CHAPTER 5

Racheal POV 

The council hall was tense. Everyone could feel something wasn’t right.I walked in, calm but serious, her eyes set straight on Ezekiel.

I wasn’t the same woman they all used to know. There was strength in me now and something else no one could quite name.

“Ezekiel,” I said firmly. “We need to talk. Just us.”

Ezekiel leaned back in his chair with a smirk. “Now you want to talk? After storming off like a child?”

“This isn’t just a talk,” I replied. “I’m here to tell you you’re wrong. I’ve tolerated you enough. You’ve been bewitched.”

That got his attention. He stood slowly, his smile fading. “Careful, Racheal. You’re playing with fire.”

He raised his hand to strike me but I didn’t flinch.

“No,” I said, my voice low. “I’ve finally stepped into it.”

He attacked.

But I was ready.

I moved before I thought… dodging his first strike like it was nothing. Instinct had taken over. My counterattack was swift, sharp, controlled. No one saw it coming, not even Ezekiel.

His eyes widened when my fist grazed his jaw. “You can fight?” he muttered, ducking just in time.

I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. My body moved with a rhythm it had always known but never been allowed to use.

The council erupted behind us, chairs scraping back, voices gasping in disbelief. This wasn’t a dispute. This was war.

I blocked his next blow and shot a punch into his ribs. He winced, stumbling. 

I used his momentum, spun, and delivered a roundhouse kick to his shoulder. It knocked him sideways, but he recovered faster than most.

“I trusted you,” I growled through clenched teeth, parrying his next strike. “I loved you. And you used me.”

He grabbed my wrist suddenly, slammed me against the cold wall. Pain spiked through my back, but I didn’t cry out.

“You think this is about love?” he hissed. “I let you walk into this council for a reason.”

I smiled, bitter and low. “You thought I was weak.”

I pushed off the wall, flipped over his head, and landed behind him. My legs locked around his waist, and I twisted into a chokehold. 

He elbowed me hard, and we both tumbled to the ground. I rolled first, grabbing the broken staff from the corner and sweeping it under his feet. He hit the floor again with a thud.

He snarled and started shifting claws and fangs. A full display of power.

Fine.

I let the shift roll through me, just enough. My claws extended, muscles tensed, and my vision sharpened. I met him head-on.

He lunged. I sidestepped, slammed my elbow into his back, and kicked him forward. He turned with a roar, claws slashing. I ducked, rolled, and jabbed him twice in the gut.

“I’ve been surviving,” I whispered as I delivered a palm strike to his chest that sent him flying backward into the council table. Gasps rang out.

He staggered to his feet, panting, blood running from his nose. “You’ve changed,” he said.

“No,” I said calmly. “I remembered who I was.”

We circled.

He struck first fast and brutal but I matched every blow. My claws met his.

 My fury matched his rage. I ducked, twisted, landed a blow across his face. He spat blood. I felt a twinge in my ribs, but I pushed past it. I couldn’t stop. Not now.

“You always underestimated me,” I hissed.

He came again, wild and reckless. I let him. I dodged once, twice then caught his arm, twisted, and threw him with everything I had. He slammed into the pillar. Cracked it.

He dropped to one knee, and I saw that flicker of fear. 

Finally,

I took a step forward, breathing hard. The room was dead silent. Everyone was surprised.

“You wanted a battle?” I said, voice trembling but steady. “You should’ve thought twice before waking the warrior in me.”

And I charged again this time, not as the broken woman they all once knew…

But as the storm they never saw coming.

Then came a sharp whistle from him.

And Lucy stepped out of the shadows

.

She played the innocent. “Stop,” she said softly, reaching toward Ezekiel like the perfect mate. “This isn’t who you are.”

But my eyes were already on her. Cold. Focused.

“I saw you,” I said. “In the woods. You didn’t know I was there. I followed your scent. I saw what you are.”

Lucy froze. Her perfect expression cracked.

“You’re not just a wolf,” I continued. “You’re from the Thorn Coven. You came here to destroy me.”

Lucy’s eyes darkened. “You’re delusional.”

Ezekiel stepped forward, standing in front of her. “You’ve gone too far, Racheal. She’s not your enemy.”

Then everything changed.

Moonlight spilled through the council windows, bathing me in a silver glow. Pain lanced through my body, sharp and ancient. I staggered, then dropped to my knees as it coursed through my veins, searing, awakening.

Something ancient stirred inside me.

I don't Understand it… but this must be something powerful.

The glow around me deepened. Brighter. Wilder. My eyes turned silver, and I felt the wolf in me surge bigger, stronger, alive with divine purpose.

I rose slowly. The entire room went silent.

I wasn’t just a wolf anymore.

What could this be ?

Even Ezekiel took a step back.

Then, Lucy laughed.

The sound was dark, amused. “A crown doesn’t make you strong. Let’s test that blood of yours.”

She shifted.

She cast a spell on everyone in the hall so they wouldn’t see her as she awakened the dark powers of the werewolf coven

Her transformation was violent dark smoke wrapping around her, bones twisting unnaturally. She was no longer soft or charming. She was a shadow beast with glowing red eyes.

I didn’t hesitate. I shifted to my silver fur blazing, my body glowing from within.

We collided.

Fangs. Claws. Fury.

The council chamber shook as we fought. Stone cracked under our feet. Wooden beams splintered above us. Lucy was fast and vicious, striking with black magic laced in her claws. But I countered every move with raw power and purpose.

“You wear shadows,” I snarled, pinning her for a breath, “but I am light.”

She broke free and sent a blast of dark energy into my chest. I flew back but landed strong, shaking it off.

She launched again. We rolled across the floor, teeth snapping, blood flying.

 But it was clear I was winning. My strikes were cleaner. My spirit, unbroken.

Finally, I overpowered her, pinning her down, my claw at her throat.

“Go on,” Lucy hissed. “Finish it.”

I leaned closer. “No. I want them to see the traitor. The deceiver.”

I turned to the council. “This is what he protected. This is who sat at your table while poisoning your hearts.”

Lucy hissed, shifting back into human form, clutching her side.

The spell vanished the moment she returned to her human form. That was when everyone snapped back to normal… so they never saw it happen.”

Everyone regained their footing, shaken but unaware of what had just happened.

Ezekiel strode forward like nothing had occurred and kissed Lucy. Slowly. Seductively. Right there, in front of everyone.

My blood boiled. I stormed toward him and slapped him hard. His head turned to the side.

A tense s

ilence fell. His cheek flushed red with rage.

You don’t slap an Alpha in the Council Hall.

But I just did.

And now... the worst is about to happen.