Chapter 88

Nathan POV

A knock on my open office door drew my attention as I sat in my office the next day.

“Sir?” Evan asked. “Do you have a few moments?”

I looked up from my desk, where I had been in the middle of reading a very thorough, very dry resource report on grain stores from last year’s harvest.

Beta Evan’s appearance gave me a welcomed excuse to take a break from it.

“Yes, Evan, of course. What is it?”

Evan walked into the office, shutting the door behind him before taking the seat in front of my desk.

“I’ve received word that Sabrina has been spotted in the Bloodclaw pack. She’s being careful not to be seen out in public, but she’s staying in the pack house.

“And she’s apparently being treated as an honored guest there, sir.”

Bloodclaw pack.

Setting down the report, I sat back in my seat. I tapped my pen against the folder.

“That makes sense, doesn’t it? Since it was Alpha Soren and a band of his enforcers who got her out of the reception hall when we tried to arrest her.

“I didn’t imagine he’d just pop up out of nowhere to help Sabrina without there being something in it for him. Now maybe we’re closer to understanding what that might be.”

“Yes, sir,” Evan nodded. “Our enforcers attempted to chase after Soren and his enforcers, but they already had transports ready and waiting for their escape. Clearly they’d been prepared to protect Sabrina.

“As far as I can tell, Sabrina and Soren have formed some sort of alliance.”

Thinking about it, it didn’t surprise me that Sabrina and one of my longtime rivals had formed an alliance with each other.

Alpha Soren was a devious man, with extremely questionable ethics.

A man who pursued what he wanted without mercy, and without giving much thought to the laws of the land either.

I imagined he got along quite well with Sabrina and her endless petty scheming.

No, I wasn’t surprised by their alliance.

What bothered me now was the question of how long ago this alliance had formed.

Had they been planning a takeover of Silverfang together this whole time?

And was Soren also a part of the attacks still happening on the Royal pack?

And - the biggest concern of all at that moment - what were they planning to do next?

“Do you have any more information about this alliance of theirs?” I asked. “Or any news about the rumor of Sabrina’s supposed pregnancy?”

Beta Evan shook his head. “Unfortunately not, sir. So far all I know is that Sabrina is being treated as if she’s a Royal visitor. They’re even still calling her ‘princess’ inside the pack house, sir.”

I shook my head, wondering when I’d ever be free of Sabrina.

Inviting her into my territory to help with my campaign for the Alpha Presidency had been one of the greatest mistakes of my life.

One I wished every day that I could somehow undo.

“Well, at least we know where she is now. Do what you can to find out more about how long they’ve been working together. And what they’re planning next.”

Because if I knew anything about either of them, it was that they always had some kind of plan in the works.

“Yes, sir. Right away.”

As Evan left I did my best to put the topic of Sabrina and what to do about her aside.

I had a pack to run.

So I focused on digging through the neglected reports and paperwork on my desk, beginning with the oldest and working my way forward.

Some of the reports were weeks old, and guilt about that tried to sneak its way into my mind.

Look how long I’d neglected my duties, it said. Look at how much I’d neglected my role as Alpha, making my entire pack suffer as a result.

Look at what a bad leader I was.

It took effort, but finally I was able to ruthlessly shove away the guilt, the shame, the embarrassment.

I had to, in order to move forward.

And it got a little easier as the day went on.

Eventually I was even able to enjoy slipping back into the flow of work.

It felt good to be back where I belonged, doing the job I was born and raised to do.

By late afternoon my desk was clear, with only the most recent report left to deal with.

A report on the numbers of just how many pack members had disobeyed what they thought was my direct order not to go to the Royal pack with supplies and help.

Though a twinge of guilt shot through me again at the idea of my own people thinking I’d actually order them not to help another pack, I pushed it away.

And I let a swell of pride come through instead.

Despite having direct orders not to, these people had all decided to risk their lives just to help others.

There truly were good people in my pack. Good, brave people.

People I had almost lost to Sabrina.

My fists clenched at the thought.

I knew now she would have used my pack to attack her own, to try to take the Royal Alpha’s throne by force - no matter how many Silverfang lives it cost in the process.

The lives of good, loyal people.

People who deserved to receive nothing but the best from me from now on.

Calling for my secretary, I told him to issue a new decree:

Anyone who had disobeyed the false princess’ orders to go to the Royal pack, even though it meant risking their pack memberships, and their lives, would be rewarded with the highest civilian or service honors I could grant them.

We’d have a large official ceremony, I decided as my secretary left to issue the new decree. Maybe I’d even declare a holiday.

Once the rogue attacks were squashed, and the realm was once again safe, I’d give the Silverfang pack a chance to celebrate properly.

It wasn’t much, I thought to myself, but it was at least a start toward undoing all the damage Sabrina had done to us.

Finishing with the report, I filed it away and took a moment to relax at my desk.

It had been a long day, but a satisfying one as well.

Now I was looking forward to going home, unwinding, and spending some time with Andy.

The poor boy has had to deal with so much lately, I thought.

For a while I had thought Sabrina could be the mother figure he needed, especially after Claire left.

But Sabrina had been far from a proper parental figure, and she hadn’t even begun to fill the hole in Andy’s life Claire made when she went away.

She hadn’t filled the whole Claire left in my life, either.

Suddenly, as if just by thinking of her I’d somehow made her appear, Claire’s voice sounded in my head.

Nathan?

A mindlink.

I sat up straight at my desk, excited that she was reaching out to me.

We had connected again during my time in the Royal pack, or so I thought.

Maybe Claire had thought so too.

But instead of making me feel hopeful, her next words shocked me:

Nathan - I need your help.