Chapter 4: When the Pack Bares Its Teeth

“Bring him forward.”

The old man's words echoed off the walls of the meeting room. Eiren could barely stay on his feet. Kael maintained a firm grip just above his hips, solid as stone. Though shaky, he didn’t move an inch.

“Walk,” Kael said quietly, just for his ears. Move like fear isn’t near. Prove you don’t care what they think.

Yet fear gripped Eiren,deep down, paralyzing. All at once, the pack elders formed a half-circle ahead, expressionless, like figures hewn from rock. Just beyond them, others filled the room, murmuring softly. Watching closely. Weighing every move.

Everyone hoped he would be gone.

Kael Vorthran, the old leader, rose slowly. His robe brushed the dust as he stepped forward. Yet you are charged with breaking the pack’s oldest rule.

Whispers spread among the crowd.

Kael stayed calm. “Go on,” he said.

“You claimed a rejected omega,a defective one who was sentenced to execution.” The elder’s eyes cut to Eiren. “You have violated the ancient laws that keep our pack pure.”

“Pure?” Kael’s voice was cold. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“Watch your tone.” Another elder rose. This one was younger, his face sharp with anger. “You may be the executioner, but you are not above the law.”

“The law is whatever serves the pack,” Kael said, pressing his hand more firmly against Eiren’s back. “And keeping him alive serves me.”

“You are part of this pack,” the head elder’s voice rose. “Your personal desires do not override centuries of tradition.”

“Then change the tradition.” Kael stepped forward, pulling Eiren with him. “Because I’m not giving him up.”

The room erupted in chaos. Shouts collided,people yelling and screaming. One group demanded that Kael leave immediately, while another shouted that he should die on the spot. A handful of people simply stood there, frozen.

Eiren's heart raced, and his legs trembled,this mess was entirely his fault. If he had stayed dead in that jail where he belonged, none of this would have happened.

“Enough.” The head elder raised his hand, and silence fell. “The matter is simple: the omega dies, or you lose your position. Choose.”

Kael clenched his teeth. A heavy pause hung in the air, then silence stretched on without a word.

Eiren gasped for air. One thing was clear,Kael’s path was set: power on one side, a shattered omega on the other. There was hardly any choice at all.

I’ll make it simpler. Eiren’s voice trembled, but he still pushed the words through: “I’m heading out instead.”

Kael's grip clenched at his side. "Not happening."

"It's the only shot," Eiren said, stepping back. His legs shook, yet he did not fall. Facing the council with a firm voice, he said, "The issue is me. So take me instead. Kill me. Just let Kael keep his role."

Kael spoke, his tone sharp, signaling that something was wrong.

“It’s better this way.” Eiren didn’t look at him; he couldn’t. If he did, he’d lose his nerve. “I was supposed to die anyway. This just delays the inevitable.”

reckon you're doing the right thing," Kael said, stepping ahead and cutting off his line to the council. Fire lit up his gaze. is, you're just acting recklessly.

being practical, voice broke. lose everything because of me. I'm not worth it.

not your decision to make.

it is. Eiren stepped around him and faced the council again. surrender. Do whatever you want with me,just leave Kael alone.

The old leader grinned, a sharp, quiet joy in his eyes. "Nice timing," he said slowly. gets it." One brow lifted like a blade.

Something inside Kael snapped.

The air in the hall shifted. Then came a weight, thick and heavy like smoke. Eiren choked as his legs gave out beneath him.

Alpha Dominance

Pure. Overwhelming. Absolute.

It struck the room suddenly, like thunder. One by one, the pack members fell, unable to stand. The elders staggered as well, blood draining from their faces.

Want him? Kael's voice didn't sound right,more like a growl than words. The force behind it rattled the walls, deep and heavy. You're going after him, you'd better get past me first.

Everyone froze. No one said a word. That weight kept pressing down, causing people to lower their heads and expose their necks.

Eiren dropped to the ground, unable to stop himself. The force overwhelmed him,far too strong. Yet somehow, beneath that weight, he sensed Kael’s connection pulling tight, holding on and keeping the sharpest edge at bay.

“I am not asking for permission,” Kael said as he walked forward, each step echoing. “I am telling you: he is mine. That bond is sealed,permanent and unbreakable.”

The old man pushed himself up from the chair. His knees wobbled. "There's no way—

“I can.” Kael stopped in front of him. “I’ve executed every wolf you’ve condemned for the last ten years. I’ve carried out your dirty work without question. I’ve kept your secrets. Buried your mistakes.” His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “And now, I’m calling in that debt.”

“There is no debt,” the elder’s voice wavered. “You were paid for your services.”

Kael said, leaning closer. nearly enough to cover what I know, what I could tell, what I could prove.

The old man's face turned pale.

