Ares sat in his study, a room steeped in authority. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with leather-bound books and files, while the glow of a recessed light cast restless shadows across the polished floor.
He leaned back in a high-backed chair, its carved frame towering behind him, elbows resting on the armrests. One finger tapped idly against the wolf-head engraving on the wood, a steady rhythm that echoed the restraint in his silence as he listened to the former beta.
Eberhard stood before him, posture rigid, sharp eyes burning into the Alpha. "Why did you order the healers to waste their time on that filth?" he demanded, venom dripping from every syllable.
Ares' fingers stilled against the chair, a muscle in his jaw tightening.
"You know how the pack views her," Eberhard pressed on. "Showing kindness to the traitor's offspring will not go well with them. They'll see it as weakness."
Across the room, a young man lounged carelessly on a black leather sofa, one arm draped over the backrest, long legs stretched out in easy comfort. His tousled blond hair fell across his forehead, and his hazel eyes gleamed with quiet mischief. A low chuckle slipped from him, breaking the tension.
Eberhard's glare shot to him. "What's so funny, Ellie?" he spat.
Ellie lifted his head, his smirk widening. "You," he said simply. "You're funny, sir Eberhard."
Eberhard's lips twitched, his jaw stiff. "What do you mean by that?"
Ellie adjusted himself, sitting upright with lazy grace, elbows resting on his knees, his posture radiating deliberate ease. "I means you're overstepping. Not only are you clinging to a place that's no longer yours, refusing to retire like you're supposed to, you're trying to run the Alpha as if he's a child."
"Watch your mouth," Eberhard snapped, his voice sharp.
"Or what?" Ellie shot back, locking eyes with him, his tone edged with steel. "You know, I still don't understand why you hate that girl so much. She's not even the traitor her father was, according to you. Yet somehow, you think it's right for her to pay for his sins? She's already lost both her parents, her mate rejected her. Isn't that enough to give her a damn break?" His voice rose, frustration clear, every word heavy with disgust.
Eberhard's eyes blazed. "Are you defending that traitor?"
Ellie barked a laugh, sharp and bitter. "Traitor? I thought her father was the traitor. Now she's one too? Tell me, Eberhard, how would you feel if those you've offended turned around and went after your daughter instead? That girl has been tortured enough."
"I'm only looking out for the Alpha," Eberhard ground out through clenched teeth.
Ellie leaned forward, eyes hard. "And you think me, his Beta, isn't doing a good job at that? If you really cared about him, you wouldn't have pushed him to reject his mate. That weakens him."
Eberhard's chin lifted in defiance. "That's why he needs to mate with Nikki. Her wolf is strong enough to match the Alpha's. Together, their bond would strengthen him."
Ellie sat back, exhaling with a small laugh, his smirk curling again. "Oh, now I see where this is going."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Eberhard snapped.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Ellie shrugged, though his eyes gleamed with sharp amusement. "I just wonder what's so special about your daughter."
"For one, she's not wolfless like that filth," Eberhard shot back, his words harsh, lips curling. "My daughter's wolf is one of the strongest in the pack. It matches the Alpha's, and their bond will fortify his. The Alpha doesn't need to put up with that wolfless weakling... "
"Whatever you say," Ellie interrupted coolly. "But you're not smarter than the Moon Goddess who paired them. Just give the girl a break."
Eberhard's face reddened, his mouth opening as if to fire back — but Ares' voice cracked through the room, sharp as a whip.
"Enough!" he roared, his voice rattling the very walls. "You two, stop it."
Both men froze. Ellie leaned back once more, sliding into the sofa with his earlier ease, lips quirking faintly. Eberhard's fury, though, only burned hotter, his glare searing Ellie before he turned stiffly back to his Alpha.
"As I was saying..."
"Enough, sir Eberhard," Ares muttered, his voice low and strained as he rubbed at his temple. "I have had enough."
"But Alpha..." Eberhard began, his tone heavy with protest.
"You heard the man," Ellie cut in smoothly, tilting his head with a lazy smirk. "Or are you now trying to disobey your Alpha?"
Eberhard's eyes flared, his jaw tightening as he turned his glare on Ellie. His lips pressed into a hard, thin line, the vein in his temple pulsing.
"Ellie," Ares said sharply, dropping his hand from his brow. "Enough."
Ellie leaned back into the sofa, palms lifted as if in surrender, though the amusement in his eyes never dimmed.
"Alpha—" Eberhard tried again, voice laced with frustration.
"Please excuse us," Ares said, his tone clipped.
Eberhard froze, stunned, his mouth parting in disbelief. "I…"
"Please, sir Eberhard," Ares said more firmly, his hand lifting as though to push the conversation away. "I need a moment to think."
Silence hung thick in the air before Eberhard's head dipped slightly in reluctant obedience. Without another word, he turned toward the door. His hand wrapped around the handle, pulling it just enough to crack open, when Ellie's voice rang out.
"Oh, sir Eberhard," Ellie called pleasantly. "One more thing. Please refrain from referring to her as 'filth.' Her name is Rhea. In case you've forgotten."
Eberhard's body went rigid, his knuckles whitening on the handle. Slowly, he turned his head, eyes burning with restrained rage. For a second, it seemed like he might lash out, but instead, he yanked the door fully open and slammed it shut behind him with a violent bang that rattled the frame.
Ellie chuckled, the sound low and satisfied, as he sank deeper into the black leather cushions.
"You need to stop provoking him," Ares said, his voice quiet but edged with warning.
"I can't help it," Ellie mused, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Then he straightened, his tone shifting as he leaned forward, elbows braced against his knees. "But seriously, Ares… why do you keep letting him meddle in everything? He's supposed to be retired."
Ares sighed, dragging a hand down his face. His shoulders slumped slightly, the weight of it all pressing hard. "Because once Eberhard sinks his claws into something, he doesn't let go. Fighting him takes more energy than I can afford right now."
Ellie studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he asked, voice lower, more pointed, "Are you really going to mate with his daughter?"
Ares exhaled, the sound heavy. He leaned back in his chair, exhaustion pulling at his frame. "I don't want to talk about it."