Chapter twelve: The elder’s eye

By the end of the week, the whispers had reached the ears of the pack council.

The Elders.

They were a group of seven alphas and betas—some retired warriors, some bloodline traditionalists. Most were old enough to remember the last war with the Southern packs. They prided themselves on order, legacy, and pack purity. And they did not tolerate what they called “deviation.”

So when Daniel Carter received a summons to bring Brian to the council chamber, he knew things were about to get complicated.

“What do they want with Brian?” Rachel demanded, pacing the kitchen floor while Alex stood nearby, heart pounding.

Daniel ran a hand down his face. “They think the bond… compromises his future as a possible pack leader.”

Alex’s stomach sank. “They want to tear us apart.”

“They won’t succeed,” Brian said from the hallway, stepping in. His voice was calm, but his eyes were burning.

Daniel turned to him. “You don’t have to go, not alone.”

“I do,” Brian said. “If I don’t face them, they’ll think I’m ashamed. I’m not.”

⸻

The council chamber was cold, stone-walled, and dimly lit. Brian stood before the Elders, his arms crossed behind his back, his shoulders squared. He refused to look weak.

Elder Donovan, the eldest of the group, leaned forward with sharp, calculating eyes. “So. You’ve bonded with an omega. Your stepbrother, no less.”

“I have,” Brian said without hesitation.

A murmur passed through the council.

Elder Silva, a thin, sharp-tongued beta, raised an eyebrow. “You understand the implications? You’ve jeopardized the line of succession, your father’s name, and brought controversy to the pack.”

“I’ve honored the bond the Moon Goddess chose for me,” Brian replied. “And I won’t apologize for that.”

Donovan’s gaze narrowed. “The Goddess doesn’t make mistakes, but sometimes fate does. Your connection to the Monroe omega is… unorthodox. Some believe it unnatural.”

Brian stepped forward. “Then let them believe it. I don’t need their approval.”

Another murmur.

Silva sneered. “And what of the omega? Is he manipulating you? Playing on your instincts?”

Brian’s fists clenched. “Say his name.”

Silva blinked. “What?”

“You want to accuse him, say his name. Don’t talk about him like he’s some disease.”

Elder Donovan raised a hand, silencing the room.

“This pack has endured for centuries because we uphold values. You are an alpha, Brian. One of the strongest of your generation. And you’ve chosen to bond with a boy who is not only your stepbrother but also considered a social anomaly. That raises concerns.”

Brian met his gaze. “I’d rather be cast out than walk this pack’s path without him.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

After several tense seconds, Donovan spoke again.

“We will deliberate. You may go.”

Brian turned on his heel and walked out, heart pounding in his chest.

⸻

Back home, Alex waited on the porch, eyes searching the darkness. When Brian emerged from the trees, Alex ran toward him.

“What did they say?”

Brian pulled him into his arms. “They haven’t decided yet. But I told them the truth.”

Alex pressed his face into Brian’s chest. “I’m scared.”

“I’m not,” Brian whispered into his hair. “Because even if they try to tear us down… I’ll stand. With you.”

And for now, that was enough.