"A Storm Beneath the Surface"

He was sitting behind his desk, a man who seemed to be in his late thirties, with brown hair, silver eyes, and tanned skin. His presence radiated a mix of dignity and strength, and his eyes reflected the unyielding authority of an alpha not to be underestimated.

He didn't lift his gaze from the papers he was reviewing, but spoke in a concise, firm tone: "Why didn't you wait for the warriors to arrive?"

Adrian answered coldly, as if the words meant nothing to him: "It's not a big deal, as you can see."

The alpha paused writing and threw his pen down violently, then struck the desk with his fist as he stood up in anger, trying to maintain his composure: "And if this was a trap, what would you have done?"

Adrian looked at him indifferently, then spoke dryly: "Nothing."

That answer was like a match thrown onto a pile of hay. Harlan's eyes flared with rage at his brother's insolence, and he no longer knew how much more of his defiance he could tolerate.

A heavy tension filled the room, and poor Arkon was stuck between them, trying to think of something to ease the mood. He cleared his throat, then spoke, trying to divert the alpha's attention away from Adrian: "Alpha, do you think the Rogers crossing the borders was just a coincidence? Or is there something else behind it?"

The silence lasted a moment. That question was strong enough to capture both their attention. For a moment, it was no longer just a quarrel between an alpha and his stubborn brother… there was another possibility: What if it wasn't a coincidence?

Harlan looked at Adrian with a venomous glare, then spoke sarcastically: "We should have captured them to know who's behind it… but because of you, we know nothing!"

Adrian spoke with focus and practicality: "I clashed with them and was able to assess their strength. They're too weak to attack anyone from the pack, and the signs of weakness were obvious. They probably crossed the pack's boundary by mistake, looking for food."

His words grabbed Harlan's attention, and he ran his fingers through his brown beard, mumbling while nodding thoughtfully, then said: "Still, that doesn't rule out the possibility that they have another purpose for being here, especially at this time of year."

Before they could continue, another figure entered the room. He was a man in his late sixties, tall, strong-built, as though age was just a number. He resembled Harlan a lot… it was the former alpha, Longan.

The moment his sharp eyes landed on Adrian, Adrian froze in place, not moving. His father's gaze had always been able to make him feel the weight of his actions.

Finally, Longan spoke with mocking words, though his tone clearly held frustration: "Thank goodness you didn't lose any limbs this time."

Adrian met his words with an innocent smile on his face, which only intensified his father's frustration. Longan, now enraged, shouted: "Anyone who sees that smile would think you're a harmless lamb! When will you stop your reckless actions?! How long will you remain so impulsive?!"

The anger was clear in his voice. He had grown tired of Adrian's actions, fearing the loss of another child. He had lost one before and didn't want to face such a tragedy again.

Harlan quickly intervened, trying to calm the situation and defend his brother: "Don't worry, Father. Adrian notified some of the guards, but he didn't need any equipment. He handled them on his own, and by the time the guards arrived, he was already on his way back."

Harlan looked at Adrian with a silent demand for confirmation. Finally, Adrian spoke with confidence: "What Harlan told you is true, Father. And don't worry, you know I'm the strongest in the pack, and a few Rogers wolves won't be able to overpower me."

He finished with a touch of false arrogance, but Longan showed no sign of being affected. He calmly approached him and slapped him hard. Adrian didn't move, as if it were nothing but a breeze across his face.

Longan grabbed him firmly by the arm and said sternly: "Come on, stand up and follow me… I must have failed in raising you all these years."

He then left the room with steady steps, with Adrian following in silence.

Harlan approached his desk and slumped into his chair, while Arkon watched him, understanding the severity of the situation and what the alpha was going through. Trying to ease the tension, he spoke reassuringly:

"Don't worry, Alpha. Adrian is smarter and stronger than you think, and no Rogers will be able to defeat him or even touch him."

Arkon's words did provide some comfort to the alpha, but he still didn't seem entirely convinced. Sighing, Harlan spoke in a low voice, almost to himself:

"You don't know anything, Arkon… Adrian has been in our care until the day he returns to his homeland. What we're facing here is nothing compared to what he will face there."

