"I only managed to bring a small portion of them back," Viktor continued in a heavy voice. "This number... doesn’t even reach one-tenth of the werewolf babies being traded on that black market."
The entire room suddenly fell silent. No one was able to utter a single word.
"Alpha," one of the elders said with a pale face, "the Draven Pack is the only pack tasked with guarding the border with the human world. If kidnappings really occurred, shouldn’t all the victims have come from our pack? Yet... there have never been any reports of missing werewolf babies."
"It is true that we guard the border," Viktor replied calmly. "But this place is not the only route connecting the human world to ours."
The elders’ eyes widened.
"Alpha... you mean..."
"There is no certainty yet," Viktor interrupted. "However, there is a high possibility that more than one pack has betrayed the Alpha King."
"Then we must immediately report all of this to His Majesty, the Alpha King," one of the elders suggested.
Viktor slowly shook his head.
"Do you think the Alpha King will believe us?"
No one answered.
"For three generations, the Draven Pack has been stationed at this border without ever being given the opportunity to return to the central territory. We have long been cast aside. If we come today with nothing but suspicions, do you think... the Alpha King will side with us?"
The elders’ faces turned gloomy.
"Father..." Cassian finally spoke. "Are you really going to hide all of this from the Alpha King?"
"We have to," Viktor answered firmly. "At least until we obtain evidence that the Draven Pack is not behind these crimes."
Olive frowned. "All this time... there have never been any reports of missing werewolf babies, even from other packs, that have reached us?"
Viktor shook his head. "That is the problem. There are still many things that even our Draven Pack does not know."
"Father... is there another route connecting the human world to ours?" Liliana asked, having remained silent until then.
Viktor did not answer immediately. He slowly sat down, then began tapping his fingers on the wooden table.
Slowly and rhythmically.
A habit that always appeared whenever he was considering something difficult.
"There should be," he finally answered. "However, unlike our border, which anyone can pass through after obtaining permission..."
"Where?" Liliana and Cassian asked almost simultaneously.
"The Imperial Capital of Morovela."
"Father... could it be—"
"Silence!" Viktor’s voice immediately cut Cassian off.
"We have no right to accuse the Alpha King or any member of his family without evidence."
Cassian immediately closed his mouth.
"Father..." Liliana spoke again. "What if Brother’s suspicion is correct?"
Viktor slowly shook his head.
"Liliana... you don’t yet understand how great the Alpha King’s power is. Controlling the life and death of a pack is nothing but an easy matter for him. Never voice that suspicion again until we have evidence."
Liliana clenched her fingers tightly before nodding.
"Alpha," one of the elders said, "then what should we do now? Sooner or later, the Alpha King will surely find out about all of this."
Viktor tapped his fingers on the table again.
"Starting today, stop all werewolf travel to the human world."
"Until when?" another elder asked.
"Until we find evidence that can clear the Draven Pack’s name."
"What if we never find that evidence?"
Viktor let out a long sigh. "That is the only path we have. If we fail... there will only be one ending for us."
His gaze swept across the entire room.
"Death. And history will record the Draven Pack as a pack of traitors."
No one dared to raise their head. Silence filled the room.
"Father..." Liliana’s voice was heard again. "Didn’t Father say that the Alpha King’s son will enter the Academy with us this month?"
"That’s right."
"Is his arrival related to all of this?"
Viktor did not answer immediately. He stared at Liliana for a few moments.
"Most likely... yes."
Liliana shifted her gaze toward Cassian. "So their target is Brother. They want to investigate the Draven family through him."
Viktor slowly nodded.
Liliana remained silent for quite some time before asking again. "Then... is it possible that I will also become their target?"
All the elders immediately turned toward her.
"Why are you asking that?" one of the elders snapped. "Are you afraid of becoming a target because you have become part of the Draven Pack? Do you regret joining this pack?"
Liliana immediately shook her head. "That’s not what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?"
"Enough." Cassian’s voice sounded cold. His sharp gaze immediately turned toward the elder.
"How dare you shout at the Alpha’s daughter?"
"Young Alpha, I only—"
"Silence!" This time, Viktor interrupted.
"Liliana is my daughter. Never repeat such an attitude again."
The elder immediately lowered his head.
"Forgive me, Alpha."
Viktor nodded, then looked at Liliana again. "Continue."
"Father... if I also become their target, wouldn’t the pressure on Brother be reduced?"
"Before joining the Draven Pack, I was merely a servant who could be taken advantage of by anyone at the Academy. Use that identity. Let them watch me as well. That way, their attention won’t be focused only on Brother."
"Do you know the risks?" Olive asked anxiously.
Liliana nodded. "I know. But I can’t let Brother face everything alone. He is the future Alpha as well as the future of the Draven Pack. If I can lighten his burden, I am willing to do it."
Cassian snorted softly. "Idiot."
However, a faint smile that was almost imperceptible appeared at the corner of his lips.
Viktor stared at Liliana for quite some time. "If that is your decision... Father will consider it."
"But remember one thing, Liliana," Viktor added. "You are just as valuable as Cassian. Never think that your life is worth less than his."
"Yes, Father," Liliana replied.
After the plan concerning the future of the pack had been arranged, the meeting ended. The elders left the room one by one.
Now, only Viktor and Mega remained seated across from each other.
"Is there something you want to say?"
"Viktor..." She looked straight at him.
"What if Liliana’s suspicion is correct?"
Viktor fell silent.
"What if all of this was indeed done by the Alpha King... and the Draven Pack was deliberately made the scapegoat from the very beginning?"