Chapter 206 Familiar Figure
Arabella Westwood:
The public library was quieter than I’d expected. A few people occupied the long wooden tables, while others browsed the shelves that lined the walls.
It was one of the few libraries shared by Blackthorn and the neighboring packs.
I walked past the first two rows of tables, looking around until I spotted an elderly man sitting near a window. He wore a dark brown robe, and his thinning gray hair was neatly combed back. A thick book lay open in front of him, with two others stacked beside it. He was writing something in a notebook, occasionally stopping to check a page.
Elder John. One of the senior members of the council.
I made my way over and pulled out the chair opposite him. He didn’t look up, even when I sat down. I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and leaned forward slightly. “Excuse me, sir. You’re Elder John, aren’t you?”
“Hmm,” he answered without lifting his head.
“Oh!” I quickly stood up and bowed. “It’s an honor to meet you, Elder John.”
That finally got his attention. He glanced around before looking at me over the rim of his glasses. “Sit down, child. I don’t need any bows. Let me finish my work.”
“Of course, sir.”
I sat down again, but he had already returned to his notebook. For the next minute, I watched him turn a page, underline something, and write a few more words. “Sir, could I ask you a question?”
He stopped writing and gave me an impatient look. I smiled politely. “I’m… I’m sorry.”
He sighed and set his pen down, shooting me a questioning look.
“What happens if a pack loses both its Alpha and Beta?”
Elder John raised his brows. “What kind of question is that, child?”
“No. I mean, who takes charge afterward?”
He shook his head impatiently. “Such a thing has never happened in any pack’s recorded history, at least not under the circumstances you’re suggesting. An Alpha and Beta don’t simply disappear together.”
He picked up his pen again, apparently considering the conversation finished. “But what if they did?”
His pen stopped.
I hurried to explain before he could dismiss me. “Suppose there was an outbreak of some terrible disease, and both the Alpha and Beta died. Or suppose they had a serious disagreement, fought each other, and none of them survived. Someone would still have to lead the pack, right?”
Elder John slowly turned his head toward me. Judging by his expression, he was beginning to regret choosing this particular table.
“And why are you this interested in unlikely disasters, young lady?”
“My apologies… they’re part of my … research, sir.”
He studied me for a moment, then removed his glasses and placed them on the open book. “And who exactly are you?”
“Oh, just a student.” Rather than give him my name, I quickly added. “I’m about to graduate, and I’m working on a paper for my Pack Governance and Leadership course. We’re studying succession laws, council authority, and how packs are governed during emergencies.”
To me, it sounded reasonable enough. More importantly, it explained why I was bothering a council elder with questions that probably sounded ridiculous to him.
“Pack Governance and Leadership,” he repeated.
“Yes, sir. Our instructor wants us to examine situations where the usual chain of command breaks down. I thought it would be better to ask someone who actually understands the laws rather than rely entirely on textbooks,” I plastered a sweet smile on my face.
He gave me a long, thoughtful look and reached for his glasses but didn’t put them on. “What was your question again?”
“If both the Alpha and Beta died, who would become the next Alpha… or Beta?”
“That depends,” he replied. “Of course, if they have a rightful heir, the position would naturally pass to them,” Elder John explained.
I nodded thoughtfully, then leaned forward a little. “And what if the Alpha and Beta were never worthy of their titles in the first place?”
That made him pause. He looked at me, probably wondering what kind of questions my instructor had been assigning us. “What do you mean by unworthy?”
“Well, suppose they’d done something terrible in the past. Something that would have disqualified them from holding those positions if the council had known about it.”
Elder John considered my question for a moment before giving a small shrug.
“Then that’s an entirely different matter, young lady. If there’s credible evidence of serious misconduct, the council can investigate, regardless of how long they’ve held their positions. And if they’re found guilty of crimes serious enough to disqualify them, they can be stripped of their titles. Even their heirs would lose the right to inherit those positions. The council would then appoint someone more suitable to lead the pack.”
I tried not to look too pleased with his answer. “So even an Alpha isn’t above the law, right?”
“Certainly not,” he replied, sounding almost offended by the suggestion. “Now, is that all? Because I do have work to finish.”
“Of course, sir. Thank you for your time.”
I gave him a polite smile and reached for my bag. I’d come here hoping to clear up a few doubts, and he’d given me exactly what I needed.
***
When I stepped out of the library, I was grinning ear to ear. Things were finally beginning to fall into place, and if everything went according to the plan, those two bastards would soon be at each other’s throats.
I gathered my loose hair into a bun and secured it with a clip before resting my hands on my hips. All I had to do was give Chris and Rick enough reasons to turn against each other. Once they started fighting, half my work would be done.
Still smiling to myself, I was about to head down the street when I noticed a familiar figure standing outside the coffee shop across the road.
I had to look twice to make sure I wasn’t imagining it. I gasped when I recognized her. “Lilith?”
She was looking straight at me. When our eyes met, she gave me a slight nod, then turned and walked into the coffee shop.