Chapter 6 : A Discussion with the Elders

Varon

I fumed, listening to her answer. But I said nothing. If I spoke in anger now, then I would only be further away from what I wanted. So, I simply turned and left the room.

I wouldn’t sleep there with her tonight. I wasn’t sure what I would do.

I wanted a child, an heir. But now more than anything, I needed one. And she was the only way that I could get to that.

I didn’t stop walking until I reached my private office, pulling the door closed behind me.

This entire plan had been one rash action after another, and I needed to stop and think. I needed to plan this better, otherwise, I was only going to create more situations that didn’t serve my purpose at all.

In truth, I hadn’t thought of the idea that having an heir would stabilize my reign until Mason put the chance in front of me. I had been so focused on making sure I had complete control of the pack before looking for a mate, that I didn’t consider the idea that one could support the other.

But when Mason presented it to me, everything cleared up almost all at once.

And the idea just happened. And I acted on it.

Now I knew better. I should have just taken his citadel brick by brick as I had intended, and then came back home and searched for a more willing mate. I was sure now that if I had done that, I would be in a much better position with my pack.

I would have taken a part of the debt that the Silver Stone owed us, and I would have a more willing mate, possibly already carrying my heir by now.

I took a deep breath and sat down on my chair.

That might have been the better plan but it wasn’t what I had right now. I needed to work with what I had rather than wishing for chances that had already been long gone.

And I needed to stop just doing the first thought that popped into my head.

I needed to speak to the Elders.

That was what they were here for, after all. They were a sect of wolves that lived both within my authority, and to check it. They had no power over me, other than what I gave them. And it was important for me to give it to them.

I glanced at the night sky, the sun had only just begun to set, and the moon was still low in the sky. They would still welcome me into their tent at this hour.

I took a deep breath and pushed myself out of my chair. The longer I stayed here, in my own company, the greater the chances that I would just do something of my design, and the greater the chance that it would be something rash.

I left the house and made my way further into the pack, further into our lands.

The Elders lived in the Stronghold at the center of the pack. It was a manor bigger than the Alpha’s home. It wasn’t yet the citadel of the Silver Stone, but it would become even bigger than it one day. It would be bigger right now if I had brought back all the bricks of the citadel.

I shook my head; now was not the time to lose myself in those thoughts.

The land around the Stronghold was clear and still unbuilt. We added to it with each passing year. And this year, it would become bigger still. I wanted to ensure that it would be big enough to hold all of the wolves in our pack, should we ever be attacked or besieged to that amount. It was a difficult task with many challenges ahead.

But I would see it done.

I crossed the empty land to the manor that housed the Elders and went through the main gate unchecked. I used to have guards here, but the Elders refused the assistance, so I sent those same wolves to patrol the border of the pack.

I crossed the paths that would lead me to them, and eventually, I reached their hall. As I had suspected, I found almost all the Elders still gathered there.

I bowed my head slightly as I entered the room.

“Good evening,” I greeted all of them.

“We are honored to welcome you,” they all greeted in unison.

I always hated when they did that, even before I became Alpha, even when I was younger.

The Moon gave gifts to wolves thrice. The first was at seventeen when a wolf's power came to them, and the second was at a mating ceremony – though I had recently learned that it was entirely subjective.

And the third was when a wolf became an Elder.

It was more than just a title among the pack, it was a divine rank that was conferred. It was as much a title as being born Omega, Beta, or Alpha.

Becoming Elder came with one special ability — their thoughts all linked to each other. It was like there was a different plain that they all existed on, where they lived more as one than as separate beings. And though they each had their special place within the pack, it was like the words they spoke in their roles came from all of them.

“Something is bothering you,” one of the Elders spoke.

'Yeah, obviously,' I thought but didn’t say. It wasn’t wise to be disrespectful to the Elders, and it was always a chance on what they considered disrespectful.

“More so than usual,” another one of them said with a smile like they guessed my thoughts.

“Tiessa,” I spoke without any preamble. They already knew the troubles that were seeping through the pack, it would be useless to bring them all up.

The Elders kept themselves aware of everything that went on in the pack. And with everything that went wrong. They didn’t often step in, normally choosing to let the reigning Alpha work it out on their own. Unless they believed the Alpha was unfit for the position, then they actively interfered.

