the elders opens his mouth, clearly about to argue again—
The look on my face forces him to shut up immediately.
“If anyone dares to challenge my decision,” I continue, my voice thundering across the entire room. “I will rip them to shreds with mercy,” my gaze shifts to Clara one last time, locking onto hers, cold and unyielding.
“…and that includes you.”
For a second, it looks like she might speak again, try to challenge my decision, but whatever she sees in my eyes stops her.
Without another word, I turn and walk out of the chamber, the heavy doors slamming shut behind me with a loud, final echo that leaves no room for argument.
Because this isn’t up for debate anymore.
It will never be.