“It’s been a week, Lead Councilman Titan,” Alpha Enoch growled. “Why haven’t we heard anything?”

"To put it bluntly, shit happens when you exile someone. We sent Jalen and Ivy after her, and they aren’t responding to our mindlinks. We can’t send anyone else after them since you started a war with that damn guild. If you didn't want Aura to leave, then you shouldn't have exiled her!" Titan raised his voice. He was tired of hearing Enoch whine about the decision he made in the heat of the moment. Frankly, the whole council was angry with Enoch for exiting Aura. She was supposed to be the Alpha Huntress and help Enoch protect and rule the clan. Why had the Alpha been so stupid?

"Damn it…" Alpha Enoch muttered under his breath. He had let his emotions get the better of him that night. If it hadn't been for Raika, who knows what he would have done. Raika stood next to Enoch in the Elders' Council Chamber. The eyes of the room were watching him as he tried to calm his emotions. Raika gently placed her warm, calming hand on his shoulder. He felt his chest relax under her touch. It had been five days since he started a war, lost his best friend, and exiled a woman he cared for.

“Alpha Enoch,” Councilwoman Ioa called out. “I must ask. Why is the exile’s sister present during an Elders’ Council meeting? From what I understand, this girl is not even a Huntress, so she has no place here.”

Raika went stiff under the gaze of Councilwoman Ioa. She didn’t flinch or cower. Her resolve was to stay by Enoch’s side as long as he needed even if the council shamed her for it. The other council members turned their attention to her, the outsider in the room. These past five days had been long for her. She only left his side when nature called her away. Enoch had even had her sleep on the newly placed sofa in his office while he worked. It took three days for Enoch to get to the point where he could work again, and today, Enoch was finally ready to make plans on what to do with the Grim Guild. However, even with all the progress, Enoch had made, he was still hung up on her sister leaving. Raika did her best to provide comfort and a dose of reality when needed to Enoch, but she wondered just how long her companionship with him would last. Councilwoman Ioa called out to Enoch again, breaking Raika out of her train of thought.

“Raika is here because I want her here,” Enoch growled at the Councilwoman, and he wrapped his arm around Raika’s waist. The council members began to protest Enoch’s behavior.

"This is going nowhere.” A loud voice interrupted the sea of voices. “We are here to discuss the run-ins with the Grim Guild on our borders, not cry about an exiled she-wolf," Councilman Xerxes stated. All eyes drifted to him, and Alpha Enoch nodded. "Six skirmishes between border patrol and what are thought to be hunters from the Grim Guild. Four wolves are in intensive care and others are injured. We have won so far, but this needs to come to an end. Otherwise, our hidden valley will become known across Lunaris."

Raika let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. The council members were all quiet in thought, thinking of solutions, but Raika’s mind was on the arm wrapped around her waist. She felt the heat radiating off his skin, and her cheeks began to turn red. She turned her head letting her thick dark brown hair cover her face. Why was Enoch doing this? Wasn’t he still upset over her sister? None of this was making any sense to her. Sure, he had kept her by his side and cried in her arms a few times, but she had known better than to think anything of it. Enoch lost Nyko and Aura left the clan. This was probably just another way of him lashing out against the council who helped drive her sister away. Don’t overthink it, Raika, she told herself. Enoch gave her waist a little squeeze, forcing her to focus on the council in front of her.

“Isn’t the Queen Galadriel Haleth visiting those little villages on the other side of the Hailia Mountains?” Councilman Gajeel asked. “Won’t that be a target for the Grim Guild given what the queen is trying to do with those protection laws?”

Alpha Enoch had forgotten about the royal visit. That was one of the things Jalen and Aura had been working on in those little villages. Perhaps, Aura was there working on it now… He needed to find her again, so he could finish their conversation without his temper getting in the way. Having Raika around had kept his emotions in check over the last few days, which was why he didn’t let her leave his side. The last time Raika went to the bathroom, Enoch had thrown his chair at the stone wall because he read the report of the last skirmish with the Grim Guild. Right now, Raika was functioning as his emotional crutch, and he knew it couldn’t last forever.

“Here’s what we will do,” Alpha Enoch explained. “Have two of the wolf hunters stationed in the humans’ territory, Apricus, to the west come with the human delegation to provide extra security for the queen. Tomorrow, I will pick my new Beta, and then I will go watch over the visit myself. Should something happen, I will ensure the elves or the humans figure out who is responsible thus ending the war. I will end what I started until then have more of our warrior reserves join the border patrols. We won’t have any more casualties if I can help it.”

