Chapter 8:Proposal

 Isabella Cross brought ten pack members to Blackwood Estate at noon, eight more than diplomatic protocol allowed for peace.

Elena watched from the second-floor window as the black SUV convoy pulled up to the main entrance. She could feel the estate's tension as Dante's pack prepared for a fight.

Dante made Elena attend the meeting to confirm Isabella's silver wolf rumors, despite Marcus's objections.

Elena agreed because hiding felt weak, and she was done being weak after her father's lifelong imprisonment.

Isabella entered the main hall like she owned it, flanked by ten wolves watching Dante's pack and ready for violence. With sharp features and calculating eyes that assessed the room in seconds, she was striking, not beautiful.

She may have looked at Elena with surprise or hunger.

"So the rumors are true," Isabella told Dante, watching Elena. "You have a silver wolf on your territory and didn't tell the neighboring alphas about an existential threat in their backyard."

"Elena isn't a threat," Dante said confidently. She's my mate and my protection, so she's packing business, not regional politics."

Elena's wolf bristled as Isabella repeated, "Your mate," focusing on Dante. "You marked a human without knowing what she was, bonded her into a silver wolf, and now you say she's stable enough to be trusted around other wolves? Either brave or stupid."

Isabella's wolves noticed Marcus's subtle Dante support. Elena felt the pressure building like a storm as too many dominant personalities filled the main hall.

Isabella said, "I've seen the aftermath of Viktor's hybrid attacks," revealing her real reason for visiting. Interestingly, 15 wolves died in three territories in one night, after you rescued a silver wolf from Viktor's lab.

He's rising to get her genes and will burn every pack in the Pacific Northwest."

"Viktor is my problem," Dante said, but Isabella declined.

Correction: "Viktor is everyone's problem now." Every alpha in the region wants to know what you'll do about his hybrids killing wolves randomly. Most importantly, they want your plans for her."

The way Isabella said 'her' made Elena feel like a bomb everyone was defusing. Isabella was drawn in by her move before Dante could respond. "I have a name," Elena whispered. "I'm standing right here, so if you have questions about what I am or what I can do, ask me directly instead of talking about me like I'm not there."

Isabella only raised an eyebrow in surprise. She used "bold," which may have been accepted. "I like it. Elena Volkov can permanently remove other wolves' wolves, what will she do?

This silver wolf power detail was unknown to Dante's pack, so the room went silent. Elena felt multiple eyes on her back and knew she'd become more terrifying to people who'd started accepting her.

"I'm planning to not use them unless someone gives me a reason to," Elena said, looking at Isabella without hesitation. "I didn't ask to be a silver wolf or have these abilities, but I won't apologize for making others uncomfortable."

Isabella repeated "uncomfortable" with a sour laugh.

A single word describes it. Another is scared.

Every alpha who knows you wonders when you'll declare their pack structure a threat and break ties to protect yourself."

"Then they're idiots," Elena stressed. I've been a silver wolf for less than 24 hours, fighting for my life or mother.

I haven't had time to plan regional dominance or whatever nightmare scenario you've all convinced yourselves I'm planning."

Isabella studied her for a while before looking at Dante to decide.

"I propose," she said. "I oversee Elena's Cross stay. I'll use my pack's resources to find Viktor and kill the hybrid. Elena's children will be raised in Cross pack to ensure the silver wolf bloodline serves all werewolves, not just Blackwood."

The proposal hit the room. After Dante stiffened beside Elena, Marcus took a step forward but fell short. Elena wondered if Isabella's wolves had discussed this plan before arriving because several nodded.

Dante said, "Absolutely not," with alpha authority that Isabella's wolves flinched. Elena stays here with pack business kids, not yours."

"I didn't ask your permission," Isabella said calmly. I know what's going to happen because four regional alphas agree Elena is too dangerous to be controlled by one pack with a compromised alpha who can't make rational mate decisions.

Dante repeated, "Compromised," losing control.

“You marked her without knowing what she was,” Isabella said. "The mate bond makes you a liability in her future decisions by preventing you from prioritizing pack safety over her survival.

I and the other alphas want a three-week Elena status tribunal with seven neutral alphas."

Elena was chilled when she understood.

Before starting, a tribunal had a likely verdict.

What are the voting choices? Marcus sternly asked.

"Custody under my supervision, permanent imprisonment in a secure facility, or execution as an existential threat to werewolf society," Isabella listed like a grocery list. “The council will only consider those three outcomes, so Elena should be grateful we're giving her a chance to survive.”

What if I avoid your court?" Elena asks.

Isabella said, "Then we hunt you down like we exterminated every silver wolf." "You can run, but seven alphas and packs can find you anywhere. Only two options remain: fight or submit to judgment and risk the vote."

Elena grabbed Dante's arm before he could hurt Isabella. "When is this tribunal?" she asked.

"Three weeks from today," Isabella said. "If you can convince seven alphas you're not the threat we know you are, you have time to prepare your defense. Five of seven must vote to spare your life, and three alphas want you dead for safety."

“You came here to threaten me,” Elena said.

She said, "I came here to give you a chance." I could have executed you, but let you prove you're not dangerous.

The tribunal may let you survive if you promise not to use your powers against other wolves."

With her pack around her, she turned to leave but stopped at the doorway and looked at Elena in despair. "For what it's worth, I hope you survive," Isabella said.

"We need someone like you who will serve the greater good rather than just one pack. Silver wolves maintained peace. I'll vote for your execution first if you can't prove your trustworthiness."

The convoy left as it arrived, overconfident and unconcerned about starting a war. In the main hall, Elena watched them leave, trying to comprehend that she had three weeks to convince seven werewolf alphas not to kill her.

"We're not letting this happen," Dante raged.

"You have no choice," Marcus whispered. Isabela claimed tribunal rights, so not participating is like attacking every council pack.

The Pacific Northwest would be fought."

Elena turned away from the window and saw half of Dante's pack staring at her with hatred.

They considered her convicted before the tribunal even started, another threat to be eliminated before it destroyed everything they'd built.

Dr. Chen was frantic at Katerina's door. "She's crashing,

" said the doctor. "Her heart rate rose and treatment failed. Evacuate the medical wing."