11. The Council Sent.

Adrian’s POV

Caleb was across from me, laughing so hard his drink nearly spilled.

The fire crackled softly across the marble hearth, and the glow painted gold along the tall windows of my mansion. I sat back on the leather couch, one leg crossed over the other, the chilled glass of champagne glinting between my fingers.

“I swear, you should’ve seen his face,” he said between laughs. “That poor guard thought you were about to tear him in two.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “If he hadn’t stammered like a terrified pup, I wouldn’t have. I told him to keep the rogues out, not let them stroll in for dinner.”

Caleb grinned. “You’re still the same...sharp, terrifying, and unbothered.”

“And you,” I smirked, “still talk too much.”

He threw a pillow at me, and I dodged, both of us laughing again. For a moment, it almost felt like the old days...before the throne, before the endless duties, before the heavy crown of Alpha weighed on every decision I made.

The mansion felt alive that night...the laughter echoing off the walls, the scent of oak and old whiskey filling the air. For once, I didn’t feel the world pressing on my shoulders.

That was until the door opened.

The heavy oak door creaked slightly, and both our heads turned. A man stepped in...tall, gray-haired, his face worn with time but his eyes sharp as ever. My heart stuttered for a second before my lips curved into a stunned smile.

“Matthew?” I breathed, already on my feet.

“Old man!” Caleb shouted, rising beside me.

The years fell away in that instant. We were no longer Alpha or beta or warriors...we were just boys again seeing the man who had raised and trained us.

Matthew opened his arms, and we both moved in, laughing as he pulled us into a strong embrace. The familiar warmth of his scent...pine, smoke, and iron...brought back a flood of memories.

“My boys,” he said, his voice gravelly but steady. “You’ve grown into fine wolves.”

I pulled back to look at him. “You disappeared after the coronation, Matthew. Not a letter. Not a word. Where have you been all these years?”

His lips quirked. “Watching. Listening. Making sure you both learned to stand without me.”

Caleb scoffed lightly. “You vanished like a ghost, left us to figure out ruling a kingdom that’s barely held together, and now you show up smiling like a saint?”

Matthew chuckled softly. “A saint? No. Just an old fool who knew the world wouldn’t wait for two boys to grow up. You needed to fail on your own to rise on your own.”

I exhaled slowly, nodding. “You always believed in tough lessons.”

He nodded toward the grand window, where the moonlight poured in. “Your parents would be proud, Adrian. Both of you. You’ve taken their places just as fate designed.”

At the mention of our parents, my chest tightened.

“They were the true Alpha and Beta.” I said quietly. “We only carry what’s left of them.”

Matthew’s expression softened. “And that’s why I’m here.”

Caleb’s POV

The moment he said that, I knew something serious was coming. Matthew never came without a reason.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “So what is it this time? Another prophecy? Another warning from the Council?”

Matthew smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Something far older than the Council, Caleb. Something that can’t be delayed any longer.”

He turned to Adrian, his gaze firm. “You need to find your Luna.”

The room fell silent. The fire popped once, then stilled.

Adrian frowned. “My Luna?”

“Yes,” Matthew replied evenly. “The Lunar Eclipse is drawing near, and the bond must be formed before the shadow crosses the moon.”

I glanced at Adrian, who was staring at Matthew as though he’d spoken in riddles.

He laughed dryly. “I’ve heard enough prophecies for a lifetime, Matthew. I’m not chasing myths.”

“It’s not a myth,” the old man said sharply. “You know what the eclipse does. When the moon turns red, the power of the Alphas renews—or dies. Without your Luna, you risk losing control. The pack loses its strength. The Vampires will attack or before that the Council might interfere.”

That made me sit up straight. The Council interfering never ended well.

Adrian sighed, setting his drink down. “You think I haven’t tried? I’ve opened the gates, attended every gathering. But none of them...none of the females...feel like her. It’s empty.”

I didn’t miss the flicker of something in his eyes. I knew exactly what he was hiding.

Matthew crossed his arms. “Empty? Or are you blinded by something that shouldn’t exist?”

Adrian hesitated.

Then he said it quietly, “There’s someone.”

I blinked.

Matthew’s brow furrowed. “Who?”

“A human,” Adrian muttered, almost to himself. “She’s been… in my head. I can’t explain it. She’s just...there.”

Matthew’s expression changed instantly—from mild concern to stern disapproval. “A human? Adrian, no. Don’t even entertain that thought.”

