ELIJAH'S POV
"The boarders have been disturbed again. The Lycan Pack—they've started to lunge," one of the elders announced.
"Something must be done, Alpha," another added, urgency sharp in his voice.
I sat in the counseling hall, the ten elders before me poised like statues, legs crossed, eyes fixed on my every reaction. For over a decade, these men had ruled under my father's command. Now, they sat here, ostensibly guiding me, or perhaps testing how much control they could still exert. Five years ago, I would have obeyed every rule without question. Not anymore. Not since Diana.
"Alpha Elijah, this is a serious matter," Curtis Stone interjected, frown deepening, his eyes narrowing like a hawk ready to strike.
I leaned back into the worn leather couch, letting my fingers drum lightly on my thigh. The hall was dim, the thin light from the window doing little to warm the room. Their words brushed past me—I could see it in their careful expressions. They didn't seek my answer. They only spoke because custom demanded it.
"The Lycan Clan is barely a threat," I said. It was the truth. They must have crossed the border only to deliver a message. The real enemy remained unknown. For years we have been having attacks on pack members, so many of them dying in a strange way, and aside other ally packs, we have been cautious about other packs, but I had a strange feeling this was done by someone and not entirely another pack.
"You cannot say that, Alpha," an elder snapped. He looked to be around fifty, wide-mouthed with eyes that seemed to smirk at every word he spoke. His voice carried displeasure, and he did not bother hiding the tone directed at me. "We must take every precaution, even if it means saving our people. Anyone who steps into our territory must be killed."
"No, we won't," I whispered, rubbing my forehead. The past twenty-four hours had been torture. I could barely control myself around the girl I had rejected. Now, dealing with the council felt like another mountain of work I did not have the strength for.
"Alpha Elijah," one of them called again.
Fck, I need a break. Mostly because I had just seen my mate held by another man. How am I supposed to…
"ALPHA ELIJAH!"
The thunderous voice snapped me out of my trance. I blinked and found Curtis Stone standing right in front of me, hands behind his back, jaw tight, eyes darkened.
"I need to speak with you in private," he said.
Our gazes locked longer than necessary. Finally, I turned to the elders and gave a subtle nod. When they filed out, Curtis crossed his arms over his chest, his presence heavy and imposing.
"Do you still harbor that girl in your heart after all these years," he said. It was not a question. It sounded more like a warning.
"That same girl is your daughter and my mate!", I said, rising to my feet, matching his height, every muscle tense, every heartbeat loud in my chest.
Curtis's face went hard as stone. "You cannot be with Diana."
"I remember you saying that five years ago," I said. "Fortunately, I am not the same man I was then."
A bitter sigh left me as the memory hit—the day he'd pulled me aside, warned me, and I'd been too naïve to follow my heart. I'd listened to them instead and shattered my own chest in the process.
I crossed to the desk by the window, poured champagne into a glass, and drank until the burn steadied my hands. Curtis's footsteps came up behind me before I could set the bottle down.
"She cannot be the Luna of this pack. Focus on making the pack safe for everyone," he said.
Something in me snapped. I flung the glass against the wall. It shattered with a hot, angry crash. My vision narrowed. I turned to Curtis, every line in my face tight with fury. "You do not tell the Alpha what to do," I said, voice cold and low. My lips curved, not with amusement. "Diana is mine, and I will get her back at any cost."
"You will lose her if you ever have her."
"Oh, damn you, Curtis. Those were your words years ago, and I believed them," I shot back, my voice rising. He didn't flinch, and that only fueled my anger. "I need you to stop telling me what to do."
Curtis's lips curved, almost imperceptibly. He stepped closer, and the rest of his words fell in a low whisper. "You don't want to do something you'll regret, something that will make you bleed in pain—pain worse than your father ever knew."
My hands curled into fists, my lips twisting in restrained fury.
"See to the Lycan Pack. Secure the territory. And keep your mind off Diana," he said, turning to leave.
"Do you even care about her? For f..sake, she is your daughter, Curtis!" I yelled, stopping him in his tracks.
A weak laugh escaped him. He glanced over his shoulder, voice cold and even. "Whatever happens in my household does not concern you. Focus on your duty as the Alpha."
"It's not a duty," I whispered, but he was already gone.
Damn him.
My jaw clenched. Pain surged through my chest, and my legs gave way beneath me. It was happening again—the sharp clutching of my heart, like thousands of needles piercing me. The agony of not being able to claim her consumed me.
Once again, I saw her in my dreams. Her flame burned bright, heat calling to me, daring me to claim her, to sink my teeth into her. But I knew too much about Alexis's story to act recklessly. I could not take Diana without her consent.
"What?" I murmured, raising my head slowly.
Mariah bowed, stopping just short of entering. "The preparations for the mating ceremony are ready to be carried out, with your permission, of course."
I narrowed my eyes as I studied her stance. Her striking eyes washed over me, calm yet unyielding. Curtis Stone had successfully made his daughter my second—well, one among my seconds—but he would never succeed in making her my bride.
I got to my feet, trying to steady my stance. I might be slightly drunk from the champagne, but I walked toward her, eyes narrowed.
She didn't flinch. She didn't even blink. Her hands remained clasped behind her back, waiting for me to approach.
The moment I reached her, her composure cracked. Her hands dropped to her sides. I stopped just short of her, studying her for a long moment before raising my hand to brush her cheek.
"How much do you want me?" I asked.
Mariah blinked once, then a wide smile spread across her face. "For so long… so, so long, Elijah. Oh, finally. Finally, you see just how fit I am for you."
I returned a smile that barely touched my eyes and leaned closer. My words whispered into her ear, making her jolt and press against me. I inhaled her scent, but it was bland, ordinary. All I caught was the sweat from her recent fight.
"Did you fight?" I asked.
She nodded. "I had to secure the border from any trespassing pack."
I leaned back, staring at her. Of course, Curtis Stone and the other elders would make decisions without consulting me. It had always been this way.
"Elijah," her voice softened. She placed her hand on my arm, rubbing gently, her eyes locked on mine. "Why don't you see… that I want you?"
My eyes darkened. My hands shot to her face, gripping hard. She flinched, pressing her hands against mine to pull away.
"Elijah, what are yo—"
"Alpha", I hissed. "Do I have to remind you to show some respect?" I squeezed her face tighter until she began to whimper, but then I threw her back until she hit the wall behind her. She stared at me, wide-eyed, clutching her face.
"Make sure the preparations are ready. Do not enter this room until I call for you," I said.
She nodded quickly, bowed and dashed away in seconds. I exhaled, my thoughts immediately turning to Diana, to how much I wanted to be near her. But I knew she didn't want me close, and I respected her too much to invade her privacy.
"Bone."
"Alpha."
A white-haired shadow warrior stepped out from the side of the room, completely in black ninja cloths. He had been there while the elders spoke, but no one had noticed him. He moved like part of the shadows, carrying out tasks silently, unseen by anyone.
"Find the book on Alexis Vandel. Everything about her history."
"Yes, Alpha."
In a blink, he was gone.
Even if I cannot be with Diana, I must find a way to save her, so the flame won't consume her.