CHAPTER 377: NO ONE CALLS THE ALPHA...

Lenny

I didn’t go inside the pack house entirely.

I remained at the door, waiting to see what would happen. Korvain stared at the pack house door for a few minutes before turning and heading towards the car.

I watched as the convoy of expensive vehicles pulled away from the pack house, their tinted windows reflecting nothing as they disappeared down the winding driveway.

"They came in cars," I muttered under my breath. "But dressed like prehistoric warlocks."

The moment the last car vanished from sight, Elder Eldric rushed inside the pack house. As soon as he saw me, he ran to my side, his face pale with worry.

"Lenny, you shouldn’t have told them off like that," he said urgently, gripping my arm with surprising strength. "You have no idea who those men really are."

I turned to him, my brows raised. "They were insulting Ramsey and Lyla, Eldric. Calling Lyla a mere werewolf when she practically saved us all. We’ve just survived the darkest times of our lives—if our Alpha wants to take a fucking break after nearly dying with the Dark One, with his pregnant mate, he’s earned it."

My voice carried the edge of frustration that had been building since the strangers arrived. "And what seat of power could be more important than the Lycan Leader’s?"

Eldric looked down, sighed and then said the words that made my stomach turn.

"The Hollow Kin, Lenny. That’s what power is more important."

I stared at him, waiting for an explanation that would make sense of what had just happened.

He glanced around, then lowered his voice. "The Hollow Kin. They’re old. Older than our packs, older than the White Mountain Council. It was a body created before any of us, before the bloodlines of the first Lycans. Their job is to maintain balance and keep our world from slipping too far to either light or darkness."

I scoffed. "Well, they did a fantastic job showing up after the Dark One nearly killed us all."

The old man sighed deeply, suddenly looking every bit of his age. "They never visit packs directly. For centuries, they’ve maintained their distance, allowing us to govern ourselves without interference. But if they come here in person..." He shook his head grimly. "It means serious trouble."

"So, hurry up and call Ramsey," he continued, his voice taking on an urgent tone. "Tell him to come back immediately."

I scoffed, slipping my hands inside my pockets to ward off the cold.

"No. I won’t. I’m not calling Ramsey. Not for this. Let him have his break."

"Lenny—"

"No," I repeated firmly. "Where the fuck were these Hollow Kin when we were fighting for our lives for months? When our people were dying, when territories were being destroyed, when the entire world was on the brink of collapse?" My anger was building now, fueled by months of exhaustion and the memory of all we’d lost. "Why didn’t anyone ever mention their existence before now? If they’re that powerful, why hide until now?"

Elder Eldric looked at me with the patience of someone who’d lived through centuries of Pack politics. "No, Lenny. This is real. Like I said, these people never interfere in pack activities. The Hollow Kin is a body that was created long before the Lycan Leadership even existed."

He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "They are the original council, the first Lycans who walked alongside the ancient spirits. When our kind first learned to shift, when territories were carved from the wilderness, when the fundamental laws of our society were written—they were there. They’re not just our checkmates, Lenny. They’re the foundation upon which our entire world was built."

I felt a chill run down my spine as he continued.

"The Hollow Kin possesses knowledge that predates written history. They remember the old order, the original compacts with the moon goddess, the reasons why certain laws exist, and others were forbidden. They have the authority to dissolve pack alliances, strip Alphas of their power, and reorganise the entire hierarchy if they deem it necessary."

Elder Eldric’s voice grew even more grave. "More importantly, they have connections that span every supernatural community on Earth. Vampires, witches, fae courts, dragon clans—all of them recognise the Hollow Kin’s authority. If they declare Ramsey unfit to lead, it won’t just affect our packs. It could isolate the entire Lycan community from every other alliance we’ve built."

"Okay!" I shrugged. "Great speech. But why show up now and why disrespect Ramsey?"

"Like I said, they do not intervene unless one of the Pillars is unstable."

"What the hell are the Pillars?"

He took a long breath. "There are Five Pillars that keep balance across our realms—Lycan Leadership is one. The Moon Temple is another. The Resting Sea. The Rook Flame. And the Hollow Kin themselves. They each guard one part of the ancient order."

"And why does it feel like I’m hearing about all this for the first damn time?" I muttered.

"Because you weren’t supposed to," Eldric said. "None of us were, until the Hollow Kin decide it’s time."

The revelation settled over me like a blanket. The political ramifications alone would be devastating, but the implications for our security, trade relationships, and even our very survival as a species...

I rolled my eyes, though my heart wasn’t really in the gesture anymore. "Even humans respect their leaders when they take time off. Why shouldn’t we? Ramsey will only be gone for a total of three weeks. When he comes back, we’ll inform him about this visit."

I turned to face the small crowd of pack house staff who had gathered to witness the confrontation, making sure my voice carried clearly. "We’re not going to cut his honeymoon short. I’m sorry, but that’s final."

Elder Eldric opened his mouth to protest, but I held up a hand to stop him.

"What happens here stays with us," I announced, my tone brooking no argument. "No one calls the Alpha. If word gets out and I discover it came from someone in this room, that person will be punished accordingly." I let my gaze sweep over each face, making sure they understood the seriousness of my threat. "Am I making myself clear?"

Several of them nodded, though I could see the worry in their expressions. Elder Eldric looked like he wanted to argue further, his mouth working silently as he struggled with the decision.

"Elder Eldric," I said, softening my tone slightly. "You know as well as I do that Lyla needs this rest. The pregnancy hasn’t been easy on her, and the stress of recent events..." I trailed off, remembering the exhaustion I’d seen in her face before they left.

"When those two are back here, there’ll be no peace. You know that. Between pack duties, the reconstruction efforts, and the political meetings, do you really want to rob them of these few weeks?"

I stepped closer to the old man, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to be a great-grandfather or not?"

The question hit home. I could see the internal struggle playing out across his face—his fear of the Hollow Kin’s displeasure warring with his love for his grandson and great-grandchildren.

Finally, he sighed deeply. "I want to be a great-grandfather," he admitted quietly.

I smiled, feeling some of the tension ease from my shoulders. "Then leave everything to me. I’ve been handling pack business for years, and I can handle this too. Ramsey deserves to enjoy his honeymoon without ancient councils breathing down his neck. When he returns, refreshed and ready to lead, we’ll brief him on everything that happened."

I turned back to the assembled pack members, clapping my hands together with authority. "Everyone, back to your duties. We have a pack to run, and life goes on regardless of mysterious visitors."

As the crowd dispersed, I caught Seth’s eye and motioned for him to stay behind. When we were relatively alone, I beckoned him closer.

"I need you to research everything you can find about the Hollow Kin," I said quietly. "History, recent activities, member identities, anything that might help us understand what we’re dealing with."

Seth nodded grimly. "Should I reach out to our contacts in other packs across the sea? See if anyone else has been visited?"

"Do it discreetly," I warned. "I don’t want word getting back to Ramsey through pack networks. And Seth?" I waited until he met my eyes. "Keep this between us for now. The fewer people who know the details, the better."

As Seth hurried away to begin his investigation, I stood alone in the foyer.

Maybe I was making a mistake. Perhaps I should call Ramsey immediately and let him handle this crisis. But as I thought about Lyla’s tired smile and Ramsey’s genuine happiness as they’d left for their honeymoon, I knew I’d made the right choice.

Let the ancient councils wait. Some things were more important than politics and power plays.

Love and family were worth protecting, even from legends that preferred to remain in the shadows.

The question was: would the Hollow Kin see it the same way?