Those words didn't go unnoticed by Arkon, and he asked in surprise:

"What do you mean, Alpha?!"

Harlan caught his slip of the tongue and quickly corrected himself, adjusting his posture and saying:

"No, nothing. You can leave now; I have some work to do."

Arkon nodded submissively and quickly exited the room, while Harlan remained seated, lost in thought.

In the room next door, Adrian sat before his father, Longan, whose veins were bulging, and his eyes sharp with anger. The air was tense, the silence between them heavy.

Longan spoke in a harsh tone: "When will you stop your childish behavior?! You're no longer a young boy, and what you do affects not only you but everyone!"

Adrian raised an eyebrow in confusion, then replied coldly: "What have I done to deserve all this?"

Longan looked at him in shock, then stood and clasped his hands together, saying sarcastically: "You really don't know?! Hahaha… I thought you paid attention to the smallest details! Everyone in the pack knows you're the strongest here, and the comparisons between you and your older brother have started to interest some. Some want you to become the alpha instead of Harlan!"

He finished with frustration, as though he had given up on changing his younger son.

Adrian's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly replied: "What?! But I didn't mean to do that! I don't even want to be the alpha!"

Longan sighed, rubbing his face in helplessness, then said in a softer tone: "I know that, and Harlan knows it too… but you've forgotten that I'm your father, and I know you both better than you think. I don't want either of you to come to harm."

He slowly moved toward one of the chairs in the room and sat down, placing his face in his hands.

Minutes passed, feeling like an eternity...

Finally, Adrian sighed and said quietly: "I'm sorry, Father… I didn't know my rashness would cause all of this."

He paused, seemingly thinking about his next words, then continued firmly: "All I wanted was to protect the pack from any attack, just like any other member."

Longan raised his head and looked at him with fatherly affection, then said calmly: "I know, son… I know that losing your companion shattered you, and you're still stuck in that incident. Your mind refuses to accept what happened."

He then spoke more firmly: "That's why… I've made my decision. You will embark on a journey outside the pack. Maybe you'll find a girl to fall in love with, or maybe another companion. Your chances of finding another mate are high, especially since she was young and hadn't yet transformed."

His words were final, leaving no room for discussion.

Adrian stood up in shock, his eyes wide, then spoke in anger, for the first time not trying to suppress his emotions before his father: "No! I won't go! How can I forget her?! I loved her sincerely! And if you didn't know that, I did… I was waiting for her transformation to get to know me! I won't think of anything before I find out who killed her!"

He threw his words with force, but sadness crept into his voice, revealing the deep wound that had not yet healed.

---

Longan and Harlan's scene:

Longan left the room, leaving a storm behind him. Moments later, the sound of furniture crashing echoed, followed by an angry roar that shook the walls of the palace.

Longan stood by the door, listening to his son's screams as he wrecked the room, but his heart, as a father, could hardly bear the pain. He only wanted what was best for Adrian, but he wasn't sure if what he did was right or if it would make things worse.

After a heavy sigh, Longan made his way to Harlan's office, entering while the sorrow weighed on him. He sat on the couch, placing his head in his hands, trying to organize his thoughts.

Harlan approached him, speaking calmly: "Don't worry about him, Father… he'll be fine. What he's going through isn't easy, but when he calms down, he'll understand that what we're doing is for his own good."

Longan raised his head and spoke with deep concern: "It's not easy for him to stay away from me, I'm scared for what's to come. That's why I want him to find a companion before he learns the truth… she will be his anchor in the storm."

Harlan placed his hand on his father's shoulder and smiled faintly: "I've never seen you like this before. You've always been the picture of strength and resilience."

Longan let out a faint laugh, then looked at Harlan with a meaningful gaze: "If the day comes and you see danger approaching one of your children, how

1. Do you think Longan is right to send Adrian away, or will this decision only fuel his rebellion?

2. In your opinion, is Adrian capable of moving past his past and finding a new mate, or will his wounds continue to hold him back?

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