Chapter 252
Author
Alpha Zack collapsed and the whole pack lost it.
One second he was standing by the window. Next second his Beta found him on the floor out cold.
The pack doctors came running. They ran every test they had. Blood work, brain scans, heart monitors, the whole deal. Everything came back normal. Not a single thing wrong with him.
But word travels fast in wolf territory.
By the next morning, every pack within two hundred miles had heard the story.
Zack Blackwood, future Alpha of the Blackwood Pack, passed out in his own office for no reason at all.
His father showed up before noon.
Alpha Jimmy walked in without knocking. He took one look at Alpha Zack sitting behind his desk with dark circles under his eyes and a full glass of whiskey he hadn’t touched, and he let out a long sigh.
“You look terrible p>
“Thanks, Dad p>
“Don’t get smart with me. I’ve been on the phone all day with Alphas who want to know if my son is dying p>
“I’m not dying p>
“Then explain what happened p>
Alpha Zack didn’t answer.
Alpha Jimmy poured himself a drink. “I heard about the announcement. Dominic Wolfe’s Luna is pregnant. The whole region is talking about it p>
Zack’s jaw tightened.
“Funny timing,” Alpha Jimmy said. “You collapse the same day she announces she’s having his kid p>
“It’s not related p>
“Really p>
“Really p>
Alpha Jimmy took a long drink. “I’m not going to fight with you. I came here to tell you to get your act together. You’re the heir to this pack. You don’t get to fall apart over a woman p>
Alpha Zack looked up. His eyes were red. “You don’t know what you’re talking about p>
“I know you’re my son. And I know you’ve been a mess since the day you broke off that engagement. Don’t think I haven’t noticed p>
“Then why didn’t you say anything p>
“Because I thought you’d figure it out on your own.” Alpha Jimmy set his glass down. “But you didn’t. So here I am p>
Silence.
Alpha Jimmy walked to the door. “I’m leaving Gerald here to make sure you eat and sleep. Don’t give him a hard time p>
“I don’t need a babysitter p>
“Then stop acting like one p>
The door closed.
Alpha Zack sat alone in the dark for hours. His phone sat on the desk in front of him. No messages. No calls. Nothing from her.
He replayed the last time he saw Elara. The way she looked at him when he showed her the files. The way she walked away without looking back.
She was pregnant with Alpha Dominic’s pup.
The bond he threw away was gone forever.
He picked up his glass of whiskey and threw it at the wall. Glass shattered everywhere. The liquid ran down the wallpaper.
Meanwhile. Alpha Dominic’s phone started buzzing before he even made it to the coffee maker.
He picked up. His assistant’s voice came through, calm but tight. “Alpha, we’ve got a problem p>
“What kind of problem p>
“The media kind. Six outlets have reached out since midnight. They want interviews about the announcement p>
Alpha Dominic rubbed his eyes. “Six p>
“Seven now. I just got another email p>
He looked over at the bedroom door. Elara was still asleep. Good. She needed the rest.
“Screen them,” he said. “Pick the one with the biggest audience and the least tabloid trash. National outlet if you can get one p>
“What about the local pack papers p>
“Let them run the story from the wire. I’m not doing ten interviews p>
“Understood p>
Two hours later, Alpha Dominic was sitting in his home office with a producer counting down from five.
The reporter across from him was young. Sharp. She had the kind of smile that said she was friendly but not stupid.
“Three, two, one. We’re live p>
She turned to the camera. “I’m sitting here with Alpha King Dominic Wolfe, who just made headlines across the country with a very personal announcement. Alpha, thanks for joining us p>
“Thanks for having me p>
She smiled. “So let’s cut to it. You posted a photo yesterday that basically broke the internet in the pack world. Are you confirming that Luna Elara is pregnant p>
Alpha Dominic laughed. “You know, most people start with ’how’s the weather p>
“I figured we’d save time p>
“I like that.” He leaned back. “Yeah, I’m confirming. My Luna is pregnant. We’re having a pup p>
The reporter’s face lit up. Real excitement, not just professional politeness. “That’s amazing. Congratulations p>
“Thank you. It’s still sinking in, honestly p>
“Has it sunk in for your pack yet? I imagine they’re pretty excited p>
“My Beta called me at six in the morning to ask if he could start planning a celebration. So yeah, I’d say it’s sunk in p>
She laughed. “I bet. Now, I have to ask—there’s been a lot of talk about what this means for the Wolfe Pack and the broader Lycan bloodline. This could be the first Lycan heir born in North America in over thirty years p>
Alpha Dominic’s smile stayed in place, but his eyes shifted. Just a little.
“Let me stop you there,” he said, easy, like he was correcting a friend. “People keep using the word ’could.’ My kid will have Lycan blood. That’s not a question mark p>
The reporter tilted her head. “So you’re confident p>
“I’m certain p>
“Based on what p>
“Based on my bloodline, my Luna’s strength, and the fact that I don’t put things out into the universe unless I mean them p>
She nodded, processing. “Fair enough. But there are other packs watching this closely. Some are excited. Some are… let’s say curious about what kind of Alpha this pup will grow up to be p>
Alpha Dominic’s jaw tightened. Just barely.
“Here’s the thing,” he said, voice dropping. “I know there are people out there who think they have a right to an opinion about my family. About my marriage. About my unborn kid p>
He looked straight into the camera.
“They don’t p>
The reporter’s pen stopped moving.
“I’m saying this once,” Alpha Dominic continued, quiet and cold. “Anyone who tries to interfere with my Luna, my pup, or anyone under my protection will deal with me directly. I don’t care what rank you hold or what pack you run. You cross that line, and I will end you p>
He let that sit for a beat.
Then he smiled again. Warm. Open. Like he hadn’t just threatened an entire continent.
“So,” he said, “what else have you got p>
The reporter blinked. Recovered. “I think we’re good, Alpha King p>