Chapter 7: The Alpha Council
The following morning, Adrian called an emergency meeting.
Every major Alpha in the Northern Territory was summoned.
Elena remained upstairs with Lily.
She watched through the window as black cars arrived one after another.
“This is a mistake,” she whispered.
Lily looked up from her toys.
“What’s a mistake?”
“Nothing, sweetheart.”
Lily smiled.
“Is Daddy going to be okay?”
Elena froze.
Daddy.
The word still felt strange.
“I think so.”
Lily tilted her head.
“Do you love him?”
Elena’s face became warm.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because he looks at you like he does.”
Elena stared at her daughter.
“You are four years old.”
Lily giggled.
“I know.”
Downstairs, the council meeting began.
Adrian stood at the head of the table.
“We have an enemy.”
One of the Alphas laughed.
“You summoned us because someone attacked your territory?”
Adrian looked at him.
“No.”
The room became silent.
“Someone attacked my family.”
Another Alpha frowned.
“Your family?”
Adrian placed Lily’s photograph on the table.
“This is my daughter.”
Shock spread through the room.
A few Alphas exchanged looks.
Adrian continued.
“Someone has been hunting her since birth.”
One of the older Alphas suddenly stood.
“Impossible.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
The old Alpha stared at the photograph.
“Because that girl shouldn’t exist.”
Adrian’s expression turned dangerous.
“What did you say?”
The old Alpha realized his mistake.
“I…”
Adrian grabbed him by the collar.
“Explain.”
The man’s face turned pale.
“I was told Elena’s child died.”
The room went silent.
Adrian slowly released him.
“Who told you?”
The old Alpha looked terrified.
“Your father.”
Adrian froze.
“My father died eight years ago.”
“I know.”
The old Alpha swallowed.
“But he left instructions.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“What instructions?”
The old Alpha whispered,
“If Elena ever had a child…”
He looked at Lily’s photograph.
“…the child was to be killed.”
Silence.
Adrian’s fists tightened.
His own father.
His own family.
Had ordered the death of his daughter.
And suddenly, the revenge Adrian had planned for Elena seemed meaningless.
Because the real enemy had been sitting inside his family all along.
—
