CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: ALLIANCE IN SHAMBLES

DAMIAN’S POV:

"The wines contain poisonous substances we still can’t identify. We’ve already sent samples to Dr. Reyes so she can look into it further," the doctor says.

The guests who were lucky enough not to sip the contaminated wines throw grunts and sharp glares at me and dad.

"We have no reason to poison you," dad says. "Our wine factory may have had a mishap during production. But as you can see, there are Frostveil wolves who were affected as well."

"Say whatever alibi you want. But if one of my wolves dies because of this, I’ll void our alliance treaty," Alpha Rolf Bae of the Thornville Pack says.

"Trust is hard to give to you these days, especially when your ascensions to power remain questionable for most of us," Luna Keanna Romero of Wildrivers Pack adds.

I know dad’s rise to Alpha wasn’t perfectly clean, but it’s Harleigh’s revelation that worsened everything.

My fists clench as the image flashes in my mind: choking Harleigh until she wheezes and begs for her life and her child’s.

Then,...

Just as quickly, guilt and regret wash over me. I’m so angry at her that cruelty comes out too easily, but I’m also so in love with her that I always end up taking her back, stupidly believing she’ll change.

"What would you expect from the Frostveil Pack? They love to steal what’s not theirs... like Harliegh. But Atticus and Damian took that up a notch. They stole from their own packmate, their own blood... Torrin," Lance says.

Anger surges through me again. I lunge at Lance and grab his collar.

He wolfs out immediately and swings his claws, scratching my cheek.

The rest of the Dunebourne wolves wolf out too, and the nearby Frostveil Gammas and Betas follow. Growls fill the air as both sides glare at each other, waiting for the first attack.

"You’re at a great disadvantage here," dad says proudly. "Not only because of the environment and weather we’re professionally trained in, but also because of our numbers."

"Go ahead. Kill us if you can," Luna Lavinia dares. "Show the other packs just how far you’re willing to go to betray your so-called allies."

The other guests are so overwhelmed with anger that parts of their wolves begin to partially surface.

We already have internal problems; we can’t let this spread outside the pack. We’re not desperate for allies, but we also can’t afford to alienate everyone. The Dunebourne Pack clearly still wants Harleigh, not just her blood samples. If they unite the packs against us, we could end up like the Shadowfang Pack: ruined and gone forever.

Swallowing my pride, I kneel, facing Lance in particular. "I’m sorry." The words sting, but I force myself to continue. "Our pack has faced several problems at once: losing Alpha Torrin - the instability and division it brings, and now this. Moreover, my father and I are suspected of planning it all, when we didn’t. Who would want any of this? And what would we gain from killing you? Those left in your homelands would surely unite and revolt against us. Why would we put ourselves in that situation?"

"Huh. Nice try," Lance mocks.

Alpha Philip growls at him, finally forcing him to shut up.

Though the meeting ends with no one insulting us anymore or voicing further concerns, the tension between us only grows.

To show we’re sincere about maintaining our alliances, we offer free luxurious hotel rooms to all the guests while they wait for their packmates to be discharged from the hospital. They accept, but only on the condition that we allow the entry of more of their Gammas and Betas into our territory to ensure their safety.

Dad and I hesitate, knowing this could jeopardize our own safety. But since we’re in a more desperate situation than them, we’re forced to agree.

But that’s not enough for them.

They also refuse the food and drinks we offer, choosing instead to import everything from their homelands and have it delivered to their hotel rooms. In short, for days, outsiders can freely enter and leave our territory whenever they need to.

"Remain vigilant toward our guests, but still ensure they’re comfortable while they’re here," I order the Gammas and Betas, even the Deltas and Omegas. But the commoners barely care. It’s as if they’d rather be invaded than be led by me and dad.

The doctors and nurses are under immense pressure to speed up the recovery of those who were poisoned, forcing them to work overtime and handle at least ten patients each. I even overhear one of them complain, "This is ridiculous! If only we had better leaders, this wouldn’t happen to us."

I bite my tongue from calling her out. I understand her frustration. But she needs to be careful, coz if dad or someone else hears her, she could lose her job or even be punished for simply speaking her mind.

I take a walk on the streets to clear up even just a portion of my distress.

But,...

My distress only intensifies when I see Harleigh speaking with Alpha Philip and Lance through the huge glass windows of a cafeteria. The Gammas, who are supposed to guard her and report her every suspicious move to me, are standing outside.

