HALFDAN'S POV
The heavy wooden door to the council hall swung open abruptly, creaking on its hinges as my Beta, Drake, burst into the room with an intense expression.
“How dare you enter without notifying us first?” Elder James scolded, his voice filled with anger. I sighed inwardly, knowing that the elders were very strict about maintaining respect and protocol.
I could already tell they were going to make a big deal out of this, dragging the issue out and making it more complicated than it needed to be.
“This council hall is one of the most revered and sacred places in the pack,” Elder Thomas chimed in, his tone equally stern. “You have no right to barge in without giving us a proper announcement.”
I rolled my eyes once more, feeling a mix of irritation and resignation. Clearing my throat, I prepared to address the situation.
I knew I needed to say something, or they would all take turns hurling insults at him.
“He is my Beta, after all,” I said, trying to sound authoritative. “I had sent him on an urgent task and instructed him to report back to me. The reports should have come in by now.” I lied smoothly, noting the deepening frowns on their faces. I had no intention of getting entangled in their discontent.
Drake, my Beta, stepped closer to me, leaning in to whisper something in my ear. His breath was warm against my skin, and his words made my eyes widen with shock and concern. The weight of the information hit me hard, and I knew I had to act swiftly.
I stood up from my chair abruptly, the sudden movement catching the attention of the room.
“This meeting is over,” I declared firmly, my voice carrying a sense of finality. “Everyone needs to leave now.”
“What? That isn't even…” Elder Thomas was going to argue but with a glare snapped at him, he pursed his lips immediately.
As I looked at each of them, I noticed they kept exchanging glances, clearly displeased with my command, but I stood my ground.
“As the Alpha, I am giving a direct order. The meeting will be rescheduled, and I need you all to leave immediately!” My voice was stern and unyielding this time, carrying the authority of my position.
Despite their dissatisfaction, the elders knew better than to challenge me further, and they began to gather their things and prepare to leave.
The second the last person exited the hall, I turned to Drake who tried steading his breaths, my eyes furrowed with curiosity.
“What do you mean Astrid was almost raped?” I demanded as soon as the last of the men had left the council hall. My voice was tense, my mind racing with the implications of what I had just heard.
Drake, my Beta, took a deep breath before answering. “The information came from a very reliable source. It happened during the after burial gathering, and because of the crowd and the commotion, no one realised what was happening.”
“A search is currently on to find the men who took her. Fortunately, Dane managed to rescue her, but he wants to keep the whole thing under wraps for now.”
I processed this information quickly, nodding in grim understanding.
My mind was already made up; there was no sense in wasting time on a fruitless search when I had a strong suspicion about who was behind this.
Camillia’s behaviour had been unusually suspicious lately. Her sneaky actions and sudden silence during the party had seemed odd, but now it all made sense.
Without another word, I stormed out of the council hall, determined to confront the person I believed was responsible.
I headed straight to my room, where I found Camillia lounging on the bed. She was dressed provocatively in lingerie, her legs elegantly crossed as she fluttered her eyelashes at me with a seductive smirk.
The sight of her, so calm and composed despite the situation, only fueled my anger.
I stood frozen in place, my eyes fixed on Camillia as confusion and anger swirled within me. Her casual, provocative demeanour was infuriating.
“I know you weren’t expecting this,” she said with a sultry tone, her speech slightly slurred.
“I thought I’d surprise you.” She slid off the bed and moved toward me with a confident stride, her arms wrapping around my shoulders. She leaned in for a kiss, her lips almost touching mine.
Without hesitation, I pushed her away with a forceful shove. My anger took over as I grabbed her by the neck, my grip tightening as I began to strangle her.
Her eyes widened in shock, and she struggled to breathe, her face quickly turning a ghastly shade of pale.
“You have some nerve,” I seethed, my voice dripping with fury.
“How dare you have the audacity to act this way after what you’ve done? I specifically warned you to stay away from Astrid, and you chose to ignore me!” I scoffed in disbelief.
“How dare you lie to my face while sending men to rape her?” My anger was evident, each word punctuated with rage as I watched her fight for breath.
As her struggles grew weaker and her resistance faded, I released my grip, stepping back to glare at her.
She collapsed to the floor, coughing violently and gasping for air, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. I swallowed hard, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me.
“You disgust me, Camilla!” I continued, my voice steady despite the anger seething beneath.
“How could you go so low? You know, while Dane is out there searching for the real person behind this, I hope you’re held accountable for your actions. You will be caught eventually, even if I don’t say a word. Perhaps it would be better if I fasten the process too”
Camillia, now on the floor, clung desperately to my feet before she managed to stand up, her expression a mix of anxiety and fear.
“I wasn’t there, so why am I being accused?” Camillia protested, her voice quivering as she tried to feign innocence.
Her attempts at looking demure did nothing to alleviate my suspicion; I could sense the deceit behind her eyes.
“You conniving snake. You’re nothing but a liar, a damned liar,” I roared, my anger boiling over.
“How dare you stand here and look me in the eye while spouting lies?” My regret for my earlier decisions surged through me, mingling with my fury.
“I want nothing more to do with you,” I snapped, turning on my heel to leave the room. The sight of her face, twisted in a mix of defiance and manipulation, made my blood boil.
“How dare you?! You can’t just walk away from me like this!” she shouted, her voice rising in desperation.
“We both know this is about Astrid. You want her, don’t you? You’re doing all this because of that bitch!” Her words stung, but I was beyond reasoning.
Without thinking, I struck her face with a sharp, stinging slap. The sound echoed in the room, and she staggered back, her cheek flushing red.
Camillia’s head tilted to the side, a twisted, erratic laugh escaping her lips. Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous mix of defiance and madness as she stared at me, the laughter fading into an unsettling silence.
“How dare you challenge me?” I demanded, struggling to keep my voice steady despite the fury coursing through me.
“You really think she’ll take you back?” Camillia taunted, her tone dripping with scorn.
“You were interested in me when you thought I had the power and influence of the pack, but now that I’m no longer in that position, you think you can just run back to her?” Her words were a cruel reminder of her manipulative games, aimed at provoking me further.
“You really think Astrid would leave Dane for someone like you?” Camillia spat, her voice rising with manic intensity.
“What a joke. You’re a complete joke!” She repeated the insult, her laughter taking on a crazed edge as she spoke.
I shot back with a fierce determination. “It doesn’t matter whether I end up with her or not, as long as it’s not you!” My voice was cold and resolute as I turned to leave, my anger propelling me toward the door.
“No! I won’t let it happen! You can't just wake up and want to switch or reject me like you did to her, Alpha Halfdan!” Camillia’s voice cracked with desperation as she shouted after me.
“We belong together! You and I! You are mine!” Her words echoed through the room, filled with a frantic and possessive rage.