Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 20: 19

It would be embarrassing to admit that I wasn’t used to drinking and that I almost choked to death on a tiny sip of the whiskey he drank daily as if it were water.

I smiled, leaning against the counter.

"Shit, I hope you're not being sarcastic," he hissed.

"Not at all."

He stared at me, furrowing his brown eyebrows.

"I swear, Savannah..."

"Just go to your appointment," I cut him off, gesturing toward the door with a wave of my hand.

He stood still, silent, his eyes fixed on me for a while longer, studying me and trying to figure out what my true plans were, before finally giving in and walking stiffly out of the house.

"I know what you feel, just as I can locate you, anyway. Trying to run away or lie to me again would be stupid," he hissed over his shoulder.

"Then there's nothing for you to worry about, right?" I provoked.

He moved toward the door, slamming it behind him as he left. I felt the itch in my chest slowly dissipate as he walked away.

I looked around, observing his house, and I opened up a wide smile. I had the whole place to myself.

Where would I snoop first? His room, obviously.

Laughing, I ran toward the stairs.

***

POV Fenrir Dăneşti

I advanced through neutral territory with my heart beating out of sync. It was the land of our elders, where the monthly meetings took place to discuss matters of interest to the five alphas of the region, or not.

And after the meeting was over, Jax would throw an exclusive party where members of each pack were invited. Usually, omegas and alphas without mates, and of the right age to mate and find their destined partner, to increase our numbers.

But not for me and the other leaders. For us, it was just fun.

They still didn't know that I had already mated. I kept the truth about Savannah a secret because I didn't know how to handle it, much less how to tell them.

Me, who abhorred mating.

I ran a hand through my hair, sliding my fingers through the strands, curling some rebellious locks.

I smelled the strong scent of ash and old paper, characteristic of the elders.

The full moon bathed the path with a silver light, casting my shadow, which rose in front of me as I moved into the castle.

The place was soaked in silence. I could scent the other alphas, who weren’t communicating as they waited for the meeting to begin.

It was an imposing stone fortress that rose with authority. The tall and sturdy walls told the story of centuries, marked by the passage of time. The castle had always existed, since I could remember.

I entered the large hall, the space opening majestically before me, lit by torches that cast dancing shadows over the stone walls.

Of all of us, the elders were the only ones who hadn’t surrendered to technology over the years.

In the center, there were five large chairs made of old wood, arranged in a perfect circle, each one intended for one of the five alphas. And in another corner, separated, rested three chairs, intended for the elders.

Everyone was present, except for Riuk. Which wasn’t surprising, he never attended the meetings, but he never missed any of the parties that followed shortly after.

I stared at Jax, the leader of the Vanóia pack, who stood with a firm presence. The dim light of the room highlighted the defined features of his face and his dark hair swept back. His eyes, attentive and calculating, missed nothing. Dressed in a shirt that clung to his muscles, jeans, and boots.

Of all of us, he was the only one I trusted.

Beside him was Lucian, the leader of the Lazar pack. Large and imposing, with dark hair falling heavily over his shoulders, he sat in a relaxed manner, as if bored. The black clothes covering his body did little to hide the mass of muscles beneath. His green eyes swept the room, as bored as his posture suggested.

And beside him, Konrad. The alpha of the Mihai pack had short, blonde hair. Cold blue eyes. A slender face with soft features and facial hair growing around his jawline. He was tall and thin, sitting properly in his chair.

I greeted them with a simple nod and cast a glance at the only empty chair, Riuk’s.

I took the chair that belonged to me, shifting slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable, anticipating what was to come.

I fixed my gaze ahead, staring at the dark figures of the elders, the three figures who inspired respect. One of them, blind, had skin wrinkled like a forgotten parchment, but his posture suggested that he saw more than anyone with perfect vision. The second, without a mouth, was as silent as a tomb, but his aura indicated he had mastery over words and knowledge. And the third, devoid of ears, seemed to absorb every sound in the environment, the stillness around him more eloquent than any speech.

They sat side by side, each with their absence, but together they formed a whole.

