Chapter 6: Political Manipulation

The morning sun had barely crested the horizon when Elara, still unaccustomed to Landon's powerful body, strode into the pack council chamber. The air was thick with tension, suspicious glances following her every move. She could practically taste the growing discontent.

"Alpha," Vincent Reed, the Beta, greeted her with a smirk that set her nerves on edge. "So glad you could join us. We were just discussing your... interesting new policies."

Elara straightened her spine, channeling every ounce of Landon's trademark arrogance. "Is there a problem with my decisions, Beta Reed?"

A low murmur rippled through the gathered wolves. Vincent's smirk widened. "Problem? Oh no, Alpha. We're simply concerned about the pack's wellbeing. These sudden changes, favoring the omegas... it's causing unrest."

"Unrest?" Elara challenged, her borrowed voice carrying more authority than she felt. "Or just discomfort among those used to abusing their power?"

The room fell silent, shock evident on many faces. Elara realized too late that Landon would never have spoken so bluntly. She scrambled to recover. "I mean... the strength of our pack lies in unity. By elevating the omegas, we strengthen our foundation."

"With all due respect, Alpha," another council member spoke up, "omegas know their place. They're content with their lot. Why fix what isn't broken?"

Elara bit back a scathing retort, remembering Landon's advice from their clandestine meeting. 'Don't show weakness,' he had said. 'Never let them see you hesitate.'

"The recent attack exposed vulnerabilities," she said instead, forcing her voice to remain steady. "We can't afford to waste any potential, no matter how... insignificant it might seem."

Vincent leaned forward, his eyes glinting dangerously. "And what of discipline, Alpha? There are whispers of omegas growing bold, shirking their duties. Without consequences, how long before chaos reigns?"

Elara's mind raced. She knew the truth – that any "boldness" was likely just omegas daring to stand up for basic rights. But she couldn't say that, not as Landon. She opened her mouth, praying for the right words, when a searing pain lanced through her skull.

Somewhere across the pack lands, Landon was in agony.

Elara stumbled, gripping the edge of the table to stay upright. The council members exchanged alarmed glances.

"Alpha?" Vincent's voice dripped with false concern. "Are you unwell?"

Fighting through the pain, Elara straightened. "I'm fine," she growled. "This meeting is adjourned. We'll... we'll continue this discussion later."

She swept from the room before anyone could protest, leaving a wake of confused and suspicious whispers behind her.

As soon as she was alone, Elara slumped against the wall, her breath coming in ragged gasps. What had happened to Landon? And how was she supposed to lead a pack when she couldn't even make it through one meeting?

Hours later, under the cover of darkness, Elara slipped into the omega quarters. She found Landon huddled in a corner, his body – her body – a canvas of fresh bruises.

"What happened?" she whispered, kneeling beside him.

Landon's eyes, filled with a mixture of pain and humiliation, met hers. "Your little omega empowerment speech didn't go over well with some of the higher ranks," he said bitterly. "They decided to remind me of my place."

Guilt washed over Elara. "I'm sorry, I didn't think-"

"No, you didn't," Landon snapped. Then, seeing the genuine remorse in her eyes, he sighed. "But neither did I, all those years. I guess we're both learning some hard lessons."

Elara nodded, then reached into her jacket. "I brought you something," she said, pulling out a small bundle. "Food, and some healing salve. It's not much, but..."

Landon's eyes widened at the sight of the food. He reached for it eagerly, then stopped, his pride warring with his hunger. "I don't need your charity," he growled.

"It's not charity," Elara retorted. "It's survival. Now eat before someone catches us."

As Landon ate, Elara filled him in on the disastrous council meeting. "I don't know how you do it," she admitted. "They're like sharks circling, waiting for any sign of weakness."

Landon set down the empty container, considering. "Politics is all about perception," he said finally. "You can't show fear, can't let them see you hesitate. Even if you're unsure, act decisively."

"But what if I make the wrong choice?" Elara pressed. "I could hurt the pack, hurt the omegas-"

"Stop thinking like an omega," Landon interrupted. "You're the Alpha now, or at least pretending to be. Your word is law. Make them believe it."

Elara nodded slowly, absorbing his words. "And what about you? How are you... coping?"

Landon's jaw clenched. "I'm managing," he said stiffly.

Elara's gaze softened as she took in his battered appearance. "Landon, I know it's hard. But please, try to keep your head down. Don't antagonize them. And... and maybe try to see things from the omegas' perspective?"

"Their perspective?" Landon scoffed. "What perspective? They're born weak, they live weak, and they die weak. It's the natural order of things."

Elara's temper flared. "Natural order? There's nothing natural about abuse and starvation! These are people, Landon. Living, breathing wolves with hopes and dreams and-"

"Enough," Landon growled. "I didn't come here for a lecture on omega rights. If you want my help running the pack, fine. But don't expect me to suddenly start caring about the dregs of society."

They glared at each other, the air crackling with tension. Finally, Elara sighed. "Fine. But this arrangement goes both ways. I'll teach you to survive as an omega, and you teach me to lead as an Alpha. Deal?"

Landon hesitated, then nodded curtly. "Deal."

Over the next hour, Elara showed Landon the basics of cooking and cleaning – skills he'd never needed as Alpha. At first, he grumbled and complained, his hands clumsy with the unfamiliar tasks.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered, struggling to peel a potato. "How do you stand it?"

Elara watched him, a mix of amusement and sadness in her eyes. "We stand it because we have to," she said softly. "Because the alternative is starvation and exile."

Something in her tone made Landon pause. He looked down at his hands – Elara's hands – reddened and sore from the day's labor. For a moment, just a moment, he felt a flicker of something dangerously close to empathy.

As they parted ways, neither noticed the shadow lurking just beyond the kitchen door. Sabrina melted into the darkness, her mind racing with the implications of what she'd overheard.

Something strange was happening between the Alpha and that omega bitch. And she was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

Little did Landon and Elara know, their fragile alliance was about to be tested in ways they could never have imagined. The wheels of change were turning, and the entire pack was barreling towards a confrontation that would shake the very foundations of their society.

As the first light of dawn began to paint the sky, both Landon and Elara lay awake in their respective quarters, each lost in thought about the challenges that lay ahead. They had taken their first tentative steps towards understanding, but the road before them was long and fraught with danger.

Only time would tell if their unlikely partnership would be enough to save them – and the pack – from the storm that was brewing on the horizon.