Chapter Five: The Claim

Thelma's POV

The silence that followed my declaration was deafening. Every pair of eyes in the hall shifted between Xavier and me, their expressions ranging from shock to confusion to outright disbelief.

Xavier's blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw something flicker across his face—surprise, yes, but also something deeper. Recognition? Understanding? I couldn't be sure.

What did you just say? Dad's voice cut through the tension like a blade, his face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

I lifted my chin defiantly, my heart pounding but my resolve unwavering. "I said I found my mate. Xavier is my mate, not Neon."

The crowd erupted into whispers and gasps. Some pack members looked scandalized, others curious. I caught sight of Gina in the crowd, her face twisted with fury as she glared at me. Perfect.

Thelma, have you lost your mind? Mom hissed, stepping forward with a forced smile for the crowd's benefit. "You're clearly overwhelmed. Come down from there this instant."

No.My voice rang clear and strong. I won't be forced into a mating I don't want. The moon goddess has blessed me with a true mate, and I choose to honor that bond."

Neon's face had gone pale, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "This is ridiculous! You're my fiancée, Thelma. We've been promised to each other for years!"

"Promised by whom?" I shot back, my eyes blazing. "By parents who never asked what I wanted? By a pack that sees me as nothing more than a political tool?"

I turned to face Xavier directly, my heart hammering in my chest. This was the biggest gamble of my life—both lives. "Xavier, tell them. Tell them what you feel when you look at me."

For a long moment, he said nothing. The entire hall held its breath, waiting for his response. Then, slowly, he stood from his seat and began walking toward the stage.

Each step he took seemed to echo through the silent hall. When he reached the base of the stage, he looked up at me with those piercing blue eyes.

"She's right," he said simply, his voice carrying clearly through the room. "I can feel it too. The mate bond."

The hall exploded into chaos. Shouts of outrage, gasps of shock, and heated arguments broke out among the pack members. Dad looked like he was about to have a stroke, his face purple with rage.

"This is preposterous!" he bellowed. "Xavier, you're nothing but a common pack member! You have no right to claim my daughter!"

Something dangerous flashed in Xavier's eyes at those words. "Common pack member?" he repeated, his voice deceptively calm. "Is that what you think I am?"

Before Dad could respond, Xavier pulled something from his jacket—a small, intricate medallion that made several of the older pack members gasp in recognition.

"I am Xavier Leon, Alpha of the Leon pack," he announced, his voice now carrying the unmistakable authority of a true alpha. "And I accept Thelma as my mate."

The silence that followed was absolute. Even Dad looked stunned, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

I felt a surge of triumph mixed with relief. In my previous life, I had never known Xavier's true identity until after his supposed death. Now, everything was falling into place.

"The Leon pack?" someone whispered from the crowd. "But that's one of the most powerful packs in the region!"

"Impossible," Yvonne spoke up, her voice shrill with panic. "You're lying! You've been here for months as just another pack member!"

Xavier's gaze shifted to her, cold and calculating. "I came here for a purpose. And now I've found what I was looking for."

His eyes returned to mine, and I felt that strange pull again—the same feeling I'd experienced when he'd saved me from eavesdropping on my parents. Was it possible? Could the mate bond actually be real?

"Thelma," Dad's voice was strained, barely controlled. "Come down here. Now. We need to discuss this privately."

"No," I said firmly. "I've made my choice. I reject Neon as my intended mate and accept Xavier as my true mate. The moon goddess has spoken."

"The moon goddess has nothing to do with this nonsense!" Neon finally exploded, stalking toward the stage. "You're mine, Thelma! I won't let some outsider steal what belongs to me!"

"I don't belong to anyone," I snapped back. "And I certainly don't belong to a man who—"

I caught myself before I could reveal what I knew about his betrayal. Not yet. I needed to be smarter about this.

Xavier stepped between Neon and the stage, his posture protective. "The lady has made her choice. I suggest you respect it."

"Stay out of this," Neon snarled, his eyes flashing with his wolf's anger. "This doesn't concern you."

Everything concerning my mate concerns me, Xavier replied calmly, but I could sense the leashed power in his voice.

The tension in the room was palpable. I could feel we were moments away from a fight breaking out. Part of me wanted to see Neon get what he deserved, but I knew this wasn't the time or place.

"Enough!" Dad's voice boomed through the hall, enhanced by his alpha command. "This ceremony is over. Everyone, return to your homes. Now!"

The pack members began to disperse, but the whispers and shocked conversations continued as they filed out. I could feel their stares, their judgment, their confusion. Good. Let them talk. Let them question everything they thought they knew.

As the hall emptied, only our immediate family and Xavier remained. The silence stretched uncomfortably until Mom finally spoke.

Xavier, if what you say is true about your identity, then we need to discuss this matter properly," she said, her diplomatic mask firmly in place. "Surely you understand that such a significant claim requires... verification."

Of course,Xavier replied smoothly. I'll have my pack's representatives here by tomorrow to formalize the arrangement. Unless, of course, you plan to deny the mate bond that the moon goddess herself has blessed?

It was a clever move. To deny a true mate bond was considered sacrilege among werewolves. Even Dad wouldn't dare risk the moon goddess's wrath by interfering with such a sacred connection.

This is madness, Yvonne whispered, her face pale. "Thelma, what about everything we planned? What about the pack's future?

I looked at her with cold eyes. "The pack's future was never my concern. It was yours.

Her face went even paler at my words, and I saw a flicker of fear in her eyes. Good. She was beginning to understand that her perfect plan was falling apart.

"We'll discuss this tomorrow," Dad said through gritted teeth. "Xavier, I expect those representatives you mentioned to be here by noon. Until then, this... arrangement... is provisional."

Agreed, Xavier nodded. Then he looked up at me, extending his hand. "Thelma?"

Without hesitation, I took his hand and let him help me down from the stage. The moment our skin touched, I felt that electric connection again—stronger this time. Whatever was happening between us, it felt real in a way that my relationship with Neon never had.

As we walked out of the hall together, I caught a glimpse of Neon's face. The fury and betrayal in his eyes promised that this was far from over. But for the first time since my rebirth, I felt like I was finally in control of my own destiny.

Thank you, I whispered to Xavier as we stepped into the cool night air.

He glanced down at me, his expression unreadable. For what?

For playing along. For not making me look like a fool in there.

He stopped walking and turned to face me fully. Who says I was playing along?

Before I could ask what he meant, he continued walking, leaving me to hurry after him with my heart racing and my mind spinning with new questions.

What exactly did Xavier Leon know? And how much of what I'd claimed tonight was actually true?