Page 25 of Link with Me
Lena blinked and watched her mother wink at her.
The room filled with Lena’s laughter, the tension breaking like a wave upon the shore.
Alex, however, didn’t miss a beat, his voice steady but his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and a deep-seated promise. “We’re taking things one step at a time. But Lena’s safety and happiness are my priorities. And yes, that includes shielding her from overly enthusiastic future grandmothers.”
Lena’s mother narrowed her eyes at Alex, but a smirk played on her lips. “Fine, but just remember, I’ve got my eye on you, Mr. Wolf. By this time next year, there better be a new grandchild in my arms.”
“Mom!”
Alex squeezed Lena’s hand. “I believe our mothers have made a pact to get a grandchild out of us sooner rather than later.”
“You better believe it,” Lena’s mom said with a grin.
TWENTY
In the secure confines of the pack’s meeting hall, Alex stood at the head of the long, oaken table, his posture rigid with barely contained fury. The recent attack on Lena had ignited a fire within him, a desire for retribution that burned hot and unyielding.
Around him gathered the elders, enforcers, and Wes, his second-in-command, each bearing the weight of concern not only for Lena’s safety but for the delicate balance of power within the shifter community.
The air was thick with tension as Alex recounted the details of the attack, his voice steady but the undercurrent of anger palpable. The elders listened in somber silence, their expressions grave, understanding the gravity of the situation.
Alex’s gaze was steely, his thoughts a tumultuous sea of strategy and simmering anger. “This aggression from the Hillside Pack cannot stand,” he began, his voice laced with a barely contained fury. “They’ve crossed a line attacking Lena. I will not let this go unanswered.”
Murmurs of agreement echoed around the room, the shared outrage palpable. Yet, it was the voice of Elder Marius that cut through the chorus, seasoned with wisdom and the weight of years. “Retaliation, while satisfying, may not be our best course of action,” he cautioned, his gaze meeting Alex’s. “A meeting with the Hillside alpha could offer a path to resolution without further bloodshed.”
The room erupted into a cacophony of suggestions, each member voicing their strategy for dealing with the Hillside Pack. The elders, wise with years and experience, proposed a diplomatic approach first. “I agree. We should demand a meeting with the Hillside alpha,” Elder Thomas suggested, his voice a calm contrast to the storm brewing within Alex. “A show of strength, yes, but with words, not claws. We must not forsake our laws for the sake of vengeance.”
Alex bristled at the suggestion, his instincts screaming for retribution, for the assurance of Lena’s safety through the decisive elimination of the threat. “A meeting?” he countered, his disdain evident. “After what they’ve done? I’m out for blood, not diplomacy.”
The reminder, though unwelcome, was necessary. Alex felt the weight of his responsibilities – the need to protect his pack and the woman he considered his mate – from further harm. The room fell into a contemplative silence, the air thick with the burden of leadership and the cost of vengeance.
Wes, always the voice of reason, leaned forward, his expression serious, and nodded in agreement. “Emotions are running high, Alex. But as alpha, your decisions must be guided by what’s best for the pack. We can’t let our hearts lead us into a war that could have been avoided. You’ve always led with your head, not your heart. This is no time to let emotions dictate our strategy. We need to be smart, not just fierce.”
The enforcers loyal to Alex and the safety of the pack offered more aggressive strategies. “Increased patrols around our territory, and surveillance on known Hillside associates,” proposed one of the enforcers, his hand clenched in frustration. “Let’s make it clear that any threat to our pack will be met with force.”
Another enforcer, a young wolf with fire in his eyes, suggested a show of dominance. “We challenge them, openly. A contest of strength to settle the dispute, one that doesn’t spill unnecessary blood but proves our superiority.”
Alex listened, each suggestion echoing in the chamber of his conflicted mind. The desire for immediate retribution warred with the responsibility of his position. The thought of Lena, injured and vulnerable because of this feud, fueled his rage, yet Wes’s reminder tethered him to the reality of his duty.
He took a deep breath, allowing the voices of reason to penetrate the haze of his anger.
“For now,” Alex began, his voice laced with the effort of restraint, “we increase our defenses. I want patrols doubled and constant surveillance on the borders. We’ll also extend another invitation for a meeting with the Hillside alpha. But make no mistake,” he added, his gaze sweeping over the room, a fierce determination settling over him, “if they refuse or if there’s any hint of further aggression toward my pack... toward Lena, diplomatic solutions will be off the table.”
Elder Tessa, her voice soft but firm, offered another perspective. “We could strengthen our borders, increase patrols, and ensure that every pack member is prepared for defense. It would send a clear message to the Hillside Pack without immediate violence.”
Alex listened, the storm of his emotions gradually settling as the wisdom of his elders and Wes’s counsel took root. The desire for vengeance, while powerful, was tempered by the reality of his role as alpha. Leadership demanded more than the satisfaction of personal vendettas; it required the safeguarding of the future.
“Fine,” Alex conceded, the word tasting like ash in his mouth. “We’ll strengthen our defenses as well. But if they so much as breathe in our direction with ill intent,” his gaze swept over those gathered, “I will not hesitate to protect what’s mine.”
The meeting adjourned with a plan of action, a compromise that sat uneasily with Alex but acknowledged the complexity of the situation. As the room emptied, Wes clapped a hand on Alex’s shoulder, a silent show of support.
“You’re doing the right thing, Alex. Protecting the pack isn’t always about the fight; sometimes it’s about ensuring there’s a pack left to protect,” Wes said, his words echoing in the hollow left by unspent rage.
Alex nodded, the resolve hardening in his core. The Hillside Pack had awakened a fierce protector, one who would bide his time, strengthen his defenses, and wait for the opportune moment to ensure the safety and future of his pack. And within him, the fire for Lena burned brighter, a beacon guiding his every decision, a promise of the lengths he would go to keep her safe.
The room settled into a heavy silence, the weight of Alex’s words and the unspoken consequences they carried hanging in the air. Wes met Alex’s gaze, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. They were united in their commitment to the pack’s safety, even if it meant walking a razor’s edge between peace and war.
The path forward was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but his resolve was clear. Protect Lena and the pack at any cost. The road ahead might require the wisdom of the elders, the loyalty of the enforcers, and the counsel of his second, but Alex was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, guided by both head and heart.