Chapter 20

TWENTY

I n the secure confines of the pack's meeting hall, Alex stood at the head of the long, oaken table, his posture rigid with barely contained fury. The recent attack on Lena had ignited a fire within him, a desire for retribution that burned hot and unyielding.

Around him gathered the elders, enforcers, and Wes, his second-in-command, each bearing the weight of concern not only for Lena's safety but for the delicate balance of power within the shifter community.

The air was thick with tension as Alex recounted the details of the attack, his voice steady but the undercurrent of anger palpable. The elders listened in somber silence, their expressions grave, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Alex's gaze was steely, his thoughts a tumultuous sea of strategy and simmering anger. "This aggression from the Hillside Pack cannot stand," he began, his voice laced with a barely contained fury. "They've crossed a line attacking Lena. I will not let this go unanswered."

Murmurs of agreement echoed around the room, the shared outrage palpable. Yet, it was the voice of Elder Marius that cut through the chorus, seasoned with wisdom and the weight of years. "Retaliation, while satisfying, may not be our best course of action," he cautioned, his gaze meeting Alex's. "A meeting with the Hillside alpha could offer a path to resolution without further bloodshed."

The room erupted into a cacophony of suggestions, each member voicing their strategy for dealing with the Hillside Pack. The elders, wise with years and experience, proposed a diplomatic approach first. "I agree. We should demand a meeting with the Hillside alpha," Elder Thomas suggested, his voice a calm contrast to the storm brewing within Alex. "A show of strength, yes, but with words, not claws. We must not forsake our laws for the sake of vengeance."

Alex bristled at the suggestion, his instincts screaming for retribution, for the assurance of Lena's safety through the decisive elimination of the threat. "A meeting?" he countered, his disdain evident. "After what they've done? I'm out for blood, not diplomacy."

The reminder, though unwelcome, was necessary. Alex felt the weight of his responsibilities – the need to protect his pack and the woman he considered his mate – from further harm. The room fell into a contemplative silence, the air thick with the burden of leadership and the cost of vengeance.

Wes, always the voice of reason, leaned forward, his expression serious, and nodded in agreement. "Emotions are running high, Alex. But as alpha, your decisions must be guided by what's best for the pack. We can't let our hearts lead us into a war that could have been avoided. You've always led with your head, not your heart. This is no time to let emotions dictate our strategy. We need to be smart, not just fierce."

The enforcers loyal to Alex and the safety of the pack offered more aggressive strategies. "Increased patrols around our territory, and surveillance on known Hillside associates," proposed one of the enforcers, his hand clenched in frustration. "Let's make it clear that any threat to our pack will be met with force."

Another enforcer, a young wolf with fire in his eyes, suggested a show of dominance. "We challenge them, openly. A contest of strength to settle the dispute, one that doesn't spill unnecessary blood but proves our superiority."

Alex listened, each suggestion echoing in the chamber of his conflicted mind. The desire for immediate retribution warred with the responsibility of his position. The thought of Lena, injured and vulnerable because of this feud, fueled his rage, yet Wes's reminder tethered him to the reality of his duty.

He took a deep breath, allowing the voices of reason to penetrate the haze of his anger.

"For now," Alex began, his voice laced with the effort of restraint, "we increase our defenses. I want patrols doubled and constant surveillance on the borders. We'll also extend another invitation for a meeting with the Hillside alpha. But make no mistake," he added, his gaze sweeping over the room, a fierce determination settling over him, "if they refuse or if there's any hint of further aggression toward my pack... toward Lena, diplomatic solutions will be off the table."

Elder Tessa, her voice soft but firm, offered another perspective. "We could strengthen our borders, increase patrols, and ensure that every pack member is prepared for defense. It would send a clear message to the Hillside Pack without immediate violence."

Alex listened, the storm of his emotions gradually settling as the wisdom of his elders and Wes's counsel took root. The desire for vengeance, while powerful, was tempered by the reality of his role as alpha. Leadership demanded more than the satisfaction of personal vendettas; it required the safeguarding of the future.

