"Centuries?"
I pulled back slightly from Kael's embrace, looking up at his face.
The afternoon sun made his silver-blue eyes almost glow.
"What do you mean, centuries?" I asked again.
Kael's expression turned serious. He glanced at Erica, who was still playing with the other children across the garden, then back at me.
"We should talk," he mumbled. "There's something about the mate bond you need to know."
"That sounds ominous."
"It's not bad. Just… critical." He took my hand. "Come with me?"
We walked to a quiet corner of the garden, where a stone bench sat beneath an old oak tree. The sound of children's laughter felt distant and blurred here.
Kael sat down and pulled me beside him. For a moment, he just held my hand, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. The mate bond hummed between us, warm and steady.
"Normal werewolves," he finally said, his voice low, "live longer than humans. Maybe 150 years if they're lucky."
"I know that," I said. "My grandmother lived to 140."
"But true mates—wolves who complete the full bond like we did—they're different." His eyes met mine. "The bond doesn't just connect your souls. It… forces the extension of your life. Significantly, very significant." A hint of pain, barely perceptible, touched his voice when he said, "forces the extension."
"I've known true mate pairs who lived 400 years. Some even longer." He paused. "I'm 213 years old, Sophia. And I'll probably live at least 200 more. Maybe 300."
The world didn't tilt, but my very foundation felt utterly shaken.
Five hundred years. He could live five hundred years.
"And me?" I whispered.
"You too. Now that we've completed the bond." His grip on my hand tightened. "I'm telling you this because… because I need you to understand what exactly you've committed to."
"We'll be together… for centuries?" I struggled to utter the words.
"Centuries," he confirmed.
"Watching the world change. Losing friends who aren't true mates. Seeing pack after pack rise and fall." His voice grew heavy. "It's not always easy, living this long."
I really looked at him. At the scars crossing his skin. At the ancient wisdom in his eyes. At the loneliness buried so deep, most people would never see it.
"Is that why you were alone for so long?" I asked. "Because everyone you cared about died?"
He nodded. "I had friends. Good people. But one by one, they all… left. I got old. Passed away. And I just kept going."
"That sounds lonely."
"It was. Until now." He pulled me closer. "But Sophia, you need to be sure about this. Centuries is a long time. You'll watch Erica grow old. Maybe even her children, and their children after that. It's beautiful and heartbreaking all at once."
I thought about that terrible thing. Watching my daughter age while I stayed young. Saying goodbye to everyone I knew, over and over.
It should have terrified me.
But instead, deep inside, I felt a strange sense of peace.
"I want it," I said firmly.
"Sophia—"
"I want each one of those centuries with you." I cupped his scarred face. "Two weeks ago, I thought my life was over. That I'd die in Leighton's dungeon, or worse. But you saved me. And now you're offering me not just one lifetime, but many."
Tears gathered in his eyes. "You're sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything." I kissed him softly. "Besides, two hundred years isn't nearly enough time with you."
He laughed—actually laughed, heartily—and pulled me into a tight embrace. "I love you," he murmured against my hair. "Moon Goddess, I love you so much."
"I love you too."
We sat there for a while, just holding each other quietly. The mate bond wrapped around us like a warm blanket, stronger than ever.
"Mom! Kael!"
We broke apart to see Erica running toward us, her face flushed with excitement.
"Come play with us!" she called. "We're playing tag, and nobody can catch me because I'm too fast!"
Kael grinned. "Too fast, huh? We'll see about that."
He stood up and pretended to stretch. "Sophia, think your old-man legs can keep up?"
I smacked his arm. "Old man? You're 213!"
"Exactly. Ancient." He winked at Erica. "Your mom's right. I'm probably too slow to catch a speedy wolf like you."
Erica giggled. "You're silly, Kael."
"Maybe." He crouched down. "But let's see who's faster. On three. One… two…"
"THREE!" Erica shrieked and took off running.
Kael chased after her, moving just slow enough that she stayed ahead. Her laughter echoed across the garden.
I watched them play, my heart so full it almost choked me.
This. This was what family felt like.
Not the cold palace where Leighton ruled with an iron fist. Not the fake smiles and political games.
Just… love. Pure and simple.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
I turned to see Aunt Helena standing beside me. I hadn't even heard her approach.
"Yes," I said. "It really is."
Helena watched Kael scoop up Erica and spin her around, both of them laughing. "He's good with her."
"He is. Better than her actual father ever was."
"Leighton was a fool." Helena's voice turned hard. "Throwing away a family like this for power and a younger woman."
"His loss," I said simply.
"Indeed." Helena was quiet for a moment. Then: "Garrett wants to see you. Tonight after dinner. It's important."
My peaceful mood dimmed. "About the Council?"
"Yes, Leighton has officially filed charges." She squeezed my shoulder. "But don't worry. We'll face it together."
Dinner that evening was a loud, cheerful affair.
The Black River pack house dining hall was nothing like the formal banquets at Silver Moon. Here, everyone ate together—alphas and omegas, warriors and children. Long wooden tables were packed with wolves passing plates and sharing stories.
Erica sat between two girls her age, chattering excitedly about the games they'd played. She looked so happy. So normal.
Like a regular twelve-year-old instead of a scared child fleeing for her life.
Kael sat beside me, his hand occasionally finding mine under the table. Each touch sent little sparks through the mate bond.
"You're distracting me," I murmured.
"Good," he whispered back. "You look too serious. Smile."
"I'm about to have a meeting about council charges. Hard to smile about that."
"Then let me help." He leaned closer, his breath warm on my ear. "Did I mention how beautiful you look tonight?"
