Alison’s POV
The air outside Shadow Claw’s grand council hall was sharp and biting, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. My boots crunched against the gravel as I stood beside my father, Alpha Gaius, the ancient treaty tucked carefully under his arm. A thin veil of mist hung over the landscape, blurring the outline of the towering structure before us. The weight of what we were about to face bore down on me, tightening my chest like a vice.
“Do you think they’ll listen?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“They will,” my father said firmly, though his tone betrayed the tension coursing through him. “The council was created to uphold the laws and ensure balance among the Sister Packs. If there’s any justice left in this world, today will be our victory.”
The word “victory” felt fragile in my mind, like glass teetering on the edge of shattering.
I glanced at the doors of the hall, their intricate carvings depicting wolves under a blood-red moon. “How does it work? The council meetings, I mean. What should I expect?”
My father’s expression softened for a moment, and he reached out to squeeze my shoulder. “The council is presided over by an elder, a neutral party who holds no allegiance to any pack. They sit at the head of the table, while the Alphas of the four Sister Packs sit around them. Each Alpha is given the chance to speak, and the elder makes the final ruling.”
“And what happens if Alpha Cedric refuses to cooperate?”
My father’s jaw tightened. “Then he’ll face sanctions, severe ones. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Before I could respond, the low rumble of an approaching car broke the quiet. A sleek black vehicle came into view, stopping just outside the hall’s entrance. From it emerged an older man with silver hair and a commanding presence that seemed to echo through the mist.
“The elder,” my father murmured, straightening his posture.
As the elder entered the hall, my father and I followed closely behind, the heavy doors groaning as they opened to reveal the grand interior. The room was vast and dimly lit, the only illumination coming from a massive chandelier crafted from antlers and crystals. The scent of old wood and leather filled the air, grounding me in the reality of what was about to unfold.
We filed into the council chamber, where the Alphas of the Sister Packs were already seated. Alpha Cedric of Red Dawn sat stiffly, his eyes narrowing as he spotted us. Beside him sat his son, Felix, who avoided my gaze entirely.
The elder took his seat at the head of the table, his presence commanding silence. “We are gathered here today to address a matter of great importance concerning the Crimson Pack and Red Dawn Pack,” he began, his voice calm but firm.
When the case was called, my father nudged me gently. “Go on, my dear. Present the treaty.”
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my hands trembling slightly as I unfurled the ancient parchment. “This is the original treaty binding the four Sister Packs, this copy belongs to Crimson Pack ,” I began, my voice steady despite the storm of nerves raging within me. “It states that none of the Sister Packs may engage in inter-Alpha marriages or wage war against one another. Any violation of this treaty would invoke the magic binding our packs, leading to the destruction of the offending pack.”
Murmurs rippled through the room, the weight of the treaty’s words settling over the council like a thick fog.
Alpha Cedric leaned forward, his expression darkening. “And what does this have to do with me?” he demanded, his tone sharp.
I held my ground, meeting his glare with unwavering determination. “Your intentions to merge the packs under your rule go against the treaty. By forcing an alliance through marriage, you sought to bypass the law and claim dominance over all the Sister Packs.”
Cedric scoffed, but before he could respond, my father interjected. “Don’t deny it, Cedric. You made a deal with me under false pretenses, hoping to manipulate the treaty for your gain. But my daughter uncovered your hidden agenda, and now the council knows the truth.”
The elder’s piercing gaze turned to Cedric. “Alpha Cedric, do you deny these accusations?”
Cedric’s lips thinned, and for a moment, he seemed to consider his options. Finally, he spoke, his voice laced with defiance. “I deny nothing. My actions were in the best interest of my pack.”
“Your pack?” I said, my voice rising. “Or your ego? You didn’t just threaten the Crimson Pack, you threatened the balance of all the Sister Packs. And for what? Power?”
Cedric’s composure cracked, and he slammed his fist on the table. “You dare speak to me like this, girl?”
“Enough!” the elder barked, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. He turned his attention to Cedric, his expression unreadable. “Your actions have endangered the delicate peace that has existed among the Sister Packs for centuries. The council will not tolerate such recklessness.”
Cedric’s face twisted in anger, but he didn’t respond. The elder continued, his tone resolute. “The agreement between Alpha Cedric and Alpha Gaius is hereby nullified. Furthermore, any future attempts to undermine the treaty will result in immediate sanctions.”
The room erupted into murmurs once more, but this time, there was a palpable sense of relief in the air. Cedric’s plans had been thwarted, and justice had prevailed.
As the hearing concluded, my father and I were approached by several Alphas who offered their congratulations. Their words of praise were a blur, my mind still reeling from the events of the day.
Among them was Felix, Cedric’s son. He hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, his expression a mixture of guilt and relief.
“Alison,” he said quietly, his voice carrying none of his father’s arrogance. “I… I want to apologize. For everything. My father’s actions don’t reflect my own, it honestly wasn’t my intention, my father is someone who doesn’t take no for an answer, but I’m glad this has finally come to an end and I admire the way you handled yourself today.”
For a moment, I studied his face, searching for any trace of deception. But all I saw was sincerity. “Thank you,” I said finally, my tone softer than I expected. “I hope you’ll choose a different path than your father.”
“I intend to,” he replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
As we left the council hall, the weight of the day began to lift, replaced by a sense of triumph. My father’s hand rested on my shoulder, a rare look of pride in his eyes. “You did well, darling,” he said, his voice warm. “Better than I ever could have hoped.”
His words filled me with a warmth I hadn’t felt in days. For the first time, I allowed myself to believe that we were on the path to peace.
When we arrived home, the familiar scent of our pack’s territory was a welcome comfort. But as we stepped inside, a figure in the living room caught my attention.
“Xander?” I said, my voice trembling with emotion.
He turned to face me, his eyes filled with a mixture of relief and something deeper, something that made my heart ache in the best way. Without thinking, I closed the distance between us and threw my arms around him.
The world seemed to fall away as his embrace enveloped me, grounding me in a way nothing else could. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe.
“We did it,” I whispered, my voice muffled against his chest.
Xander pulled back just enough to look at me, a small smile playing on his lips. “You did it, Alison. You saved us all.”
As his words sank in, a sense of hope bloomed in my chest. The fight wasn’t over, but for the first time, I believed we had a chance. And that was enough.