They were the oldest figures I knew. Age was still a mystery to us. They were seen as father figures. They were the ones who found us, saved us, and gave us the power, authority, and territory we had today.

I instinctively tilted my head, as did the others. It was a gesture of respect deeply ingrained in each of us. The presence of the elders demanded our recognition, even though they lacked the traditional senses.

“Riuk is not here tonight?” asked the blind one, shaking his head in disapproval.

“Unfortunately, yes,” answered the one without ears.

For a long time, I wondered how the dynamics between them worked. I couldn’t understand how one of them couldn’t hear any of us except his brother. After much speculation, I came to no conclusion.

There were legends saying they were the same person, divided into three parts. And others saying they were triplets.

The eyes of the one without a mouth were always watching, observing us intently.

“Any news, gentlemen?” asked the blind one.

Jax and Lucian shook their heads, declining. With my incompetence, they all turned to me and waited.

“Fenrir?” The elder’s voice reverberated through the room, sounding loud and clear.

I gripped the armrests of the chair tightly and felt my nails break through the skin, elongating. I felt like an idiot. A damn idiot, out of control.

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath.

“I’ve mated,” I confessed.

For a moment, they were silent. Lucian’s loud laughter echoed through the room in a mocking chuckle.

I turned to him with a growl caught in my throat.

“Since when did your sense of humor get better?” he asked, laughing.

I clenched my teeth so hard that the muscle in my jaw cracked.

“This isn’t a joke.”

I wish it were.

He closed his mouth, swallowing the laughter and looking at me with a furrowed brow. Jax remained silent.

“Oh!” exclaimed Konrad, his eyes wide. “Now, that’s some real news.”

“You mated and didn’t inform us?” objected the elder.

Not even if they tortured me would I tell them that I simply let my wolf take over, and when I came back to full consciousness, I was mated to a female I had never seen before.

“It was kind of unexpected…” I murmured, choosing my words carefully. “I drank a lot and… this happened.” I sneered.

Lucian narrowed his green eyes.

“Who would’ve thought your widowhood would end, I thought you’d stay in the dark age for at least another fifty years,” he mocked.

The knuckles of my fingers whitened with the strength I was holding against the chair, trying to keep control.

“You know, Lucian, not everyone orders their destined mate to be killed while she’s still a pup and goes on with life like nothing happened.”

The smile disappeared from his face in the blink of an eye.

“Keep talking, and I’ll kill you,” he threatened, in a low voice.

A wolfish smile appeared on my face.

“You can try.”

His eyes glowed with a vivid green, and I felt mine reflect golden.

“How, Fenrir?” Jax cut in, ignoring our silent offer of war, speaking for the first time and sounding concerned.

He was the only one who understood the magnitude of what mating meant for me. My oldest and most reliable friend among the pack leaders.

I pressed my lips together, disdainful.

“As I said, it happened.” I laughed, running a hand through my hair. “My people needed a… queen. She’s a beautiful wolf, pleasant, and submissive, just right for me,” I lied.

Savannah was many things, but submissive wasn’t one of them. Maybe she was once, but that was no longer the case. She irritated me, provoked me, and challenged me whenever she could.

I was sure that earlier, when she agreed so very docilely to my refusal of her presence at the party, it was because she had some plan. And deep down, way deep down, I felt that plan was to destroy my things.

Jax narrowed his eyes, turning them into small slits.

“Well, that’s very good,” said one of the elders, the blind one. I diverted my gaze to him, ignoring Jax, who was trying to read me between the lines. “It was about time you found a suitable mate.”

I nodded, swallowing hard.

“And we want to meet her,” said the one without ears.

My heart sped up in my chest. I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.

“Of course,” I agreed, smiling. “Savannah will love it.”

Damn, I’d kill the wolf if she did anything to embarrass me or disprove me in front of them.

“I’m also looking forward to meeting your omega, Fenrir,” Lucian provoked, smiling with disdain.

“If you’re so interested in a mate, Lucian, why don’t you find one for yourself?” I gestured, tapping my finger on my chin, as if I were thinking. “Oh, sorry, I forgot you have a fetish for killing them.”

He stood up from his chair abruptly, rising over us. His eyes were consumed by gold.