The grand council chamber buzzed with tension, the voices of powerful Alphas rising in heated arguments. The circular room, carved from ancient stone, was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from a roaring fire in the center. Each Alpha sat in their designated seat, their pack symbols etched into the high-backed chairs behind them.
"This is madness!" an imposing Alpha with graying hair and a scar running down his cheek bellowed, slamming his fist onto the table. "Haelyn must be brought before the council. Her presence and her powers are a threat to all of us!"
Another Alpha, a younger man with piercing blue eyes and a calm demeanor, leaned forward. "You speak of threats, Alpha Marius, but you're only reacting out of fear. She's barely begun to understand what she is. Bringing her here could cause more chaos than we're prepared to handle."
"Fear?" Marius spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "You dare accuse me of fear? That girl is descended from the Spirit Wolves….creatures who nearly destroyed our order centuries ago!"
"Enough!" Alpha Erynn, the only female Alpha on the council, stood, her sharp voice cutting through the noise. Her emerald eyes burned with authority. "We've yet to determine whether Haelyn is truly a threat or a chance at redemption for our kind. Condemning her without proof would only divide us further."
Marius scoffed. "Redemption? You sound as naive as those who trusted the Spirit Wolves before. Do you forget what their power did to our packs? To our families?"
Erynn's lips tightened. "I forget nothing, Marius. But condemning her without understanding the full scope of her abilities is reckless."
A third Alpha, an older man with a heavy beard, raised his hand. His voice was calm but firm. "We cannot ignore the reports. Haelyn is already being sought after by rogue factions, and Arthur Beckett is clearly plotting something involving her. If we don't act now, we risk the entire balance of power tipping."
The room grew silent for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in.
"So what do you propose, Ragnor?" Marius asked, his tone still dripping with contempt.
Ragnor leaned back in his chair. "I propose we bring her here. Not to condemn her, but to ensure she doesn't fall into the wrong hands. If we let her roam free, she'll be a pawn in someone else's game."
"Haelyn is already under the protection of Archer's pack," Alpha Erynn countered. "He has more resources and power than most of us combined. Removing her from his territory could provoke a war."
"Then so be it!" Marius roared. "Archer's arrogance has gone unchecked for too long. This could be the opportunity we need to remind him that no Alpha is above the council's authority."
Another voice, soft yet commanding, spoke from the shadows. "And do you truly believe provoking Archer is wise, Marius?"
All heads turned toward the figure who had been silent until now. Alpha Cerius stepped forward, his presence instantly dominating the room. His dark eyes scanned the other Alphas, his expression unreadable.
"Cerius," Erynn said cautiously. "You've been quiet. What's your stance on this matter?"
Cerius moved to the center of the room, his hands clasped behind his back. "Haelyn is more than what any of you understand," he said calmly. "Bringing her here is a mistake. She's unprepared for what she is, and forcing her into this chamber will only exacerbate the situation."
"And what would you suggest, Cerius?" Ragnor asked, his brow furrowing.
"Let her be," Cerius said simply. "She needs time to learn, to grow into her abilities. Rushing to control her will only create the chaos you all claim to fear."
Marius laughed bitterly. "Of course you'd say that, Cerius. You've always been Archer's ally."
Cerius's eyes darkened, and a dangerous smile tugged at his lips. "Ally or not, I know Archer better than most. And I know that if you try to take Haelyn from him, you'll regret it."
The room fell into a tense silence, the Alphas exchanging uncertain glances.
Erynn broke the quiet, her voice steady. "Cerius is right. We cannot act rashly. Haelyn must remain under Archer's protection….for now. But we will keep watch, and if she proves to be a threat, we'll deal with her accordingly."
Marius opened his mouth to protest, but Ragnor raised a hand. "Enough, Marius. The council has spoken."
Marius sat back in his chair, his jaw clenched tightly. "Mark my words," he muttered. "This decision will come back to haunt us all."
As the council meeting ended, Cerius lingered in the chamber, his eyes distant as he stared into the flames.
A shadow moved behind him, and Kieran emerged from the darkness. "What do you think, Alpha? Will they heed your advice?"
Cerius didn't turn, his voice low. "No. Marius won't let this rest. He'll make his move soon."
"And when he does?" Kieran asked.
Cerius's lips curled into a cold smile. "When he does, I'll remind him why I'm the Alpha he fears most."
As the fire crackled, the scene faded into the darkness of the night, the stakes for Haelyn growing even higher.
"Have I raised you two to become monsters?" The woman's voice thundered through the dimly lit hall as she strode gracefully to the center of the room, her fur coat flowing behind her. Her presence was commanding, her aura radiating authority and wisdom. Her name was Selene Noctra, a name that struck fear and respect into anyone who heard it…Alpha Selene,the first female Alpha of the Silver Moon,the Pack's Guardian, and the last remaining elder of Archer and Artemis's bloodline.
