Page 32 of Link with Me
She rolled her eyes and sat. “Thanks.”
TWENTY-THREE
The air in the pack’s meeting hall crackled with tension as Alex stormed in, his eyes blazing with barely contained rage. The elders and his father looked up in surprise, their expressions quickly morphing into concern as they took in the young alpha’s demeanor.
“We need to talk,” Alex growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Darren and The Hillside Pack have gone too far. They attacked Lena on our territory, and they nearly killed her this time. This ends now.”
The elders exchanged worried glances, their faces lined with the weight of centuries of experience. Alex’s father stood, his posture still proud and strong despite his advancing years. “Son, I understand your anger,” he began, his tone measured and calm. “But we must approach this with caution. A hasty retaliation could lead to an all-out war between the packs.”
Alex slammed his fist on the table, the wood splintering beneath the force of his blow. “I don’t care about caution!” he roared, his eyes flashing with a primal, animalistic fury. “They hurt my mate. They spilled her blood on our land. I want revenge, and I want it now.”
The elders murmured among themselves, their voices rising and falling like the ebb and flow of a tide. Some nodded in agreement with Alex, their own anger and indignation clear in their eyes. Others shook their heads, their expressions grave and troubled.
“Alex, please,” his father implored, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I know the pain you’re feeling. I know the rage that burns within you. But you are the alpha now, and your actions have consequences that reach far beyond yourself. You must think of the pack, of the innocent lives that could be lost in a war with the Hillside wolves.”
Alex shrugged off his father’s hand, his jaw clenched so tightly, it looked like it might snap. “I am thinking of the pack,” he snarled. “I’m thinking of their safety, of the message we send if we let this attack go unanswered. The Hillside Pack needs to learn there are consequences for crossing us, for daring to lay a hand on what is mine.”
The debate raged, arguments and counterarguments flying back and forth like arrows on a battlefield. Through it all, Alex remained resolute, his determination unwavering in the face of his elders’ caution and his father’s pleas for restraint.
Suddenly, the door to the meeting hall swung open, and Lena limped in, her face pale and drawn, her movements stiff and painful. Alex was at her side in an instant, his anger momentarily forgotten as he wrapped an arm around her waist, supporting her weight.
“Lena, what are you doing here?” he asked, his voice rough with concern. “You should be resting at the clinic.”
Lena shook her head, her eyes meeting his with a fierce, unwavering intensity. “I heard what you were planning,” she said, her voice quiet but strong. “Alex, I love you for wanting to fight for me, for wanting to make them pay for what they did. But this isn’t the way.”
Alex’s brow furrowed, confusion and frustration warring in his eyes. “Lena, they hurt you. They nearly killed you. I can’t let that stand.”
Lena reached up, cupping his face in her hands. “I know,” she whispered. “And I love you for that. But, Alex, your strength isn’t just in your ability to fight and destroy your enemies. It’s in your ability to lead, to find a better way forward. If you must fight, let it be because that’s the only way to go.” She licked her lips. “Don’t fight because of me. That’s not a good enough reason.”
He gave a rough laugh. “Lena, my love, that’s all the reason I need. You. You are the only reason I would go to war against the world.”
She gave him a soft smile. “I know. But not this time. Do not start a war for me. Not for me. There has to be another way.”
She turned to face the elders, her chin lifted high, her voice ringing out clear and strong. “I know I’m just a human, and I don’t have a say in pack business. But I’m asking you, as someone who loves your alpha with all my heart, to help him find another way. A way that doesn’t lead to more bloodshed, more pain and suffering on both sides.”
The elders looked at each other, their expressions thoughtful and contemplative. Alex’s father stepped forward, his eyes shining with a newfound respect for the young woman who had captured his son’s heart.
“Lena is right,” he said, his voice firm and decisive. “We are stronger than our base instincts, stronger than the desire for revenge. We must find a way to protect our own without resorting to all-out war. It will not be easy, but it is the path of true leadership.”
Alex looked at Lena, his eyes searching her face, his expression torn between the burning desire for vengeance and the dawning realization that she was right.
“Okay,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “Okay. We’ll find another way.”
The elders nodded, their faces set with determination and resolve. “You have our support, Alpha,” one of them said, stepping forward to clasp Alex’s arm in a gesture of solidarity. “We will stand with you, and we will find a way to bring peace to our lands.”
His father came forward and met his gaze. “We will try another way, son, but if war is the only answer, we have your back.”
Alex turned to Lena, his eyes shining with a mixture of love and gratitude. “We will try your way. Thank you,” he whispered, pulling her into a gentle embrace. “Thank you for being my voice of reason, for reminding me of what truly matters.”
Lena smiled, her own eyes filling with tears as she leaned into his touch. “I will always be here for you, Alex. In good times and in bad, in peace and in war. We’re in this together, no matter what.”
As the meeting adjourned, the air in the hall seemed to lighten, the tension and anger giving way to a sense of purpose and unity.
“Son?” his father called out.
Alex turned and pulled Lena closer. “Lena, I’d like you to meet my father. Gabriel.”
Lena smiled. “Nice to meet you.”