3rd person’s POV
The atmosphere in the Werewolf council chambers was thick with tension, thick enough too be cut with a butcher’s knife.
The room was filled with ancient power men and women who had been werewolf’s longer than most people in the whole werewolf kingdom.
With the high-backed chairs that had been carved from dark oak of Silverwood trees surrounding the stone walls, and encircling a grand table where the elders and the most respected Alphas of the region were seated.
Their faces were grim, which according to the current situation was very apt.
They had a decision to make and the weight of the decision they would make would sit heavily on them.
One of the elders Elder Cree looked to his right at the source of his current problems Alpha Damien, who has once been a respected leader of the Twilight Fang Pack, now stood in the center of the room, his hands shackled with silver cuffs that bit into his skin.
Cree liked the set up of the werewolf council especially when dealing with men like Damien. The chairs and their size were very efficient at intimidation.
Which was working quite well on Damien and the beta standing beside him Beta, Kayden, who looked equally defeated, even though his eyes still blazed with defiance. Foolish boy!
The room was silent, save for the crackling of the fire in the hearth, that cast flickering shadows across the ancient stone.
It was too eery and Elder Rea did not like it too much, she had done her time for the spooky and scary, she distracted herself by looking around the table at her colleagues.
The council, composed of Alphas from various packs and the revered Elders who governed this world.
They were five alpha’s all selected from each pack region and ten Elders from each pack.
They all had one job keep the peace of the packs, and punish those who broke the rule, get rid of all offenders so the others would learn from their mistakes.
They had deliberated long and hard before reaching this conclusion.
Despite the fact that Alpha Damien was a good alpha to his people the fact that he had considered replacing an Alpha, without proper discourse with the council by using the creative but brutal attack on the Bloodmoon Pack, killing dozens of wolves and causing disorder in their community that was already floundering trying to keep itself hidden from the human population.
It was an act that had sent shock through the werewolf community one that couldn’t not be forgiven easily and with the evidence against him piling up, it was irrefutable, and now, justice would be served.
Elder Lyra, another ancient wolf, rose from her seat at the head of the table. Her voice, though soft, carried the weight of authority that she possessed. Even though she was an elder, she was one of oldest beings in the room, she turned t Damien but as she spoke she addressed the room.
“Alpha Damien of the Twilight Fang Pack, you stand accused of treason against the werewolf community, of inciting violence and endangering the lives of your fellow wolves. The evidence presented has left no doubt in our minds of your guilt.”
Damien’s gaze hardened, but he remained silent.
” What do you have to say for yourself” she asked, he made no move to talk the days of manipulation was over; he knew there was no talking his way out of this.
Kayden, however, could not hold his tongue
“This is a mistake!” he snarled, struggling against his bindings even as the silver burned
“We did what was necessary for our pack! The Bloodmoon Pack is weak-Dimitri is a cursed Lycan, a threat to us all!”
The room erupted in murmurs at Kayden’s words. The mention of Dimitri’s Cursed Lycan Form had always been a point of contention among the packs.
It was a curse that made him an outcast in many eyes, and while it was worrying it was a burden the Alpha had borne with strength and honor.
“Silence!”
Elder Lyra’s voice cut through the noise like a knife and the beta’s defiance melted away under her gaze.
“The Bloodmoon Pack may be led by a cursed Alpha, but that does not justify your actions, Beta Kayden. You and your Alpha did not only endanger your pack but the entire werewolf community by working with rogues”
” Such actions cannot go unpunished.”
Alpha Damien clenched his jaw, still saying nothing his gaze shifting to the council members who had once been his allies.
There was no sympathy in their eyes, only cold judgment. His mind raced, trying to find a way out, but every avenue led to dead ends. He was cornered.
Elder Lyra continued, looked away from him her tone filled with finality
“The Werewolf Council has decided that Alpha Damien and Beta Kayden of the Twilight Fang Pack shall be stripped of their titles and imprisoned for their crimes. ” She finished looking to her colleagues who nodded
” The Twilight Fang Pack will be placed under the temporary stewardship of the Council until a suitable Alpha can be appointed.” Elder Cree said softly, there were no further arguments her words settling over the room like a heavy fog.
As the guards moved to take Damien and Kayden away, Damien finally spoke, his voice low and laced with venom.
“You think you’ve won, but this isn’t over. The Twilight Fang Pack will not bow to anyone, not even the Council. ”
” You’ve made a mistake, Lyra.” He hissed
Elder Lyra did not flinch, she gave no indication his words made meaning to her ass she sat down.
“The only mistake made was yours, Damien. And now, you must live with the consequences.” Elder Cree replied
With that, Damien and Kayden were led out of the chambers, the door closing behind them with a resounding thud.
” We need to decide the leadership of the pack ” Elder Lyra offered and the others nodded.
***
In the pack’s compound the people were restless and sad, most of them seemed to be disgruntled about what to do for their people.
Among those were the people who felt their Alpha’s actions were right and deserving.
