Kaelen POV
The council called an emergency meeting at dawn.
I knew what it meant. They'd seen what Elara became during the trial. Seen the light pouring from her skin. Seen her refuse both bonds and survive.
They were terrified.
And terrified wolves made dangerous decisions.
I walked into the council chamber alone. Five elders sat in a semicircle. Their faces were stone. Their eyes were hard.
"Alpha King," the eldest said. His name was Gregor. Old. Scarred. He'd fought in the last great war. "We need to discuss the human."
"She has a name," I said.
"Does she?" Another elder spoke. Female. Sharp-faced. "Or is she something else entirely? Something that wears human skin but burns with power that shouldn't exist?"
I kept my voice calm. Controlled. "Elara passed the trial. The Moonfire judged her and she survived. That should be enough."
"She didn't just survive," Gregor said. "She changed. Transformed into something we've never seen. Something that refused both bonds and lived anyway. That's not natural. That's not right."
"She's not a threat," I said.
"Isn't she?" A third elder leaned forward. Male. Young for a council member. Ambitious. "A guard's bond was severed while she slept. Another one turned Hollow this morning. Both happened when she was nearby."
My stomach dropped. "What?"
"You didn't know?" The sharp-faced woman smiled. It wasn't kind. "Two wolves. Bonds cut clean. Just like the vampires she dusted. She's doing it in her sleep now. How long before it's not accidental? How long before she decides we're all threats?"
I wanted to argue. Wanted to defend her.
But I'd felt it too. Through our bond. The power growing inside her. Wild. Unpredictable. Dangerous.
"Give me time," I said. "Let me train her. Teach her control."
"We've given you time," Gregor said. "Three days. That's all. And in those three days, two wolves lost their bonds. How many more before you admit she's too dangerous to keep alive?"
"I won't let you kill her."
"Then you're choosing her over your pack." The ambitious one stood. "That's treason, Alpha King. Or have you forgotten what that title means?"
I moved before thinking. Crossed the room. Grabbed him by the throat. Slammed him against the wall.
"Say that again," I growled. "I dare you."
He couldn't speak. My hand was too tight around his throat.
"Kaelen." Gregor's voice was sharp. "Release him."
I held on for another second. Then let go.
The ambitious elder collapsed. Gasping. Glaring at me with hate.
"This is what she's doing to you," Gregor said quietly. "Making you irrational. Violent. Choosing her over everything you've built."
"I'm protecting an innocent—"
"Is she innocent?" The sharp-faced woman cut me off. "We found something. In the old records. About the twin-flame prophecy."
She pulled out a scroll. Old. Yellowed. Covered in symbols.
"This is the original prophecy," she said. "Written four hundred years ago. It doesn't predict a savior. It predicts a weapon. Something created to destroy both kingdoms from the inside."
My blood went cold.
"Let me see that."
She handed it over. I read quickly.
When silver and crimson mark one flesh, the twin-flame will rise. Neither wolf nor vampire, neither slave nor free. She will unmake what was made, sever what was joined, and leave only ash in her wake.
The words blurred. I read them again.
Leave only ash in her wake.
"She's not a savior," Gregor said. "She's the end. The prophecy doesn't call for her destruction. It calls for her awakening. And we're watching it happen."
I looked at the scroll. At the faded ink. At the signature at the bottom.
Theron Nightshade.
He'd written this. Four hundred years ago. Created the prophecy. Created the twin-flame.
Created Elara.
"We need to act," the sharp-faced woman said. "Before she destroys us all."
"What are you proposing?" I asked. My voice sounded hollow.
"Execution," the ambitious elder rasped. Still rubbing his throat. "Tonight. Quick. Painless. Before she can fight back."
"No."
"Then exile," Gregor said. "Send her away. Far from any pack. Let her be Theron's problem."
"She'll die," I said. "The fever—"
"That's not our concern anymore." Gregor's expression was hard. "You have a choice, Alpha King. Your pack or your mate. You can't have both."
The words hit like a physical blow.
My pack or my mate.
Everything I'd built or everything I felt.
"I need time," I said.
"You have until sunset," Gregor said. "Then we vote. If the majority votes for execution, it happens. With or without your permission."
"You can't—"
"We can. We have the authority. Ancient pack law allows the council to overrule an Alpha King if he's been compromised." Gregor stood. "And you've been compromised, Kaelen. The bond has made you weak. Made you choose her over us."
The other elders stood. One by one. United against me.
"Sunset," Gregor repeated. "Make your choice."
They left.
I stood alone in the chamber. Staring at the scroll. At Theron's signature. At proof that everything was planned.
Elara wasn't an accident. She was a weapon. Created four hundred years ago to destroy us.
But when I reached for our bond—when I felt her through that silver thread connecting us—all I felt was her fear. Her confusion. Her desperate need to survive.
She didn't feel like a weapon.
She felt like someone drowning.
The door opened. An elder I didn't recognize stepped in. Old. Frail. Leaning on a cane.
"Alpha King," he said. His voice was soft. Gentle. "I have a proposal."
"I'm not interested in—"
"Let me kill her."
I froze.
The old man smiled. "Not execution. Liberation. Free you from the bond. From the burden of choosing. I'll make it quick. Painless. And you can tell the council it was an accident. That she died from fever. From the strain of the trial."
"Get out."
"Think about it," he said. He didn't move. "One quick death. And you're free. Your pack is safe. The prophecy ends. Everyone wins."
"Except Elara."
"Does she matter?" His eyes were calculating. Cold. "Or does your pack matter more?"
I wanted to throw him out. Wanted to rage. Wanted to break something.
But the question echoed.
Does she matter? Or does your pack matter more?
"Get out," I repeated. My voice was dead. Empty. "Now."
The old man bowed. "Think on it, Alpha King. You have until sunset."
Then he was gone.
I stood alone.
Staring at my hands. At the silver mark on my wrist. At proof that I was bound to someone who might destroy everything.
Through the bond, I felt her wake. Felt her confusion turn to fear as she realized something was wrong.
She called for me. Not with words. Just emotion. Raw and desperate.
I almost answered.
But if I went to her now, I'd have to tell her the truth.
That my pack wanted her dead.
That I had until sunset to choose.
That I didn't know which choice I could live with.