Rejected By My Mate; Claimed By Lycan Quadruplets Chapter 58

Bryan's POV

I woke up that morning with the usual heaviness in my chest. Council meetings were never my thing, mostly because I was always treated like a spoiled heir who knew nothing beyond lifting a spoon to my mouth. But today, something in me simmered with defiance.

Maybe it was Knox’s son Cyrus mocking me during horse training the other day, or maybe it was the way Father barely acknowledged my existence unless it involved marriage arrangements or scolding. Either way, I decided I wasn’t going to sit through another meeting looking like a complete fool.

I dressed simply but sharply—black slacks, a tailored shirt, and boots polished enough to see my reflection in them. When I stepped into the dining hall for breakfast, Father was already there, seated at the head of the table like some great warlord planning his next conquest. He glanced up at me, his expression unreadable.

“You’re ready,” he said flatly, sipping from his cup.

“Yes, Father,” I replied. My tone wasn’t submissive, but I didn’t push for confrontation either.

He gestured to Henry, who was standing by the doorway like the ever-loyal beta dog he was. “Escort my son to the council chamber. I expect you not to embarrass me today, Bryan.”

Henry smirked at me, clearly amused by the subtle insult. I ignored him, shoving my hands into my pockets as I followed them out of the dining hall. My father’s words cut deeper than I’d admit, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flinch.

The council chamber was buzzing with chatter when we arrived. Alphas and advisors were already seated, some discussing the rogue attacks while others muttered about trade alliances and border disputes. The heavy oak table in the center gleamed under the sunlight streaming from the tall windows, the polished surface scattered with maps and scrolls.

“Alpha Baron,” one of the elders greeted my father. Then, his gaze landed on me. “And the young heir, Bryan.”

The way he said it, like I was some little boy tagging along to learn how to behave, made my jaw clench.

Father took his seat, motioning for me to sit beside him. “Pay attention,” he whispered sharply. “Maybe today you’ll learn something useful.”

I swallowed the retort that threatened to spill out and took my seat. The meeting began with discussions about the rogue attacks, how they were becoming bolder and slipping through borders we’d considered impenetrable. Each Alpha at the table gave their opinions, most suggesting increased patrols and heavier punishments for captured rogues. It was the same rhetoric, the same stale ideas repeated over and over again.

Finally, Father looked at me with a raised brow, his tone laced with mockery. “What do you think, Bryan? Or is this beyond your understanding?”

The room went silent. Every pair of eyes turned to me, expecting me to choke or fumble my words. But I didn’t. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table.

“I think we’re looking at this the wrong way,” I began. My voice was steady, sharper than I even expected. “If the rogues have managed to breach the borders multiple times, it means they have inside help. Someone is feeding them information, maybe even resources. We can keep strengthening our borders, but what good is that if our enemies know exactly where the cracks are?”

A ripple of murmurs went through the council. I continued, not letting the sudden attention rattle me.

“We need to set traps—false information, staged patrol routes. Spread news of fake supply lines or weaknesses and watch who reacts. Whoever takes the bait is your traitor. Instead of throwing more men at the problem, we outthink them.”

The silence that followed was heavy. One of the older Alphas, a grizzled man with scars running across his cheek, leaned back in his chair and let out a low whistle.

“That’s… not a bad strategy,” he admitted. “Sharp thinking for someone your age.”

My father didn’t say anything immediately, but I caught the brief flicker of surprise in his eyes. He was proud, though he’d rather bite his tongue than say it.

Another Alpha nodded thoughtfully. “If we mislead the rogues with false routes, they’ll show their hand. We can corner them before they realize what’s happening.”

The room suddenly felt different. For once, they weren’t looking at me like the useless heir. They were actually considering my words. Respect—real respect—was forming in their eyes, and it was a strange but satisfying feeling.

Father cleared his throat. “It seems my son has a point,” he said grudgingly, his voice clipped. “We’ll move forward with this idea. Henry, see that the proper messages are delivered discreetly.”

Henry looked like he’d swallowed something bitter but nodded anyway. “Yes, Alpha.”

The meeting continued for another hour, discussing trade arrangements and resource management. But for once, I wasn’t the silent observer. Whenever I spoke, people listened. And that felt damn good.

Just as the conversation shifted to alliance negotiations with Alpha Rowland’s pack, a guard burst into the chamber, slightly out of breath. He bowed quickly before speaking.

“Alpha Baron,” the guard said, his voice urgent, “we’ve received an invitation from Alpha Enzo. He’s called for an emergency meeting with all allied packs. He requests immediate attendance.”

The room fell into murmurs again. Everyone knew Enzo didn’t call meetings unless something serious was happening. Father turned to me slowly, his sharp eyes scanning my face.

“You’ll go in my place,” he said.

I blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“You heard me, Bryan. This is a good opportunity for you to prove your earlier strategy wasn’t just luck. Go represent our pack. Henry will accompany you.”

Henry looked like he wanted to protest, but one glance from Father silenced him.

I smirked slightly, leaning back in my chair. “Fine. Just give me the details. Dress code? Topics? I’d like to be prepared.”

A few of the Alphas chuckled at my remark, but Father’s expression softened by a fraction. He was testing me, and for once, I wanted to pass.

“You’ll leave at sunset,” Father said. “Enzo’s pack is expecting answers about the rogue attacks, and I want you to speak with confidence. Don’t embarrass me.”

“Noted,” I said with a faint smile.

The meeting wrapped up, and as we left the council hall, I caught Henry giving me a look that was half-annoyed, half-amused.

“Don’t think this makes you special,” he muttered under his breath.

I grinned at him. “Oh, I know I’m special. You’re just realizing it too late, Henry.”