A meeting was held among the pack’s remaining leaders. With Damien and Kayden gone, the responsibility of guiding the pack had fallen to those who had been left behind.
It was a meeting of the most somber group all gathered in the large hall where pack meetings were always held.
The room was cold almost too frigid, Luna Jane Damien’s mate, stood at the head of the table, her face pale and drawn. This had not been the plan, Damien was supposed to have won against that lunatic but they should have made preparation for the other outcome.
But she had been blindsided by the news of defeat and then the guards from the werewolf council had come to their pack and arrested her mate and his beta her daughters mate
Though she was supposed to be a symbol of strength, the events of the past days had shaken her to her core and she wasn’t really sure what they were supposed to do now.
“How could this happen?” one of the senior warriors, Rowan, demanded, his voice filled with frustration. He had been one of the men supporting Damien but it was mostly for holy reasons, he believed the cursed lycan was an abomination.
“Damien was our Alpha, our leader. No matter what he did the werewolf council has no right to take him”
Jane struggled to find her voice, her mind still reeling even though his words gave her some comfort
. ” I don’t know, Rowan. But worse is I have no idea how to help him”
” Alpha Damien was reckless” someone muttered and Rowan snarled
” Council dog ”
” Of course, the council protects our way of life” Rowan snarled in annoyance moving to attack
” Enough” elder Liora a werewolf who had denied being in the council for reasons unknown.
“He must have had his reasons,” she said quietly. “But whatever they were, they’ve led us to this. The Council is in control now. We must decide how to move forward.”
She said and Jane sighed she was right the Twilight Fang Pack may have prided itself on its strength, but now, they were vulnerable. With Damien and Kayden gone, as well a good number of their fighting werewolves their power had been severely diminished.
Rowan slammed his fist on the table.
“We can’t just sit here and let the Council take over our pack! We need to fight back, reclaim our ground!”
“And do we do that, Rowan?” Liora retorted.
“Defy the Council and risk bringing their wrath on our head? Or do you plan to kill them as well” she hissed, her eyes flaming with ire.
The room fell silent, killing an elder was almost near impossible, to have lived that long meant they were special and most connected to goddess Luna herself.
Jane closed her eyes, in defeat, although they wanted to resist the Council’s control, she knew they were in no position to fight back. Any attempt at rebellion would only lead to more bloodshed.
“We need to keep our pack together,” she said finally, her voice trembling but resolute.
“This isn’t just about the Alpha anymore. It’s about our future. If we fight the Council, we’ll only destroy ourselves. ” She mumbled rising from her seat, elder Liora looked to her brows furrowed as if she were confused. Jane did not need the woman to approve what she was doing. Until they could free Damien she was the authority
” We need to bide our time, rebuild our strength, and when the time is right, we’ll take back what’s ours.”
The room roared in approval.
The Council took over the administration of the pack almost immediately, placing her under the strict ‘guidance’ of Council-appointed stewards, and as days turned to weeks the pack began to stabilize, or at least to the outward eye, within the lower ranks however the atmosphere remained as tense plots to rescue the Alpha underway.
The pack members were wary of their new overseers, and trust was hard to come by it made it easier to draw willing men to their side.
The stewards, was an Alpha named Magnus, had not much to recommend him apart from the fact that he took his job seriously working tirelessly to restore order.
He was a seasoned leader, known for his fair but firm approach and Jane found herself working closely with Magnus, though the partnership was far from easy.
The fact that he represented everything the Twilight Fang Pack was not in agreement with was not in his favour -external control, interference from outsiders- it would always make him an enemy.
“You’re a strong Luna,” Magnus said quietly as he approached.
“Your pack is lucky to have you.”
Jane rose from the clothes she had been weaving but didn’t turn to face him, her gaze still fixed on the machine, as she used her feet to cover the message one of the cubs had brought for her a little more than five minutes ago.
“Strength is not enough, Magnus.” She replied genially
” My pack is broken, and I don’t know if I can fix it.”
“You’re doing more than you realize,” Magnus replied, stepping closer.
“They look to you for guidance, that is not something you can gain overnight, but it means they trust you” she smiled softly
” For that I am grateful but this is not what I hoped for . I wanted to stand beside my mate, to lead with him, not… not like this.”
Magnus was silent for a moment, his gaze softening as he watched her.
” The council will decide when he had been punished enough until then you must just wait”. He mumbled patting her shoulder
” Thank you alpha ” she mumbled as he turned away. He waved at her absently. He was wrong though, the council would not be the ones deciding when her husband had been punished.
She would get him out herself and then that cursed lycan and her useless stepdaughter would hear from them again.
” And Luna Jane” she jumped when he called her name , she had thought he was gone, she looked to him then to the floor
” I suggest you be careful, plots of treason will be dealt with. Sir Orion, Tessy and five others have ben sent to correctional,” Jane paled, blood draining from her face
” I would hate to see a beautiful woman like you in one of those places ” he mumbled walking away .
Jane felt her legs give way under her!
She felt her world crumbling down right in front of her.