Twins of Destiny 107
#Chapter 107: Escalation
#Chapter 107: Escalation
(Raiden POV)
The Alpha chambers feel too confined tonight, centuries–old stone walls pressing inward despite their impressive thickness.
I can’t breathe.
Moonlight filters through tall windows, casting elongated shadows across the polished wooden floor where I pace with restless energy no amount of physical movement seems capable of dispelling.
My wolf prowls beneath the surface of my skin, agitated by memories that refuse to fade despite hours dedicated to pack business and strategic planning.
My hand closes around the ceremonial goblet resting on my desk, the metal crumpling beneath strength untempered by control.
Outside, pack territory sleeps beneath velvet darkness occasionally interrupted by sentry movements along established patrol routes.
The council documentation awaits my signature on the ancient desk that has served generations of pack leadership. The language appears reasonable, measured-“temporary security protocol requiring financial oversight for all external operations utilizing pack resources or territorial access.”
Implementation details reveal more significant impact–immediate freezing of all settlement accounts pending comprehensive security review, suspension of trading permissions with neighboring territories, required documentation of all resident movements beyond settlement boundaries.
When this is done, she will hate me.
They both will.
Pure, unadulterated hate.
“Can you blame her?” Horace growls. “You beg her forgivemenss, whiper sweetly and all the time you shatpen your claws before sinking them into her back.”
These measures will effectively paralyze settlement operations while maintaining the appearance of reasonable security.
But most of all, it will put Zion’s feelings on ice.
I know him. I know her. It’s an uncanny alliance, really. He will do nothing unless it benefits him. He does not love her, and she is a fool to think anything else.
“And you? What of your foolishness?”
“Horace, now is not the time.” I snap back as my signature transforms intention into pack law.
The paper is signed, the Alpha authority requiring only majority council approval already secured.
Dawn arrives in muted golden light that fails to dispel shadows of yet another sleepless, agonizing night.
I smell her. She’s come.
Siena.
“What have you done?”
The question emerges, controlled despite emotion radiating through our bond with intensity that momentarily disrupts carefully maintained Alpha detachment.
Her scent reaches me across the chamber–jasmine and copper underlaid with rage so potent it materializes as almost visible energy surrounding her typically graceful form.
“Security protocols necessary for comprehensive review of external operations impacting pack welfare.”
The answer emerges in smooth, reasonable governance.
“Security protocols?” Disbelief colors each syllable as she advances into my chamber.
It’s been years since sh’e been inside these chmabers.
“Freezing medical supplies for children Raiden? Preventing food distribution to families still recovering from displacement trauma? What security threat does breakfast for refugee pups?”
“Comprehensive review requires temporary suspension –”
“Stop! Raiden, just …just give it a rest. This is not about security! This is about…”
“Settlement operations represent unique vulnerability given resident population with recent connections to contested
territories.”
1/3
#Chapter 107: Escalation
In a swift second she snarls, her nose greets mine. I cannot recall the last time she had been this close. Though she is enraged with me, I don’t want this to ened.
I don’t want to be with out her.
“You would punish innocent civilians to maintain control slipping through your fingers.”
The accusation emerges quiet yet devastating, truth transcending political positioning to name motivation I’ve carefully avoided examining directly, even in private reflection.
“Use children and displaced families as pawns?”
“You overstep, Luna.”
The warning emerges automatically: Alpha authority responds to direct challenge before strategic consideration can modulate response appropriate to formal setting and witnessing council presence.
“I overstep?”
Something dangerous flashes in amber eyes that once looked at me with love rather than contempt, currently directed across ceremonial space separating leadership positions within the council configuration.
“What is it, what do you want from me!”
Each word lands with physical force, truth penetrating diplomatic justification with precision that leaves little room for procedural defense or strategic repositioning.
“Your emotional investment in settlement operations clouds objective assessment of security implications.”
The response emerges cool and controlled: “Attachment to specific initiative prevents recognition of broader territorial considerations necessarily prioritized above individual projects regardless of my intention.”
“Emotional investment?” Her laugh holds no humor, only bitter recognition. “Tell the truth! For once in your life!”
Suddenly, I can no longer hold on. The pain explodes.
“Okay, Siena, you want the truth? I will give it to you!”
The chair beside the window flies into the wall, cracking under the force of impact.
“I made mistakes, I know that! But you! You go ahead and leave! The pack, your position! For what?
“Raiden-”
“No! Then you come back here, not because you love me or this pack. Oh no, you are here because you are just as you’ve always been–a snake!”
The look in her eyes is familiar and sad, yet I am comforted by that familiarity. At least I know what to do and what to say.
They will not be the right things, but that is beside the point.
“You risk everything we’ve built through generations of sacrifice and vigilance….because of me? You spread rumours, outright lies because I won’t forgive you,” She sighs, backs off, away from me.
I want to pull her back, close. I want to hold her.
“I can never forgive this Raiden. Never.”
“The security protocols stand. A comprehensive review will proceed according to the council’s wishes.”
“Then you leave no alternative but a direct appeal to the territorial council. Following which, I will take my permanent leave.”
“And what, Siena?”
My professional air melts away. Every ploy I have made bounces off her, as if nothing I say or do matters.
I just want it to matter.
I want to matter.
Why can’t she see that?
She turns to leave without formal dismissal or ceremonial acknowledgment typically concluding leadership exchange within council setting.
“You haven’t been excused!” My voice thunders. She stops in her tracks but remains facing the door.
“I am your Alpha. You would do best to rember you place.”
I can’t help it, the venom is flowing like the river.
I hate myself.
“You have abdnoned your post, taken pack funds for personal use.”
“You are a liar! I have done no such thing!” she snarls back.
2/3
*Chapter 107 Escalation
It’s a measured response by the standard of what she’s capable of. But, I console myself, if I cannot of her love…
I will take her hate.
The hollowness beneath my ribs expands despite tactical victory
Success feels increasingly empty as the distance grows between leadership positions once aligned through shared vision here.
“Siena, there’s ways…”
“Don’t!” She spins on her heel, her eyes blazing fury. “Don’t you dare say what I think you’re going to say, Raiden.”
“What? That I’d rather you stay here, with me, with our pack. That I wish you would, for once, listen to me and open your eyes to Zion. He’s using you for gain, Siena! To supplant me!”
She smiles. It sends a silent chill up my spine. “And our arrangement, what was that? As I recall, it was very much political. And now, that you have ‘opened‘ your eyes, now that you see I can thrive as a Luna, as an Alpha, now you want me?” “Siena, be reasonable. Things change, I have changed. Is it not you who refuses to see the truth now?”
“Change?” she scoffs, settling her shoulders and wrangling the wolf I know is crying inside. “As far as I can see, you are the same cruel beast.”
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