Chapter 122

Lauren

The argument had been raging for what felt like hours. The air in the clearing was thick, heavy with tension as I glared across the crowd at the Betas and the elders. Their words were all the same: “He’s dangerous. He’s a liability. He’s an outsider. Why risk more manpower looking for someone who doesn’t even belong here?”

I couldn’t believe it.

Abigail and Owen filled me in on what happened. It wasn’t Mark’s fault and yet now… my brother I had just gotten back was gone. And we were arguing about if he was worth lookin for.

The audacity.

“I don’t care if he’s dangerous,” I snapped, my voice harsh, each word feeling like it cut through the tension. “He’s family. And family doesn’t just get thrown away. I don’t care if you think Mark’s a half-wild mess right now. I don’t care if you think he’s unstable, an abonmination. He’s still my brother, and you”—I turned on the elders—“owe him a chance!”

Alexander stood off to the side of them, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable, but I could feel his unease seeping into the air. I’d been pushing him all day, and I knew this wasn’t easy for him.

He was the Alpha, the leader of this pack, and he had to balance everything. It wasn’t just about my personal vendetta to find Mark—it was about keeping the pack in check, too. Something that was delicate right now for him.

“He’s right, Lauren,” one of the elders—an old, grizzled man named Garrick—grumbled from his spot by the ferns. “Mark’s been a liability since he ran off after that… horrid display to one of our own. We’ve got enough to worry about with the pack. If he’s really lost, maybe it’s best we just leave him be. It’s not like you grew up with him. You’re asking us to risk manpower for someone who’s already betrayed us. You know that.”

The nerve of him. Betrayed? I couldn’t even—

“You don’t get it, do you?” I snarled, “Mark’s my brother. He’s my family. You’re talking about him like he’s just some rogue to deal with. He’s strong, a Lycan like myself. Not only my family, but if you need to be convinced, an asset. You think I’m going to stand by and do nothing while the pack sits back and waits for the rogues to get their hands on him?”

“He’s not your brother anymore, Lauren,” said Rhys, the Beta, his voice sharp. His cold eyes locked onto mine. “Not since he ran off without honnor. He’s unstable, a danger to this pack.”

“Don’t you dare say that!” I shot back, the words slipping out faster than I could stop them. “He’s my brother. And don’t you forget that.”

Rhys snorted, clearly unconvinced. “He’s also a liability.”

I didn’t care. I didn’t care what anyone said. Mark was my brother, my flesh and blood, and no amount of arguing was going to change that.

I turned to Alexander then, my gaze pleading with him. “Please, Alex. You have to help me. You’re the Alpha. You can order them to—”

But Alexander shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck as he met my eyes. “It’s not that simple, Lauren,” he said, his voice steady but strained. “The pack has a right to feel nervous. He is an outsider after all.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I took a step back, feeling the sting of his doubt. Was this really how he saw Mark now? As some kind of monster?

“But that doesn’t mean we are just quitting, given up on him. But I do ask you have… patience. A kid was hurt, that matters.”

I wanted to argue, but my eyes cut across to the kid Mark had lifted, a cast around his neck. My lips pursed in thought, stepping closer to him as the pack started to hollar in arguments with eachother.

“I’m not asking you to put the whole pack at risk,” I said quietly to his ear, though my voice wavered. “I’m asking you to look at this from a family perspective. I don’t care what Mark’s done. He’s still my brother. I’d do the same for you, Alex. If you were out there... alone... would you want me to just give up on you?”

His expression faltered for just a second, but he quickly masked it, folding his arms across his chest. I could see the struggle in his eyes—he wanted to help me. He did.

“You think this is easy for me?” he muttered, his tone a little more clipped now. “Of course I want to help you find him, but I also have to think about the pack. They’re already nervous. They don’t know Mark. They’ve heard rumors. And... you heard what Rhys said.”

Garrick spoke up again, his voice pulling over the rest. “It’s not just about the pack’s safety, Alexander! It’s about the fact that Mark, he’s dangerous. I don’t care if he’s your brother. He’s a liability. We don’t have the manpower to risk it, not with everything else going on. You think we should go chasing ghosts?”

I was about to snap back when Alexander held up his hand. “Enough, everyone.”

The clearing went quiet again, the tension so thick I could almost taste it. Alexander stood still for a long moment, then let out a long sigh.

“I’ll tell you what,” he said slowly, his eyes flicking toward me. “We’ll organize another search, but I’m setting conditions. If Mark shows himself to be dangerous, if he makes any moves against this pack... we will act. No questions asked. Even if it means taking him down.”

I felt my heart stop in my chest. I could barely breathe, but I forced myself to nod. “Fine,” I said, my voice shaky. “I’ll take that risk.”

Mostly because I knew Mark wa gentle, this was all a misunderstanding. It had to be.

The elders seemed to grumble, but they reluctantly nodded, accepting the conditions. “We’ll do it. But we expect results, Alexander,” Rhys added, his eyes still cold.

“Of course,” Alexander said, his voice firm now. “I’ll give the orders. We’ll start as soon as possible.”

The meeting broke up, the elders shuffling out in silence, clearly unhappy with the decision. Alexander lingered a moment, his gaze lingering on me. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, but I could tell he was still weighing everything.

“Lauren,” he said finally, his voice low.

“Yeah, I get it,” I snapped, my frustration spilling out. “You did what you could. I know. But you could’ve pushed harder, Alex. You’re the Alpha. You’re supposed to—”

“Lauren.” He cut me off, his voice sharper now. “I am the Alpha. And right now, the pack is—” He hesitated, searching for the right word. “—fragile. I’m doing the best I can.”

“Yeah, well, your best didn’t feel like enough.” I threw the words over my shoulder as I turned away, heading toward the mansion.

He grabbed my arm, gently pulling me to a halt before I could leave the room.

“Lauren... You’re not listening to me,” he said quietly, his hand lingering on my wrist. I could feel the weight of his touch, the way it grounded me, even as my anger bubbled up. “I did back you up. Whether you know it or not, I’m on team Lauren.”

I shook my head, tugging my arm out of his grasp. “Right,” I hissed, my voice full of venom. “You’ve already left me to deal with more then enough alone. I get it. I know where your priorities lie. Just don’t pretend like you’re on my side when you’re not.”

His eyes widened a flash, fists curling. “That’s not fair, Lauren.”

“It never was, was it?” I bit back before I could stop myself.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. I could feel the sting of what I’d just said, but I couldn’t take it back.

“You don’t mean that,” he said quietly, his voice almost a whisper. His eyes softened just a fraction. “You’re angry. I get it. But don’t say things you don’t mean. Not now.”

I stared at him for a moment longer, anger still simmering inside me. I turned away with a grit of my teeth, letting out a thick sigh.

The forest stretched out in front of me, empty and silent. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Not until I found Mark. And if I had to do it alone, I would.