Chapter Five – The Inspection

They didn’t make her wait long.

The knock came before dawn.

Not loud.

Not hesitant.

Measured.

Dorian was already at the door when it opened.

The man who entered wore no armor, no visible weapon. He didn’t need one. Authority followed him like scent.

Silver threaded through his dark hair. His expression was calm in the way only dangerous men could afford to be.

“Alpha,” he greeted.

Cassian didn’t look surprised.

“You came quickly,” he said evenly.

“The forest spoke loudly.”

His gaze shifted.

To Ava.

And lingered.

Not like a man looking at a woman.

Like a scholar examining a relic.

She resisted the urge to step back.

“Name,” he said.

It wasn’t a request.

“Ava.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“And what are you, Ava?”

Human.

The word felt smaller now.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“I think you do.”

Cassian stepped forward, subtly placing himself half between them.

“She crossed the boundary by accident.”

“Boundaries do not react to accidents,” the Councilman replied.

The bond stirred.

Slow.

Alert.

The man noticed.

Of course he did.

“May I?” he asked mildly.

He didn’t wait for permission.

He stepped closer.

Cassian’s shoulders went rigid.

“Careful,” he warned.

The Councilman ignored him.

He stopped an arm’s length from Ava.

Close enough that she could see the faint scar running along his jaw.

“Look at me,” he said.

She didn’t want to.

But she did.

His eyes were sharp. Searching.

Cold.

For a second, nothing happened.

Then—

The bond flared.

Not violently.

Sharply.

Like recognition snapping into place.

The Councilman inhaled slowly.

“There it is,” he murmured.

Cassian moved instantly, grabbing the man’s wrist before he could reach for her throat.

The room shifted.

Not in volume.

In weight.

“You test me,” Cassian said quietly.

The Councilman’s pulse did not quicken.

“I observe you.”

The bond reacted again.

Cassian’s grip tightened—

Then faltered.

Just slightly.

The Councilman felt it.

His gaze flicked to Cassian’s hand.

Interesting.

“She destabilizes you,” he said calmly.

“She anchors me,” Cassian shot back.

The words came too fast.

Too defensive.

The Councilman smiled faintly.

“Which is it?”

Silence.

Ava felt the pull intensify between them.

Not pain.

Pressure.

Like something waiting to be chosen.

The Councilman stepped back deliberately.

“We will require further evaluation,” he said.

“She is not leaving this house,” Cassian replied.

“That is not what I meant.”

A pause.

“Tonight, the elders will convene.”

The air tightened.

Cassian didn’t blink.

“You assume I will attend.”

“You will,” the Councilman said simply. “Or your absence will be interpreted.”

As weakness.

He didn’t say it.

He didn’t need to.

His gaze returned to Ava.

“There is something in your blood,” he said softly. “And it is older than either of you realize.”

A flicker beneath her skin answered him.

The Councilman saw it.

His expression sharpened.

“Fascinating.”

Cassian stepped forward again.

“Enough.”

The Councilman inclined his head.

“For now.”

He turned and left.

The door closed.

Silence lingered.

Dorian exhaled slowly.

“He saw it,” he said.

“Yes,” Cassian replied.

“And he’ll report it.”

Cassian’s jaw tightened.

“He’ll do more than that.”

—

Outside the house, the Councilman did not walk alone.

Two elders waited in the shadows.

“Well?” one asked.

“He weakens,” the Councilman replied.

“And the girl?”

“Not human,” he said calmly. “Not entirely.”

A pause.

“Do you believe she is connected to the origin?”

“I believe the curse recognized her.”

Silence.

Heavy.

“If he marks her,” one elder said quietly, “the bond will stabilize.”

“And his authority will fracture,” the Councilman finished.

The three men exchanged a look.

“We cannot allow him to choose freely.”

“No,” the Councilman agreed.

“Tonight,” he continued, “we force the decision.”

“And if he refuses?”

The Councilman’s expression cooled.

“Then we remind the pack what happens when an Alpha loses control.”

He glanced back toward the house.

Toward the girl inside.

“The curse began with love,” he said softly.

“We will end it with order.”