chapter one hundred and seventy-four

POV Supreme Alpha

The office was shrouded in dim light when Hope left, and I immediately called my beta. I coughed violently, tasting blood in my mouth, almost vomiting the meal I had barely touched. The beta entered hastily, concern etched on his face.

"Alpha, your condition is worsening. We need to act fast, or it will be too late. Hope may be the key to your cure," he warned, trying to keep his voice steady.

I leaned back in the chair, momentarily ignoring the pain. "No, beta. I won't involve my daughter in this. I brought her back for her to learn to control her wolf, not to save mine. I don't care about dying."

The beta frowned, refusing to accept my resignation. "Alpha, you can't just give up. If you continue like this, you'll die, and I don't want to lose my leader."

"You know the price of this, beta. I can't put Hope in the middle. It's not fair to her."

The beta took a deep breath before asking, "Is this about Lily, isn't it?"

I bowed my head, feeling the weight of the past o