Vael'Runn of the House of Vaeroth sat behind a massive oak desk, its surface buried under stacks of documents, sealed letters, and financial ledgers. His posture was slumped, an unusual sight for a man who commanded fear from every wolf in the realm. The collar of his black shirt was undone, and his blonde hair was disheveled, with a few strands falling around his face.
His hand moved slowly across the pages, signing off his name on every sheet. By his right elbow sat an empty crystal glass, and next to it stood a bottle of whiskey, nearly drained to the last drop.
The door to the study opened without a knock. Theon walked in, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He was leaner than Vael, dressed in a simple grey sweater and dark trousers. His face carried an easy expression, the kind of familiarity that only came from knowing someone since childhood. He looked at the bottle, then at Vael, and a small smile formed on his lips.
"You look terrible," Theon said, walking to the chair across from the desk. He did not wait for permission to sit. He dropped into the seat and crossed his legs.
Vael did not look up. "I am busy."
"I know, as the duty demands of the alpha. But you look like a man who has not slept in days," Theon continued, leaning his head to one side to study his Alpha's face. "Or like a man who did not get laid properly. Which is it?"
Vael stopped writing. He set the pen down and pressed his thumb against his temple. He let out a long, tired groan.
"The woman wanted to meet again." Vael scoffed.
Theon raised an eyebrow. "And that is a problem because?"
"Because I did not want to meet again." Vael sat back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. "She started talking about weekends away. About visiting my home. I got irritated. So I left her at the hotel and came here. I drank half that bottle and passed out in this chair."
Theon glanced at the whiskey bottle. "Half? That is a full bottle you had there."
"It was full when I started," Vael said flatly. "I woke up two hours ago with a hangover that made me want to tear my own head off. My mouth still tastes like poison."
Theon pulled his phone out of his pocket and tapped the screen. He held it up so Vael could see the notification list. "No wonder. She has been calling me since midnight. Twenty missed calls. Six voicemails. And three text messages that I did not read because I respect your privacy, but the previews looked emotional."
Vael waved a hand. "Block her number. I do not want to see her again."
"I am not your secretary."
"Then do not show me your phone. And this is all your fault."
Theon raised his brows. "Now you blame me for helping a friend?"
"If you hadn't insisted I see her, I wouldn't have been in that mess."
Theon pocketed the device and shrugged. "Fair enough." He watched Vael for a moment, then his expression shifted slightly. The teasing did not leave, but something softer appeared underneath. "Are you good?"
Vael picked up his pen again. "I am fine."
"That was not a real answer."
"It is the only one you are getting."
Theon exhaled through his nose. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "Fine. Do not answer. But since you didn't care about how I am doing, I will tell you." He heaved a deep sigh. "I am going through a lot."
Vael looked up. He said nothing, but he waited.
Theon ran a hand over his jaw. "Ares is giving me hell on earth. Every day, something new. Yesterday, he shifted in the backyard and chased the neighbor's cat through four gardens. The day before, he broke the fence. Not accidentally. He took his wolf form and ran straight through the wood panels like they were paper."
Vael nodded slowly. "He is excited. The boy finally claimed his wolf. It is a big moment for a young man."
"Excited is one word," Theon said. "Terrifying is another. You know what his wolf is like. The wild nature. It runs in our bloodline, and you know what happens if it is not monitored closely."
Vael set the pen down again. He gave Theon his full attention now. "He could go berserk. He could become dangerous to other wolves. To humans. To himself."
"Exactly," Theon said. "So I have to watch him like a hawk—every hour of every day. I cannot sleep properly because I listen for the sound of him moving in the room next to mine. I cannot go to work without asking three or five different guards to check on him. It is not parenting. It is guard duty."
Vael leaned forward and rested his forearms on the desk. "You know I am available. If needed, I will help. I can take him for a few days. Let him run on my land. That should wear him out."
Theon shook his head. "You have your own problems. Take care of yourself first."
Vael scoffed. The sound was short and dry. "I am the Alpha of the Nightwalker Pack. I do not need to take care of myself. I need to take care of everyone else."
"That is the kind of thinking that leaves you drunk alone in your study at three in the morning," Theon said. "But fine. Do not listen to me."
There was a pause. The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the silence.
Vael straightened in his chair. "The meeting with the council of elders. I missed it. Give me an update."
Theon's face shifted again. The teasing vanished completely, replaced by something more serious. He sat back and folded his arms.
"They have decided to push through with their plans this time. No more delays. No more excuses. They want you married. They want a heir to continue your legacy. And they are not asking this time. It's a demand."