Archer, still trembling with anger, growled low in his throat. "Artemis had the guts to mate with my woman," he spat, his fists clenched at his sides.
"Hush, child!" Selene snapped, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him. "I haven't even asked you yet!"
The sheer force of her voice made Archer flinch, his growl cutting off as he lowered his head slightly. Even as the Alpha King, Archer cowered under her stern gaze.
Selene gently sat on a high-backed chair, her movements deliberate, and pulled Haelyn to sit beside her. Haelyn looked small and frightened next to Selene's imposing figure.
Artemis stood silently at the edge of the room, his eyes fixed on Haelyn. His wolf stirred restlessly within him, and his usually composed demeanor faltered. Selene's sharp eyes didn't miss this.
"Artemis," Selene said, her tone softer but no less commanding, "why are you staring at her like that?"
Artemis quickly averted his gaze, clenching his jaw. "I wasn't…"
"Don't lie to me," Selene interrupted, her voice cutting like a blade. She leaned back slightly, her fingers drumming against the armrest. "The both of you are acting like petulant children."
"She's mine," Archer growled, taking a step forward. "I bought her. She belongs to me."
Selene raised a single brow, her expression turning icy. "You bought her?" she repeated, her voice dangerously calm.
Archer straightened, his pride refusing to let him back down. "Yes. She was given to me as part of an arrangement with her father. She's mine to protect, mine to claim."
Selene's lips pressed into a thin line, her silver eyes glinting with fury. "Just because you bought the girl, Archer, doesn't mean she belongs to you," she said sharply.
"She's…"
Selene cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Silence. I've heard enough of your nonsense." She turned her gaze to Haelyn, her expression softening slightly. "Child, look at me."
Haelyn hesitated but eventually lifted her tear-streaked face to meet Selene's piercing eyes.
"Let me make one thing clear," Selene said, her voice firm but not unkind. She turned her gaze back to Archer, then to Artemis. "Neither of you owns her. She is not your property. She can only belong to one of you if she chooses it. And even then, only if she is marked by you—or if fate has decided that one of you is her mate."
Archer's fists clenched tighter, his wolf bristling at the idea. "She was given to me…"
"Enough!" Selene thundered, her voice shaking the room. "You think you can dictate her life because of some transaction? Have you forgotten everything I taught you?"
Artemis finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "I didn't ask to feel this way," he said, his eyes darting to Haelyn for a brief moment before returning to Selene.
"And yet here you are," Selene said, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment. "Both of you, so blinded by your egos that you've forgotten the meaning of being true Alphas. Haelyn is not a prize to be fought over. She is a wolf with her own will, her own destiny."
Haelyn's voice trembled as she finally spoke. "I didn't ask for any of this," she whispered, her hands clutching her dress tightly. "I don't want to be fought over or claimed. I just want to be left alone."
Selene's expression softened further, and she placed a gentle hand on Haelyn's shoulder. "You will not be forced into anything, child. Not while I'm here."
Archer growled low, his frustration boiling over. "You're protecting her from me? I've done nothing but try to keep her safe!"
"And yet you've hurt her," Selene said simply. "Whether you intended to or not, you've let your pride cloud your judgment."
The room fell into tense silence, the weight of Selene's words pressing down on everyone.
Finally, Selene stood, pulling Haelyn to her feet as well. "For now, Haelyn stays with me," she declared. "Until you two learn how to act like the Alphas I raised you to be, you will not come near her without my permission."
Archer's eyes burned with defiance, but he said nothing. Artemis looked down at the ground, his jaw tight.
"Do I make myself clear?" Selene demanded, her voice brooking no argument.
"Yes, Aunt Selene," they both muttered in unison, their voices low.
Selene nodded, satisfied, and began to lead Haelyn out of the room. But as they reached the doorway, she paused and looked back at the brothers.
"And remember this," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "The bond of family is stronger than pride. Don't let your wolves destroy what little you have left."
Haelyn glanced back at Archer and Artemis, her heart heavy as their tense figures faded into the distance.
As they walked through the long hallway, Selene's grip on Haelyn's hand tightened. Haelyn finally mustered the courage to ask, "Who... who are you? Why do they fear you so much?"
Selene stopped, her silver eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "I am Selene Noctra," she said simply, her voice carrying an ancient power. "I raised those boys, and I am the only one left who knows the truth about you, Haelyn."
"The truth?" Haelyn whispered, her voice shaking.
Selene smiled faintly but didn't answer. Instead, she continued walking, her fur coat trailing behind her like a shadow.
In the distance, the howls of wolves echoed through the night, and it made Haelyn uneasy, she couldn't help but feel that her life was changing, in a way she might not like it to. She placed a palm against her flat belly and continued after Selene.