Chapter 0287

"She knows." Alexander's voice was a low, menacing growl.

"What about the other packs?" Sebastian questioned. "We know Silver Creek had a leader."

"No packs have a true leader unless they are Wolves. They choose someone, and if they don't like it, they kill them and replace them. Isn't that what Silver Creek did to Athena's parents?"

"It is."

"Then this will be different."

"I thought you don't believe in Alphas?" Sebastian tutted.

"I don't, but I believe in power."

Alexander frowned at my words but remained silent. His intense gaze fixed on the direction of the pack's main entrance. They all seemed to be expecting more arrivals. Believing that people would jump at the chance to have a leader.

"Incoming." Alexander muttered as Brianna strode up the drive with two new people. A Lycan and a Wolf, walking hand in hand. The Lycan female had a fresh mark on her neck. Her hand was gripped a little too tightly around the man's. There was no darkness to her soul, but there was palpable fear.

Brianna stopped just in front of us. I watched the girl's fingers grow impossibly tighter around the guy's hand. Or so I initially thought. Looking closer, I saw that he was actually holding onto her. His knuckles were white from the strain. The skin on her hand appeared sunken from the excessive pressure.

"This is Hannah and Nathan." Brianna smiled. "Hannah is a Lycan mated to a Wolf." She was clearly saying it for my benefit, smiling smugly in my direction.

"Hannah." The girl whispered. Her chestnut eyes briefly settled on me before she gave a sort of bow. The movement made her red waves fall over her face.

The gesture was subtle, but enough for me to see that Nathan was the one forcing her into that bow. She gulped audibly but didn't make another sound as she slowly straightened. She had probably convinced him to come here because of Athena's instructions. But in reality, she was using it as a way to ask for help.

"Hannah." Alexander stepped forward. His tone told me he had seen the same things I had. Perhaps it reminded him of how he met Athena. "Brianna will take you through to meet Athena. Nathan, you will stay with us."

"If it's all the same, Alpha Alexander, I would like to meet the Lycan Alpha that dragged me and my mate from our holiday."

"You will." Alexander stepped closer. "Meetings are done individually so everyone can be properly verified."

"There are other Lycans here?" His eyes flickered between us.

Zachary stepped forward and gestured to himself. "Yes."

"I would still prefer to attend the meeting with Hannah. I want to know what this Alpha wants. And she wants me by her side."

Nathan glared at Hannah until she whispered that she was afraid to be alone with a stranger.

"Nothing will happen to her." I smiled at him, though I already had ideas about what was about to happen to him.

"Can you guarantee that?" He cocked his head to one side and stared directly at Alexander.

"I can guarantee nothing will happen to her." Alexander stated the same assurance I had given. He knew exactly what was coming.

Nathan frowned but finally released the pretty redhead. "Two minutes." He muttered to Hannah, pulling her in roughly. He planted his lips on the corner of hers. Her soul pulsated with raw fear.

"Brianna." Alexander gave her a nod. Brianna smiled and linked arms with Hannah, gently encouraging her to go into the house.

Nathan's brain ruptured out the back of his skull just as the door closed behind the women.