The hall hushed as soon as I stepped inside. Every eye turned to look at me. I could see the elders eyeing me warily and they also seemed to have some sort of victorious smirk with annoyed me
I joined other Alpha's in the room at the round table debate. I could already feel the absence of Alpha Raphael's presence and a few minutes later, I noticed Alpha George was not here as well.
After taking my seat, Lord Edvin turned to me and whispered. "Hope you remember why you are here?"
"Of course," I whispered back to him.
"It will probably be tough but you've got this Dagen."
"I always have things handled," I smirked at him.
"I choose to remain quiet and not say what will offend you," Edvin chuckled, patting me on the back.
The Elders were seated, their faces a blank slate, but I could see the barely leashed aggression loud and clear. After a second or two, the heavy air was pierced by Elder Thaddeus’s coughing.
"Alpha Dagen, we have gathered today to discuss the fate of you birthing an heir. This cannot be postponed any longer.” His tone became authoritarian, but there was a touch of sympathy in them.
I inhaled sharply, knowing that the fiery exchange we were about to have had been brewing for some time now. My heart was thumping against my chest as if there was a band inside out of anger and annoyance. I had no idea why the Elders had to poke their noses even when it did not concern them.
“I get the feeling, Elder Thaddeus, but —”
In a stern voice, Lord Edvin stopped me knowing I might say something to offend the elders. "The Alpha is attempting to provide the pack with a child. We cannot deny his contribution.” His tone brooked no argument.
Elder Walker’s nostrils flared as he spoke the last words, and he looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Yes, even if a man tries his best and indeed makes sacrifices, it is still not enough as there's no result. No one will want to be known as a man of effort and not results, Lord Edvin. As far as the curse goes, it might get to Alpha Dagen first before he gets another heir. We need a contingency plan. He has a cousin, Tyler; let Tyler ascend the throne."
I have never hated this man more in my life.
I sat with my hands squeezed in between my legs and my heart burning with distress, anger visibly evident on my face. "I Can hardly believe you are seriously planning to make Tyler an heir in my absence! You bastard, his father killed my parents!" My voice rose.
It was quiet once more and Elder Davis stayed poker-faced, showing no sign of anger. "Seems like all we can do now is sit back and watch Alpha Dagen. Watch and wait for your solution. The pack requires stability and continuity. If there are no successors, then you get into a stage of anarchy.” His tone was detached.
Edvin looked furious; his eyes had sparks of defiance. "As Beta of this pack, I won’t let Tyler ascend. It would be a hotbed for treason. Everybody knows his father’s history.”
The Elders looked at each other; the atmosphere grew tenser with unsaid words on everybody’s lips.
Elder Thaddeus interrupted after a few minutes of silence. "We have no other option. Time is not on our side." His words echoed like a threat in the room.
Edvin’s voice went up, emotion which he seldom displayed escaping him. "Five years give Dagen five years to demonstrate that he can produce an heir.”
"We can't—"
"Do you expect a baby to be suddenly born overnight?" Edvin asked. "Five years is not an unreasonable request.”
A frown drew across Elder Walker’s face and he shook his head briefly. "I am saying that we should not wait for the next five years. We are in a position where we couldn’t even allow the meeting to span five days. The curse is unpredictable." His tone was final.
Emotions arose, and arguments from both of them began; the voices increased with shouts and counter-shouts. I was too overwhelmed to even join in.
Finally, Thaddeus picked his hand up and gestured to the group to quiet down. ‘Enough,’ he said crisply.
The room fell silent.
‘We will compromise,’ Elder Thaddeus continued. ‘Alpha Dagen, the paper to be filled and signed by you states that Tyler is your successor but it will not go out to the public. Meanwhile, you have five years in which to present an heir. If you fail you must announce to the world that Tyler is the rightful heir to the throne of your pack."
There was a sense of relief and fear all at the same time flooding through every fiber of my body.
"And if I have an heir?"
Elder Davis' gaze was stern. “Then Tyler’s ascension to the throne will be dismissed, and your offspring will be next in line.”
Lord Edvin only nodded, even though he seemed to be far from the happiness the situation called for. "This is the best that one can do under the circumstances.”
"I suppose it is," I muttered, still quite annoyed. I could not picture myself with any woman at this stage in life. I was tired of the responsibilities that came with being alpha but I could not just sit back and let these old men take away the throne my father and I worked hard for so easily.
"Do we have an agreement?" Lord Thaddeus asked.
"Yes, we have an agreement." My voice was firm.
The Elders nodded in unison, murmuring amongst themselves which I hated. Why could they not discuss it publicly?
Elder Walker spoke his final words. "Then it is settled. Alpha Dagen, it is your duty to guarantee that in the next five years, there should be an heir from the pack. If not, they will announce Tyler as the legitimate successor to the throne to the public.”