Free Web NovelChapter 157: Chapter 157 The Alpha King’s Secret
Caesar’s POV
The pack meeting was running longer than expected. Beta Dylan stood before me with the latest reports while several territory representatives waited their turn in the antechamber. Being Wolf King came with endless responsibilities, and today was proving particularly trying.
"The Northern packs are getting restless, Alpha," Dylan informed me, his expression grim. "Three more incidents of human harassment this month alone."
I leaned back in my chair, jaw tightening. "Names."
"The Silverback Pack near the Canadian border and two smaller groups under Alpha Rodriguez in the Midwest," Dylan replied, sliding the detailed reports across my desk.
"And what of the Eastern territories?" I asked, scanning the documents. The wolf inside me growled with displeasure at what I was reading.
"Quiet for now, but Alpha William Blackwood has been hosting meetings with several dissenting pack leaders. We don’t have concrete evidence of wrongdoing, but the timing is... concerning."
I stilled at the mention of Helena’s brother. William had always been ambitious, but I’d considered him an ally. My wolf paced restlessly at this potential betrayal.
"Should we confront him directly?" Dylan asked.
"No," I decided. "Let him think we’re oblivious. Double the surveillance and report directly to me—no one else."
Dylan nodded sharply. "As you command, Alpha."
"What troubles me," I continued, rising from my seat to look out the window at the sprawling city below, "is this systematic disregard for the ancient laws. The royal bloodlines established these boundaries for a reason."
"With respect, Alpha, many packs question whether a king they never see still deserves their allegiance."
My eyes flashed gold in the reflection of the glass. "The shadows protect both them and me. If they knew—"
"But they don’t," Dylan countered carefully. "They only know the Wolf King exists and makes demands without showing his face."
I turned to face my Beta, my most trusted confidant. "Perhaps it’s time for a reminder of why those laws exist. Schedule a summit for next month. Mandatory attendance for all territorial Alphas."
Dylan’s eyebrows shot up. "You’ll attend personally?"
"I haven’t decided," I replied coolly. "For now, let’s focus on Vertex. Where do we stand with the European expansion?"
The shift in topic was deliberate. Dylan accepted it with practiced ease, pulling up the relevant files on his tablet.
"Ahead of schedule and under budget. The Berlin acquisition finalizes next week, and the Milan property passed final inspection yesterday."
"And the competition?"
"Still scrambling to catch up. Our technology remains two years ahead of anything else on the market."
A slight smile curved my lips. "Good. That’s all I need for now."
As Dylan gathered his files to leave, my phone vibrated with a message. My heart skipped when I saw Sylvia’s name on the screen.
*Might be late tonight. Don’t wait up.*
Short. Direct. So perfectly Sylvia. My wolf stirred possessively at just seeing her name.
"We’re done for today," I told Dylan, already reaching for my jacket. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
My Beta smirked knowingly. "Your little mate calling you home?"
"Watch yourself," I warned, though there was no real heat behind it. Dylan was one of the few who could tease me about my mate without fear of repercussion.
"Tell Luna Sylvia I said hello," he replied, wisely retreating before I could respond.
I drove faster than necessary through the evening traffic, a strange unease settling over me. Something in Sylvia’s message felt off—a hidden tension behind her concise words. My wolf sensed it too, urging me to return to our mate without delay.
When I arrived home, the apartment was quiet and dark except for a soft glow coming from the bedroom. I moved silently through the space, loosening my tie as I approached our room.
What I found made my chest tighten. Sylvia was asleep, but her face was twisted in distress, her body tense beneath the covers.
"No... please, we can talk about this..." she murmured, her voice tight with anxiety even in sleep.
One look was all it took to see she was trapped in a nightmare. Whatever she was dreaming about had her in its merciless grip.
I sat gently on the edge of the bed, careful not to startle her. "It’s okay, I’m here, Sivi," I said softly, my voice deliberately gentle. "Don’t believe any of it. It’s not real."
"Sivi, I’ll always be with you. I’m right here beside you..." I continued, stroking her hair with a tenderness few would believe the fearsome Wolf King capable of.
I sat there patiently, repeating soothing words until her breathing began to even out and the tension gradually left her body. Only then did I carefully adjust her position on the bed, my movements deliberately slow and gentle to avoid disturbing her.
Throughout it all, she remained asleep, unaware of my presence. I gazed down at her delicate features, my heart aching with a mixture of concern and fierce protectiveness.
What could have happened to upset her so deeply? My Sivi was the embodiment of strength—seeing her this vulnerable stirred something primal in me.
Leaning down, I pressed my lips to her forehead in a kiss that contained nothing but pure adoration and care.
"Sivi, I will always protect you," I whispered against her skin. "You don’t have to be afraid. Whatever troubles you, I hope you’ll tell me..."
I took her hands in mine, holding them reverently as I pressed my forehead against them in a gesture of complete devotion. I knew she couldn’t hear me in her sleep, but the words needed to be said—a promise I’d made countless times before and would make countless times again.
After sitting with her a while longer, I was relieved to see her fully relaxed, the nightmare apparently banished. Only then did I rise, intending to shower.
But first...
My eyes darkened as I stepped onto the balcony and called Dylan.
"I need you to look into Frostline Enterprises," I instructed. "See if there’s been any unusual activity recently." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
I paused, adding, "Focus on their current projects. Be thorough—leave nothing unchecked."
"Right away, Alpha," Dylan replied without question, understanding the urgency in my tone.
After ending the call, I glanced back at the bedroom where Sylvia’s form created a gentle curve beneath the covers. My hand tightened around the phone.
"Sivi, you can rest easy. I won’t let anyone hurt you," I vowed quietly.
I took a deep breath, considering my options. I could easily invest in a new company and hand it to Sylvia if she needed one. But I knew better than most that she wasn’t some delicate flower in need of constant protection. She had her own mind, her own ambitions.
No one could control her decisions—sometimes not even herself. That was something I’d observed clearly from the sidelines.
Since joining Frostline, she’d placed immense pressure on herself—pressure she often didn’t even recognize. But I saw it all too clearly.
She’d always been strong-willed, but at Frostline, it had become almost obsessive. She constantly worried about being outperformed, about the company’s future, about how the executives perceived her.
Under the weight of all these concerns, Sylvia was slowly suffocating herself. I inhaled deeply, struggling to articulate my thoughts even to myself.
While her determination was admirable, she never allowed herself time to rest, pushing herself beyond reasonable limits. It was no wonder her body and mind eventually rebelled.
Still...
I narrowed my eyes slightly. Something felt off about the situation.
Most of her projects were on track, progressing smoothly. There was no immediate need to launch new initiatives—that would normally happen after completing at least one of the current projects.
So what was really happening here?
