Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 21: 20

POV Fenrir Dăneşti

"Sit down right now, Lucian," ordered one of the elders, pointing to the empty chair. "I already told you I don't tolerate provocations in my house. Behave like men, not like animals."

Reluctantly, Lucian let his body fall onto the chair, never taking his eyes off mine, lifting his lips in a low snarl, exposing his fangs.

Jax shook his head, disapproving of our actions in silence.

"Is there any other information you'd like to share?" asked the elder without ears, waiting.

No one said a word. Silence stretched across the room.

"No conflicts?" asked the elder without eyes. We remained silent. "Good, then that's it. Fenrir, we'd like to meet your mated companion at another time."

"Of course," I agreed.

"Meeting adjourned," announced the elder without ears. "You may proceed to the lust party."

I stood up and lowered my head, bidding them farewell with respect. I heard the sound of chairs from Lucian, Konrad, and Jax as they did the same.

I moved towards the opposite side of where we had entered the meeting room, heading for the attached room where the parties took place.

They were organized by Jax but hosted on the elders' territory because it was a neutral space. Every month, on the first night of the full moon. This way, the wolves had the opportunity to meet their destined mates, as they might belong to other packs. They were forbidden from roaming between territories, so the party was the only chance they had to do so.

"I thought you'd no longer be part of the parties, Fenrir, now that you're married," Konrad commented from my right, quickening his pace to match mine.

"I'm mated, not dead."

"Is your wolf here?"

I clenched my teeth.

"No."

"And does she know what this party is about?"

I stopped walking and turned to him, narrowing my gaze. Konrad was the smallest and thinnest of us five.

"Since when do you care about my personal life, Konrad?"

He muttered a no, shaking his head and taking a step back.

"I don't care, but I hate disrespect toward the symbolism of mating. It's such an ancient, important, and unique ritual."

Lucian and Jax were watching silently, following close behind.

I tilted my head and hissed harshly, "Then find an omega to mate with, and your problem will be solved."

He blinked, looking stunned.

I turned to the double doors, ready to enter the party.

A castle servant, wearing a dark robe that covered his face, pushed open the doors for us.

The candlelight from the chandeliers hanging around the room cast a subtle glow, making it dimly lit. Wolves walked from one side to the other, holding cups of drinks.

The smell of excitement and sex flowed through the air, strong and intense. The only sounds were the side conversations and the moans of wolves having sex in the adjoining rooms.

I recognized a few of mine as I made my way toward the small stone bar at the back. I pulled out a wooden stool and sat down.

Another servant, also dressed in a robe that covered his face, approached me.

"Neat whiskey," I asked, rubbing my eyes, frustrated.

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was, as I felt the chair beside me being dragged.

"I can smell her on you, mixed with your scent," Jax commented, pulling a drink. "I don't know how no one noticed as soon as you walked into the room. It's pretty strong."

I turned my head toward him.

"Wolves who are newly mated are supposed to smell like this." I closed my fingers around the round glass and took it to my lips, swallowing it all in one gulp. I waved, calling for the servant. "Leave the bottle here."

"What happened, Fenrir? The truth."

"Is my frustration that noticeable?" I asked, pulling the bottle as soon as it was placed in front of me. I filled my cup and his, laughing. "And here I thought I was good at hiding my feelings."

"Not that noticeable to others, but for someone who knows you well, like me."

I shook my head, staring at some random object.

"I don't know what happened," I confessed, in a tone so low that Jax could only hear due to his sharp hearing.

"How can you not know?" He placed his hand on my shoulder and gave a subtle squeeze. "Since Catalina..."

"I don't know," I cut him off, turning to him to stop him from mentioning her.

"I know what mating means to you, Fenrir. So tell me the truth."

"This is the truth." He shot me a fleeting glance. "Savannah showed up on my territory, in heat. I smelled her from afar, went to see what it was, and then..." I let the words die.

"So, what?" he pressed, looking around to make sure no one was paying attention.

"When I regained consciousness, we were mated."

He squinted and fell silent for a few seconds, absorbing what I had confessed.

"Wait... you let your wolf take control?" I nodded, confessing silently. "What the hell! Has this happened before?"

"Not that I remember."

If it were up to me, no one else from the council would know the truth, except for Jax. Having control over our animals was the least an alpha should do. If they knew about this... lapse of mine, they might question my strength as an alpha. And that was out of the question.

I took another sip of the amber drink, feeling increasingly frustrated.

"And now? What do you plan to do?"

I shrugged.

"Nothing. Savannah is a burden I’ll have to carry."

"As your wife?" he inquired, raising a suggestive eyebrow.

"As... just a mated companion."

I was still figuring out how I would handle it in the distant future. But for now, I just wanted to pretend she didn’t exist, even though it was almost impossible.

He laughed and took a sip of his drink.

"This is going to be... interesting."

I scoffed.

The doors opened. I turned my body just as Riuk walked through, entering the party.

"What a surprise he shows up to fuck, but not for the council meeting," Jax mocked.

Riuk entered the room as if he owned the place. Wearing clothes that hadn’t been in fashion for ages, made of velvet and dark brocade, contrasting with his pale skin, he walked confidently, making his arrogance palpable.

He was tall, with broad shoulders and lean muscles. His short, thick hair was a deep mahogany color. A hard face with thick eyebrows, furrowed over his black eyes.

The alpha of the Constantini pack was reclusive and solitary. He attended the parties to fuck and satisfy himself, having fun with several females throughout the night. Then he would leave without speaking to anyone, keeping contact only when necessary.

"He’s been so reclusive for so many years, he hasn’t seen time pass," I mocked, pointing my chin toward him as he wore a black coat, gloves, dark pants, and boots. Underneath, a wine-colored velvet vest with a double row of silver buttons and a white shirt.

He stopped halfway and pulled a female who was eyeing him lustfully, then did the same with two others before heading to one of the rooms without saying a word.

On the other side, a little farther away, was Lucian, alone. A few females approached him, offering themselves to the alpha, but he rejected them. Lucian stayed at the parties, drinking and watching everything, without getting involved with anyone.

Of all of us, he enjoyed it the least.

Konrad was near the entrance doors, talking to some wolves, laughing and drinking. If he slept with anyone at these parties, I couldn’t say. Whenever I saw him, he was interacting with someone, but not in a romantic way.

I turned back to the bar, filling my glass with whiskey again and taking a long, slow sip.

"Riuk is... complicated," Jax said, letting out an exasperated sigh.

Jax managed to maintain a respectful relationship with all the alphas. Being the only one with heat herbs, he kept good ties with the others. Riuk was the most reclusive of us.

I didn’t respond, swirling the drink with my fingers, watching the liquid spin inside the glass.

I felt the heat of a presence approaching, followed by the unfamiliar scent of omegas. I glanced to the side, watching the she-wolves approach Jax. One of them smiled and twirled a strand of brown hair around her finger, eyeing him up and down, while the other stayed two steps behind, waiting.

"Would you like company tonight?" the closest one asked.