Chapter 9: Initial Lesson

 Katerina demanded Elena the morning after Dr. Chen stabilised her for three hours after the crash.

She sounded like she needed to teach her daughter right away, and Elena suspected her mother knew she was running out of time to pass on knowledge that would otherwise die with her.

Silver wolves feel pack bonds "Katerina spoke softly but intently. "Pack hierarchy and loyalty in wolves. Find and feel them as threads connecting every wolf to their alpha and each other.

While sitting by her mother's bed, Elena considered the implications. She asked, "How do I see them?"

Close your eyes and reach out with your wolf, Katerina advised. With your wolf sense, not physically.

You probably already know where pack members are even when you can't see them."

Elena closed her eyes and contemplated her strange awareness and growth since her first shift.

She could feel Marcus guarding the medical wing, Dante in his office three floors down, and the few pack members scattered throughout the estate.

As she focused, those feelings appeared as glowing threads linking everyone to Dante.

Elena said, "I can feel them," opening her eyes to see her mother weakly smiling.

Katerina said step one. Second, influence those bonds without breaking them. Silver wolves could calm packs by easing bond tensions, making angry wolves stop fighting.

The third step? Elena inquired, unsure.

Katie said, "The third step is learning not to accidentally strip a wolf of their wolf completely."

Our bloodline was hunted to extinction for that ability, so master it before using it on others.

Marcus' tribunal preparation update arrived while Elena was still sensing pack bonds, so the warning was too late.

Elena reached out to touch the thread connecting Marcus to Dante, which was glowing with loyalty and trust, when he started speaking.

Marcus stopped mid-sentence and stiffened, his eyes widening in terror. Elena realized with horror that she wasn't just sensing the bond under her mental touch, but also controlling it, forcing Marcus to calm down and override his emotions.

Katerina shouted, "Stop," but Elena couldn't release the connection she'd accidentally grabbed. Marcus kneeled and bowed involuntarily, and Elena could hear his wolf whimpering in his head because she'd made him submit.

Elena, free, Katerina's voice calmed Elena. Release the bond or break it forever."

Elena stumbled as she pulled back, and Marcus collapsed onto his hands, gasping like he'd drowned.

Elena could see how her damage had weakened their bond, but his thread to Dante snapped back.

Elena saw Marcus reach for his belt knife before stopping as he struggled to stand. He demanded, "What the hell did you just do to me?" his voice shaking with fear and rage that Elena understood because she'd violated him more than physically.

Elena said, "I didn't mean to," backing away from him despite what happened. I accidentally grabbed yours looking for pack bonds."

"You didn't grab it," Marcus said, and the noise drew others into the doorway. You ruled me.

I internally heard you telling me to submit and couldn't resist. Your actions devalued my free will.

After seeing what happened, several pack members stared at Elena, fearing nature was broken.

One of them became a wolf and growled low, causing other wolves to respond to a perceived threat.

"Everyone calm down," Dante said, appearing in the hallway with enough alpha dominance to drive most of the wolves away. Elena made mistakes learning new skills. Marcus is fine."

I'm not fine," Marcus said, and Elena saw him struggle to control his wolf, which wanted to attack her instinctively. She accessed my mind and made me submit without effort. If she does it intentionally, what happens? What happens when she breaks bonds to change the pack hierarchy and us?"

Elena said, "That's not going to happen," but she knew they were empty.

"You don't know that," a pack member said from the doorway. "You accidentally broke your Beta's free will after two days as a silver wolf. Two weeks—what happens? Two months? How long before you accidentally remove a person's wolf?"

Katerina tried to sit up in bed, but Dr. Chen stopped her. Her mother spoke clearly. “This is why silver wolves were exterminated,” she said. Not because we were tyrants, but because power makes other wolves distrust you.

They will always wonder if they are loyal or if you are unknowingly influencing them."

Dante joined Elena to show pack unity, but Elena saw several wolves glance at her, suggesting they were doubting their alpha's mate choices.

Elena knew she had proven Isabella's point that living without supervision was dangerous when Marcus kept staring at her with fear and anger.

Elena whispered, "I need to practice somewhere safe."

"Away from crowd."

NO, Dante said immediately. “You stay here so I can guard you.”

Guard me from what? Elena asks. "I gave the tribunal the evidence they needed for their three-week execution vote. Half your group saw me accidentally mind-control your Beta and wonders if I've been influencing you."

Elena watched Dante's jaw tighten when he realized she was right. His decisions to protect her were now questionable, and there was no way to prove the difference.

Marcus finally spoke, rough but controlled. He said, "I'll help you learn," surprising everyone. "To pass the tribunal, you must control these abilities.

You can practice with me under Dr. Chen's supervision."

"After what just happened, you're volunteering to let her into your head again?" a pack member exclaimed.

Marcus stated, "After what just happened, I know how dangerous she is." I know she can be useful if she controls herself. Silver wolves could help her as peacekeepers before threats if she learns."

Elena felt bad about practicing on Marcus after what she did to him, but she knew he was right. Development of control was the only way to show the tribunal she could control her abilities.

"Three hours daily," Marcus said.

"You practice sensing bonds without influencing them, and I'll tell you immediately if you penetrate my mind. The tribunal can hear three-week evidence without controlling anyone."

Marcus stopped Dante from arguing. "This is pack business," he said. Elena is your mate, but she threatens pack stability until she proves otherwise. I'll help her prove it for everyone."

Elena hated it, but it made sense. She was about to agree when pale Lily appeared at the end of the hallway with her phone. “Viktor just posted a video,” Lily shakily said.

"He has 12 m

ore hybrids and will release them all into Seattle if Elena doesn't surrender in 48 hours."