"Why did you allow those Dunebourne werewolves to get near her?" I hiss.

One of them answers, "Alpha Philip and Alpha Lance demanded a private conversation with her. If not, they said they’d do everything they could to convince the other packs to unite against us, like they already tried before. Alpha Atticus had no choice but to agree."

When I attempt to step inside, one of the Gammas blocks me. "I’m sorry. The Dunebourne have stronger reasons to succeed this time with their threat than before. We can’t anger them."

I clench my fists, and no matter how hard I try to control myself, thud! - my fist connects with his cheek, knocking him into the snow.

I step back, breathe sharply, and force myself to wait outside with them, listening to nothing but my own pulse pounding.

She won’t leave me and go back to them. If her life is hell here, it was and will still be worse there. Right?

I curse under my breath, realizing I’m only trying to convince myself that I’m her better choice if she wants a good life.

Harleigh is laughing with them, even though she hates them. What could they have said that made her suddenly forget what they did to her?

Without warning, Lance takes Harleigh’s hand and tries to kiss it, but Harleigh pulls away. That small gesture gives me a little hope, not enough to calm me completely, but enough to keep me from spiraling.

An hour passes before they finally finish. The three of them look surprised to see me waiting when they step outside.

I quickly pull Harleigh to my side.

Alpha Philip smirks mockingly at me before turning to Harleigh with a warm smile. "Thank you for agreeing to talk to us, even after everything that’s happened. I’m looking forward to meeting you again."

My heart clenches, and so does my arm around Harleigh’s waist.

Lance winks at her, but Harleigh ignores him. He then glares at me, so I glare right back.

When they finally walk away, I turn to Harleigh. "What did you talk about?"

"They asked about Harper, and I told them she’s dead, killed by your father," she answers.

I don’t trust her. She has lied to me too many times. Plus, why the need for private conversation when that’s all they talked about?

"Don’t believe me?" she asks, as if she can read my thoughts just by looking into my eyes. She taps my chest lightly, right where my heart is. "There’s so much distrust inside and around you. Don’t you think you need a break from all of it? Chill and do something different, maybe?"

A strained breath escapes me. "Yeah, you’re right."

I take her advice both literally and figuratively. After escorting her to the Alpha’s mansion, I go to a bar for the first time. The reek of alcohol and smoke fills the air, alluring music plays, and sexy waitresses and dancers move around.

"Give me your strongest drink," I say to the staff at the counter.

I don’t drink because of stress; I only drink to celebrate. But tonight, I’m desperate to temporarily escape and forget everything, even just for a few hours. So I drink and drink, finishing two whole bottles of aged cognac.

My vision blurs, my head aches, and my body burns. But most importantly, my mind feels free of distress.

"Do you want our special service, Alpha Damian?" the staff asks.

"What service?" I slur.

He explains, but between the alcohol and the noise, I barely understand him.

Still, I answer happily, tossing him one of my credit cards, "Sure. Charge it all here."

He escorts me into the back, into a cold, dimly lit room. When he leaves, a woman in seductive clothing enters. She pushes me onto the bed, unbuttons my shirt, and slowly runs her palms across my chest.

"Stop," I demand, clutching her wrists.

But then,...

The longer I look at her, the clearer her face becomes.

"Harleigh? What are you doing here? And in those clothes?" I ask, shocked.

She smiles. "Relax. I’m gonna make you happy tonight."

She crawls down between my legs, unzips my pants and rubs my manhood with her hands.

"Ahh... Harleigh," I moan as my manhood starts to erect.

Then, she swallows it whole, pulls it out halfway then swallows it whole again. She repeats it several times until I c.um in her face.

"You like that?" she chuckles.

"Yeah," I breathe.

I flip our bodies around so I can get full control of what’s to come. Then I rip off her clothes, massage her exposed b.reasts hard, then s.uck her n.ipples interchangeably.

She moans, her fingers clasped on my hair.

Next, I spread her legs as wide as they can. "I’ve waited for this for so long. Thank you for finally letting me do this to you."

In one swift move, I insert my manhood inside her wet and hot womanhood. Then I thrust deep, fast and hard, making me run out of breath.

The bed creaks beneath us, while our moans and gasps echo.

Minutes pass so fast.

Then,...

Extreme pleasure and satisfaction burst through me as I release all of my seeds inside of her.

I collapse beside her. "I love you, Harleigh."