(Daniel's POV)
The only way to fight power is with more power. That has been the way of the wolves for centuries, and while I'm notorious for being a radical rebel who doesn't conform to our traditional standards, this is one principle I heavily agree with.
The buzzing bees in the council room are uncharacteristically quiet—not a surprise, since I have them trapped by the balls.
When I entered the room initially, there was the usual buzzing communion, and the annoying voices worming into my ears made me want to break something. So I did. Broke the glass of scotch I was holding with just a light squeeze and let the shards drop to the floor, intermingled with the leftover drink and my blood. Then I raised that same criminal palm and looked each of the senile bastards in the eye.
The silence that followed was louder than words, and I smiled in grim satisfaction, revelling in the power of a true alpha. I may be impulsive, and the council may be my elders, but I'll be damned if anyone assumes they can take my bloody place. I'll fight for it till the end—even if the carnage I leave in my path is precisely the thing Lina fears from me.
I don't understand why it's so hard for her to differentiate that key factor, especially when she isn't a stranger to the power of violence. Everything in this world boils down to power; and no truer power exists than the one who wins against violence.
The tense atmosphere in the room only makes my annoyance increase tenfold. As much as I trust my brother, I'm not exactly pleased about him whisking Lina away from me at such a critical time—when I could've finally had her. Could've let her know exactly why she was mine.
Needless to say, that'll have to wait until this fiasco is over—except I can't help but think about the problems we're expected to face ahead. I'll give Lina as much time as she needs to adjust to what we are and our way of life, but I won'tlet her go. Even if she begs me for it.
The head councilman breaks the silence by clearing his throat and finally gathering the courage to look me in the eye. What a coward. I glare back at him, and he winces before turning away again.
"You are, of course, our alpha. We won't say anything that opposes you, but—"
He's cut off by a low growling sound. Mine.
"But what?"I keep my tone low, almost a hiss.
"The council thinks that—"
I bang my hand on the table and he jumps. Such agility for someone so old—I'm actually impressed.
"Does it look like I give a shit about what the council thinks?"
He stares back at me and this time anger clouds his features. His audacity would've been refreshing if it didn't annoy the hell out of me.
"My decision is final. Any of you shitheads have a problem with it, then I'll consider it a challenge to my authority. Does anyone dare do that?"
I stand up after throwing out the threat. As expected, no one moves a muscle—and that's all the answer I need.
"This meeting is adjourned. Now get out."
Everyone scrambles to leave, and I turn toward the door to the office. Lina's scent is imperceptible—she isn't there yet. My chest tightens with unease when I realize it's been suspiciously long since she's been out with David.
The feeling of foreboding only worsens when I catch a glimpse of two of the senior councilmen who had been more than just tight-lipped by fear during the meeting. They had been… smug, strangely enough—even though the meeting outcome was the opposite of what they wanted.
One of them, the bastard with the beady eyes, exchanges a look with the other, and my body moves on autopilot. I launch myself at them and haul beady eyes up against the wall—the chokehold is just like the one I had David in earlier, and I try not to dwell on my insanity as the bastard starts choking.
I contemplate letting him go, thinking it's just my nerves getting the better of me, when the door crashes open and reveals David in a flustered state. He's panting and panicky, his eyes wide as he scans the room in a frenzy.
Please don't tell me he's lost Lina and is looking for her.
I loosen my grip on beady eyes and call out his name, except David's eyes widen when he sees me. He rushes toward me and grabs my arm.
"Tell me she's with you."
My blood runs cold with abject fear. I don't have the strength to even move, yet somehow I manage to shake my head.
The councilman I have in a death grip starts looking a little blue, and I shake him."Where the hell is she?"
He shakes his head, "I d-don't k-know."
I drop him and he lands on his sorry ass, coughing while rubbing his neck.
"You will stay here," I say to David, and he nods back, assuring me he'll keep him contained.
"Once I find her, you and everyone else who was involved will be killed."
I raise my voice, so everyone in the damn room can hear my proclamation loud and clear:"Whoever hurts her, dies."