Captive of The Beast Alpha: Drugging the CEO Was a Mistake.-Chapter 54: Hansel: The confrontation.

The hall quietened.

Even the murmurs at the back died down as everyone turned to me.

Every member in the council sat up straighter, even my father’s blank expression cracked into a surprise as he turned to look at me.

My Stepmother, Eleanor, ’s satisfied smile completely disappeared.

"That’s impossible," Beatrice said sharply. "This is the sixth year after your Raze manifested; it’s long past the time for you to find your Veylar. Besides, everyone knows Veylar bonds are extremely rare, and you’ve shown no signs..."

"Two nights ago was the Crescent Full Moon," I interrupted. "The most dangerous night for any Raze. The night when we’re at our most volatile and totally uncontrollable."

I paused, letting that sink in.

"And yet, despite everything that happened earlier that evening, I didn’t go on a rampage during the Crescent Moon. My Raze did not manifest on the night of the Crescent Moon. It manifested a day before it, and it simply wanted to be with its Veylar..."

"Perfect, now you want to give an excuse for killing people," a council member scoffed. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"I am not!" I said coldly. "I’ve often said that the Raze, though violent and unpredictable, if treated with respect and not with fear, would not attack first unless it senses a threat. It is an intelligent being, and one of the reasons it needs a master is to help people understand it better."

"Your point?" Elder Thaddeus tapped his feet impatiently. "No one wants a rundown on how a Raze is to be treated."

"And that is the issue," I growled. "No one literally wants to learn how to deal with it, but you’re all so quick to condemn me when it is literally not my fault. I have no recollections of these attacks. Why should I be punished for something that isn’t my fault?"

"We’re getting a little emotional here, Son," My father rose to his feet. "Tell us about finding your Veylar."

I took a deep breath and continued. "On the night of the Crescent Moon, I didn’t transform into my Raze. I found that I was able to control myself and I didn’t go on a rampage, kill anyone or lose control because my Veylar was with me, anchoring and keeping me stable."

The hall erupted in whispers. People turning to each other, talking in hushed, excited tones. A Raze with a Veylar was powerful and valuable. At this point, if the council is trying to throw me away, it would be to their own detriment.

"Where is this Veylar now?" Thaddeus demanded. "Bring them forward."

"She’s in the healer’s quarters," I said. "Recovering. The bond formation was intense."

"She?" Another elder leaned forward. "Your Veylar is female?"

"Yes."

"And human," Eleanor said suddenly. Her voice dripped with disdain. "She’s human, isn’t she? Just like your mother."

All eyes turned to me.

I lifted my chin. "Yes. She’s human."

The whispers grew louder. More urgent. I could see the council members exchanging glances, recalculating their strategies.

They couldn’t punish me too severely now. Not with a confirmed Veylar bond. It would be seen as a waste of a valuable resource. A Raze with a Veylar could do things no other wolf could and access powers that were thought to be lost.

I’d just changed the entire game.

And from the fury on Eleanor’s face, she knew it.

"Well," Elder Thaddaeus cleared his throat after whispering something to the other elders around him. "This hearing is suspended until the Council confirms the truth of this claim."

"And what about us getting justice?" One of the bereaved family shot to his feet. "Are we seriously going to let him go scot-free after everything?"

"We understand your pain," Elder Beatrice said with a soothing tone, "but we cannot ignore this either. If what he says is true, then in the long run it’ll all be to our advantage. Having a cull wolf that is fully bonded with its Veylar would finally solve a lot of issues for us."

"I know you all wanted justice, and I promise that no amount of compensation would make up for your pain, but I am pleading that you give the Council time to verify and make decisions that would all be for our good," Elder Thaddeus added.

***

Thirty minutes later, we were back at the pack house.

I rode with my father in his car, and I could see he was bursting to ask questions, but he remained quiet because my Stepmother was riding with us.

