Page 11 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

Kael sat at the head of the council table, one ankle crossed over the other, his fingers steepled beneath his jaw. His dark blonde hair hung forward, brushing his brows, partially veiling the piercing blue eyes that flicked between the council members as they aired their grievances. For the most part, he remained silent, listening with patience. But when Beta Charles indirectly questioned his competence, I caught the brief twitch of Kael’s mouth—a subtle but unmistakable sign of displeasure. After half an hour filled with nothing but complaints and finger-pointing, the council members still seemed content to rehash their grievances instead of tackling the issue. Kael seemed to have had enough of the back and forth as he made a throat-clearing sound that cut through the noise. A pin-drop silence followed afterward, and everyone turned their attention to him.

To my surprise, he shifted his gaze to me and asked, “Tala, what do you think?”

A murmur rippled through the room as all eyes swung in my direction.

What did I think?

Leaning forward, I rested my palm on the polished wood of the table, meeting each gaze without flinching before settling back on Kael’s. It still felt strange, sitting at this table among Elders and Betas, being heard rather than dismissed. In Stonehart, an Omega would have never had this seat or been given a voice. But Silver Fang was different. Here, my rank, even as an outsider, wasn’t a leash.

“I understand this may not be easy to hear, but we’ve lost control of the outskirts,” I said, my tone steady and unapologetic. “The rogues move in and out as they please, unchallenged. It’s a losing battle trying to maintain a stronghold there with our current resources.”

A few council members shifted in their seats, frowns deepening, but I pressed on. “I’m not suggesting we abandon security efforts altogether. But it’s time we face reality. We’re stretched too thin. If we want any chance at survival, we need to redirect our resources to fortifying the main town, strengthen its defenses, and make it impenetrable. Because if the rogues break through here, nothing else will matter.”

“This would be a temporary measure, with patrols still deployed to the outskirts to keep the rogues in check,” I continued. “However, their boldness is a clear sign that their leader—whoever he is—is not just intelligent but dangerously daring. He has unified them, giving them the confidence to strike again and again. Unfortunately, we cannot sustain this fight alone without losing all or most of our resources. We lack the manpower to match their aggression, and any prolonged conflict will weaken us further. The most viable solution is to form an alliance with a neighboring pack. By combining our strengths, we can bolster security, share resources, and prepare a more coordinated response to eliminate the rogue threat once and for all. Collaboration is our best path forward.”

Kael’s expression remained impassive. He’d always respected hard truths, but right now, I couldn’t tell if he agreed or disagreed. The other council members, however, mulled over my words, some nodding their heads in agreement.

After a couple of minutes, Kael’s hand finally dropped from his jawline, and he planted both feet firmly on the ground. He straightened in his chair, ready to speak.

“Tala is right,” he said, his deep baritone voice cutting through the room. “I spoke with the security forces earlier, and in the last three days, every patrol sent to the outskirts failed to return. We’re losing men, and we’re losing resources.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. Kael dragged in a breath before standing to his full height. “We need to act fast. And I believe our best bet is an alliance with a pack strong enough to protect our mutual interests.”

The council was quiet as his words settled over us. But that quietvanished the moment the door swung open, and the sharp click of heels echoed against the floor.

I glanced over my shoulder to see the tall blonde woman striding towards the council table with a half-hearted smile on her face.

“Sorry I’m late, brother,” Serena Fang said, her voice dripping with false sweetness as she drew out a chair and made herself comfortable.

Serena was Kael’s sister, the self-proclaimed princess of the pack, and undeniably the cruelest person I’d ever had the displeasure of meeting.

No. Scratch that. She was the second cruelest person I’d ever met.

I tore my gaze away from Serena’s slim figure and turned back to Kael, who still hadn’t shifted his eyes from his sister. I could feel the storm raging behind his gaze, his jaw tight, his muscles coiled. Serena, however, seemed utterly unfazed, as if her brother’s menacing stare didn’t even register with her.

“You’re late,” Kael said, his voice deliberately steady, like he was forcing himself to remain calm. “For the—what—the tenth time? If you can’t take this seriously, I’ll have no choice but to kick you off the council.”

That seemed to ignite something in Serena. Her gaze snapped to Kael, sharp and furious. “You’re going to kick me off the council while she remains?” Her finger jutted forward, and I didn’t need to guess where it was aimed—directly at me.

Less than a year ago, Kael had invited me to sit in on some council meetings, and Serena had exploded, demanding that it was her right to be included. It didn’t make sense at the time. Serena had never cared about the pack’s issues—or anyone else’s, for that matter—other than herself. So, her sudden desire for a seat at the table had been as surprising as it was unwarranted.

Kael’s jaw clenched, his expression turning colder. “She’s here because I require her insight,” he said, his voice quiet but razor-sharp. “If you contributed as much as you complain, Serena, perhaps you’d earn your place instead of just occupying it.”

Serena’s lips pressed into a thin line, and her hand slammed into the table, her fingers curling into a fist. “Insight?” she sneered. “She’s an outsider. She doesn’t belong here, and she sure as hell doesn’t belongon this council. You think her opinions matter more than the rest of us because you clearly fancy her.”

“Enough!” Kael’s voice boomed, silencing the room. His command resonated through the walls, and for a moment, everything froze.

The Beta and the other council members exchanged uneasy glances, caught between the urge to intervene and the fear of provoking Kael further. Kael’s wrath was a storm none of us wanted to weather.

He turned his piercing blue gaze on Serena, his patience clearly fraying. “This isn’t a discussion about personal grudges or what you think of Tala. It’s about the survival of this pack. If you can’t contribute to that discussion, I suggest you leave.”

Serena’s face flushed with anger, but she remained seated, her defiance simmering just below the surface. Her disdain for me wasn’t new, but her hostility seemed to intensify every time I was in the same room as her. I suspected it was less about my presence and more about Kael’s favoritism—or at least what she perceived as favoritism. Still, her words stung, and I had to remind myself that my role here wasn’t to prove anything to her. It was to do my job, to protect this pack. And more than anything, I just wanted a place where my baby girl, Aria, could grow up in peace.

Kael straightened. “Tala’s proposal makes sense, and it’s what we’re moving forward with. As of today, I want plans drawn up to fortify the town. Patrols will continue at the outskirts but on a strictly observational basis. We’re not sending anyone else to their deaths unless we have a strategic advantage. And as for the alliance—” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the council members. “I’ll handle the negotiations personally.”

The council murmured in agreement, and Kael’s decision seemed to settle the matter. As the meeting ended, the members filed out, some giving me quiet nods of approval. I grabbed my things and stood. From the corner of my eye, I saw Serena watching me with cold disdain. Kael called her name, and she finally looked away.

With that, I left the room without another word.

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