Chapter 28 THE ALPHA'S DEMAND
Kael prepared for the meeting with a cold, focused anger simmering under his calm expression. He moved through the pack house with purpose, giving orders, placing guards, assigning warriors to patrol every inch of the territory.
Before leaving, he made sure Adam was hidden deep inside the pack house… behind two locked doors, guarded by four loyal warriors and shielded from all scents except Kael’s own. Adam had been too sick and exhausted to stand much, and Kael refused to take chances.
“Stay inside,” Kael told him gently, brushing his thumb along Adam’s cheek before stepping away. “I’ll come back as fast as I can. Nothing will happen to you.”
Adam tried to nod, but worry flickered in his eyes; fear not for himself, but for Kael. Kael kissed his forehead once, then turned and left before he could hesitate.
Now, he stood outside the old council hall where the meeting with Star Moon’s Alpha would take place. Four of his own council members stood with him. They looked tense; not loyal tense, but fearful tense. Some had already whispered earlier that keeping Adam would only bring war.
Kael ignored them.
His wolf paced inside him, restless and angry, ready to tear apart anyone who demanded Adam.
The hall doors opened.
Star Moon Pack’s Alpha, Alpha Theron, walked in with two guards behind him. He wore a satisfied smile, like he had already won whatever battle Kael didn’t know he was in.
Kael kept his posture straight, but every muscle tightened.
“Alpha Kael,” Theron greeted smoothly. “Thank you for agreeing to meet.”
“Let’s not waste time,” Kael replied. “Say what you came here to say.”
Theron smirked.
“Very well.”
He stepped closer, eyes gleaming with cold amusement.
“I hear you’ve been taking care of a certain boy,” he said.
Kael’s jaw clenched. “Say his name.”
Theron raised a brow. “Adam.”
Kael didn’t respond, but his stare sharpened.
Theron continued, voice casual, almost playful.
“Adam is not yours. He never was. He belongs to my pack.”
Kael’s wolf snapped inside him.
“Explain,” Kael growled, voice deep.
Theron smiled like he’d been waiting for that question.
“The man who delivered Adam to Marcus…” he began, pacing slowly, “was one of mine.”
Kael didn’t move, but his pulse kicked.
Theron continued, enjoying the attention.
“Adam wasn’t some random abandoned baby. He was part of an experiment.”
The room went still. Even Kael’s council sucked in breaths.
Kael’s voice dropped dangerously. “What experiment?”
Theron laughed softly. “An interesting one. You see… Adam was born with healing powers. Very rare, but useless. He healed one of my injuries when he was a child. But healing… is boring.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Werewolves already heal fast. What use would I have for a little healer boy?”
Kael’s eyes went sharp and murderous.
Theron kept talking, as if discussing business.
“So I decided to see what would happen if we reversed it. If we turned his powers into destruction instead.” He tilted his head. “Imagine a wolf who can rot the body with a touch. Kill vampires in seconds. Tear through demons. A perfect weapon.”
Kael’s control slipped for a second as a growl rumbled out of him, low and dangerous.
Theron ignored it.
“Of course,” he went on, “experiments on children are… messy. He didn’t adapt well. Too sensitive. Too fragile. He screamed too much. Became a handful.”
Kael took one step forward, rage twisting inside him.
Theron lifted a finger. “Careful, Alpha. You don’t want to start a fight over something that isn’t yours.”
Kael’s wolf roared in his chest.
Theron smiled wider. “Since he was becoming too troublesome, I sent him to Marcus for fostering. All Marcus had to do was keep him drugged enough to stay dormant. Keep him among humans. Keep him quiet.”
Kael’s hands curled into fists so tight his claws almost came out.
Theron shrugged lightly. “But somehow Marcus failed, and you got your hands on him. A pity.” His smile sharpened. “But I’m not worried. You wouldn’t keep something that doesn’t belong to you. I expect you’ll return the boy.”
Kael snapped.
He moved faster than the council could blink, a blur of rage, and grabbed Theron by the front of his shirt, slamming him against the wall hard enough to shake dust from the ceiling.
Theron’s guards stepped forward, but Kael’s growl froze them in place.
Kael’s voice was a raw snarl. “Adam is MINE. You tortured him. You drugged him. You stole his childhood. You took everything from him.” His chest heaved with fury. “If you ever think you’re getting near him again, I will tear your throat out myself.”
Theron didn’t flinch.
In fact… he smiled.
“Ah,” he whispered. “There it is. I wondered how long it would take.”
Kael’s council freaked out.
“Alpha—!”
“Kael, calm down—”
“This is turning into aggression—”
Theron lifted his hands in mock surrender.
“See?” he said loudly, projecting his voice. “I came for a peaceful meeting, and he attacks me. All because of a boy that isn’t even his.”
Kael released him with a shove, disgusted.
Theron smoothed his shirt casually. “Your judgment is clouded, Kael. The boy is dangerous. You think you’re protecting him, but you’re keeping a weapon. My weapon. One that I designed, one that belongs to me.”
Kael’s eyes glowed with pure, wild fury.
“No,” he said. “Adam is not a weapon. And he will never return to you.”
The room fell into tense silence.
Behind Kael, his council exchanged looks… quiet, uneasy, and calculating.
Some whispered:
“He’s choosing the boy over the pack…”
“We could avoid war if he just handed the human over…”
“This isn’t worth a blood feud…”
Kael heard every word.
And his wolf snarled harder.
Theron leaned in slightly, voice quiet but biting. “Even if I leave him for you, you cannot protect him forever. He will awaken. And when he does, he’ll destroy you first. And that'd have been wonderful but I don't have time to wait for him to destroy you. Hand him back. If I want you destroyed I'd do it myself.”
Kael stepped forward again, but Theron had already lifted a hand.
“That’s enough for today.” Theron turned. “You know our demand. We want the boy returned. Think carefully before starting a war you can’t win, Kael.”
Then he walked out of the hall with his guards, leaving Kael standing in the center of the room, chest heaving, fury shaking through his bones.
His council remained silent for a moment… then debate began among them; quiet but quick.
“He should give Adam up.”
“It’s the safest option.”
“Star Moon is too arrogant, and merciless, to provoke.”
Kael didn’t hear anything after that.
His wolf was too loud inside him, shouting one thing:
ADAM IS MINE.
But not everyone in the room shared that loyalty.
And Kael didn’t notice when, behind him, one council member slipped away silently… moving through the shadows, exiting the hall quietly so no one would question it.
Outside, the council member pulled out a hidden communicator crystal, hands shaking.
He whispered into it:
“He’ll be unguarded tonight. Come take him.”