CHAPTER 53: BETWEEN ALPHA AND HIS BETA

Ellie frowned slightly, straightening from where he leaned against the desk. "Odd?" he echoed. "What exactly?"

Ares’s eyes lowered slowly, meeting his Beta’s. There was a flicker there, unease and calculation, something heavy that didn’t sit right with him. His fingers stilled on the arm of his chair, the faint tapping coming to an end.

"Do you not find it strange," Ares said slowly, "that you caught a whiff of an intruder in our territory today, and right after that, a letter arrives saying the Convergence Ceremony will be held in Grimhowl?"

Ellie’s brows knitted as the implication sank in. "You think they already knew about the council’s decision?" he asked. "That’s impossible. If you just got this letter, that means every others should be receiving theirs at the same time."

Ares’s jaw clenched. "Still, I find it suspicious. I can’t shake the feeling that the scent you caught has something to do with the information in that letter."

Ellie’s expression shifted, less skeptical now, more alert. Ares might be difficult, but his instincts were rarely wrong. "You think they’ll try something during the ceremony?"

Ares leaned back in his chair again, the leather creaking under his weight. He nodded once, slowly. "For some reason, I can’t dismiss the coincidence. It’s too precise. And I think someone in the council is helping them."

Ellie’s eyes widened slightly. "That’s a dangerous accusation, Ares."

Ares met his gaze with quiet certainty. "Maybe. But I’d rather be wrong and prepared than right and caught off guard."

Ellie exhaled, straightening his posture. "Then we prepare for anything."

Ares nodded and leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. His voice was low but weighted. "Do you think I should tell Eberhard about this?"

Ellie’s frown was immediate, sharp, and unyielding. "No." The answer came too fast, too sure.

Ares blinked, taken aback by the firmness. "This is important, Ellie. I think Eberhard should know. He understands those people better than we do."

"This is important," Ellie shot back, his voice steady but edged with irritation. "That’s exactly why you shouldn’t tell him." He crossed his arms and sighed. "I’ll give you credit for something, though, you actually asked for my thoughts this time. Usually, you’d run straight to him and report everything to him before even thinking about it."

Ares’s shoulders tensed, guilt flickering across his face. He hadn’t realized how much he’d been sidelining his own Beta until that moment. His chest tightened with a mix of shame and regret.

"I’m sorry," Ares said quietly, the sincerity in his tone catching even himself off guard.

Ellie blinked, brows arching. That’s twice in one day, he thought, a small smirk threatening to break through. Whatever’s gotten into him, I like it. He nodded slightly.

"But why don’t you trust Eberhard?" Ares asked, his tone softer now, almost searching.

"Why do you trust him so much?" Ellie threw back immediately.

Ares leaned back, his gaze distant. "Because he was my father’s Beta. My father’s most trusted man."

Ellie’s jaw tightened. The words then where was he when your father and mother were being killed burned on his tongue, but he swallowed them down. Ares wouldn’t take that well. Instead, he exhaled slowly. "He was your father’s most trusted man. Doesn’t mean he should be yours. Pack secrets, especially things like this, are meant to stay between the Alpha and his Beta. That way, when something leaks, you know exactly who to question, not a list of suspects."

Ares rubbed a hand across his jaw, trying to ease the tension there. "I know you two won’t betray me," he muttered.

Ellie’s voice rose a notch, sharper now. "You know nothing, Ares. Just listen to me, damn it."

Ares’s gaze softened. He knew this was heading toward another argument, and he didn’t want that. He nodded slowly. "Alright. I’ll do as you say."

"Good." Ellie exhaled, some of his frustration melting away. "Now, I’ll go check on those bastards. You should think about their punishment. They shouldn’t be let off easy this time."

Ares raised a hand lazily, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Aye aye."

Ellie rolled his eyes and turned to leave. He was almost at the door when Ares’s voice called after him. "Ellie."

Ellie turned, hand still on the doorknob. "What?"

Ares hesitated, then said, "I’m truly sorry... for making you feel like I didn’t want you as my Beta. That was never my intention."

Ellie studied him for a long moment. The Alpha looked sincere, more human than he’d seen him in a long time. Finally, Ellie nodded. "It’s alright."

Ares’s lips lifted into a small, rare smile. Ellie mirrored it faintly before opening the door and stepping out, closing it gently behind him.

The door shut behind Ellie with a quiet click, and his faint smile vanished like it had never been there. His frown settled instantly, the warmth from moments ago replaced by a cold, calculating sharpness in his eyes.

There were things he hadn’t told Ares.

Eberhard.

The name alone made his jaw tighten.

He hadn’t told Ares that Rhea’s supposed hallucination at the coffee shop might not have been one after all. When she mentioned seeing someone who looked like Eberhard earlier, he had dismissed it, convinced her eyes were just playing tricks on her. But now? Not after everything that had happened. It was too much of a coincidence.

Ellie exhaled through his nose, the muscle in his jaw ticking. "Seems like you were right, Rhea," he muttered under his breath, his tone low and edged with realization. He shouldn’t have brushed it off earlier. Why had he even believed Eberhard wouldn’t dare leave the pack house without reporting first?

He started walking. He didn’t trust Eberhard, never had.

Ellie adjusted his sleeves, his voice dropping to a near growl. "If he’s been sneaking out without the Alpha’s knowledge, then something’s going on. And I’m going to find out what."

His pace quickened as he turned the corner. Seems like I’ll have to keep my eyes on you, old man, he thought, his gaze hardening as he disappeared down the hall.