“She is something to figure out,” Elder Marcus murmured.

I knew some of them by name, but some had already given up their names before I became Alpha, and it was lost to the annals of time. Some of the wolves that were on the council were simply known as Elder now.

“I bargained her for an heir,” I told the Elders. “I took her as repayment of their debt on the condition that she provide me and the pack with an heir to ascend after me.”

“And now she refuses,” another Elder spoke calmly.

“She says there is no deal between us,” I said through gritted teeth.

I wanted an heir. But I wouldn’t force her. I would rather die. I wouldn’t do that to anyone, and I would rather the pack be decimated than bring an heir into the world like that.

That was why I needed our contract, our agreement, to have grounds.

“She has only spoken the truth,” Elder Marcus said. “You made no deal with her.”

There was a murmuring of agreement, and then another voice echoed to the side of me.

“It is most probably the reason the Moon has rejected the bond,” Elder Iliana pointed out, her voice the high baritone I have come to hear at most mating ceremonies. “The mating ceremony should be between two wolves who want to join as one for a single purpose. Whatever that purpose may be is irrelevant. But their hearts must be united as one for one goal. But that isn’t what happened here.”

On the bonds between mated wolves, she was most probably the expert in our pack. I knew the truth of what she was saying. It was why I thought that this deal would have a chance of going through all the same.

I heard of, and saw myself, wolves that mated even though it was not for love. I saw wolves that hated each other become one beneath the moon. Because their purpose had been one.

“Tiessa stands beneath the Moon each night,” I told them, my arms spread wide. “Is there any point to that? Has the Moon ever blessed a union so late after its formation? Is it possible that the same could happen to us?”

I was aware that I hadn’t yet responded to Marcus’ words. But in all truth, I had no intention of doing so. I knew that I hadn’t contracted the deal with her, not initially at least. But when I threatened death to her pack if she left without my permission, I was sure that it meant another deal had been struck between the two of us.

Perhaps it was not official yet for the Moon.

“Your answer is in your question, young Alpha,” Elder Andreas spoke.

He was the eldest wolf in our pack. When he was born, none of the wolves that lived now were alive. He saw the pack change in its entirety.

“What is the solution?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“Stand with her beneath the Moon,” Elder Iliana said. “Stand with her and make a bargain with her. And perhaps the Moon will see fit to bless it. And if not, then at least you will get what you originally wanted.”

I pursed my lips. I didn’t want to negotiate with her. But I also knew there was no way I could get away from it now. I had already made the deal, I was already here. I only had two options at this point. Turn away and give over everything as lost, or see it through.

And only one option would give me the chance to secure my reign.

“Thank you,” I told the Elders, bowing low.

I then turned and left, heading straight to the room that Tiessa was staying in. What was meant to be our room just felt more and more like a guest room to me.

Tiessa was still awake, still standing on the balcony, her hands outstretched on the railing.

I went and stood next to her, but remained silent. I simply stood next to her and allowed myself to breathe.

She didn’t pester me for anything, she didn’t demand I leave. In another lifetime, I would have been well-suited to match her. Perhaps even in this one, if everything had been different.

“You are right,” I said softly after a few minutes of silence. “I made no deal with you.”

She turned to me quickly, surprise evident on her face.

“So, I came to correct that,” I told her. “If you are willing.”

She didn’t answer me for the longest time, and I was sure that she would just refuse without hearing another word I had to say.

“Go on,” she said softly, encouraging me to continue.

“You requested aid for your pack a while ago,” I started. “Food and medicine. If you are still in need, I will see to it that your pack is fed and cared for, in exchange for you giving me an heir.”

I was sure then that she would refuse and tell me to leave.

But she didn’t.

“For how long?” she asked instead, and I turned to face her completely.

There was no question that she was one of the most beautiful women that I had ever seen. But right now, standing in her sheer white nightdress, she rivaled the moon.

“For a year,” I answered. “In exchange for trying for a year. And then, for the duration that you carry the child, whenever it starts until the child is born.”

She pursed her lips, her eyes studying me as if she was trying to find a trace of a lie or a trap in my words. Then she turned away from me, glancing back at the moon.

“I need time to decide,” she said simply.