Vael's jaw tightened. "They dare make a demand to their Alpha. I am not interested in this conversation."
"I know you are not," Theon said. "But I am giving you the update because you asked for it. The council is unified on this. All fourteen of them. Even Elder Benjamin, who usually sides with you on everything, agreed. They sent a formal notice to my office yesterday."
Vael picked up the empty glass and looked inside it as if hoping more whiskey had materialized. "They have been agreeing to my excuses for years. I have stalled them successfully every single time. Why is this different?"
"Because you are not getting younger," Theon said flatly. "And they are not getting more patient. They have watched you push aside every woman they brought forward from notable families of this blessed pack. They have listened to every reason you gave. Too young. Too old. Wrong family. Wrong temperament. Wrong eye color. At some point, it stops being negotiation and starts being obstruction."
Vael set the glass down with a hard clink. "I am not a breeding stallion."
"No one said you were."
"They want me to produce an heir like I am signing a contract."
"They want the pack to have stability," Theon said. His voice remained calm. "You are the Alpha. You are powerful. You are feared. But you are also one person. If something happens to you, there is no one to take over. And when Nightwalker Pack falls apart, the territory gets divided. The neighboring packs will move in to claim it. You know this."
Vael stared at him. His eyes were dark and tired. "So you agree with them."
Theon held his gaze. "I do. This time, they are right. You should consider it. Really consider it. Do not dismiss it because the council will not back down this time. They have been patient for years, and now that patience is gone."
Vael pushed his chair back and stood up. He walked to the window and looked out at the dark grounds of the estate.
"Since they have all decided to take their jobs too seriously," Vael said slowly, "then I am also taking up a new job."
"And that will be?" Theon asked.
"Getting rid of all of them."
Theon did not flinch. "That would include me." He blurted.
Vael turned his head. His expression looked dangerous. Not loud. Not explosive. Just cold and absolute. "I do not care."
Theon held up both hands in mock surrender. "Ouch. That hurts. I have been your best friend for more than twenty-five years. I have cleaned up your messes. I have lied for you. I have covered for you while you were away with the women from neighboring packs. And now you say you do not care if I am on the list?"
The corner of Vael's mouth twitched. Just slightly. The tension in the room cracked.
"You are dramatic," Vael said.
"I am wounded," Theon replied, pressing a hand to his chest. "Deeply wounded. I may need to lie down." He faked a gasp.
Vael turned back to the window. "What is their plan?"
Theon lowered his hand. The humor faded back into business. "They want to send a notice to every Alpha in the realm who is in debt to the Nightwalker Pack. The terms are simple. Present a woman from your pack—any woman of suitable age and standing. In exchange, the debt is fully written off. And you receive the Alpha's personal favor."
Vael turned around slowly. He stared at Theon for a long moment. Then he laughed. It was not a polite laugh. It was loud, rough, and genuine.
"That is a stupid idea," Vael said. "Whoever accepts those terms is a fool. You want someone to hand over a woman from their pack to clear a debt? That is not negotiation. That is extortion with a ribbon on top."
Theon's face flushed. "Do you have a better idea?"
"Yes," Vael said. He walked back to the desk and sat on the edge of it, crossing his arms. "I get things done medically—a surrogate. Someone carries the child. I have a heir. Done. No marriage. No Luna. No council involvement."
Theon shook his head. "The pack needs a Luna. Not a pup breeder. A Luna is a leader. A partner. Someone who stands beside you in front of the pack. Someone the wolves can look to when you are away. A surrogate gives you a baby. A Luna gives you a future."
Vael looked at the ceiling again. "Oh, Theon, you are such a bore. Now you sound like them."
"Because I am thinking like a Beta," Theon said. "Not like your friend. Like your Beta. The pack needs stability. The council is demanding action. You have run out of road." He pressed out his arms.
Vael was quiet for a long time.
Finally, he spoke. "Do whatever you want. Send the notice. Make the calls. But no one should expect too much from me. I will not pretend to be excited about this. I will not smile, shake hands, or play the role of a grateful groom. If they send women here, I will meet them. I will try to be polite. That is all I can promise."
Theon stood up. "Good." He walked to the door and paused with his hand on the handle. "That is more than you promised last time. I will take it."
"Get the hell out of my office, Theon."
"Have a great day dealing with the ledgers, Alpha." Theon opened the door, then looked back over his shoulder. "And Vael? Drink some water. You smell like a distillery."
The door closed. Vael sat alone in the study, surrounded by documents, silence, and the weight of a future he did not want. He picked up the empty glass, looked at it, and set it back down. Then he reached for the next document and signed his name again.