CHAPTER FOUR

RONAN'S POV 

"Why does the captive have a say in this council!" Elder Misha screams before shutting his mouth when I glare at him. I couldn't believe the old man rode out before dawn to point his bony fingers at me.

Immediately I had parted ways with Viktor in front of the dungeon, Elders Marius and Liza had descended upon me like vultures.

Behead Lyra and be done with it.

Don't show weakness before the warriors.

When I'd reminded them of the sanctity of the mate bond, they'd only doubled down, insisting the pack would understand.

If there was one thing I'd learned from my father's mistakes, it was that the mate bond was more sacred than any man's pride.

I knew that better than anyone. I'd spent the last fifteen years cleaning up the mess he'd left behind.

"I do not have to answer to any of you," I grit out, ignoring Rafa shaking his head and facepalming behind the elders.

"She has every right to stand before this council because she's my mate. Fenrir's gift.”

"I understand your desire to continue our ancient traditions," Elder Liza says, "but you seem to forget that she's the enemy. Currently, she's the enemy's Alpha. Please reconsider."

"Maybe you're all growing senile and should be removed from making decisions that affect Blackthorne," Rafa says in a stern voice, as though he hadn't been laughing at me only a few hours ago.

"No to offend you, my King," Elder Misha grits out, "but since when did the Alpha of Ironfang become a guest at our council table?”

"I never said she had a say in this council." Every elder visibly perks up. "For now."

"Alpha!" Elder Marius chides.

"I only said she deserves the right to decide her own future. If she accepts the mating bond, she'll stand beside me as my equal. Every Alpha before me has done the same. And that's final."

I slam my hand onto the table.

The elders sink back into their seats, their trembling hands doing little to hide their entitlement.

I press two fingers against the bridge of my nose as a headache begins forming. I can't tell whether it's from hours of arguing or from Raith's relentless curiosity ever since finding our mate.

"You say that like you weren't the one constantly checking the bond," my wolf remarks smugly.

A guard bursts into the tent but stops halfway when he feels the tense state of the room. He stumbles into a bow when I motion him forward.

"The enemy's Alpha is arriving with beta Viktor."

"Bring them in.”

Her scent reaches me before she does. The bond begins tingling and Raith sits up, all too happy to see his mate again.

“Ours." He corrects lazily.

I ignore him.

Instead, I reach through the bond, searching for even the smallest emotion leaking from her side.

Nothing.

The tent flap opens and Viktor leads Lyra inside before completely ignoring the elders and seating her on an empty chair.

She doesn't spare me so much as a glance but Instead, she deliberately meets everyone else's gaze.

That stings more than it should.

The scent of dew, honey, and jasmine fills my lungs as I find myself studying her. From her dark strands to the soft slope of her neck. 

Everything about her feels…

"Surreal.” Raith finishes quietly.

“You'd be foolish to think that Misthollow is without allies." She says softly, her voice cracking on the last word.

I grit my teeth when Viktor immediately hands a cup of water and she shoots him a brief glare, like she was used to his presence. Too used to it.

"And you'd be even more foolish to think that Blackthorne cares.” I reply.

"You should thank him for not having your head and that of your people.” Elder Misha interrupts.

She lowers the cup she was about to bring to her lips, “And you are?" 

Misha arches a brow at her. “No one you-" 

“Exactly." She cuts him off. “You are no one." 

Rafa bites the inside of his cheeks as he tries hard not to laugh. He was enjoying this far more than he should.

“Silverclaw will notice something is amiss. They will come here and find the bodies of their allies scattered around the fields. Do you think they will take that insult quietly?”

I don't bother correcting her assumption that the bodies are still there. "They'll accept whatever I choose to give them.”

Irritation flashes through me when she doesn't react to the obvious jab or look at me. 

"And you seem to place a great deal of faith in Silverclaw's Alpha." The words leave harsher than I intended.

She tilts her head before pushing the empty cup toward Viktor with her elbow. He silently refills it and sets it beside her, but when she reaches for it, I notice her hands trembling before tightening around the cup.

“Enough," Raith growls at me.

"I have faith in Keyon," she says quietly. "But I have even more faith in Silverclaw's loyalty.”

"What does this…" Elder Liza scoffs, “underdeveloped forest, even have to offer anyone” 

A tear slides down Lyra's cheeks and she sniffs for a moment before wiping at it with her sleeves.

"I wouldn't know. Everything Misthollow enjoys today was because of their Alpha. Every alliance and protection and support is all because of...him" her voice cracks. “I’d recommend you ask him yourself but last I heard, your Alpha killed him." 

She finally looks at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears but with even more hatred.

Silence settles over the council. Eventually, Elder Misha sighs.

“We don't care what your father gave or didn't give. What do you say regarding your mate bond with our Alpha." He asks.

“I'll never accept your Alpha as my mate. He's a cold-blooded murderer and a tyrant to my people." She affirms.

"Good," Elder Marius says, clapping once before immediately shrinking beneath my glare.

"Take her back to the dungeons. She's clearly not in her right mind.” I order, clenching my fingers under the table.

Without another word, she stands and waits for Viktor to take hold of her chain but before they reach the exit Rafa stops her.

"Do you want my advice?” He asks, looking genuine.

She pauses just long enough to look at him with complete disgust.

"No.”

"There is that fire…" Raith whispers.

That we've been missing.