Arranged To The Beast Alpha

DAMIAN'S POV

The council chamber was cold and quiet, the air heavy with tension as I entered. The elders sat around the long oak table, their faces lined with age and authority. Each of them was a keeper of tradition, a protectors of the old ways. They weren't just advisors; they were enforcers of the rules that governed our pack.

Kai stood beside me as I took my seat at the head of the table. His presence was steady, a reminder that, no matter how much pressure these meetings brought, I wasn't entirely alone.

"Alpha Damian," Elder Marcus began, his voice steady and deep. "We have much to discuss today. The matter of the rogues is growing more urgent."

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. "I've received reports from our scouts. The rogues are moving closer to our borders. Their numbers seem to be increasing."

Elder Agnes, the oldest of the group, frowned. "This is troubling. If they're organizing, it could mean they have a leader."

"That's my concern," I replied. "Random attacks are one thing, but if they have someone uniting them, we could be looking at a serious threat."

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the situation sinking in. Rogues were always a problem, but a coordinated group of them? That could mean war.

Elder Marcus folded his hands on the table. "We need to strengthen our defenses, increase patrols along the border. And if it comes to it, prepare for battle."

I nodded again. "I've already assigned additional warriors to the border patrols. We're training new recruits as well, but it will take time to get them ready."

Agnes leaned forward, her sharp eyes locking onto mine. "Time isn't on our side, Damian. We need every capable warrior we can get."

The words hung in the air, and I had a sinking feeling I knew where this was headed. Elder Harold, who had been silent until now, cleared his throat. "Which brings us to another matter we must address."

I stiffened, my jaw tightening. "Go on."noveldrama

Harold glanced around the table before continuing. "Jason. He's a trained warrior, one of the best we had before he left. His return could be an asset to the pack, especially now."

I clenched my fists under the table. Of course, they'd bring him up.

"I've already assigned responsibilities to the current warriors," I said, my tone carefully measured. "We don't need Jason."

Agnes shook her head. "Damian, this isn't about pride or personal grievances. This is about the safety of the pack. Jason's skills are undeniable, and his presence could make a significant difference."

Marcus nodded in agreement. "You know as well as we do that he's capable. And if he's willing to stay, it would be foolish to turn him away."

I gritted my teeth, my wolf growling in the back of my mind. They didn't understand. Jason wasn't just some warrior returning to the fold. He was a complication, a reminder of things I wanted to forget.

Kai shifted beside me, his expression unreadable. He knew how I felt about Jason, but he also knew better than to speak out of turn here.

"Jason left this pack," I said firmly. "He chose to leave, to abandon his responsibilities. Why should we trust him now?"

"Because people can change," Agnes said, her voice soft but resolute. "And because we can't afford to let personal grudges cloud our judgment. This is bigger than you, Damian."

I opened my mouth to argue, but Marcus cut me off. "We're not asking you to forgive him. We're asking you to think of the pack. Put the past aside and do what's best for everyone."

The room was silent again, all eyes on me. My wolf growled louder, restless and agitated.

Finally, I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. "Fine," I said through gritted teeth. "Jason can stay. But he'll be under close supervision. One misstep, and he's gone." The elders nodded, satisfied.

"Good," Marcus said. "Now, back to the matter of the rogues..."

The conversation shifted back to strategies and defenses, but I could barely focus. My mind was spinning, caught between anger and frustration. Jason staying in the pack meant he'd be around Leah, and that thought alone made my blood boil.

The meeting dragged on for what felt like hours. Patrol schedules were finalized, training regimens were adjusted, and resources were allocated. By the time it was over, my head was pounding.

As the elders began to file out, Marcus stopped beside me. "You made the right decision, Damian," he said quietly.

I didn't respond, just gave him a curt nod before turning to leave.

Kai followed me out, his expression unreadable. "You okay?" he asked once we were alone.

"No," I admitted, my voice sharp. "I'm not okay."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "You know this was the logical choice, right? Jason's skills-"

"I don't care about his skills," I snapped. "He's a distraction, Kai. To me, to Leah, to everything we're trying to accomplish."

Kai sighed. "I get it. But you're the alpha. Sometimes that means making decisions you don't like."

I didn't respond, my jaw tightening as we walked back toward the main house. Jason staying in the pack was a mistake. I knew it, and deep down, I suspected he did too. But if he thought I was going to make this easy for him, he was sorely mistaken.

If Jason wanted to prove he belonged here, he was going to have to fight for it. And even then, I wasn't sure I could ever fully trust him again.

Not after the stunts he pulled when we were kids, not after how his mother acted when mine died, not after the coldness he had shown me when all I wanted was a brother

Admitted, we were kids back then, and maybe I had a fair share of stupid things as well, but Jason was a whole different story, being alpha belonged to me by birthright, he never showed any interest in the position,

Yet I couldn't fathom why he was around, why he returned, if it had nothing to do with the pack then what more was he scheming?