Page 18 of Bound to the Beast

He looks up at me with his calm eyes and just puts down what he’s doing.

“Ezra, take over,” he commands swiftly, removing his apron.

“Sorry, it’s an emergency,” I start.

Adrian raises his palm to stem my apologies.

“I take it that something has happened?” Adrian queries.

Quickly, I give him a short version of events. Grace’s friend getting killed twenty years ago, the possibility of it being a rogue shifter, the information I’d gleaned from Hutchin and the others…

Adrian just listens with his chin cupped in his hand.

“Sounds like we have no time to waste,” he says, the moment I finish. He takes the phone off its cord and starts dialing.

“Do you know anything about the rogue shifter, Adrian?” I ask. I know the question may be in vain. Adrian has only been our pack leader for a decade, and the attacks happened long before then.

He again raises his hand as he listens to the other end of the phone. Adrian replies to a question from the other end of the line. After a quick minute, he ends the call and tells me the elders have agreed to meet me. They’re gathering now as we speak.

“Thank you,” I say.

We both rush out toward the bike I’d left on the street. With a rev of the throttle, I quickly speed off again.

As I pull up to the address Adrian gave me, a sense of urgency propels me forward. I park the motorcycle hastily and rush towards the entrance of the building. Uncaring that I’ve left my Alpha behind. It's an old, worn-down structure that seems to blend into the surroundings, a perfect disguise for the secretive meetings of the Elders' council.

I enter the dimly lit room, filled with a heavy air of secrecy. The council members, Andrew, Morgan, and Leticia, stand together in silence, their eyes filled with wisdom and knowledge that surpasses their ageless appearances. They exchange a knowing glance with each other as I approach, acknowledging my presence but unwilling to discuss the topic at hand.

Confident nonetheless, I reveal the reason for my visit. "I come before you today to seek your advice on a matter of some urgency," I begin, my voice steady. "The death of Grace's friend, Becky, twenty years ago. I believe it was the work of a rogue shifter."

The council members' expressions remain unchanged, but I can sense their reluctance to delve into this painful subject.

Undeterred, I continue. "But that is not all. There's a human woman, Grace, who I have fallen deeply in love with. I want to make her my mate, but I cannot do so as long as she believes that I am part of the pack responsible for Becky's death."

A heavy silence fills the room as the council members contemplate my words. The tension is palpable, and doubt lingers in their eyes. Just as I begin to worry that they will deny my request, a figure emerges from the shadows. It's Adrian, our pack alpha, who had been silently observing the proceedings all along.

Adrian's presence commands attention, and a sense of respect and authority radiates from him. His voice cuts through the silence, breaking the hesitation of the council. "I vouch for Grace," he declares, his tone firm and unwavering. "Our pack has already welcomed several human mates, and there is no reason why Grace should be treated any differently."

A sense of relief washes over me as Adrian's words carry weight with the council members. Their expressions soften, and they begin to consider the possibility I have presented. They understand the power of love, even in a world filled with darkness and uncertainty.

After a moment of contemplation, Andrew, the elder who works for the electrical company, speaks up. "We have been aware of the presence of the rogue wolf within Pilham," he admits reluctantly. "We have kept his identity a secret to avoid further bloodshed, but we have been keeping tabs on him."

My heart quickens at the revelation, and I cannot help but demand. "Tell me his name. I need to know who he is."

The elders exchange a somber look before Leticia, the elder who works at the DMV, finally speaks. "His name is Adam Straker," she reveals, her voice filled with regret.

As Leticia's words hang in the air, shock courses through my veins. I’ve heard the man’s name before somewhere.

I feel a surge of curiosity and desperation to understand the man behind the name. I pause for a moment, catching my breath, before turning back to the council with an imploring gaze.

"Tell me more about Adam Straker," I plead, my voice tinged with a mix of urgency and intrigue. "I need to understand who he is, what drove him to become a rogue, and how we can stop him."

The elders exchange hesitant glances, their expressions etched with a mix of sorrow and regret. Finally, Morgan, the elder who works as a janitor, steps forward, his weary eyes fixed on me.

"Adam Straker was once part of a neighboring pack," he begins, his voice heavy. "He was a natural loner, much like you, Ethan. But, in his case, socializing didn't come easily to him unless it served his own ambitions."

My mind races, drawing parallels between Adam and myself. The realization that there's a fine line separating us sends a shiver down my spine. I listen intently, eager to uncover the truth that lies hidden within the folds of Adam's backstory.

Morgan continues, his voice filled with a mix of sadness and frustration. "Adam was destined to be the next pack Alpha, but when his time of Reckoning arrived, he turned his back on the pack, declaring that the rules no longer applied to him. It was a betrayal that shook all the shifters to the core."

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