“You want to challenge me?” Kael straightened. “Fine. But understand this: if you force my hand, I’ll tear this pack apart from the inside,every secret, every lie, every law you’ve broken. I’ll expose it all.”

Silence.

No one had the courage to say a word.

“So here’s what’s going to happen.” Kael’s dominance eased slightly, just enough to let people breathe. “The omega stays with me, under my protection. Anyone who touches him, threatens him, or even looks at him the wrong way” His eyes swept the room. “Answers to me.”

The old leader's jaw tightened. "There's no way the group will agree—

I don't give a damn what the group thinks. Kael spun around and headed straight to Eiren, yanking him up quickly. Mine to protect, so mine to decide.

He led Eiren to the exit. As they moved, people stepped aside willingly. No one looked at them directly.

They walked out of the room without saying a word.

There is no text provided to revise.

Kael remained silent until they reached his room. Once inside, he shut the door firmly, pressing his back against it, hishead bowed and eyes closed.

"You're a fool." His tone was harsh,worn down and drained.

"I just wanted to fix things," Eiren said, perched on the edge of the bed. A shiver ran through him, leftover from the clash. "It isn't right,everyone is turning on you because of me."

“Why not?” Kael opened his eyes. “You’re worth fighting for.”

“No, I’m not,” Eiren’s voice broke. “I’m defective. Rejected. Worthless. Everyone knows it.”

"I don't." Kael moved across the space. This time, he dropped down before Eiren, grabbing his palms, because what he thought was all that counted.

“You’re going to lose everything because of me.” Tears welled up in Eiren’s eyes. “Your position. Your respect. Everything you’ve built.”

“I’ve built nothing worth keeping.” Kael’s grip tightened. “I’ve spent ten years killing for a pack that doesn’t deserve my loyalty. I’m tired, Eiren,tired of pretending their laws matter, tired of executing wolves for crimes that shouldn’t be crimes.”

why stay?

“Because I had nothing else,” Kael said, his thumb brushing across Eiren’s knuckles. “Until now.”

The words lingered just above the silence,thick and tense. Not loud, but sharp, like something on the verge of breaking.

“You don’t mean that,” Eiren said, pulling his hands away. “You barely know me.”

“I know enough.” Kael stood and moved to the window, staring out into the darkness. “I know you tried to sacrifice yourself today for me. A male you’ve known for only two days.”

“Because you’re important,” Eiren’s voice shook. “And I’m not.”

Kael spun around, his gaze locking onto Eiren’s from afar. Losing you,honestly, it would break me completely.

The words landed hard, like a punch. Eiren gasped, but no air came. Her thoughts froze completely, yet everything felt unbearably loud.

“That’s the bond talking,” he managed to whisper. “Not you.”

“Maybe.” Kael walked back to him. “Or maybe the bond knows something I don’t want to admit yet.”

“What’s that?”

“That’s what I’ve been waiting for,” Kael said, his hand cupping his face. “Without even knowing it. For years.”

Eiren's chest tightened. Yet the link between them glowed with a soft, breathing warmth. Oddly, for the first time since it began, it wasn't crushing.

It was somewhat like hope.

“I don’t know how to do this,” Eiren’s voice broke. “I don’t know how to be someone’s mate. I don’t even know how to be worth keeping.”

“Then we’ll figure it out together.” Kael’s thumb brushed away a tear. “Because I’m not letting you go,not for the pack, not for the elders, not for anyone.”

Eiren tried to believe. He tried trusting that it might actually happen. Perhaps,just perhaps,he wasn’t as broken as people claimed.

Then, suddenly, the hurt kicked in.

Stabbing pain,quick and sharp,ripped through his gut like jagged nails.

He sucked in air, bending forward. Pressing on his gut, he winced. His hands clenched tightly against his abdomen, hisbreath ragged.

"Eiren?" Kael's tone grew tense. Yet,what's happening?

Pain hit him again, stopping his words. He dropped down quickly, but Kael caught him before he crashed.

"Speak up," Kael said, easing him onto the mattress. it hurt?

"All of it." Eiren's vision wavered as his gaze dropped to his palms.

Blood.

His fingers were stained red.

"No." Kael's voice turned sharp and scared. "Not this,anything but this."

He tore Eiren’s shirt apart,worse than before, with blood everywhere. It drenched his clothes and spilled onto the mattress beneath him.

Kael pressed his palms against the bleeding spots, though nothing was actually cut,just red liquid seeping through intact skin. "Hold on," he said, his voice tight. The liquid continued to flow, sliding down as if it had a will of its own. "Don't close your eyes," he muttered, staring intently at Eiren’s face.

Yet the night dragged him down, quick and unyielding.

The last sound he heard was Kael shouting,

Then, nothing else happened.