(3rd person P. O. V)
The air crackled with tension. Shattered crystal littered the meadow floor, mingling with spilled wine and overturned tables.
Then, a voice rang out, slicing through the din.
“What in the world is going on over here?”
It was a voice of authority, ancient and resonant, one she hadn’t expected. It commanded attention, silencing the brawling werewolves and causing the scattered guests to freeze. Elena recognized it instantly-the voice of Elder Theron, a prominent member of the Werewolf Council.
A group of figures emerged from the edge of the meadow, their faces grim. Theron, tall and imposing, led the way, followed by several heavily armed guards and other elder werewolf council members. His presence radiated power, a tangible aura of dominance that pressed down on the chaotic scene.
The meadow fell into an uneasy quiet, the only sound the crackling of the bonfire and the heavy breathing of the werewolves. Theron’s gaze swept across the scene, his expression a mixture of displeasure and cold calculation. His eyes finally landed on Oliver and Xavier, who stood near Elena, their faces tight with worry.
“You are Alpha Fin, right?” Theron asked looking at the person sitting at the table.
“Yes, Elder Theron,”
“Can you please tell me, what is going on here?”
“Alpha Xavier and Oliver had held this banquet to introduce their Luna to the pack and announce the news of the merging of their pack.”
The news hit him like a thunderclap, leaving him frozen in shock. Disbelief tangled with a searing rage, burning through his veins, threatening to consume him. His fists clenched involuntarily, nails digging into his palms as he forced himself to take a slow, measured breath, willing his fury under control.
Sensing the storm brewing within Elder Theron, Elder Zober swiftly stepped in, taking charge before emotions spiraled out of control. He knew that if left unchecked, Theron’s wrath could lead to reckless decisions-ones that might only worsen the situation.
“So,” Elder Zober’s voice boomed, echoing through the meadow. “You dare throw this banquet, disrupting the peace, all to introduce her as your mate and the Luna of your packs?” He gestured towards Elena with a dismissive flick of his wrist. “Since you’ve taken such liberties, I suppose that means you’ve already marked her, and she has gained her wolf form?”
He signaled to his guards, his eyes never leaving Elena. “Bring her to me. I’ll see for myself.”
The guards surged forward, their eyes fixed on Elena. Oliver and Xavier reacted instantly, stepping in front of her, and forming a protective barrier. Their bodies tensed, muscles coiled and ready to spring.
“If you take even a single step towards her,” Xavier growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble that vibrated through the ground, “we will kill you.”
The guards hesitated, glancing back at Zober. The Elder Theron’s lips curled into a thin, cruel smile. He closed his eyes for a moment, and Elena felt a sudden, oppressive pressure descend upon the meadow. It was an invisible force, a wave of pure power that radiated from Theron. It was the Aura of Sovereignty, a power he had gained through a ritual to become a candidate for the Lead Elder position.
Oliver and Xavier, despite their superior strength and being the alpha of their pack, visibly struggled against it. Their faces flushed, and their knees buckled. The Aura pressed down on them, forcing them to their knees. Elena cried out in alarm, reaching out to them, but they were held firmly in place.
Taking advantage of their forced submission, the guards moved in, seizing Elena before she could react. She struggled against their grip, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked at Oliver and Xavier, their eyes filled with pain and frustration, and a wave of fear washed over her. The guards dragged her towards Zober, who reached out, brushing her hair from her shoulder to check for a mating mark.
Theron’s eyes gleamed with a hint of cruel amusement. He leaned forward slightly as if sharing a secret. His voice dropped to a near whisper, “I can’t sense the wolf in her.” Though softly spoken, every werewolf in the meadow heard it.
Straightening up, the smile vanished, replaced by a cold, hard stare. “This,” he stated flatly, “is proof enough that she is not your mate.”
“The wolf doesn’t appear inside a Lycan mate out of the blue! The changes take time for the body to adjust-” Xavier said his voice raw with desperation.
“The wolf doesn’t just appear inside a Lycan mate out of nowhere,” Xavier reasoned. “The transformation happens gradually, allowing the human body time to accept the wolf.”
He fixed the other man with a cold stare. “One month is more than enough for a Lycan mate to gain their wolf, and it’s been well over that since you two mated. Even if I entertain your excuse that her body is still adjusting, that doesn’t explain one crucial thing-where is the mating mark? Why don’t I see your or Oliver’s mark on her neck?”
The color drained from his face, and Xavier smirked, cruel satisfaction glinting in his eyes.
“So, you held a banquet to introduce her as your mate-the Luna of your pack-without any proof of the bond? You even announced the merging of your packs without seeking approval from the Werewolf Council.” Theron’s voice was dangerously low as he took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. “And yet, you still expect us to believe that you’re not planning a rebellion?”
“Elder Theron, it’s not like that. We were planning to….” alpha Jason said but he was interrupted by the elder Theron.
“Silence, Alpha Jason. I’m not speaking to you right now, so stay out of this.”
Theron’s gaze darkened as he turned toward the older Alpha, disappointment clear in his tone. “Frankly, I expected better from you. I can understand Xavier and Oliver making such a reckless decision-they’re newly appointed Alphas, still learning the weight of their responsibilities. But you?” He scoffed. “You’ve led your pack for years. As Oliver’s father and the former Alpha, wasn’t it your duty to stop them from making such a reckless announcement before seeking approval from the Council?”
Theron arched an eyebrow, his scrutiny sharp. “Tell me, Jason, why did you let this happen?”
“I am sorry elder,” Aloha Jason said not able to look him in the eye. He had indeed failed not only his son but his elder too. It’s not like he didn’t know or didn’t want to seek their permission. He did want to but he was afraid of their refusal. He was afraid that elders would take it the wrong way and punish them. So he was planning to do that after finding the proof of Xavier, Oliver, and Elena’s bond and then seek their permission. But who had known that it would end up like that?
“Not only have you have you refused to comply with the orders of the Elder Council, but you’ve got additionally broken werewolf law,” he declared, his gaze unwavering. “Such defiance cannot go unpunished.”
A low murmur swept through the gathered wolves. Xavier and Oliver remained still, their jaws tight, but the fury in their eyes was unmistakable.
The elder continued, “As punishment, Elena will be taken into the Council’s custody. You, Xavier and Oliver, will be stripped of your titles, removed from your positions as Alphas, and placed under house arrest until you fully repent for your defiance.”
His gaze hardened his hand in finality. “Remove them from their position.”
The enforcers stepped forward. The weight of their sentence pressed down like an iron fist, suffocating, inescapable.
Xavier’s muscles tensed, his wolf raging inside him, but he forced himself to stay still. Oliver’s fists clenched at his sides, his sharp gaze darting toward Elena, who stood among the elders-trapped, helpless.
And then-
A voice shattered the silence.
“You will not lay a hand on them.”
The authority in the voice sent a jolt through the room, making even the elders stiffen. Every head turned in stunned silence.