Chapter 74 Hidden Treaty Revealed
Elena’s POV 3
Both Damien and Gage remained frozen in the office doorway, their eyes fixed on me at the bottom of the staircase.
The silence stretched between us as they searched for words that refused to come.
“I have assignments to finish. I announced, pivoting toward the stairs with deliberate calm. Please don’t follow me, I silently begged.
My bedroom door clicked shut behind me as I settled at my desk. The familiar weight of textbooks should have been comforting, but my mind was spinning.
What the hell had I just witnessed downstairs? Had Damien really mentioned second chance mates? I always assumed those were myths whispered among pack elders. Rejected mates were already uncommon enough in our world. The idea that those same wolves could find new destined partners seemed impossible.
I positioned myself by the window, cradling my coffee mug while lighting a cigarette. The setting sun painted the forest in brilliant oranges and purples, nature’s daily masterpiece unfolding before me.
“Focus, Elena. One crisis at a time. School comes first, then the baby. Nothing else matters right now.” My voice sounded steadier than I felt. “No hunting for another mate. Deal with what’s actually in front of you.”
The coincidence wasn’t lost on me though. My first mate had been an Alpha, and now this potential second chance was also an Alpha. Was the Peak Goddess sending me a message?
After forcing my racing thoughts to settle, I opened my textbooks and dove into the mountain of assignments waiting for me.
The pre–med coursework surprised me with its accessibility. Science had never been my strongest subject, but these concepts clicked into place effortlessly. Everything made perfect sense.
Hours passed in focused concentration until knuckles rapped against my door.
“Enter.” I called out cheerfully.
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Damien appeared in my doorway carrying a dinner plate, his expression cautious.
“You missed eating with everyone.” He observed, and I glanced at my clock in shock.
“Damn. I completely lost track of time working on this stuff.” I admitted.
He approached my desk, and I cleared space for the plate and soda can he’d brought.
“How are your classes treating you?” He asked, hovering awkwardly.
“Better than expected. I’m genuinely enjoying every single one.” I replied.
“Gage mentioned you’re excelling in creative writing. Is that a career path you’re considering?” His tone carried genuine curiosity.
“Possibly. Between creative writing and English literature, I might pursue something in
that direction.” I said.
“Writers can make decent livings.” He agreed.
The forced small talk made my chest tighten. This awkward dance between us was exactly what I’d feared. Our easy friendship was dissolving into uncomfortable tension. “Look, I’ve got school and pregnancy to handle. Can we pretend I never overheard that conversation earlier? You’re an incredible friend, Damien. I can’t lose that.” I said directly.
“I feel the same way. But now I understand why protecting you felt so instinctual. Those feelings probably started at the Alpha Ball when we first met, even while you were still mated to Marcus.” His voice carried weight.
u
“I had the same realization. But we don’t need to complicate things right now. Can we please just return to normal?” I pleaded.
“My feelings aren’t something I can switch off.” He said quietly.
“I understand that completely. But you admitted you’re not even certain these feelings are genuine. Could be pregnancy hormones affecting us both.” I reasoned.
“Maybe. It’s tearing me apart inside not knowing.” His confession made my heart ache.
“I’m sorry you’re struggling with this. But honestly, I can’t handle exploring it right now. Please.” I said.
“Alright.” He conceded.
“Thank you.” Relief flooded through me.
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“Make sure you eat everything. You’re nourishing two werewolf lives now.” He reminded me.
“Trust me, I noticed.” I gestured at the generous portions covering my plate.
His soft chuckle eased some tension as he headed for the door.
I continued working while eating, eventually succumbing to exhaustion. After showering and preparing for bed, I gathered my dishes and returned them to the kitchen.
Back in my room, I settled into bed with Marcus’s pack history book. The research was becoming increasingly fascinating.
Just as I prepared to close it for the night, something extraordinary caught my
attention.
TREATY REGULATIONS – 1850
Vampires must request permission before entering pack lands
Werewolves cannot attack vampires beyond pack territory unless provoked
Vampires cannot harm Peak Pack Pack members
Mortimer coven vampires cannot kill humans or void this treaty
Werewolves cannot interfere with vampire feeding on animals outside territory
Peak Pack pack will not participate in current vampire culling
Mortimer coven receives Peak Pack pack protection
Peak Pack pack receives Mortimer coven protection
Mortimer coven will assist Peak Pack pack when requested
This treaty binds all future Alphas and pack members of Peak Pack pack, plus all Mortimer coven members. Violation results in war.
Raymond Fairfax
Alpha
Dante Mortimer
Leader
Mortimer Coven
Peak Pack Pack
My heart hammered as I scanned the page into my computer, carefully cropping out everything except the treaty text.
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Marcus had desperately wanted proof this treaty existed. Here it was, documented in black and white.
I uploaded it anonymously to the dark web, confident someone from Peak Pack Pack would discover it and alert Marcus immediately.
This was my contribution from a distance. Hopefully enough to inform him about the treaty without revealing my survival or possession of this book.
It was a calculated risk, banking on Marcus believing I’d died in that crash. But this information had to exist elsewhere too. The Mortimer Coven would definitely maintain their own copies.
After completing the upload, I grabbed my phone and dialed a familiar number.
“Hello.” The man’s voice answered.
“We need to arrange a meeting.” I stated firmly.
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