Page 4 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

The drive to the meeting location was a blur of winding mountain roads and dense forests. Cassius navigated them with practiced ease, his mind racing through the day's agenda: trade agreements, border disputes, rogue wolf sightings.

Just another day in paradise.

As he approached the meeting hall, a fortified structure hidden deep in the woods, Cassius took a deep breath. He parked the Audi next to a row of equally impressive vehicles—the other Alphas' rides.

Time to put on his game face. They can smell weakness.

Don't give them the chance.

Cassius strode into the meeting hall, his face a mask of calm authority that belied the chaos in his mind. The other Alphas were already there, their scents mingling in the air—a potent cocktail of power, ambition, and barely contained aggression.

Aleksander Volkov, his closest friend and ally, nodded in greeting. The Alpha of the Iron Fang Pack cut an imposing figure, his steel-gray eyes sharp and calculating.

Selena Nightshade of the Shadow Walker Pack lounged in her chair, dark eyes gleaming with secrets. Her beauty was a weapon, and Cassius knew better than to underestimate her.

Ragnar Stormborn's booming laugh filled the room as he clapped Cassius on the shoulder. "About time you joined us!"

Cassius took his seat at the head of the table, scanning the faces around him. Beside Ragnar sat Lyra Frost, Alpha of the Frost Claw Pack. Her ice-blue eyes met his, a slight nod acknowledging his arrival.

Across from her, Marcus Redwood of the Crimson Oak Pack drummed his fingers impatiently on the table. His ruddy complexion deepened as he caught Cassius's eye, a challenge simmering beneath the surface.

Erik Shadowbane, leader of the Night Stalker Pack, watched the proceedings with detached interest. His gaunt face and hollow eyes spoke of recent hardships, but the strength in his posture was unmistakable.

Cassius's gaze swept over the remaining Alphas: Nadia Swiftshadow of the River Pack, her lithe form coiled with restless energy; Darius Ironheart of the Stone Claw Pack, his scarred face a testament to battles won and lost; and finally, Zara Moonsinger of the Silver Crescent Pack, her serene expression at odds with the tension in the room.

"Let's begin," Cassius said, his voice carrying easily across the table. "We have much to discuss."

"The situation with the lone wolves is becoming untenable," Marcus Redwood growled, slamming his fist on the table. "Every day, more of them cross our borders, seeking shelter or causing trouble."

Cassius leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "And what would you have us do, Marcus? Turn them away? Leave them to the slavers or to go feral?"

"Better that than risk our own Packs," Marcus shot back.

Lyra Frost's cool voice cut through the tension. "Perhaps we should consider Articus's approach. The White Moon Pack has had success integrating lone wolves, has it not?"

A ripple of murmurs swept through the room at the mention of Cassius's cousin.

Articus. The poster boy for Light Side-Dark Side cooperation.

"Articus's situation is… unique," Cassius said carefully. "His marriage to Wren has certainly opened new avenues for cooperation, but we can't ignore the inherent risks."

Selena Nightshade leaned forward, a predatory smile playing on her lips. "Risks… and opportunities. The trade depots at the borders have been quite profitable, haven't they?"

Aleksander nodded, his expression thoughtful. "True. The increased interaction between Light and Dark has its benefits. But it also makes us more vulnerable."

"To what?" Ragnar boomed. "A few mangy loners and the occasional rogue? We're stronger than that!"

Cassius held up a hand, silencing the growing argument. "We can't ignore the potential threats, but neither can we abandon our own. These lone wolves are our people, lost and vulnerable. If we don't take them in, we're leaving them to a fate worse than death."

He thought of Wren, of the horror she'd endured before finding sanctuary with Articus. The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in.

"So what do you propose?" Erik Shadowbane asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Cassius took a deep breath. "We expand our integration programs. Each Pack takes in a quota of lone wolves based on their resources and territory. We establish a vetting process and training programs to help them adjust to Pack life."

"And if they prove untrustworthy?" Zara Moonsinger asked, her melodic voice tinged with concern.

"Then we deal with them," Cassius said firmly. "Swiftly and decisively. But we give them a chance first."

---