Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon

Kane POV

I rechecked my watch, my foot tapping with mounting frustration. The heavy oak table was surrounded by Alphas, their gazes sharp and expectant. My father was at the head, speaking in his authoritative tone about borders and alliances. All of which I knew I should be focusing on, but honestly I could feel the tension in the room, and I knew it was partly because Knox was missing.

He should have been here half an hour ago. I shifted in my seat, trying to ignore the prickling sensation of judgmental eyes on me. These Alphas felt disrespected, and I couldn't blame them. The glares were almost palpable. "Kane, you're awfully quiet," my father remarked, breaking my train of thought.

"Just thinking about the southern border," I uttered, managing a tight smile. "We need to strengthen our patrols there." I knew my voice sounded weak from the lies that stuck in my throat.

"Strengthen patrols? We need unity first. Your brother's absence doesn't speak well of your pack's leadership." An Alpha from across the table, Alpha Scott, snorted. I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my composure. "Knox is on his way," I replied, hoping it sounded a hell of a lot more confident than I felt. As panic ate at my gut, I attempted to reach out to Knox through the pack mind link again, but I was met with a wall.

"Shut out, again." Rolo, my wolf, snorted dismissively.

"Damn it, Knox, where are you?" I hissed internally.

"Kane, are we sure your brother understands the importance of this meeting?" Alpha Matteo leaned forward, his eyes narrowing, he was known to take no prisoners when it came to other male wolves, and if I was honest with myself, intimidated the shit out of me. "Pussy." Rolo laughed like I couldn't sense his internal fear.

"Of course he does," I snapped, though the doubt was gnawing at me. "He's just delayed." I bluffed, never wanting the ground to swallow me up whole more so than I did right now.

"Well, from what I have heard of your

brother, he doesn't seem to take anything seriously." Matteo commented, his tone laced with mockery. I swallowed the growl that had formed in my throat because, as much as I wanted to bite back, I knew it would do us no good. We needed Alpha Matteo and his rogues.

"Plus he isn't wrong." Rolo chimed in, like that was fucking helpful right now. I lifted my hand to rub my eyes free of the migraine I felt brewing but paused as words filtered into my ears. Words that had my migraine thump louder and my vision blur with the anger I felt clawing at my chest.

"Least of all the mate bond" Alpha Scott chanted, my eyes shifted to his, refusing to break the seething hold my eyes locked him in until he offered me a remorseful nod and lowered his eyes. Like the waste of space, we all knew he was.

"Enough." My father cut in, his tone

firm. "We need to focus. This is not

need

the time. If Knox said he planned to attend, there must be a good reason for him to be postponed. Kane and Knox will be taking over soon. They know the importance of these meetings and the relationships they will form from them. Now there is a lot we all need to sort through. So, let's move on."

"We should discuss an alliance with the northern packs. Their territories border ours, a strong alliance could benefit both sides." I nodded, though my mind was still racing with

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pent-up fury. Luckily for Alpha Scott, I knew my father was right and I needed to show these Alphas that I was invested in this alliance, not insulting or fighting them at every small slight that was thrown my way.

"How do you propose we convince them? They've been quite reserved." Alpha Scott raised an eyebrow, his question fair but nonetheless meant to throw me off.