But as soon as we got out of the car, my father reached for my arm and pulled me back, telling my mom to go ahead as he steered me towards the garden. As soon as we got there, he pulled me into his arms while I stood stiffly.

My father, Adam Ward, rarely showed his emotions, but with me, it was different.

He was an expressive and loving father to me, and he didn’t try to hide the fact that he favours me most amongst my siblings. It was always uncomfortable for me, for the most part.

"Oh my dear son," he sobbed with gratitude, "this is the best news I’ve received all year. Why didn’t you say anything?" he asked, moving back to look at me.

I used that opportunity to wiggle out of his hold, placing enough distance between us.

"I had to be sure," I murmured. "Besides, she’s human and totally oblivious of our species. It’s going to be an uphill task trying to convince her that we’re real."

"But she’s your Veylar," my father said excitedly. "She would naturally accept to guide you, don’t worry."

"Don’t get your hopes too high, father. She’s still in grief and has just lost her mom. This responsibility is the last thing she needs now."

"Don’t worry," my father pats my back affectionately, "she’ll naturally fall into her role."

As I opened my mouth to reply my dad, Beta Thomas rushed into the garden panting. The moment he spotted us, he sighed with relief and quickly came over.

"What is it again, Thomas? Today is a joyous day; I don’t want to hear any sad news."

"Well, this is beyond my powers, Alpha. We have a visitor, and they’re asking to see you," Beta Thomas pointed at me.

"Asking to see me?" I arched a brow. "Did they leave a name? If the person drove to the pack house, they must be one of our kind," I probed further.

"No!" Thomas shook his head. "From his smell, he’s a vampire, and he has no mark on him to show which coven he’s from. Are you expecting anyone?" Thomas turned back to ask my father.

"None that I can recall," my father shook his head.

"Well, there’s only one way to find out," I said, already walking towards the front of the pack house.

From afar, I could see five tinted cars parked in front of the pack house, and a familiar silhouette leaned against the hood of the first car. The closer I got, the more convinced I became that I knew who it was.

A few meters away from the visitor, I paused my walking when the figure turned.

It was Cahir Sterling.

His eyes were cold as he regarded me. My father and Beta Thomas had caught up with me and stood beside me, wondering why I was stopping.

"Why are you stopping?" My father murmured to me.

"That’s Cahir Sterling," I said through gritted teeth.

"Cassian sent his son to you? Why?" Beta Thomas asked, his voice filled with surprise.

When Cahir saw my father, he turned towards him and lowered his frame a little, bowing before him.

"Alpha Ward," Cahir greeted.

"You’re Cassian’s son?" My father walked over to him, stretching his hand. "I had no idea, Cassian had a son who’s all grown up."

"He does," Cahir said with a soft smile. "It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Alpha. Although I have heard so many good things about you and I am acquainted with your son, Hansel."

"Oh, really?" my father turned to me, surprised. "You didn’t tell me—"

My father started saying, but I cut him short and turned to Cahir, jerking my head towards the garden I’d just come out of. "Let’s talk."

"Talk?" Cahir laughed, "This is not a courtesy visit, Hansel Ward. I came to retrieve my fiancée, whom you illegally kidnapped and brought to this place."

"His fiancée?" my father turned to me, lost. "What is he talking about?"

"I didn’t kidnap her; besides, she’s debunked that claim."

"Because you held her at ransom," Cahir retorted, and from his jacket, he pulled out a collection of pictures and tossed them at my feet, as they landed and scattered all over the place. "This is what I was able to get about the people who wanted to kill you. Naya is just a victim, and I think at this point, you’ve done enough."

I stared at the pictures lying around my feet and up to him again, trying to control the innate desire to punch out that perfect smile on his face.

"How dare you show up here and make false claims? Who asked you to come? How did you know she was here in the first place?"

"I did!" a voice called out, and I turned in the direction to see Naya wobbling from the direction of the healer’s quarters.