Chapter 100
Tessa’s POV
The meeting had carried on longer than I’d expected, as Kion delved into contingency plans for every possible direction the Russian
conflict might twist next.
He was thorough too.
Leaving nothing to chance.
Part of me admired that- his ability to lead with both heart and precision- but another part of me just wanted to breathe again. To be somewhere quiet, away from the scent of blood and strategy, with Kane’s arms around me and no reason to fear what might come next.
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Eventually, Kion closed the discussion with a final nod, sweeping his sharp gaze around the table. “You all know your roles. I won’t waste
more of your time today.”
Chairs scraped against the floor as the men began to rise. Boots thudded. Low voices rumbled. It was like a storm dispersing–controlled
chaos retreating into the calm that comes after fire.
Kane made no move to rise beneath me, and neither did Seth from across the room. They both remained seated, unmoved by the sudden
motion.
And I realised why when Kane’s hand slid from my hip to gently cup my knee.
We weren’t done here.
Erin stayed too, tucked against Seth’s side with her hands clasped in her lap. She glanced at me, and I could tell by her expression that
she also sensed it- something else was yet to be discussed here.
But what was it now?
Kion didn’t seem surprised when he turned and found us still there. He arched a brow, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly, as if already
bracing for what was about to be said.
Kane’s voice was calm. Too calm. The kind of calm that came right before the ground cracked open only for monsters to crawl out.
“There’s one more thing I need to bring to your attention,” he said, his tone weighted with more than just frustration. It was pride. Anger.
A buried threat.
Kion crossed his arms slowly, giving Kane his full attention. “Of course, go on.”
Kane looked between Kion and Seth, then down at me briefly before speaking. ‘While we were gone
–
during the operation to find Dimitri
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Chapter 100
– your pack received a phone call. It came through to your communications team. They said it was urgent.”
“A call? From who exactly?” Kion pressed, as Kane exhaled heavily.
“From our Alpha Council back home.” He stated the words as though they burned his very own tongue.
Kion’s expression shifted instantly. Like a slap. “Your Council?” he echoed, already scowling.
Seth muttered something under his breath.
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“Apparently they demanded to speak to me,” Kane continued, jaw tight. “But since I was a little busy out at war, they ended up demanding
to speak to Tessa in my place.”
His hand found mine again, threading our fingers together. My chest tightened as the moment arrived.
“They spoke to Tessa?” Seth repeated, his face screwing up in disgust.
“I sincerely apologise for this Kane! My men should have never passed them on to her without your presence or knowledge! I will be sure
to have this looked in to!” Kion added quickly, not enjoying the news himself.
“It was no one at your packs fault, Kion. Taking the language barrier in to consideration too, they probably heard it was someone from
back home and didn’t want to cause any trouble by not putting them through to speak to someone even if that person was, in fact,
Tessa.” Kane stated, as Kion nodded along with his words, remaining quiet for him to continue.
“What the fuck do those fools want anyhow?” Seth snapped, sharing the same distaste for this so called ‘Alpha Council‘ as Kane had.
“They apparently weren’t pleased,” Kane answered darkly, ignoring the way the room’s atmosphere had turned combustible. “They accused us of being reckless – said we were stirring up trouble for them by coming here to Russia. That we’d be the cause of another war.
Basically, they were scared!”
I swallowed hard, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks as the words I’d heard over that call came back to me.
–
“And then,” Kane added, voice hardening with venom, “the one who had the audacity to place the call in the first place – Frederick
went on to speak down to Tessa. Called her a weak human. Mocked the idea that I’d come all this way for her. Like she wasn’t worth it.”
The silence that followed wasn’t still.
It vibrated.
Seth’s lips curled into a snarl. “Are they insane? Insulting her like that? They fear a war from the Russians yet you’ll be the first to give
them one now!” Seth raged, as I glanced towards Erin who looked just as startled as I felt.
Kion’s face was thunderous now. He looked moments from flipping his desk. “How dare they call here to demand anything. Disrespect you
– and your mate- in my territory.”
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He didn’t wait for permission.
:
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With sudden, deliberate energy, he stormed around his desk and grabbed a sleek black comms device off its stand. “I don’t give a damn if
they’re your country’s council or damn gods,” he muttered, tapping rapidly through his call logs. “You don’t insult an Alpha’s mate. And
you sure as hell don’t do it on my soil.”
Kane leaned back slightly, a dark smirk ghosting across his lips as he watched Kion fume.
“Find it,” Kane said. “Let’s have a word or two with them now.”
Kion’s fingers paused on a number in the call registry, then he jabbed the button with finality.
The room was quiet as the line began to ring out for us all to hear, the tone sharp and piercing against the tension coiled in every inch of
air.
Erin reached for my hand across the gap between us, giving it a gentle squeeze.
And suddenly, I wasn’t scared.
I was surrounded by power. Loyalty. Fury… directed at those who had tried to belittle me for merely existing…
I was surrounded by men who would burn the world before they let anyone reduce me to “a stupid human” again.
Kion’s jaw clenched as the line clicked, and a voice filtered through in polished, clipped tones.
“Alpha Council headquarters. Who is this?”
Kion’s smile was cold, the kind that promised violence disguised as diplomacy.
“Al’fa–sovet? YA polagayu, vy zvonili?” Kion’s sharp accent broke down the line, his thought process being a genius way of starting the
call.
A gasp was heard, followed by what sounded like scrambling down the line, before a faint whisper was heard- “The Russians! It’s the Russians calling!”
They were panicking, and rightly so.
“Hello?! This is Alpha Kion speaking from the Serpent Russian Pack,” he said smoothly, “I am here to return the very rude phone call that you made to my pack during my absence? I believe it is Frederick that I am looking to speak with?!”
The line went quiet.
They didn’t know what to do or say.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
