The Professor's Mate Clause novel Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

ADRIAN’S POV

“Everyone is here. Council is waiting in the conference room.”

Marcus falls into step beside me as I walk through the main hall. Sixty wolves gathered in one space. All eyes on me. Conversations stop mid sentence. Heads bow. Wolves move aside to let me pass.

This is power. This is what it means to be Alpha.

“Good. Any trouble getting them to show?”

“None. They know better than to ignore a summons from you.” He glances at me. “How are you holding up?”

“Fine.”

“You look like you have not slept in days.”

“I have not.” I push open the conference room door. “But that is not their concern.”

The room goes silent when I enter. Eight wolves sit around the long table. The council. The highest ranking members of my pack. Betas. Enforcers. Advisors.

They all stand when they see me. Show respect. Show submission.

I take my seat at the head of the table. They remain standing until I gesture for them to sit. Basic hierarchy. Basic pack law.

I am Alpha. They serve me. Not the other way around.

“Report.” I look at Marcus first.

“Territory is secure. Borders have been reinforced. Patrols doubled since the incident at your building.” He slides a folder across the table. “No breaches. No attempts. But we are tracking increased activity from the Brooks pack.”

“What kind of activity?”

“Scouts. Watching our movements. They have been circling the downtown territory for three days. Testing for weaknesses.” Marcus taps the folder. “They are planning something.”

“Let them plan.” I open the folder. Maps. Photos. Reports. All documenting Asher’s movements. “When they make their move we will be ready.”

“With respect Alpha they outnumber us.” This from Gerald. An older wolf. Been with the pack for decades. “A direct confrontation could cost us.”

“Then we do not confront them directly. We outthink them. Outmaneuver them.” I look around the table. Meet each wolf’s eyes. “Asher is predictable. He wants war. He wants blood. We give him neither. We

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stay defensive. Protect what is ours. Make him come to us.”

“And when he does?” Another wolf asks. Thomas.

“When he does we show him why this pack has held this territory for three generations.” I lean back in my chair. Let my eyes flash. Let them see Kael underneath. “We remind him what happens when you challenge an Alpha who has nothing left to lose.”

The room goes quiet. They can smell it on me. The barely controlled violence. The edge I am walking. The wolf pushing closer to the surface every day.

Show them. Show them what we are capable of.

Not yet Kael. Not yet.

“What about the girl?” Gerald again. Always asking the questions no one else will. “Rumors are spreading. Wolves are talking. They say you are housing Alexander Reed’s daughter. That she is your mate. That you are protecting her against Council law.”

The temperature in the room drops. Every wolf goes still. Waiting to see how I respond.

“What wolves say is not your concern.” My voice is cold. Flat. “What I do in my personal life is not pack business.”

“It is pack business when it puts us at risk.” Gerald does not back down.

Foolish.

“Asher is using her as an excuse. Says you are violating the laws Alexander himself created. That you are protecting an illegal hybrid. That you are…”

I’m up before he even finishes. I grab him by the throat, drag him across the table, and slam him straight

into the wall.

“Finish that sentence.” My eyes flash, claws sliding out slow. I tilt my head, smiling just enough to make it unsettling. “Please. I’m begging you give me a reason.”

Gerald’s eyes go wide, as he tries to speak, but of course he cannot, he wouldn’t dare not even choking

sounds.

The other wolves do not move. Do not intervene. They know better.

Kill him. He disrespects us. Disrespects our mate. End him.

No. He is pack. He is mine to protect even when he is stupid.

I release him. Step back. Gerald collapses to the floor gasping.

“Let me be clear.” I look around the room. Make sure every wolf hears me. “What happens with Freya Reed is not up for discussion. She is under my protection. Anyone who has a problem with that can challenge me for the Alpha position. Otherwise shut your mouths and do your jobs.

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Silence. No one challenges. No one speaks.

“Good. Now where were we?” I return to my seat like nothing happened. “Marcus. The patrols.”

Marcus clears his throat. Continues like I did not just attack a council member. “We have sixteen wolves on rotation. Eight hour shifts. Covering all entry points to the building. No one gets in without clearance.”

“Not enough. Double it. I want thirty two wolves. Four hour shifts. And I want eyes on Asher at all times. If he breathes wrong I want to know about it.”

“That will stretch our resources thin.”

“I do not care. Do it anyway.” I flip through more reports. “What else?”

“The high council sent a formal inquiry.” This from Rebecca. Advisor. Smart. Political. “They are asking about the girl. Want to know if the rumors are true. Want to schedule a hearing.”

“When?”

“Two weeks. They want her brought before them. Want to assess her bloodline. Her status. Her threat level.” Rebecca slides the letter across to me. “It is not a request Alpha. It is a summons. For both of you.

I read the letter. Official seal. Formal language. All very proper. All very threatening.

They want to take her. Judge her. Decide if she lives or dies.

They can try.

“What happens if we ignore it?” Thomas asks.

“They declare us rogue. Strip our territory. Send enforcers to collect her by force.” Rebecca’s voice is matter of fact. “We would be at war with every pack in the region.”

“Then we go.” I set the letter down. “We attend their hearing. We prove she is not a threat. We play their political games.”

“And if they decide against her?” Gerald has recovered enough to speak. His voice is rough. Bruised. “If they order her execution?”

“Then I will burn their council chambers to the ground before I let them touch her.” I say it calmly. Clearly. “And any pack that stands with them will burn too.”

The wolves exchange glances. Nervous. Uncertain. They know I mean it. Know I will start a war over this.

Good. Let them fear us. Let them know we will destroy everything for our mate.

“Is that all?” I look around the table. “Any other concerns? Questions? Challenges?”

No one speaks. Smart wolves.

“Then we are done. Marcus stay. Everyone else get back to your posts.” I stand. The others scramble to

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their feet. File out quickly. Eager to escape.

Gerald lingers near the door. Touches his throat where my hand was. Looks at me like he wants to say

something.

“Speak or leave.” I do not have patience for hesitation.

“I apologize Alpha. I overstepped.” He bows his head. Proper submission. “It will not happen again.”

“See that it does not. Next time I will not be so gentle.” I turn away. Dismissing him.

He leaves. The door closes.

Marcus and I are alone.

“You are losing control.” He says it quietly. Carefully. “The pack sees it. Everyone sees it.”

“I know.”

“You need to complete the bond. Claim her properly. Before Kael takes over completely.” Marcus moves closer. “I have known you for ten years. I have never seen you like this. Never seen you so close to the

edge.”

“I am handling it.”

“Are you? Because from where I stand it looks like you are one bad day away from slaughtering everyone who looks at you wrong.” He pauses. “What happens at that hearing Adrian? What happens when the council demands you hand her over?”

“I already told you. I burn everything down first.”

“And you think she will be okay with that? With you starting a war over her? With wolves dying because you cannot control yourself?” Marcus’s voice gets harder. “She is still human in her mind. Still does not understand pack politics. You drag her to that hearing unprepared and it will destroy her.”

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