The Alpha's Bondage

Frayed Focus

♚Archer♚

I glanced around the council room and sighed softly. The hunger had become a distraction, and I was struggling to concentrate.

“We are ready,” Marcus said as he set a folder by my hand. I nodded, but my mind was stuck on Harley. All I wanted was to be with her. I wanted to know what she had decided. “Alpha?” I looked up at him and nodded. Again. “Is everything ok? You aren’t usually this distracted,” I couldn’t exactly tell him that I was starving. Instead, I forced Harley from my mind and sat up a bit straighter.

“I’m fine. Let’s get started,” I said. I reached out and dragged the map closer. “Walk me through the border marks,” I ordered loudly. The ink smelled like old oil and cedar from the box where we kept it. My eyes traced the eastern cut and still saw a narrow living room and a girl who had pressed her lips together before she said she needed time. I shook my head as if to clear it.

“Kieran wants two more pairs on the east climb,” Marcus said as he tapped the map. “The fog’s rolling in thicker than usual, and Elder Cedric asked to speak with you in private. He said it’s important,” I groaned softly.

“Sure, why not?” I muttered. Marcus stood as he patiently waited. “Let him in, and you can stay,” I told him. He nodded before he left the room to collect Elder Cedric. A moment later, they entered the room and shut the door. “Let’s hear it,” I said as I tried to act like I was actually interested.

"Hello, Alpha," Cedric greeted, his voice low but firm. I nodded in return as I waited for him to speak. "The mist isn't quite right tonight, and I found something interesting near the cut stones. Prints that don't belong to any deer,"

"Human prints?" I asked as I leaned forward in my seat.

"I'm not sure, but..." his voice trailed off as he reached into his coat and pulled out something which he laid on the table. It was a crude charm, woven from thin reeds, with a shard of bone bound at its center by dark thread. Something meant to ward, or curse, depending on the hand that left it. The firelight made the small thing seem sharper and darker than it was. "I also found this at the stones," my jaw tightened as I frowned.

"Double the watch,” I ordered as I glanced at Marcus. “Whatever or whoever it is, will not cross without permission. If they dare, they will answer to me,” Marcus nodded in agreement, but Cedric studied me closely.

"You look tired, Alpha," he remarked casually. "You should eat something," he then added as he straightened.

"I will," I muttered. I was tired. I was hungry. But what I needed had nothing to do with pack business. I didn't need sleep, and I didn't need food. What I needed was Harley. “Marcus?”

“Right, so the training needs a shift,” he said. “The older wolves are short on patience, and the younger ones are very loud. Kieran suggested that we mix the teams, and Jasmine asked for the west grove for blade drills,”

“Fine. Let her have it, but tell her to keep the noise down,” I said. Marcus nodded.

“Consider it done. Although, the harvest blessing may need to move to the lower square,”

“Discuss it with Bertha. We will follow her word,” I said. Cedric looked bored, but Marcus smiled. “What?”

“Well, your mother mentioned you haven’t been around lately…she said something about dinner…” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“We aren’t here to discuss that,” I muttered as guilt washed over me. I had been far too distracted lately, and the last thing I needed was others, including my parents, noticing.

“No, of course, not,” Marcus said just as the door opened. Kieran, my Delta, came in with my parents and Jasmine, moving with the quiet precision that had earned him his place at my side.

“Begin,” I said as I nodded to Kieran. He stepped up to the table, and his fingers traced the worn parchment of the map.

“We have movement on the east climb,” he said, his eyes sharp. “Light steps, but quick. Possibly a scout or thief…Jasmine and I will do a sweep,” my mother, Helena, narrowed her gaze as she looked at each of us in turn.

“Do not chase ghosts into fog,” she warned, her voice carried the calm authority of someone who was used to keeping others alive. Kieran lifted his chin, steady.

“We will walk with respect,” he said. My father, Ajax, shifted uncomfortably as he scratched his beard.

“What about the trade?” he asked. “The valley wants more hides and less wine,”

“They can want,” I said, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Marcus will count what we can spare. Nothing leaves without his mark,” Cedric lifted the item from the table that everyone else had chosen to ignore.

“And someone left this for us,” he said as he held it up for all to see.

“If you find any more, leave them. Mark the place and call it in,” I said. “We have no idea what it is or what it wants. Let’s proceed with caution,” my mother nodded.

“We have walked these paths before. The mountains remember the way. Don’t let the valley’s greed blind you,” she said, and I was tempted to roll my eyes. My mother was far too cryptic. My father cleared his throat and leaned over to get a better look.

“What if they push too far?” he asked. “I don’t think we should wait for them to make the first move. We should move as one,”

“Father,” I said as I got to my feet.

“Kieran and Jasmine will move as one,”

“We will,” Jasmine confirmed, and I sighed softly.

“Kieran, Jasmine, do what you need to do. Mark the area and double the patrol,” I ordered as I took back control of the meeting. “We will not be blind, but we won’t start a war with ghosts,” Kieran, Jasmine, and Marcus nodded in agreement. Cedric and my parents looked doubtful. “We need information first,” I added softly. “I won’t risk the lives of my people by acting without information,”

“Of course,” my father immediately agreed. “Just…respect the land,” he said to Kieran and Jasmine. I wasn’t sure what he thought, but I didn’t want to linger on this for too long.

“Anything else?” I asked as I looked at Marcus. He shook his head. “Meeting dismissed,” I said. I knew I couldn’t see Harley, at least not yet, but I couldn’t be surrounded by anyone. I needed to be alone. However, my mother cornered me. Before she could say anything, I hugged her. “I will come by for dinner,” I promised.

“I will make your favorite,” she promised. I smiled before I walked out.

♚♚