A Dangerous Obsession
Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Chapter 20

I stepped out of the carriage, instinctively hiding my cane from prying eyes. As an alpha, vulnerability was a luxury I couldn’t afford. The warm sunlight cast long shadows across the gathering of leaders, a tapestry of different species woven together by power and politics.

Dwarves stood sturdy, their beards braided with clan tokens that clinked softly with their movements. Elves towered, their elegant features chiseled from the finest marble. Shifters of every ilk mingled, their eyes gleaming with a hint of wildness. I scanned the crowd, my gaze lingering on potential allies and foes.

"Stay here," I instructed my daughter, keeping my voice low but firm. "I’ll return soon."

She nodded silently, and with one final glance at her, I turned and joined the flow of leaders heading toward the central hall. The structure loomed before us, its stones etched with ancient runes that shimmered in the sunlight.

As I entered, the low hum of conversation washed over me. I swept the room and immediately locked eyes with a familiar figure—Ryker, alpha of the Shadowpack.

Even in a crowd, Ryker’s towering frame stood out. His grey eyes, cold and calculating, seemed to bore into those he met, as if daring them to challenge him. A twisted smirk tugged at his lips, deepening the cruel lines on his face.

I grounded my teeth, resisting the instinct to bare my teeth at him. His pack’s ruthless ways and blatant defiance of the Accords had been a constant thorn in my side for years.

My boots echoed sharply on the stone floor as I approached. Ryker’s gaze followed me, his smirk widening into something darker—a silent challenge. I ignored him and pressed forward, weaving through the sea of faces, nodding and exchanging brief greetings with other leaders. The air was thick with tension, the weight of what brought us here hanging heavy.

At the center of the hall, a raised dais beckoned, the symbol of the United Packs emblazoned on the stone behind it—a fragile reminder of our unity.

Ryker’s voice cut through the murmurs like a blade. "Ah, Alpha Elaxdor. So glad you could make it. Still leaning on that cane, I see."

My jaw tightened, but I didn’t take the bait. "Alpha Ryker. Always a pleasure."

Ignoring him, I turned to Kael, the alpha of the Moonwhisper pack, who stood near the dais. His rugged face was hard, his eyes locking onto mine with a shared understanding.

"Alpha Elaxdor," he said, his deep voice a welcome relief from Ryker’s barbaric voice. "Glad you’re here. We have much to discuss."

I nodded, glancing once more at the gathered leaders—the dwarves, the elves, the shifters—all here because of the same threat.

The Lycan king’s escalating aggression had pushed us to this point. His behaviors, his disregard for the Accords, his unhinged games—he was a threat none of us could afford to ignore any longer.

Kael’s voice rose, commanding attention. "Friends, allies, we gather today to confront a danger that threatens us all. The Lycan king’s actions leave us no choice but to come up with a better plan for our survival."

A ripple of agreement spread through the hall, but Ryker snorted, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Survival? You mean surrender. We should be talking about taking the king down, not cowering like cowards."

I turned to him, my eyes cold. "War would destroy us. Our priority is protecting our packs and our people."

Ryker sneered. "Ah yes, Alpha Elaxdor the pacifist, the one who bartered his own daughter to the Lycan king’s whims."

Gasps echoed around us, and I felt Kael bristle beside me, his hands clenched into fists.

"Alpha Ryker," Kael warned, his voice low and dangerous. "You’re out of line."

But Ryker wasn’t finished. "Tell me, Alpha Elaxdor, how does it feel to sacrifice your own flesh and blood? First your son, now your daughter to the Lycan king’s bed."

The hall fell deathly silent. My grip tightened on my cane until my knuckles ached. The rage that surged inside me nearly choked me.

"Ryker," I growled, my voice low and sharp. "Keep my family out of your filthy mouth."

Before the situation could spiral further, Endora, the elven ambassador, stepped forward. "This is unnecessary. We came here to unite against a common threat, not tear each other apart."

Ryker’s sneer shifted to her. "Ah, the elves. So quick to preach peace while sitting high and safe in your ivory towers."

Kael’s patience finally snapped. He slammed his fist onto the dais, the sound echoing through the hall. "Enough of this!" His voice thundered, silencing the room. "We are here to protect our lands, our packs, not to settle personal vendettas."

Gundrik, the dwarven leader, grumbled in agreement. "Aye. This bickering weakens us all."

Ryker shrugged, his smile fading into a cold smirk. "Solidarity is a nice dream, but the Lycan king doesn’t care about our unity. He’ll come for us, one by one."

Kael’s voice remained firm. "We need a strategy to defend ourselves, not tear each other apart. Suggestions?"

Gundrik spoke first, suggesting fortified borders and stronger alliances. Endora proposed diplomatic efforts to turn the Lycan king’s advisors against him. Other leaders discussed tactical defenses and stealth operations, all wary of provoking open war.

But Ryker, of course, couldn’t help himself. "Pathetic," he scoffed. "Walls and words won’t save us. We need to strike at the heart of the Lycan kingdom."

The room fell silent. No one dared support Ryker’s bold, suicidal plan.

I stood, my cane steady under my hand. "We should focus on protecting our people. I propose a network of safe houses and escape routes. If the Lycan king comes for any of us, our people will have a way out."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the hall. The room settled into a tense silence as the leaders weighed their options, fear of the Lycan king’s retaliation keeping bolder plans at bay.

As the meeting adjourned, Ryker, never one to let things lie, approached me with that same sly grin. "Alpha Elaxdor, I’m sorry to say but I think your plan is as weak as your leg."

I clenched my jaw. "You’ve made your point, Ryker."

"Oh, not yet," he sneered. "Your daughter will soon bear the Lycan king’s pups." He paused. "That’s if she lives long enough to bear one. How does that sit with you?"

I lunged forward, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the nearest wall, my cane clattering to the floor. "You dare," I snarled, my voice vibrating with barely-contained fury.

Ryker didn’t flinch. "You’re no alpha, Elaxdor. You’re just a broken male."

My grip tightened around Ryker’s throat, the veins in my arm straining as blood rushed to my head. I could feel the heat building behind my eyes, threatening to blind me with rage.

Kael and Gundrik rushed forward, pulling me off him.

"Save your strength for the real enemy," Gundrik growled.

I stepped back, my chest heaving, eyes locked onto Ryker’s defiant smirk.

"This isn’t over," I warned.

Ryker chuckled, his voice like gravel. "I certainly hope not."