Chapter 73

Chapter 73
Nolan POV
Alpha Alric sat stiffly across from me. He always appeared stiff-not uncomfortable, but poised, like he was ready to take action at any moment. It was almost unsettling.
I’d dealt with many other Alphas in my time as leader of Silver Fang, and none of them had ever been quite so on edge as Alric. It made me curious about what he’d experienced to make him so guarded, but we didn’t exactly have the type of relationship that would make it appropriate for me to ask.
His sharp eyes were scanning over the paper in front of him-the final version of the agreement between our packs. It had been a long and difficult negotiation to reach this point, and I didn’t blame him for reading over every line carefully.
it
But the longer we sat there, the more frustrated I became. If he were to make an objection now, it would throw everything I’d been working toward into chaos. It would delay Felicity’s return, my divorce from Ellie- everything.
“Is there a problem?” I finally asked after several minutes of tense silence.
“It all appears to be in order,” he said, glancing up at me briefly. “I simply like to take note of the fine print and ensure that nothing unexpected arises.”
“I understand, of course. But we’ve gone over the document many times together.”
“And this is the final draft,” he replied coolly. “Before I sign it, I intend to read every word.”
“I admire your attention to detail,” I said.
“And I understand that we are stretching your hospitality with our unexpectedly lengthy stay,” he replied with a slight smile. “But I think this agreement between our packs will prove beneficial enough to make up for the inconvenience.”
“I expect you’re right about that,” I agreed.
The final version of the agreement would create new trade deals between our packs, mutually beneficial to both. sides, as well as strengthening our border patrols. Not to mention the boost to our reputation that would come with an alliance with Moonstone.
Silver Fang had been much more powerful than we were when I was a kid, but we still had a long way to go to reach the status I was aiming for. This would be a big step in the right direction.
So even if it annoyed me, I’d put up with Alric’s attitude and their extended stay. As soon as this document was signed, all of the frustration would have been worth it.
“Everything seems to be in order,” Alric said, picking up his pen.
I kept my expression neutral, though a wave of relief washed through me. I could finally move past this and focus on other matters-like finalizing the divorce with Ellie.
Once that was done, and Ellie was out of the pack house, hopefully things with Lance would cool off. He had been so hostile toward me lately that I hadn’t even been able to discuss his marriage arrangement with him, and the family of his prospective wife was pressuring me to set a date for the wedding.
The tension between us was strong, and there was no way in hell he was going to agree to any date, no matter the circumstances. For some reason, he was so protective of Ellie now that every time she and I so much as looked at
Chapter 73
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each other wrong, he escalated things into an argument.
It had crossed my mind that he might have developed feelings for her, but I
dismissed it. In all likelihood, she was just a convenient excuse for him to lash out at
me.
Cassian, on the other hand, seemed genuinely enamored with Ellie, and I was more than happy to get him out of my house.
I ignored the uneasiness that the thought gave me as I watched Alric scrawl his name across the bottom of the page. He passed the contract to me along with the pen.
I signed the document and set the pen on the desk.
“That’s it then. The agreement is finalized,” I said, satisfied.
“Yes,” Alpha Alric agreed. “We’ll head home right after the celebration.”
I gave a satisfied nod in response. “Yes. I hope the celebration will mark a pleasant beginning for our arrangement. It should be quite enjoyable for everyone-even
Cassian, if he can drag himself away from Ellie long enough to participate.” Alric’s eyes locked on mine and the tension in his shoulders increased.
“Do you have a problem with the fact that my son has befriended Ellie?”
“No,” I responded calmly. “It’s good to see that they get along. But you have to admit that they’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time together recently— especially over the past week. Maybe he’s just trying to make the most of their last few days together before you return home.”
“Or maybe her situation has moved him.”
“Her situation?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean,” Alric said. “You may think you put on a good show, but being under the same roof with you for an extended period, it is painfully obvious that Ellie is miserable here-and that you are the cause of a great deal of that misery.”
Everything in the room went still, silent. Alric met my eyes steadily, defiantly, in a way very few ever had.
I felt as though I’d been doused with ice water. The anger that hit me was so sudden, the flood of adrenaline through my veins caused a rushing sound in my ears. He simply stared, steady, as if waiting for my reaction.
“How dare you,” I said, my voice coming out unnaturally calm. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I am the Alpha of Moonstone, and I am-”
The door of my office burst open, a frazzled Beta stepping inside.
The tension in the room and the expressions on our faces gave him pause. My head snapped to the Beta, glaring at him in rage.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, barging in here in the middle of a meeting?”
“I’m so sorry, sir,” the Beta said, his voice unsteady. “But it’s an emergency. There’s breaking news that it’s imperative you know-and I think Alpha Alric will want to hear about this as well.”
Alric simply raised an eyebrow at the Beta, waiting for him to continue.
Chapter 73
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“Well, spit it out,” I snapped.
“There’s a live news conference right now,” the Beta said. “It’s the Alpha King-he’s making an emergency declaration.”
Alric and I made eye contact. An emergency declaration from the King could mean any number of things, none of them good.
I quickly flipped open my laptop and pulled up the press conference. The King was standing at a podium in front of flashing cameras and a group of reporters. His Luna was by his side, her hands folded primly in front of her, a serious look on her aged face.
The Alpha King was a stern-faced, tall man. His hair was white with age and his face wizened, but his hazel eyes remained sharp. There was a severe look on his face as he spoke into the microphone in front of him.
“Yes, it’s true,” he said in response to the reporters. “I have come here today to announce that I’m officially retiring. I’m stepping down as King.”
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