Nathaniel''S POV


    I walked into the meeting hall, feeling a little bit dizzy from theck of sleep these days. Grayson had informed mete that the Alphas were hosting a meeting and I was starting to think about what they wanted to discuss. The two weeks the Alphas had given Evangeline were closing today and we still have not figured out a way to save her.


    Honestly, I didn''t want to ept the gnawing truth. What if... what if we are unable to save her? Then Alex will die sooner which means that Alpha ire will likely make it to the throne. What if it does not go that way? What if the one behind the kidnap of Evangeline wanted the throne?


    Then nothing was going to go as they nned.


    As usual, the chattering of the egoistic Alphas filled the entire ce and I stepped into the room, they all quietened, turning their gazes to me as I walked further to the only empty seat I could find at the back. Of course, I was not going to sit there.


    I turned around, heading for where the Alpha King usually sat. I was not going to sit there either and I definitely was not going to discuss whatever they wanted to.


    "Hale, you are here finally." One of the oldest Alphas noted and I did nothing to acknowledge what he said.


    Another cleared his voice, rising to his feet. "We can testify that we have given the Royal family time to get back at us which they have stubbornly chosen not to. It is only right that we take our grounds and discuss what next to do." He stated. Some of them nodded their heads in agreement with what he said.


    I watched them, wishing they knew what great of a harm they were deeply rooted in. If they knew, they would not be discussing what to do instead, they would be keeping their heads.


    "So since the Alpha King has not been seen for a month and many Alphas can testify to this day, ess to the Alpha King''s house has been denied repeatedly for the same reason." He continued.


    "He has refused to see us, his subordinates. So we have chosen to talk to Alpha Nathaniel, who should have been removed from his Alpha position weeks back if I was not mistaken. Tell us, we have been told that you were thest to visit the Alpha King."


    "Pray, tell us what the Alpha King said." He arched his brow.


    This was a trap. They wanted to tag me as something I was not ready for.


    "I was not allowed to see the Alpha King," I answered briefly.


    "You were not? But from the minutes you spent, you did engage with someone, right?" He asked.


    "Yes, I did. The Luna Queen." I replied, murmuring heightened in the hall. I saw the satisfied glint that crossed their faces at my response. "Who repeatedly asked me to leave that the Alpha King has refused to see anyone, including me," I added and that wiped everything off their faces, their blood draining.


    If they thought that I was getting special services from the Alpha King, they were wrong. I was even doing this particr favor because I needed what Evangeline could offer but now... she has disappeared.


    Wait, another possibility was that Evangeline could be behind all of these. Who knows? I didn''t trust her but Maurene did. At this point, anyone could be the suspect. I red down at Alpha ire who just sat there, watching everything unfold. What if he was behind the attack on the Luna Queen?


    "If you say so. We are yet to get a response to the Luna Queen''s attack. Tell me, shouldn''t we decide as the counsel to punish you as a whole since you have been unable to provide answers?" One of the Alphas at the table spoke up. I clenched my fist tight, willing myself not to hit the table before me. "I already did. To the Alpha King. My punishment was lifted thest time I met with the Luna Queen." I gritted out. That was a lie. Since none of them was around to go against me, it would do just well.


    Shocked whispers echoed as I waited for them to refute my im. They didn''t. They were wise. They knew that the Luna Queen''s attack didn''t have anything to do with them and all to do with me. They didn''t care at all but thought to use that as a leverage to take me out of the picture like the Alpha King and Luna Queen.


    Who knows how d they would be if they heard out the Luna Queen was missing and the Alpha King was unstable?


    They would be so quick to move on to the next Alpha King like they did secretly.


    "So is there anything else you would like to discuss? If not, I will dly take my leave." I turned to leave but as expected, ire spoke up.


    "Where is the Luna Queen?" I was not expecting that question.


    I spun around, appearing confused as I raised my brows. "How am I supposed to know that, Alpha ire?" I tilted my head to the side, knowing fully well that the Alphas were eagerly waiting for a slip from me.


    "How not?" He rose to his feet, inclining his head to the side. He walked out from the ce he had sat, heading toward me with an envelope in his hands.


    He extended it to me and with my eyes etched on his, I took it from him. Only dropped my gaze to look at the pictures that were in my hands. I tried not to betray any emotion, ring at Maurene''s and Evangeline''s pictures. He leaned closer to me, cing his lips close to my ears, despite knowing how sharp the werewolf hearing was.


    "The Luna Queen is missing and your ex-wife... or should I say the mother of your kids is staying with you? Don''t you think you have some sort of discussion to hold with us?" He whispered.


    I swallowed hard, my throat bobbing. How dare he?


    I red daggers at him as he wore a satisfied smirk, returning to his seat. I stood there, contemting leaving but that would only put Maurene in a tight spot. I was right when I said that I had been watching Evangeline closely. They were always looking for a slip, a spot, or waiting for the perfect time to strike.


    And now was not the perfect time for me.


    "What are you insinuating?" I challenged them.


    "Thest time, it was reported to us by Alpha Dwayne that the Luna Queen cannot be found nor has the Alpha King been seen recently. He is not at home either. Don''t bother saying that." He pointed at me like he knew what I wanted to ask next.


    "And how did you know that? Since we have all been told that we were not allowed to meet the Alpha King?" I countered him.


    If he wanted to paint me as the one who was behind their absence, I would make people see him for who he was exactly.


    "Three Alpha representatives were sent to their ce and they had to force their way in since those guards were loyal to the core. The entire house was searched and it was reported that the Royal family seemed to have disappeared. Some footage was checked and we figured that your-"


    "Then why should the finger be pointed at me?" I cut him off before he could bring Maurene into this.


    He narrowed his eyes slightly, scoffing as he realized what I was doing.


    "Can''t it be pointed to the rest of you all?" I nced at every one of them, from the oldest to the youngest, watching them cower then stopped at ire. "Or you?" My brows creased together as I used everyone. Now, we were at the center where we would have to tread carefully, or else, a slip in the word could be used against us.


    "Alpha Nathaniel, no one is pointing fingers at you." Another Alpha spoke up, sounding like he was trying his hardest to remain level-headed among us. "We are just saying that if the Alpha King has decided to leave the throne without discussion, it is only right that we find another person to fit in. As we all know his absence could do a lot more damage than repair. So what we should be discussing at the moment is who is the next Alpha King?" The question, Finally.


    I was expecting it to beter. That was why I wanted to leave as early as possible but the fact that Alpha Rowan stated it, murmurs filled the hall and ire''s intent gaze was on me. I knew what I had to do and I was going to do just that. "The Alpha King didn''t abdicate the throne neither did he disappear, Alpha Rowan. Contemting who the next Alpha King would be is quite too far, don''t you think so?" I cleared my throat, directing a look at him.


    "What if he walks in here? Who knows? The one who would be removed from the Alpha position would not be me, but you. So let us stand firm together and wait for a message from the Alpha King. If we do not get it, we go in search of our King. After all, he is our king. Understood?" I let my eyes roam through the room, meeting their gazes. Although I could see that they wanted to argue. They didn''t have a choice.


    They all gave forced nods and I didn''t care whether they were genuine or not.


    If I was told that I would be defending the Alpha King months back, I would have argued and refused adamantly but see me today, trying to protect his royal dignity and the fact that these Alphas were ready to rebel and lead a coup. Without as much as ncing at ire''s way, I exited the meeting hall.


    I needed to see the Alpha King now.


    Chapel 112