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The whole table blankly stared at Enoch as he had just spontaneously combusted in his chair. Raika wasn’t much better than the council members because her heart was beating right out of her chest. Alpha Enoch could feel Raika’s anxiety and hear her rapid heartbeat, so he tightened his grip on her. She was his rock right now, and he was going to do whatever he could to reassure her. Enoch had made this whole mess when he decided to do battle with that hunter party instead of just rescuing Jalen and his companion that day. He remembered the border patrol reporting a large hunting party moving through the Burnt Bark Woods that morning after he had just heard from Jalen. His response was to gather his own hunting party to attack the Grim Guild hunters. He let his emotions dictate his actions, resulting in Nyko’s death and five other wolf hunters.

“That’s your solution? Going on a suicide mission?” Councilwoman Kila asked, flabbergasted. “Haven’t you put our clan through enough after starting a war and exiling a village heroine? Losing you will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Surely, someone else could go or come up with another plan.”

“No,” Lead Councilman Titan cut in. “For the first time, I agree with Alpha Enoch. He wants to take responsibility for his actions. I will send word to Flynn and Brennan to accompany the humans. We just need the name of the new Beta now, so we can approve it for tomorrow.”

The rest of the council was stunned at Titan’s words but begrudgingly agreed to his terms. They all turned their attention to Enoch for his reply. Raika gave Enoch a comforting squeeze on his shoulder. She already knew who he was going to suggest for the new Beta, and she knew there was no way the council could say no. The new Beta came in second during the Alpha’s tournament against Enoch, and he served as the ambassador for the giants to other territories although he appeared as a dwarf. The new Beta even has a bit of a pedigree. Raika could not be more proud of Enoch’s choice.

"My new Beta is Fenris." Alpha Enoch stated, proudly.

Lead Councilman Titan squealed like a child getting their first piece of cake. "My grandson? You picked my Fenris?"

"Only with the Council's approval." Enoch reminded him.

All the council unanimously approved the new Beta. There was no question. Lead Councilman Titan had wanted Alpha Enoch to give the clan a show of strength after the hardships of losing six wolf hunters and Beta Nyko, and Enoch had done just that. Enoch hoped this would release Aura from the Council's need to find her. Something had changed in him after his talk with Aura and his time with Raika. These Argenti sisters were doing a number on him.

The rest of the meeting passed by with no issues. "Good luck, Alpha." The council members said as Alpha Enoch and Raika left the Elder’s Council Chamber.

They made it back to the main chamber, which was Enoch’s office. Things were quiet as Enoch sat at his new desk. He had destroyed all the furniture in his office the night Aura left. Raika was surprised at how quickly Enoch seemed to bounce back. If it had been her, she would have needed at least two things of cake and two weeks of moping and running freely as a wolf. She wondered why Enoch still wanted her around if he was feeling better. Raika realized she needed to go ahead and return to her normal life, so she didn’t get her hopes up since her dream would come to an end tomorrow.

"Enoch,” Raika began. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that I have been able to help you the last few days, but it seems my work is done here. So, why don’t I head home tonight, so you can rest.”

Enoch’s eyes snapped up from the work on his desk. His heart began to race. Why was she talking about leaving already? He didn’t need to leave until tomorrow, and he had planned on spending one more night in her company to help him prepare for tomorrow. If she left, he would be alone in this quiet place and nothing would distract him from the pain that resided right under the surface of his skin. Does she know what safety she has been for him? Enoch would have...he swallowed at the thought of what he almost did… His life almost ended that night had Raika not stopped him. He was better after a few days, but he knew that it would take a lot of time before he was really ok. Raika was the one that made that all seem possible after everything happened.

“Could you stay one more night?” Enoch asked with pleading eyes. “I know we need to get back to normal, but I still need you. After that first night, it clicked for me that I am not okay. I am still not okay, but your companionship gives me hope that I will be.”

Raika’s heart fluttered at his words, but she quickly shook herself out of that feeling. Instead, concern filled her mind for her friend and Alpha. “Did you visit the clinic about not being okay?”

Enoch smiled at her concern. “Yes, three times already. I will have weekly visits for the foreseeable future.” He got up from his seat and walked over to Raika. Her violet eyes were drawing him like a siren. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her ear. “Thank you, Raika.” He felt her arms instantly wrap around his neck. “You are my rock, my friend, and my comfort. When I am better and not letting my temper get the better of me, would you let me court you? I know it’s not good now, especially since I am still getting over Aura, but later, would you?”

Raika’s heart tried to escape her chest. Did those words come out of his mouth? Was he serious? Does he know how she feels? Her mind was racing, and she was scared she would run into a tree at this speed. “Enoch, don’t you toy with me! I have pinned you more than once and I will do it again.”

“Raika, I am not toying-”

Raika smashed her lips onto his, and his hands found their way into her lush brown hair. Enoch felt a heat and a sweetness that he hadn’t before with anyone else. Even Aura. Her soft lips were addictingly sweet, and he didn’t want it to end. For a moment, the world fell away from him then the sensation was gone. He opened his eyes and Raika giggled as walked out the door with a sexy confidence that made Enoch swoon. What the hell was he getting himself into?