"Alpha Lance, are you going to give us an answer today? The Stormhold Pack is said to be impenetrable like a fortress. For centuries, not a single rogue has crossed your borders.
This is the first time Redwood has requested an alliance and been allowed to step onto Stormhold grounds for these purposes. Do you truly dislike us so much that you would allow rogues to invade your territory just to push us away?"
Lance smiled then and looked directly at Beta Albert. Being addressed at the same table did not make a beta equal to an alpha. It did not give him the right to demand answers. And this Beta did not seem to remember that.
His smile showed patience for now. He placed his glass down carefully and spoke calmly, "I believe I could ask the same question. The first time the Redwood Pack arrives here, and suddenly all of my trained guards fall unconscious at the exact same time, giving the rogues an opening to not just invade but almost capture my people?
Beta Albert stiffened. His jaw clenched.
"Your Majesty," he snapped, unable to keep the edge from his tone. "What are you trying to imply?"
Lance tilted his head slightly, his expression not changing for even a moment, "What did I imply? I only asked a question. The same way you did, Beta Albert."
The room fell quiet at once.
The Redwood Alpha’s eyes narrowed slightly, watching Lance with attention. No one else dared to speak.
Lance leaned back calmly, "Stormhold has been impenetrable for generations. The only way for anything to slip through is if someone from within opened the way."
Albert took a sharp breath, but did not speak this time.
Lance continued in a steady voice. "So while you ask whether I dislike Redwood, I must also ask why your arrival happened at the same time as a coordinated breach in my defenses. It seems like a coincidence. A very interesting one."
"We came in peace, We requested alliance because we thought that we shared a common goal."
Lance nodded once. "Then we will find out who planned this. Whether the traitor belongs to Stormhold or to Redwood. When the truth comes, there will be no argument left to give. I expect your people to cooperate during the investigation."
Beta Albert clenched his hands under the table, the tendons in his jaw tightening even as he forced a polite nod. "We will cooperate," he said. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "However, we would also like to return to our territory soon. But before that, we would like to discuss forming a few alliances. Even though it has only been two days since our arrival, two of our pack members have already discovered their mates here."
"And there is a third matter. Alpha Cassian has shown interest in courting Omega Emira of your pack. So, we would like to formally invite her and the other two Omegas to Redwood for a short stay, so they may see whether they would be comfortable with the match and the territory."
Lance did not react immediately. Even as his expression did not change, but something colder settled around him. Anyone who knew him would understand that he was not happy with the direction that had been taken. Then he smiled and refused point blank. "No."
Beta Albert opened his mouth, prepared to argue, but Lance spoke before he could take a breath.
"Beta Albert. I must decline your invitation. There is less than a month left before the Golden Moon Night- when my mating ceremony will take place. During this time, we need every member present, since the packs from all over will be coming here. So, no one can be sent away for the moment."
He paused for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the two couples, and then grazing over Emira who was sitting with her head bowed, "Those who have already chosen mates may remain here with them. We will arrange the ceremonies for them in due course. There is no need for your Omegas or ours to travel anywhere."
"As for Alpha Cassian..." He allowed the moment to stretch, just long enough to make the point. "He may stay as well. If he wishes to court Omega Emira, he can do so here. Under Stormhold’s protection. Under my watch."
With those words, there was no room left for debate as Lance stood up and walked out of the packhouse.
Once outside, his expression changed and his eyes hardened. Instead of going home, he turned towards another cabin, coming to pause on Zen’s doorstep.
Before he could even lift his hand to knock, the door opened. "Come inside," Zen said quietly.
Lance did.
And the door shut behind them, Lance directly said," Zen. Are you sure your vision is correct?"
Zen nodded. He had finally confessed to his brother about all the visions he’d had in the past and those he’d had recently.
"You know my visions are never wrong, Lance. I’ve already given you examples of it."
Lance nodded, still troubled by what Zen had just explained to him. "But if we go ahead with this plan, then the possibility of failure is too high... And you said so yourself that the vision can change if we change the direction of our actions. You’ve done it in the past. So this time..."
Zen shook his head, "I only know that I can interfere with the course of things. But whether they will definitely go in the direction we want... I cannot say, Lance. At least with this vision, we know Emira is on which side and when she will betray her. It is why I do not want to change anything. If we interfere early, the future shifts. It becomes unknown again. We will lose every advantage we currently have. But, as you know, if we let things progress naturally to the end then..."
"...then we can change the outcome in our favour at the last moment," Lance finished quietly.