Bonds

Chapter 84

Alex’s POV

The sterile smell of disinfectant was a constant assault on my senses, blending with the metallic tang of blood that seemed to linger in the air despite there being no visible wound on my father. His chest rose and fell with each labored breath, his once powerful frame now reduced to a frail shell. Yet, as he spoke of the past, a spark of his former self ignited in his eyes- a chilling mixture of pride and something akin to

amusement.

“We were young and foolish then,” he rasped, “Ambition burned bright in both our bellies, Daniel Stone and I. We craved power, influence, dominance that stretched across both worlds- the human and the werewolf”

A humorless short escaped his lips, a dry rasp that echoed in the sterile silence. “There was a constant struggle, skirmishes along the borders, tests of strength. But there was also a… respect. We understood the boundaries, the lines that shouldn’t be crossed.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, his weathered face etched with a weariness that went beyond illness. When he opened them again, they glinted with a cold, steely resolve.

“Then came the opportunity. A chance to cripple Stone’s hold on a crucial exchange route, a power move that would solidify my position as the alpha with the most influence.”

My throat tightened. This was it, the moment he would explain the attack, the one that had fractured the fragile peace between the packs. But as he spoke, a different picture emerged–one devoid of remorse, painted solely with ruthless ambition.

“The plan was simple,” he continued, his voice gaining a sliver of strength. “A swift raid, a display of force, a message to the other packs. Nothing more.”

A cold dread settled in my stomach. “But it went wrong, didn’t it?”

He gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable. “There was a fight, of course. It was brutal, fangs and claws bared. But then… chaos. A stray bullet, a panicked shift… and then silence.”

The silence in the room felt even heavier now, “Daniel’s son, a young boy barely out of his pup year just like you, he was caught in the crossfire. Dead and…” He trailed off, a flicker of something that might have been regret crossing his face, but it was fleeting.

“The details are unimportant,” he continued, his voice laced with a dismissive arrogance. “Collateral damage is inevitable in any war. You will come to understand.”

at him, incredulous. Collateral damage? As if the death of a child was a mere statistic in his quest for power. “How can you say that?” My voice was shaking

made. It’s the price of power.” His voice hardened, a cruel edge creeping in. “Besides, Stone wasn’t blameless either. He retaliated,

loses.”

of war, of a game, but all I saw was the shattered innocence of a young life lost, a life needlessly taken in the crossfire of his ambition. He was responsible for her brother’s death, a brother she never got to know. Did she know? This was why Daniel Stone hated me so much. If Amaya had known why did she still mate

hint of satisfaction creeping into his voice, “the Moon Goddess decided to play a

10:28 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 84

daughter, and she turned

+88%

nausea washed over me. “You killed her brother,” I whispered, the words catching in my throat. “And from what you’re saying. I must have been around three years old at the time. That’s why I don’t remember. I was the same age as the boy you

the constant tension between our packs, the unspoken hatred simmering beneath the surface – it all

father’s insatiable greed.

at me, his face devoid of any emotion. “So what? It is

my voice firm despite the tremor running through me. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t a game. It’s real life, and real

odds with his earlier arrogance. “Every victory comes with sacrifices. You wouldn’t understand until you’ve held the reins of

words hung in

truth I couldn’t deny. The responsibility of leading a pack was immense, the decisions life or death. But for him, it seemed, that responsibility had morphed into a justification for his actions, a shield to deflect any flicker of

a child?” I pressed, “How can you justify taking

remained silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on a point on the sterile white wall. Finally, he spoke, his voice laced with a bitterness

damage when he retaliated? My right hand man, who was like a brother to me died. We all have scars, Alex, both physical and emotional. It’s the price we pay

the inherent dangers, a line had been crossed that I couldn’t ignore. The death of a child, regardless of the perpetrator, was

between accepting the dangers and actively courting them. You didn’t just walk into a warzone, you orchestrated it!

about securing a future for our pack. Don’t

surprised me. Was this the fear of death

it’s crumbling around you. Look at yourself, a shell

face, replaced by a profound weariness, a hollowness in his eyes