“As has the Mountain Ridge pack,” another council member chimed in. “Their Alpha made it clear his sister would be honored to be considered.”
“And yet our Alpha shows no interest in any of them,” Alderic spread his hands as if puzzled. “One begins to wonder why.”
“Perhaps,” Elder Morrison spoke up, his weathered face thoughtful, “we should discuss the actual impact rather than perception. Has pack security suffered? Have our treaties weakened? Has our territory been challenged?”
“No,” I said firmly. “Our borders are secure, our alliances strong, and our pack prospers.”
“Financially, yes,” Alderic conceded. “But morale is another matter. The pack needs to see their Alpha as fully invested in their future. You’re twenty-seven now. Most Alphas have taken a mate by twenty-five. The pack wonders what you’re waiting for. You know a Luna provides that symbol of continuity, of investment in generations to come.”
The words hit their mark even though I kept my expression neutral. Generations to come. The children I’d never have because my body had already chosen its mate and would accept no substitute.
“The full moon gathering is in six months,” Mary said, as if we were already negotiating terms. “A formal announcement then would give the pack something to celebrate as we enter winter.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything,” I reminded them.
“Of course not,” Alderic’s smile was all teeth. “We’re simply discussing possibilities. But consider this, Knox. Your parents stepped down at the traditional age, trusting you to carry the Raven legacy forward. Would they want to see that legacy die with you?”
My parents. Who’d trained me from birth to put pack first, always. Who’d made it clear that personal happiness was a luxury Alphas couldn’t afford. Who’d be horrified to know I’d found my true mate and rejected her for a human.
“I appreciate the offer,” I said, choosing my words with the same care I’d use to navigate a minefield, “but I’m not seeking a mate.”
“Perhaps courtship then?” Alderic pressed, leaning forward. “Nothing binding. A few public appearances, let the pack see you with an appropriate female. It would quiet the... concerns about your single status.”
“One dinner,” Elder Whitlane suggested, shooting Alderic a warning look. “See if there’s any compatibility before making larger commitments.”
Mary’s smile widened slightly. She’d known they’d wear me down eventually. They always did. I looked around the table at faces that ranged from eager to resigned. Even those who didn’t fully support Alderic’s power play understood the political necessity. An Alpha who appeared weak invited challenges. An Alpha who seemed broken invited war.
“One dinner,” I heard myself agreeing. “Public. Nothing more.”
“Excellent,” Alderic stood, clearly considering the matter settled. “Friday evening then.”
The council filed out with various murmurs. Elder Whitlane paused at the door, her ancient eyes seeing too much.
“She must have been special,” she said quietly. “The one you can’t forget.”
I said nothing, and after a moment she left, closing the door behind her.
Except I wasn’t alone. Mary lingered, examining her perfect nails before turning to me with swaying hips that left me completely cold.
“I know this is just politics for you,” she said, closing the distance between us. Her hand trailed down my arm, manicured nails catching on my sleeve. My wolf snarled internally, hackles raised at the unwanted contact. I had to physically restrain him from surfacing.
It had been getting harder lately, controlling the wild part of me that had been growing stronger. The civilized Alpha was a mask that fit less comfortably each day. Underneath, I was becoming feral in ways that had nothing to do with the full moon and everything to do with a rejection that had broken essential parts of me.
Depression had settled over me after leaving Pine Valley. First came the inability to sleep, lying awake feeling her phantom touch. Then the food that tasted wrong, the smiles that felt painted on, the growing certainty that I’d made the worst mistake of my life.
Blake’s death had cracked me open. Rejecting my mate had shattered what remained. Now I was just fragments held together by duty and stubbornness.
“But maybe we could make it... mutually beneficial?” Mary continued, oblivious to my internal decay.
She leaned closer, her perfume making my nose wrinkle. “You clearly have needs. All males do. I could help with those. Discreetly, of course.”
“My needs are none of your concern.”
“Aren’t they?” Her finger traced patterns on my chest that made my skin crawl. “When was the last time you took a female to your bed, Knox? The pack whispers about that too. An Alpha in his prime who lives like a monk.”
Five years, three months, and twelve days. But I wasn’t counting. My body had shut down that part of itself, recognizing no substitute for what it had claimed and lost.
“No strings attached,” Mary pressed when I didn’t respond. “Just two wolves taking care of basic biology. I’m very... skilled.”
