Chapter 157: The Alpha’s Denial
Thorne
I couldn’t think straight. My head felt like it was splitting in two as I sat in the council chamber, the lingering scent of wine and Josie’s skin still tormenting me. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, growling, demanding answers I didn’t have. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to focus on the men seated before me—my Betas, my pack’s shield. I had to bury my chaos beneath the mask of command.
"The security around the borders must tighten immediately," I snapped, my voice echoing sharply off the stone walls. "I don’t care how exhausted the patrols are—shift rotations every four hours, no excuses. Anyone who questions it can answer to me personally."
The Betas nodded, though unease flickered in their eyes. My temper had been unpredictable lately, and they knew better than to challenge me.
I leaned forward, hands flat on the table. "As for our guest," I continued, dragging the word out with suspicion, "he did not come here simply to exchange pleasantries. I want every movement, every word, every meeting he holds scrutinized. If he came with ulterior motives, I want to know before he breathes another lie in this pack house."
A murmur rippled through the room. I narrowed my eyes, silencing them instantly. "You’ll watch him. Closely. And you’ll report back to me directly. No mistakes. No oversights."
When none of them dared to speak, I flicked my hand toward the door. "Dismissed. All of you. Except Archer."
Chairs scraped, boots shuffled, and the Betas bowed their heads before filing out. The heavy wooden doors slammed shut, leaving only Archer and me.
My personal Beta lingered at the far end of the table, waiting quietly. His loyalty had always been steady, dependable. And yet, even with him, I couldn’t rid myself of the gnawing distrust crawling under my skin.
I exhaled heavily, running a hand down my face. "What happened yesterday?" My voice was rougher than I intended.
Archer’s brows knitted. "Alpha..." He hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. "Are you certain you want to discuss this now? You haven’t rested."
A growl rose in my throat. "Don’t coddle me, Archer. Tell me."
He straightened, shoulders squaring. "It was Kiel. He was worried—extremely worried. He organized a search party for you, rallied half the warriors to scour the grounds. He wouldn’t stop until he knew you were safe."
Kiel. Always Kiel. His shadow seemed to loom larger than my own these days. My lips curved in a humorless smirk. "Of course it was him."
I swallowed hard, the question dragging itself from me before I could stop it. "What about Varen? Did he... was he involved?"
Archer shook his head. "No, Alpha. I didn’t see him. But Kiel—he was the one at the center of it all. He even called off the search once he was certain you had returned."
My jaw clenched. The silence that followed pressed heavily on my chest until I finally sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. The confusion, the shame, the raw ache in my gut—I needed something to numb it.
"Pour me a drink," I ordered.
Archer obeyed without hesitation, stepping to the sideboard and filling a crystal glass. He placed it in front of me carefully.
I picked it up, frowned, then slammed it back down. "Fill it to the brim, Archer. Am I a child, that you ration my liquor?"
His calm never wavered. "My Alpha," he said softly, "you need clarity, not more fog."
"Do not lecture me." My tone was sharp, but even I heard the edge of desperation in it.
He inclined his head, bowing slightly. "Forgive me. But perhaps what you need isn’t in a cup. Perhaps you should tell me what truly weighs on you."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You presume much."
"I’ve been at your side for years," he said steadily. "I know when something tears at you."
I let the silence stretch before finally muttering, "Do you... have a girlfriend?"
His brow arched, surprise flickering in his gaze. "A girlfriend?"
"Yes," I said impatiently. "You haven’t found your mate yet. So do you at least have someone?"
His lips twitched into the faintest smile. "No. Because I’m not searching for a girlfriend. I prefer men."
The words hung between us. For a moment, I blinked at him in stunned silence before scoffing. "You could have mentioned that before."
"I thought you knew," he said simply. "It was never a secret to me."
I shook my head, chuckling bitterly. "You always find a way to surprise me."
He leaned closer, his voice soft but firm. "And you, Alpha, must understand something: everything changes now. Josie changes everything. She’s here, she’s yours, and whether you acknowledge it or not, she must be your first priority."
I stiffened, bristling immediately. "I don’t feel anything for her."
Archer’s incredulous look burned into me, making my skin itch. He didn’t speak, but his silence was louder than any words.
I hated the way the conversation pressed against wounds I wasn’t ready to expose. "Tell me this, Archer," I said instead, voice sharp. "What would you do if you woke up naked with your lover—everyone insisting you’d had sex—but you couldn’t remember a damn thing? Not one detail?"
His expression softened with understanding. He tilted his head thoughtfully before answering, "I’d do it again."
My groan was loud, dragging out of my chest. "Of course you’d say that."
He chuckled under his breath, then surprised me by dropping back into the seat he had vacated. He leaned forward, his gaze steady, piercing.
I didn’t speak. I waited.
"I’m sorry," he said finally. "I know you don’t give a damn about my personal life. But I say this because of her. Because of Josie. Every thought I’ve voiced today was born from concern for her."
My first instinct was to deny it. To shove the words away, dismiss them. But my wolf stirred, low and insistent, whispering that I should listen. That I should shut my mouth for once and hear the truth.
Archer continued. "You embarrassed her, Alpha. In ways you may not even comprehend yet. The first thing you must do is apologize. Show her respect. After that—see where things lead."
I grunted, my pride pricking like thorns under my skin. "I’m the Alpha. I don’t apologize. She should apologize—for taking advantage of me when I was drunk."
Archer’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Instead, he rose silently from his seat. He bowed respectfully, his head dipping low.
"I’m not finished," I snapped.
But he turned anyway, moving toward the door.
My pulse spiked, fury flooding through me. I slammed my palm against the table, the crack of impact echoing through the chamber. "I have not done anything wrong!" I roared, my voice filling every corner of the room. "Josie needs to come down from her high horse before she presumes to lecture me!"
The silence that followed was suffocating. My chest heaved, rage and shame tangling until I could barely tell one from the other.
And yet still, Archer said nothing.