Chapter 172
Luas POV
“Fine, I did take her but not in the way you think it is. I wanted to teach Kai a lesson p>
“So you kidnapped her,” Alpha Gregory stated.”And when Kai came for her p>
“There was a fight,” I continued. “Kai nearly killed me. I fell unconscious but someone arrived just in time to help me escape while Kai was focused on Lily p>
“So you staged your death?” Gregory asked.
“No,” I shook my head. “I was just going to hide and come back after a few hours but I heard from one of my contacts that rumors of me dying at the hands of Alpha Kai was spreading p>
“Where were you all this time and please don’t give me that talk about going to the Alpha Summit. That was the first place I checked when I heard you kidnapped Lily p>
I hesitated for a second.
“I’ve been hiding in the human world p>
“That means you have someone helping you?” Gregory asked again.
I didn’t say anything. That was too much information.
Beta Gregory looked at me with pure disdain now. “All this time, we’ve been worried about you, Vanessa won’t sleep or eat well. We’ve been defending your honor against accusations and you kept us in the dark? Not even a word to tell us where you were p>
“I had to be careful. Kai was looking for me p>
“You caused my daughter pain,” Gregory growled.”You violated the most sacred law among our kind—respect for the mate bond. You attacked another Alpha, not just any Alpha but Kai Ryker who is the most influential Alpha in our world. Wait, until you hear how many loyalists both him and his mother Luna Helen has in the council. You’ve brought shame to this pack, to my daughter, to my name p>
“What’s done is done,” I said, keeping my voice level. “What matters now is how we move forward p>
“Forward?” Alpha Gregory barked. “There is no ’forward’ for you, Lucas. The Alpha Council will demand your head for this, and frankly, I’m inclined to give it to them p>
“Father!” Vanessa protested, moving to stand beside me, her shoulder touching mine in a show of unity despite her earlier anger. “You can’t just hand him over to the Council p>
“Why not?” he challenged. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t wash my hands of this entire mess p>
“Because he’s my mate,” she said simply. “And whatever he’s done, whatever mistakes he’s made, I won’t abandon him p>
Alpha Gregory studied his daughter for a long moment, then sighed heavily. “Your loyalty would be admirable if it weren’t so tragically misplaced.” He shook his head. “But you’ve always been stubborn, just like your mother p>
He paced a few steps, clearly weighing options in his mind. “The Alpha Council already knows you’re alive,” he said finally, addressing me directly. “Rumors spread fast, especially when someone returns from the dead. We have perhaps a day, maybe two, before they arrive to investigate p>
“And what do you suggest?” I asked with genuine curiosity. Alpha Gregory had been playing pack politics longer than I’d been alive; if anyone knew how to navigate this situation, it was him.
“A trial,” he said after a moment’s consideration. “We offer you up for a formal trial under pack law. With Vanessa’s testimony about the circumstances, we might be able to argue for imprisonment rather than execution p>
“Imprisonment?” I scoffed. “For how long p>
“A decade at minimum,” he replied coldly. “During which time I would rule in your place like before p>
I felt Vanessa stiffen beside me.
“And if I refuse this generous offer?” I asked, not bothering to hide my sarcasm.
Alpha Gregory’s smile was predatory. “Then I call the Alpha Council right now and tell them you’ve returned, that you’ve confessed to everything, and that Golden Moon pack formally requests your immediate removal… by any means necessary p>
The threat hung in the air, all the more potent for being delivered so calmly. I had no doubt he would do exactly as he promised. Despite passing the Alpha mantle to me months ago, Gregory had maintained connections throughout the werewolf hierarchy. His word still carried substantial weight.
“You’re asking me to give up my position,” I asked, “To step down as Alpha p>
“I’m offering you your life,” he corrected. “Which is far more than you deserve after what you’ve done p>
I turned to Vanessa, searching her face. “And you? What do you want p>
The question seemed to catch her off guard. When was the last time I had genuinely asked for her preference rather than assuming her support? Through our bond, I felt her surprise, followed by a complex mixture of emotions—love, anger, disappointment, hope.
“I want you alive,” she said finally. “I want a chance for us to heal what’s broken between us. And yes, I want you to face consequences for betraying me p>
Her honesty was both painful and refreshing. For months now, Vanessa had been my staunchest supporter, backing my decisions without question, covering for my increasingly erratic behavior. But now she was standing firmly in her own truth, no longer just an extension of my will.
I found, to my surprise, that I respected her more for it.
“Very well,” I said, the decision crystallizing with unexpected clarity. “I accept your terms, Alpha Gregory. A trial under pack law p>
The shock on all three faces would have been comical under different circumstances.
“Just like that?” Beta Gregory asked suspiciously. “You’re surrendering your position p>
“Temporarily,” I emphasized, looking directly at Vanessa. “For my mate. For a chance to make things right p>
Alpha Gregory snorted, clearly skeptical of my sudden cooperation. “I’ll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, you’ll be confined to the secure quarters beneath the pack house. I’ll ask Abel to arrange for guards—at least four at all times, our most trusted warriors p>
“Great,” I shrugged.
Alpha Gregory fixed me with a final, withering stare. “If this is some ploy, some new scheme p>
“It’s not,” I interrupted, surprising myself with my sincerity. “I’ve lost enough already. I won’t lose Vanessa too p>
It was a ploy of course. The only way to convince them that I still had Vanessa in mind. Would I go to prison? I doubt it. Right now, I was relying on Kevin to come through for me like he promised and also on my wits.
I would not be stepping down as Alpha neither will I be going to prison. Also, I would still make Lily mine.