Heat crept up my neck. "Kael…"
"Because you do. That dress brings out your eyes."
It was just a simple blue dress Helena had lent me. Nothing special. But the way Kael looked at me made me feel like the most gorgeous woman alive.
"Flatterer," I said, but I was smiling now.
"Just honest."
Uncle Garrett cleared his throat at the head of the table. "If everyone's finished, Sophia, Kael—my office. Now, please."
The playful mood evaporated.
We followed Garrett down a hallway to a room lined with maps and old books. Helena was already there, along with Marcus and Elder Martha, who was looking much better after a few days of rest and healing.
Garrett closed the door and gestured for us to sit.
"Leighton's formal complaint arrived this morning," he said without preamble. He tossed a thick envelope onto the desk. "The council requires both parties to appear for a hearing in one month."
"What are the charges?" Kael asked.
Garrett picked up a paper and read, "Use of forbidden dark magic, specifically Moonbane runes. Kidnapping of a minor—Erica. Conspiracy with a rogue wolf to undermine pack authority. And attempted murder of Silver Moon pack members."
I felt like I'd been punched. "Attempted murder? I never—"
"The assassins you fought in the forest," Martha said quietly. "He's claiming you sent them to kill him."
"That's insane! They attacked US!"
"I know," Garrett said. "But Leighton has witnesses who will swear otherwise."
"Lying witnesses," Marcus growled.
"Probably. But the Council will hear them anyway." Garrett leaned back in his chair. "Here's what we have in our favor: the Moonbane stones themselves. Physical evidence of poisoning. Marcus's testimony. Martha's testimony. And Erica, if she's willing to testify against her father."
"She will," I said. "She hates what he did."
"Good. We also have medical records from our healers showing silver poisoning consistent with long-term Moonbane exposure." He looked at Kael. "And we have you."
Kael stiffened. "Me?"
"A two-hundred-year-old warrior whose reputation, despite the exile, is still known among older Alphas. Your word carries weight."
"It might also hurt Sophia's case," Kael said carefully. "If they learn I was exiled by the Supreme Alpha himself—"
"Wait," I interrupted. "Exiled? By who?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "His name is Aldric. Supreme Alpha of the Council."
The air in the room froze, the silence thick. The words 'Supreme Alpha' carried a weight that could crush everything.
"You were exiled by the head of the entire werewolf Council?" Helena asked slowly, incredulously.
"Yes."
"And you didn't think to mention this before?" Garrett shoved his chair back, the scrape sharp and angry.
Kael stood up. "It was two hundred years ago. I thought… I hoped it wouldn't matter anymore."
"Everything matters at a council hearing." Garrett walked to the desk, leaning forward with his hands braced on the wood, his voice laced with the chill of despair. "They'll use it against Sophia. Say she's consorting with a known criminal."
"I'm not a criminal!" Kael's control cracked. "Aldric lied. He twisted the truth to save his reputation!"
"Then tell us the actual truth," I whispered.
Everyone looked at Kael.
He stood there, shoulders tense, clearly wrestling with old pain. Finally, he sank back into his chair.
"Aldric and I were brothers," he said. "Not by blood, but we grew up together. Trained together. When the council system was formed two hundred years ago, he became Supreme Alpha. I became his Beta—his second in command."
"What happened?" Helena asked gently.
"I discovered he was planning something dark. He wanted to use forbidden magic to bind all alphas to his will. Make himself the permanent ruler of all packs, forever."
Garrett swore under his breath.
"I tried to stop him," Kael continued. "We fought. For three days and three nights. In the end, he won—not because he was stronger, but because I couldn't kill my brother. He exiled me instead of executing me. Called it mercy."
"And the real reason for the fight?" Marcus asked.
Kael's eyes grew distant. "He spread rumors that I was the one seeking dark power. That I'd tried to assassinate him to steal his position. By the time I could defend myself, everyone believed his version."
"Why didn't you tell anyone the truth?" I asked.
"Because I had no proof. And because…" He looked at me. "Because exposing him would have destroyed the Council. Thrown all packs into chaos and war. I chose exile over civil war."
The weight of that sacrifice hung in the air.
"Noble," Garrett said. "But it complicates things. If Aldric is presiding over Sophia's hearing—"
"He'll use me against her," Kael finished. "I know."
"Then maybe you shouldn't come to the hearing," Helena suggested.
"No." My voice was firm. "If Kael doesn't come, they'll say I'm hiding something. Besides, he's my mate."
Kael took my hand. "Are you sure?"
"Completely."
Garrett sighed. "Then we'll have to be prepared for Aldric to attack both of you. We need an airtight defense."
"We'll have it," Martha said. She'd been quiet until now. "Because I have something Leighton doesn't know I took."
She pulled a small leather pouch from her pocket and dumped its contents on the desk.
Three black rune stones clattered out.
"These are from Leighton's personal collection," Martha said. "The ones he used to poison you and Erica. And they have something special." She picked one up. "See these markings? They're maker's marks. Every shaman who creates a rune stone leaves a signature. These…" She traced a symbol. "These were made by Leighton's own head shaman."
"So we can prove he commissioned them," Marcus said.
"Better. We can prove when he commissioned them." Martha smiled. "These stones are dated. Two years old. Which means Leighton was planning this long before he met Julia."
"He was planning to get rid of me for two years?"
"At least."
Fury burned through me. Two years. Two years of slow poison while I loved him, trusted him, and gave him everything.
Kael's hand tightened on mine. Through the mate bond, I felt his rage matching my own.
"This is good evidence," Garrett said. "Excellent, actually. Combined with everything else, we have a strong case."
"But?" I heard the unspoken word.