Page 2 of The Alpha's Forbidden Secret Baby

She was the matriarch of the pack, blessed with wisdom and compassion, and she often was considered the paragon of lunar guidance. Adorned with a crescent pendant hanging from a silver chain around her neck, she spoke so eloquently and graciously.

“To explain why I'm seeing a human girl,” he replied.

“Good, then you know why we have summoned you here,” Elder Silvara said.

He was holding a staff entwined with ivy, which was adorned with healing crystals, distinguishing him as a healer and an empath.

“You have to let go of that human girl,” Elder Ember, the firekeeper and the protector of the pack's flames, added. His robe was adorned with symbols of flames, representing his fiery spirit.

“Let go of her?” Xander inquired with a frown on his face. “Why? Because she's human?”

“Yes. And also because she cannot give you a proper heir to add to the population of those with the Shadow abilities, or did you not think about that?” This was Elder Rook, the one with a temper whose voice was thick, bold, and menacing.

His robe was embroidered with intricate patterns of ravens and chess pieces because he was the tactician of the pack, known for his intellectual prowess.

“It is against our tradition, Alpha Xander,” Elder Thorne said to him.

Elder Thorne's robe was made from the furs of their ancestral wolves to signify his duties as the guardian of their traditions and ancient rites.

“Tradition? These are modern times!” Xander almost snapped, but he never forgot the reverence for the assembly.

“That's the problem with your generation, Alpha Xander; you don't seem to grasp the implications of negating our way of life,” Elder Krull's gentle voice pierced the air.

His calm nature was a deceptive mechanism to make his enemies underestimate him. He was the paragon of survival, a hunter, a tracker with the most heightened senses, second to only the alpha's. He was known for his prowess in the wild. The unique trait that made him stand out from the others at this table was his blue eyes.

“I'm not negating anything—I'm simply saying that it's possible to be with her and not taint the values of our very essence,” he replied.

“That's where you're wrong, young Alpha,” Eldress Lana said to him. “I know you mean well, but it is impossible to have this woman in your life and still play the role of an alpha.”

“You'll be going against everything we stand for if you go ahead with your plan to be with her,” Elder Rook said to him.

“No.” Xander shook his head. “I'm not letting go of the love of my life just because some ancient tradition forbids it,” he blatantly refused. “I will not.”

“Xander Black!” Elder Rook's voice thundered through the room as his gray eyes glowed in the dark. “Where does your loyalty lie? To the human… or to your pack?” he fumed.

“I love my pack and I know my duty, but I also am in love with this woman,” he replied, his heart bleeding as he knew that this was going to be harder than he thought.

“It's a shame that you can only choose one, Xander Black,” Elder Ember said to him.

He noticed immediately how they had switched to addressing him by his real name without the title—and it hurt.

“What you're asking me to do isn't fair,” he said softly.

“I understand how you feel, Xander,” Eldress Lana, ever so calm and compassionate, said to him, her voice gentle and reassuring. “But think about the pack because no matter what happens, a true leader always puts his people first. He puts their needs before his. And sometimes he has to make decisions that would hurt him, but that is the price of carrying the mantle.”

He put his head down, trying to be strong because he knew she was right. Choosing his love would be selfish and selfishness was not a quality of a good leader.

“This is going to be, by far, the hardest decision you'd have to make. Think wisely, Alpha Xander. And remember, the reason we're against this union with the human girl is because of the heir that she'll give you. He or she will be human and will not possess the Shadow abilities unique to the firstborn of the alpha lineage,” Eldress Lana said to him.

Xander was quiet, knowing this was the beginning of the end of his love life. He dreaded it, but at this point, there was nothing that he could do about it. He had to make this choice for the sake of his people; he had to be selfless. It would hurt to see Rayla hurt because of his decision, but hurting her was a necessary evil. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself, but that would be the price to pay.

There was another Elder in their midst who had not said a word since the meeting started. His cloak was the darkest, plain without any patterns or drawings on it. He was known as the Silent One. Rumor had it that no one had actually heard him speak, but he was the paragon of bravery and strength.

“We'll give you some time to think this through,” Eldress Lana said to Xander. “We sincerely hope that you make the right choice.”

A loud thunder snapped him back to reality, and he glanced out his window for a moment before heading to the bathroom to wash his face.

As Xander stared at his reflection in the mirror, he thought about the way Rayla broke down after he told her that he could no longer be with her. He had to act so coldly toward her that day because it was the only way to make her truly believe that he didn't care.

---