HALFDAN POV.
I lifted my gaze from the file I was reviewing as a sudden knock echoed through the room. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Who could it be? Was it Camilla? What could she possibly want now? Hadn’t she stormed out in anger before? I couldn’t help but wonder if she was up to something again.
But honestly, when she left, it was the first time in what felt like ages that I had felt a sense of relief. For once, I had slept alone, free from her constant arguments and the endless bickering.
A part of me wished she could hold onto that anger for weeks, maybe even months.
I needed time; time to clear my head, to get my life back in order, to figure out what my next steps should be.
“Come in,” I called out, my voice steady as I put the file down on my desk.
The door creaked open, and to my surprise and delight, it wasn’t Camilla. Instead, it was Drake, his face appearing from behind the door.
“Good morning, Alpha,” he greeted, his tone respectful but urgent.
“There are guests waiting for you. It’s the council of elders; they wish to speak with you,” he announced.
The mention of the council of elders made my heart skip a beat.
The frown on my face deepened as I processed Drake’s words.
The pack elders being up and about so early in the day was never a good sign. They were rarely involved in anything that didn’t spell trouble, and their presence now was certainly no exception.
“I’ll take a bath and meet you in the company. We’ll head there together,” I said, trying to buy myself a little time to prepare.
But as I spoke, I noticed the hesitation on Drake’s face, a look that told me something was off.
“I’m sorry, Alpha, but they’re not in the office,” Drake clarified, his voice careful. “They’re here, in the mansion.”
I rolled my eyes in frustration, my suspicions confirmed. Of course, they weren’t here for a friendly visit or to discuss something trivial.
The fact that they were already inside the pack's mansion meant they were up to something serious; and likely something unpleasant.
“Who else came along?” I asked, my mind racing to figure out what this could be about.
“Mr. Han, Camilla’s father, is here,” Drake replied.
Just when I thought the situation couldn’t get any worse, it did.
Having the pack's elders in my home was bad enough, but now with Mr. Han involved, things were getting even more complicated.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was about to turn into a full-blown crisis.
The fact that Camilla’s father was here only added another layer of tension to an already volatile situation. Whatever they were planning, I knew I had to be ready for anything.
"Mr. Han is back in the pack? Why? When did this happen?" I asked, but Drake didn’t have an answer.
"I’d be lying if I said I knew anything about it, Alpha Halfdan," Drake said.
"Just go. I'll catch up with you soon," I told him. Drake nodded and left the room as I changed into something comfortable but still appropriate.
Seeing the elders gathered usually meant trouble, and their unexpected arrival wasn’t how I had imagined things would go.
As soon as I stepped out of the room and walked toward them, they all looked at me with the same confused expression, but nobody said anything. I greeted them and got straight to the matter at hand.
The discussion was about strategies to protect the pack and make our army stronger. I wasn’t interested in their plans.
There was no war going on, and we weren’t facing any threats from other packs. But the way they suddenly started talking about the army and our warriors made me suspicious.
As I listened, I found my mind wandering to thoughts of Astrid. I missed her so much. I wondered what it would be like if she were my Luna, if she were here with me.
I was curious about why she suddenly spent so much time with Alpha Dane. Were they already together romantically?
I wondered if he was treating her well and doing everything he could to make her fall in love with him.
I felt uneasy at the thought of them being close. But my thoughts were interrupted when Camilla’s father stood up.
“To sum everything up, I have a suggestion,” he said suddenly. I looked at him, knowing that whatever he was about to say would probably be something I wouldn’t like.
He had always been a schemer, a petty person known for his underhanded tactics. It was clear to me that Camilla had inherited her worst traits from her father.
“What is it?” I asked, already doubting the sincerity of his proposal.
“It’s time you gave Camilla some authority. Allow her to take control of your armies!” he declared, clearing his throat as he finished his statement. His suggestion caught me off guard.
“What? Why would I give such an important role to a woman?” I asked, bewildered. I wanted to understand his motives and the reasoning behind his surprising suggestion.
“You should consider it because she is your mate and the Luna of the Greenstone pack. Don’t deny her the right,” he added, trying to make his case.
But I knew him well. He had always been selfish, putting his own interests above everyone else's, including his own family.
He was up to something, and I could sense his true intentions behind the facade.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Han, but that’s never going to happen. Not in my pack!” I said firmly, determined to stand my ground.
“The pack's elders hold power over the pack, Alpha Halfdan, not you. And as the chief elder, I demand that Camilla be appointed as the commander of all the armies in the pack,” he argued, his voice growing more insistent.
I felt my anger rising as I walked up to him, my eyes locking onto his with intensity.
“Never. Not while I’m in charge!” I snapped, my voice filled with determination.
“Like I said, Halfdan, it’s going to happen. You don’t have a say in this matter,” Han corrected, a smug smile spreading across his face as he leaned in closer, clearly enjoying the power play.
“You gave up your authority the moment you got my daughter pregnant and claimed her as yours. And let’s not forget, you rejected your mate for her… unless, she was never your mate!” he taunted, his voice dripping with malice.
“Watch your words, Han!” I commanded, my fist tightening into a white-knuckled grip.
“And what if I don’t? Are you going to kill me? Kill the father of your precious Luna?” Han scoffed, clearly trying to provoke me.
“I’d like to see you try,” he added bluntly, his tone dripping with defiance.
“You will…” I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off before I could speak.
“That will be all for now, dear Alpha… We await your decision.” With a cunning gleam in his eyes, he gave a mock bow, his smirk growing even wider.
Then he pulled back, the corners of his mouth stretching into a cruel grin as he and the others made their exit.
With a sneer, he turned on his heel and walked out, the others following him out of the room. I was seething with anger.
My fists clenched as I stormed out of the hall and headed down the corridor, Beta Drake quickly trailing behind me.
“You don't look happy, Alpha Halfdan… talk to me; tell me what happened,” Drake urged, trying to get a response from me.
I could only scoff in frustration, my mind racing with thoughts of betrayal and power plays.
“Stay calm, Alpha Halfdan!” Beta Drake said, trying to keep me composed.
But how could I stay calm when it felt like they were already scheming to take over the pack right under my nose?
“Don’t tell me to calm down, Drake. Han is pushing all my buttons. He’s back for a reason, and it’s obvious he wants to take control!” I snapped, my frustration boiling over.
“What? He can't do that right?” Beta Drake panicked briefly.
“The Han I know is more cunning than ever… Have you started tracking Camilla?” I asked, my voice tight with impatience.
“Yes, Alpha. We’ve begun the search, but so far, there haven’t been any signs of anything unusual,” Beta Drake replied, his response aligning with what I had anticipated.
“Find out exactly what she and that old man are planning, no matter what it takes. I need to put an end to this chaos before it gets any worse,” I ordered firmly.
Beta Drake nodded in acknowledgment and quickly left the room to carry out my instructions.
As soon as he was gone, my anger erupted. I kicked over a nearby table with a violent shove, sending papers, books, and other objects scattering across the floor.
My frustration surged as I stood amid the mess, trying to control the storm of emotions raging inside me.