Choosing love over titles

Choosing love over titles

Alpha Malcolm's POV

The council chamber was different, it looked scary like I was about to be executed there but it was similar considering the nature of my crime.
I stood alone in the center of the circle, surrounded by the remaining elder wolves. The fire in the stone pit crackled softly, casting long shadows across their faces. Some of those faces had once looked at me with pride.

Now they looked at me like a stranger or worse. This time I looked like a traitor. No one spoke at first. The silence stretched long enough to make the air heavy in my lungs.

Finally, Elder Rurik broke it.

“You called this meeting in secret, Alpha Malcolm,” he said slowly, his voice rough with age. “You said the truth could no longer wait.”

His cloudy eyes narrowed.

“So speak it.”

My throat felt dry, but there was no turning back now.

“I lied to you.”

The words fell into the room like a stone into deep water. Murmurs rippled through the elders. I could wonder what they were thinking about.
I forced myself to keep going.

“Years ago… when Flora’s mother died… I did not tell you everything.”

Elder Sera leaned forward sharply, her silver braid sliding over her shoulder.

“What are you saying?” she demanded.

My hands clenched at my sides.

“I made choices that night,” I said. “Choices meant to protect the pack… but choices that destroyed someone who trusted me.”

The room went still.

Rurik’s voice dropped into a dangerous whisper.

“You will explain that fully.”

I inhaled slowly.

“Flora’s mother discovered something about Kael,” I said. “Something dangerous. She wanted to confront him… expose him.”

Sera frowned.

“And?”

“I stopped her.”

Gasps burst around the circle.

“I believed,” I continued quickly, “that confronting Kael would start a war the pack was not ready for. I believed secrecy would protect everyone.”

Rurik slammed his staff against the stone floor.

“Did she die because of you?”

The question hit like a blade.

My voice came out quiet.

“Yes.”

The chamber exploded.

“You fool!”

“You murdered one of our own!”

“Alpha or not, that is blood guilt!”

Elder Tomas rose halfway from his seat, his eyes blazing.

“You deserve execution for that alone.”

My heart pounded, but I didn’t argue. Because part of me believed he was right. I had given similar judgements years before now although I wasn't entirely telling them the truth but it was a close truth.

Sera stood slowly, raising a hand to silence the others.

“Enough,” she said.

The noise faded, though the anger remained burning in their eyes.

She studied me carefully.

“You have ruled this pack for years,” she said. “Why confess now?”

Flora’s face flashed in my mind. I could see her pain, her rage and anger. Her belief that I had betrayed her. Kael had so brainwashed her.

“Because she knows part of the truth,” I said hoarsely.

Sera’s expression sharpened.

“Flora?”

“Yes.”

Rurik frowned.

“How?”

“Kael showed her illusions,” I said. “Twisted memories. He made it look like I betrayed her… like I lied about everything.”

Tomas snorted.

“Perhaps he didn’t need to twist much.”

The insult landed cleanly. I didn’t defend myself. Because again… he wasn’t entirely wrong.

“I did lie,” I admitted. “But not about loving her. Not about protecting the pack.”

My voice hardened.

“And Kael is manipulating her anger.”

Rurik’s eyes darkened.

“What do you want from us?”

The question hung heavy in the air. I stepped forward.
“I want your help reaching Flora before Kael finishes poisoning her against us.”

Tomas laughed harshly.

“You expect us to help you after confessing to a crime like that?”

“Yes.”

His laughter stopped instantly.

“Because if I don’t reach her,” I continued, “Kael will turn her into a weapon against this pack.”

Sera studied my face, searching for something.

“Or perhaps she already is,” she said quietly.

The possibility twisted in my chest.

Flora appeared beside Kael, Flora believing I had betrayed her and Flora hating me. These were terrible things that I didn't want to happen.

“I won’t let that happen,” I said.

Rurik leaned heavily on his staff.

“You speak as though your feelings for the girl matter more than your crimes.”

“They don’t,” I said immediately.

Then I forced out the next words.

“But they are connected.”

The elders waited.

“I failed her mother,” I said. “And because of that failure… Flora grew up surrounded by lies.”

The truth tasted bitter.

“She deserves the real story. From me.”

Tomas crossed his arms.

“And if she kills you after hearing it?”

I met his gaze.

“Then I’ll accept that.”

Another ripple of murmurs spread through the chamber. Rurik studied me for a long moment.

Finally he asked the question I had been waiting for.

“And if we refuse?”

I straightened.

“Then I will step down as Alpha, Maverick can take over if the council wishes.”

The room froze.

Sera’s eyes widened slightly.

“You would abandon leadership of the pack?”

“I wouldn’t abandon it,” I said quietly.

“I would give it to someone better.”

Tomas scoffed.

“This is guilt talking.”

“Maybe,” I admitted.

“But the pack deserves a leader without my mistakes haunting him.”

Rurik’s gaze sharpened.

“And who would take your place because we don't want your family?”

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “That’s for the council to decide.”

The elders exchanged uneasy looks. Power transitions were never simple. Especially not in times like this.

Sera folded her hands together.

“You would trade your position… just for a chance to speak with her?”

“Yes.”

The answer came without hesitation because nothing else mattered now. Flora had to know the truth. Even if that truth destroyed me.

Tomas shook his head.

“You are blinded by emotion.”

“Perhaps,” I said. “But Kael isn’t.”

That made several elders stiffen.

“He is planning something,” I continued. “And Flora is the center of it.”

Rurik frowned.

“What makes you so certain?”

“Because Kael has wanted power over this pack for decades,” I said. “And Flora is the only person strong enough to tip the balance.”

Sera’s eyes darkened.

“She has her mother’s power.”

“Yes.”

“And her anger,” Tomas added.

Exactly which made her dangerous and vulnerable.

Rurik exhaled slowly.

“This is a heavy confession, Malcolm.”

“I know.”

“You ask us to trust a man who admitted he caused a wolf’s death.”

“I do.”

The fire popped loudly in the silence.

Finally Sera spoke again.

“If what you say about Kael is true… then Flora may already be caught in his web.”

My chest tightened.

“That’s why I need to reach her.”

Tomas looked unconvinced.

“And if she chooses Kael over you?”

“Then at least it will be her choice,” I said.

“Not one built on lies.”

The elders fell quiet again.

Rurik t
apped his staff slowly against the stone thinking for a while. Finally he looked up.

“You understand that helping you may ignite war.”

“Yes.”

“And stepping down as Alpha will weaken the pack.”

“Yes.”

He studied my face one last time.

“Then we will deliberate.”