Chapters 46

Stefan's POV

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When I walk into the small auditorium there are seats designated for different council members. Roman has clearly thought through how he wants this to go, he has made sure to split Eric's old council up and scatter us between everyone. He's also setup space with empty chairs that don't have any names on them. I'm curious about what those are for.

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"Stefan, how are you?" Aria comes over to me and she gives me a big hug.

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"Luna, it's so wonderful to have you back," I say. She looks like how I remembered her before Eric took over this pack. Her smile is bright and infectious, but mine quickly slips off my face and I bristle at the sight of Lucas when he walks in. I don't know how to make things right with him. Maybe once I send Eric to hell he will realize that I'm loyal only to Aria and Leo.

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"Stef," Lucas says abruptly as he takes his seat. It's then I realize I'm next to him and I'm not thrilled about it.

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"Lucas, we need to talk," I say and he looks at me and I can see is is trying to choose his words carefully.

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"We're family Stef, and I made a promise to Miri and Sadia that I would make an effort to give you another chance, but I'm just not there yet."

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"I'm going to show you I'm loyal, I'm going to prove it to you." I say and he sighs heavily and gets up and walks to greet Odette.

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Everyone continues to file into the room, looking for their chairs and settling down. Roman, Anna, Aria, Leo and Elise are in the front of the room and it is the first time in a very long time that the northern and southern councils are together and the royal families are beside one another. Many are whispering about Leo and Elise. They will be the first royal couple to rule over both regions and the responsibility will be enormous.

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"Okay, settle down everyone," Roman says and Elise and Leo sit down.

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"First, I want to welcome everyone here. It's been far too long since we all got together and I'm so happy to see everyone. I also want to thank all those for helping me to find and protect my son, your Alpha and future king," Aria says and she looks over at Leo. The room ignites with cheers and I watch as Leo shifts uncomfortably and I notice Elise grab his hand tighter. The reality of how he grew up, how just a short time ago he knew nothing of this world, and how alone he was hits hard. The fact that I could have been responsible for his death makes me sick.

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"Tonight we are going to set the future in motion. We have a new Alpha and King in the south, and the ways that Eric ran this pack and the southern territories is over. Starting immediately, Queen Luna Aria will take over all responsibilities." Roman states and once again there are cheers that echo throughout the room.

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"This doesn't mean that Leo will not fulfill his duty as the rightful heir, but he simply is not ready and he has a lot of things he's missed out on that he needs a chance to experience. Leo's life has been a difficult one and he will need time to adjust to this new way of living and to his mate...my daughter." Roman says and he is beaming with pride.

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"These two will one day be ruling the north and the south. Their children will be the heirs to the throne and that means that they both must learn what and how to be fair and respectful leaders, and learn to listen and understand all of you and your people.

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Tomorrow Lucas and I will return to the North, and we have agreed that Leo and Elise will return with us at the end of the week. Once they have completed their studies they will split their time between both territories."

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I look at Leo's face and it's clear that he was not talked to about this, but he looks relieved and a smile beams as Elise kisses him on the cheek.

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"Next we need to address Eric's council," Aria states with no emotion in her voice. "I will be meeting with each and every one of you to determine you involvement in Eric's reign of terror and to determine if you are somehow still loyal to him."

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The room goes silent when she says this, because we know that if she finds that someone is still loyal to him they are as good as dead.

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"I will also be taking on a new Beta. Stefan, will you please join me?"

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I'm shocked to hear her say my name and Sadia has to push me to stand up.

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"Stefan, do you accept this new position? I know you do not come into it by blood and you are being appointed, however it is the choice I have made if you will accept it."

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"Y-yes of course! I would be honored and I will not fail you."

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"It is settled then."

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"I would also like to announce at this time Leo and Elise's council. They will all be trained as your future leaders." Roman says.

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Leo's eyes fly open and Elise looks surprised, this is all new information for them.

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"We have thought very hard about this," Anna says and she walks behind the two kids. "They are our children, and we want to ensure that those we pick for their council are strong willed and devoted to all of our people and to each other."

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"Please take a seat up here when I call your name," Roman says and everyone in the room is silent.

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"Echo, Tai, Leia and Angie," all four stand proudly, "you will be members of their council. Angie, we have not had a human member on the council in over a hundred years, but we want to begin to share our world with them and you are who we choose to represent them. Do you all accept?"

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In unison they all agree and the smiles on their faces are uncontrollable.

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"Because two royal families are coming together for the first time we will also assign a beta to both Elise and Leo. Sammi, you will take your place as Elise's Beta," Anna states and Sammi jumps from her chair and rushes to Elise and hugs her as tight as she can.

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"Sammi," Lucas shoots her a look and she giggles.

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"Sorry daddy," she says and she quickly takes her seat.

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"Leo, if you agree, we would like to appoint Jack as your Beta," all eyes turn towards the door and a nurse is wheeling Jack into the room, with Reece by his side. Leo doesn't hesitate and he gets up from his seat and walks over to Jack and gets down on his knee.

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"You'll have me as your Beta?" Jack asks and Leo grins.

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"Only if you'll show me every Star Wars movie," Leo jokes and then he embraces Jack and the room again erupts in applause.

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Roman then turns and address the council members. "Each of you has a part in running our regions and you help to ensure each of your lands is respected and taken care of. At the time that Leo and Elise take power, which could be some time away, you will all be asked to continue on as council members or to appoint someone from your sect."

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There are other things discussed, a moment of silence is held for those that were lost, and as the meeting draws to a close Aria announces the pack run and invites everyone to join in, including the Fae, Vampire and Covens.

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I'm thrilled that most are taking part. It's perfect. The pack lands will be mostly deserted as they run, and I can finally take my revenge.

