By the time Jeremy gets back into the pack house, it's already dawn.
The building of the pack house stands tall in the soft glow of the morning, white walls gleaming faintly behind the high steel gates that always seemed too pristine for a place that held so much tension behind them.
The wide compound outside is very clean and tidy. The bushes are cut evenly, the flowers are neatly planted with dark soil around them, and there are no leaves on the ground.
A few smartly dressed servants in fitted gray uniforms move briskly around the grounds, already well into their morning chores.
Jeremy walks through the doors of the pack house his body aching from all the movement at night without sleep.
And now all he wants is a quiet room, a pillow, maybe a few hours to rest. But as soon as he walks through the front hallway, a faint murmur hits him, low voices bouncing gently off the high, domed ceiling of the council room.
The sound stops him in his tracks.
His breath catches for a second. He doesn't need to ask what it is. Fenris must have called the meeting.
So it's really happening, he's actually stepping down.
He turns changing direction without a second thought. He knows he should be in there with Fenris.
When he reaches the council doors, he pushes them open and steps inside, the conversation inside dies immediately.
He looks around the space steadily, taking in the rows of familiar faces, elders sitting with expressions that border on pleased, members of the council, and even a few visiting Alphas from neighboring packs.
Callum stands in the center of the room, perfectly positioned as is to draw attention. Fenris, by contrast, is stands at the far end of the table with a rigid expression and pose.
The rest of the room is already seated.
Without saying a word, Jeremy walks further in, passing rows of gazes that follow him until he finds a place and quietly sits down.
The moment he's settled, Callum's voice picks up again...
"Brother, it's been a while now I've only been talking while you are quiet," Callum says, his voice smooth and confident. "And I thought you were preparing, so I just thought I could fill in for you. But it's okay. I know how hard this is on you. If it's okay, then I can keep speaking for you."
Fenris looks at him his expression unreadable. Still, Callum continues without faltering, not even glancing at him.
"My brother and I had a short conversation before we came here," he says, his tone taking on a more personal note. "And he was just telling me how much he's been bothered about how much of a failure he's been, even when we both know that's not true."
That's when Fenris's head snaps toward him, eyes wide with disbelief. The message in his gaze is unmistakable, he never said anything like that.
Jeremy stiffens where he sits, he knows that Fenris and Callum barely speak. They've never had that kind of relationship. So how could Callum claim they'd had a heart-to-heart just moments ago?
Yet Callum shows no sign of hesitation. His voice is steady, even sympathetic, as he spins his narrative in front of the full room. "He says stepping down is not an easy option for him. Not because of pride, but because it makes him feel like he's failed his pack and sees himself as a failure. Which he isn't. We all know how capable and excellent he's been, especially before the unmated issue began to weigh on him. But at this point, he believes there's nothing more he can do except hand the pack over to better hands. Not my words, but his."
His gaze stays carefully averted from Fenris, never once meeting his eyes. Meanwhile, Fenris remains frozen, his attention fixed only on Callum, not saying a word.
"And as we all know," Callum adds, "unless my brother gives up the position willingly, he's still the Alpha. But because he wants what's best for his pack, he is deciding to step down." His voice slows, and then he gestures slightly, as though offering the floor. "Well, brother?"
Silence falls across the chamber again. All eyes shift to Fenris now, waiting for a response. The pressure in the room builds with each passing second. Fenris doesn't move right away.
Eventually, he clears his throat and takes a slow step forward. His movements are calm and unbothered, every inch of him composed with intention.
"Thank you, brother," he says at last, his tone perfectly even, "for being so concerned and helpful, since I couldn't say all that myself because it's actually not easy." He pauses briefly before continuing, his eyes locked firmly on Callum. "But your information might be expired before you got it here, because… by Moon Goddess's grace, I've found my mate. And now that we've met, I understand why it didn't happen earlier. But now, everything is okay."
Jeremy blinks. Even though Fenris delivers the words without hesitation, the shock is clear on Jeremy's face. He hadn't expected this. Not a sudden declaration. And certainly not about the same person Fenris had spent hours cursing. Which mate is he talking about now?
Around the chamber, murmurs break out almost immediately. Some council members frown in disbelief, while others stay unreadable, their expressions carefully guarded.
"That was fast and impossible, considering you only told Callum that some minutes ago," a sharp voice cuts in. Lydia, Callum's mother, raises an eyebrow, her tone accusing.
The woman who forcefully stepped into the role of Luna after Fenris's mother passed never misses a chance to insert herself.
"Yeah, I know," Fenris replies coolly, his voice unbothered, "but still true. I have my mate."
"Well," she says, her tone turning mocking, "shouldn't you be presenting her here right now? Or at least show that your strength and instincts have returned?" Without warning, she throws an apple straight at him, the motion quick and testing.
The fruit hits Fenris square in the chest.
Gasps echo through the room. If his instincts had truly returned, he would've dodged it or caught it. But the fact that it lands confirms what most of them already suspect. His strength is still gone.
Callum chuckles under his breath, unable to contain it. His mother join him, the sound spreading in uneasy waves.
"Is it really so hard to give your pack what's best," someone mutters, "that you even lie about finding your mate?"
"Or are you just planning to pick up a random lady on the street and bring her here to pretend everything's under control again?"
Fenris doesn't react to the mocking or the laughter. He doesn't argue or raise his voice. Instead, he turns calmly toward Jeremy.
"Pass the information to the pack. Tonight, there will be a ceremony as I'll be presenting my mate and confirming our mate bond. Make sure the sire is present. Ten p.m. sharp."
With that, he walks out of the room, leaving the council buzzing behind him.
Jeremy remains frozen in place, mind reeling.
What exactly is Fenris up to? How is he even going to do that...? Who is he going to present!? What...?
He forces the spiraling questions to stop and gets up quickly to follow him.