Adrian’s eyes darkened, but Matthew pressed on.

“A human can’t be your Luna. It’s impossible. The blood won’t bind. The soul won’t link. If you try, it will destroy you both.”

I rubbed my temples, half amused, half worried. “Well, that’s awkward.”

Matthew shot me a glare, but Adrian ignored us both. “You’re wrong. I feel something. I can’t explain it, but it’s real.”

“Adrian,” Matthew said, lowering his voice. “You’re an Alpha. You are not supposed to feel anything for a human. Our kind...our energy...repels them. They fear us instinctively. Attraction between a wolf and a human doesn’t exist. A werewolf can't mate with a human it will destroy the human talk less of an Alpha.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened, and his gaze shifted briefly toward me. That silent signal—just a flicker—told me everything.

We’ll talk later.

Matthew’s POV

I saw the doubt in his eyes, the quiet defiance. Adrian was always like this...too much of his father in him.

I sighed, leaning back. “You may not want to hear this, but I didn’t come alone.”

Their attention snapped toward me.

A soft knock echoed at the door. I turned toward it and nodded once.

“Come in, child.”

The door opened, and a young woman stepped in...tall, confident, her dark hair tied neatly behind her back. Her scent filled the room, sharp with dominance and a hint of wild pine.

“Adrian,” I said, gesturing toward her, “this is Lucy. General of the Western Wolf Guard. The Council sent her.”

The air in the room shifted immediately.

Adrian’s gaze hardened. “The Council sent her?”

Caleb arched an eyebrow, already grinning like he knew what was about to happen.

“Yes,” I said. “They believe she might be...”

Before I could finish, Adrian was already on his feet. He grabbed my arm, voice low but edged with frustration. “Outside. Now.”

Caleb followed us out into the hallway, the door closing softly behind us.

The tension was heavy enough to taste.

Adrian’s POV

I turned on him the moment the door clicked shut. “You brought a stranger into my home without asking me first? You let the Council decide who my Luna should be?”

Matthew didn’t flinch. “I didn’t have a choice. They demanded it. They’re losing patience, Adrian.”

“I don’t care,” I snapped. “They don’t rule me.”

He met my gaze firmly. “You may lead the pack, but the Council leads the balance. The eclipse is coming...you can’t risk standing alone. Lucy is strong, loyal, bred for leadership. The bond could work.”

I laughed bitterly. “Bond? You can’t force fate.”

“I’m not forcing it,” he said softly. “I’m trying to protect you.”

I looked at him...this man who’d taught me everything, who’d trained me to fight, to lead, to kill if I had to...and for the first time, I saw fear in his eyes.

He wasn’t doing this out of politics. He was doing it because he was afraid of what would happen if I didn’t obey.

“Matthew,” I said quietly, “if she’s the Council’s choice, then she’s not mine.”

He sighed, looking older than I’d ever seen him. “Then at least try. The Council will watch. If she’s not your Luna, they’ll see it. But if you defy them outright, they might strip your title.”

I turned away, running a hand through my hair. Caleb stood near the door, arms crossed, smirking slightly.

“Looks like you’re in trouble, brother.”

I shot him a glare. “You’re enjoying this too much.”

He laughed. “Maybe. But watching you squirm is rare entertainment.”

Matthew placed a hand on my shoulder. “I know you think I’ve betrayed you. I haven’t. You’re like a son to me, both of you. But this time, the decision isn’t mine.”

He hesitated, then added softly, “And if you’re still dreaming of that human… forget her. For her sake and your sake.”

Before I could respond, he stepped back, his voice low. “The Council moves faster than you think. Don’t make enemies of them.”

He gave us both one last look...half sorrow, half warning...and walked away down the marble hall, his footsteps fading like echoes of the past.

The silence that followed was long.

Finally, Caleb broke it with a whistle. “Well. That was intense.”

I exhaled, sinking back against the wall. “He means well. But he’s wrong.”

Caleb shrugged. “You know, if Lucy really is your Luna, the Council would throw a festival. But something tells me…” He grinned. “…you’ve already chosen your chaos.”

I didn’t answer.

I just looked toward the window where the moon hung...half-full, glowing faintly red at the edges.

The Lunar Eclipse was coming.

And so was the truth.

I pushed off the wall and started toward the hall where Lucy waited.

Caleb called after me, “Where are you going?”

I looked back once, my voice low, final.

“She’s going to be there. Where we left her.”