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Elise's POV

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"Do I have to shift in front of everyone?" Leo looks absolutely adorable standing in front of me, and a little bit terrified.

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"No, we can shift here in private before we join the others. Would you be more comfortable for me to go first?" I ask but he shakes his head.

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"I'd rather you let me go first."

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"Ok, I'm right here and I promise it will feel so much different than the first time."

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I watch and Leo closes his eyes and braces himself as the transformation begins. Fur erupts from his skin and his human features melt into the most majestic creature I have ever seen. He's silent in his transformation this time and I am in awe of the wolf before me. I have never seen a wolf as large as he is and the streaks of green and blue shimmer through his jet black long fur.

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"Gideon?" I ask as I look into those hypnotic eyes.

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"Yes, hello Elise," he says and he takes a knee before me.

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"Is Leo okay?" I ask, hoping he found this transition to be far less traumatizing.

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"He is...adjusting," he says with a smile.

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"Well, I don't think Lily can wait another minute," I say and I kiss Gideon on cheek and shift allowing Lily to take over.

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Gideon's POV

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She is magnificent.

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Her scent intoxicates me and I lean my head in and inhale deeply, gently grazing her ear with my teeth. I can't help the low growl that rumbles from my chest.

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We stand in a private garden in the pack house, and under the gaze of the full moon I press my forehead against hers and our shared breath forms a ghostly cloud between us, and then I mark her, and she marks me. The ceremony isn't a bite as much as it is an exchange of our love. The transformation that follows is unlike anything I could ever imagine, our powerful bodies forming to one another with howls of love echoing through the woods. It's a proclamation of our union, not just as mates but as a force of nature reborn. The power of two royal families uniting as one. A complete union between us.

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We exit the gardens together and join the rest of the pack. Lily howls into the night and is echoed by her mother and father, and we lead the way into the woods. The pack senses the power of our bond and follows close behind as we run uninhibited through the trees, a primal urge to run takes over me and we run wild together. I can hear my mother in the distance letting me know that I am fulfilling the destiny I always knew was laid out for me.

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I also can feel Leo, he is quiet in my mind, but his emotions are swelling within me. I can feel his confidence grow and with each pounce on the ground, I feel his past melt away as he accepts his future. We are bonding tighter than before and I am honored to be his other half. My mother was right to choose him for me.

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Stefan's POV

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"Are you sure you don't want to come? I think it looks odd that the new Beta of this pack isn't going to go on the pack run," Sadia says as she gets herself ready.

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"I'm staying behind with Luna Aria. She isn't healthy enough yet for the run and I don't want to leave her unattended," which is partially true.

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"Okay. Promise me you'll talk to her about how you're feeling. She's on your side and she obviously trusts you. You need to stop beating yourself up over your past. She has forgiven you, you need to forgive yourself."

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She kisses me on the cheek and takes Ben and they head out. She is leading the pack run with the children, along with her sister.

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I wait about an hour before I make my way to the prison cells, making sure that no one is around. I pause outside the entrance and feel for the poisoned dagger that is at my side, making sure it's there. I easily convince the guards at the entrance to let me through and as I make my way towards Eric's cell, each step is driven by vengeance. When I peek in I see Eric lying on the makeshift hospital bed and a cold fire brews within me as thoughts of Eric's hands on my wife, and what he did to her, paint vivid pictures in my mind that I can't break free from. I'm going to enjoy draining the life from him. I do find it odd that there are no guards at the door, I thought we gave strict instructions to have him guarded down here too. Before I can give it anymore thought I'm interrupted.

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"Are you deaf?" I feel a tugging against my shirt and I turn around to find Angie standing behind me.

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"What the fuck are you doing here? How did you get past the guards at the entrance?" I ask, shocked to see her.

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"Me? What the fuck are YOU doing here?" She spits back in an angry whisper. "I told them I was with you and they didn't ask any further."

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"Why aren't you on the pack run?" I ask and she rolls her eyes at me.

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"Human, remember?" She points at herself. "I saw you creeping around and was worried you were going to do something stupid, and look, I was right!" she says and I push her down the hallway.

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"Get out of here, this has nothing to do with you," I say hoping she will just go away.

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"Are you going to kill him?" she asks but we both know the answer.

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"Angie, I'm not kidding, go back to your parents."

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We both still when we hear a voice from Eric's cell.

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"Come and do it you fucking coward," Eric says and I feel my heart start to race. When I walk to the cell I see him sitting up, he's healed his arms and legs and he just looks at me with a demonic grin on his face.

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"I know what you did to Sadia," I say as Angie tugs at my shirt. "I found her and she remembered. She told me everything." I say, and I'm seething with anger and he just shrugs. "How could you kill all those people?" I ask and he chuckles.

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"I think you mean how could we kill all those people. You were as much a part of it as I was. You helped me every step of the way. With Sadia out of the picture you were more than willing to do what I asked," he says.

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"I was wrong to help you. I wanted to die," I say and Angie tugs hard on my arm and when I turn to look at her she is pointing at the door and it's somehow unlocked.

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Eric springs from the bed to his feet and in a second he has the door flung open. He grabs me by the neck and I feel Angie grab at my belt. He lifts me up and tosses me hard into the corner where I find the guards bodies in the corner. He starts walking towards me slowly.

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"I've waited for someone to visit me down here. Those two were no match for me once I healed. I'm glad it's you that came down, I can finally give you what you've wanted all these years."

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I back up into the corner of the cell and watch as Angie storms in with the dagger raised high above and is charging straight towards Eric.

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He quickly turns and sees her lunge towards him as he exhales one word.

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"Pet."