"Fine," Alex conceded, the word tasting like ash in his mouth. "We'll strengthen our defenses as well. But if they so much as breathe in our direction with ill intent," his gaze swept over those gathered, "I will not hesitate to protect what's mine."

The meeting adjourned with a plan of action, a compromise that sat uneasily with Alex but acknowledged the complexity of the situation. As the room emptied, Wes clapped a hand on Alex's shoulder, a silent show of support.

"You're doing the right thing, Alex. Protecting the pack isn't always about the fight; sometimes it's about ensuring there's a pack left to protect," Wes said, his words echoing in the hollow left by unspent rage.

Alex nodded, the resolve hardening in his core. The Hillside Pack had awakened a fierce protector, one who would bide his time, strengthen his defenses, and wait for the opportune moment to ensure the safety and future of his pack. And within him, the fire for Lena burned brighter, a beacon guiding his every decision, a promise of the lengths he would go to keep her safe.

The room settled into a heavy silence, the weight of Alex's words and the unspoken consequences they carried hanging in the air. Wes met Alex's gaze, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. They were united in their commitment to the pack's safety, even if it meant walking a razor's edge between peace and war.

The path forward was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but his resolve was clear. Protect Lena and the pack at any cost. The road ahead might require the wisdom of the elders, the loyalty of the enforcers, and the counsel of his second, but Alex was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, guided by both head and heart.

There was only one person who could understand Alex and what he was going through, his father. He decided to pay him a visit to try to figure out the best way to handle the situation without outright declaring war on the Hillside Pack.

In the quiet seclusion of his father's study, surrounded by the mementos of a life dedicated to leading their pack, Alex sought counsel from the one person who had navigated these turbulent waters before him. His father, the former alpha, looked up from his desk, his gaze sharp yet lined with the wisdom of his years.

"Son," he began, his voice carrying the depth of experience, "I can see the storm within you. Is there something I can help you with?"

Alex paced, the weight of his responsibility pressing on him. "It's Lena," he confessed, the name of his mate a talisman against the chaos of his emotions. "The Hillside Pack had targeted her twice now, and it's tearing me apart. The need for retribution, for her safety, it's all-consuming."

His father nodded, understanding the tumultuous sea in which Alex found himself adrift. "Protecting your mate and your people is a burden we bear as alphas. But it's also our greatest calling. The love for a mate is unlike any other bond. It's primal, Alex. It will drive you to the edge of reason."

Alex stopped pacing, the truth in his father's words anchoring him. "How did you do it? How did you balance the need to protect with the demands of leading?"

The former alpha leaned back, his eyes reflecting memories of battles fought, of sacrifices made. "With great difficulty," he admitted. "But always by remembering that as alpha, my first duty was to the safety of my pack and my family. Your mother was my compass. Her strength and wisdom guided me."

He stood, crossing the room to place a firm hand on Alex's shoulder. "You'll face choices, ones that will test you to your core. But remember, you have a strength that comes not just from your position, but from the love you bear for your mate. It's a powerful weapon; use it wisely."

Alex met his father's gaze, a shared understanding passing between them. "But what if it's not enough? What if I fail her, fail our pack?"

"Then you rise, you learn, and you grow stronger," his father replied with conviction. "You will make mistakes, Alex, but that's the burden of leadership. What matters is how you carry those mistakes and how you let them shape the future. And remember, you only get one mate. Whatever you must do to protect her, do it. She is your heart, your home."

The words settled in Alex's soul, a beacon of clarity in the storm. His father's support and the reminder of the singular importance of his mate fortified him. His father had his mother, and Alex had Lena. He didn't need to make drastic decisions unless it was necessary.

"Thank you," Alex said, a newfound resolve steeling his voice. "I am frustrated I haven't heard from Darren. He's avoiding me. His elders any help?"

"Unfortunately, I have not been able to make contact either."

Alex sighed. "I can't keep letting them do this. I'm not going to just sit by while they kill my mate."

His father gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I know you won't, son. You're a true alpha in heart and in spirit. I'll keep trying to reach the Hillside elders to let them know what's coming if they don't put a stop to Darren."

As Alex left his father's study, the weight of his burdens hadn't lessened, but his resolve to confront them had solidified.