Meeting Adjourned.

Tessa

The council chamber is nothing like I imagined.

It’s larger than any room I’ve ever been in at Ashveil. Tall pillars stand along the walls, and a long table stretches across the centre. Several seats are occupied by representatives from the different clans.

At the far end of the room stands an enormous throne.

It’s empty.

I’ve never seen the Alpha King before. I’ve only heard stories about him. None of them particularly pleasant.

He’s supposed to be a dangerous man. Cruel, ruthless and powerful enough to make even the strongest Alphas think twice before challenging him.

Now I understand where Knox gets his personality.

I stand beside Knox, trying not to look as uncomfortable as I feel.

He’s still shirtless.

I don’t know whether to be annoyed or embarrassed by the fact that he’s standing before an entire council dressed like that.

He doesn’t seem to care.

His posture is relaxed, his expression unreadable. If anything, he looks like he’s the one deciding what happens here.

I look towards the council.

Gideon, Landon’s father, is seated on the right. He has the same brown hair and blue eyes as his son, although his expression is considerably harder to read.

Beside him sits Marcella, Caius’s mother. Her blonde hair falls neatly over her shoulders, and her emerald eyes are fixed on me.

There’s nothing particularly welcoming about her expression.

Levana’s parents, Isolde and Theron Ashcroft, are seated together. Her father nods once, while her mother offers me a small, reassuring smile.

I return it.

They’re the only two people in this room who don’t make me feel like I’ve already been sentenced.

Marcella is the first to speak.

“Let us begin.”

Her gaze settles on me.

“We’re here to acknowledge the situation surrounding Tessa Levine and the debt mark placed upon her by Alpha Knox Alvarez.”

I resist the urge to look at him.

She continues.

“After reviewing the circumstances surrounding her existence, we have agreed that this matter cannot be ignored.”

My fingers curl slightly.

“Your mother was an omega,” she says. “The lowest rank among werewolves. Ordinarily, that alone would not prevent you from inheriting a wolf. Your father’s bloodline should have been more than enough.”

I lift my head.

“But because of the sin he committed, you were left without one.”

My hands close into fists.

A sin?

That’s what they call it?

My father isn’t here to defend himself, and my mother isn’t here to explain anything. Yet somehow, they’ve managed to turn both of them into the reason I’m sitting in this room.

Marcella studies my reaction.

“And because of it, you were left useless."

My nails dig into palms.

"Useless," she says again, slowly, as if she enjoys the word.

"Not useless," Isolde says quietly. "Tessa, you aren't useless. But you were stripped of your chance at a real wolf. That is not your fault."

For a moment, I look at her.

At least someone in this room understands the difference.

Gideon folds his hands on the table.

“Regardless of how we describe it, there is a serious offence attached to your bloodline. Both you and your father should have faced the consequences.”

My stomach tightens.

“But there’s an obstruction.”

His gaze shifts to Knox.

I follow it.

Knox hasn’t moved. He stands with his hands at his sides, his expression completely calm.

He doesn’t even look at me.

For a moment, I feel something I don’t particularly want to admit.

Envy.

We're both standing in front of the council. We're both being judged. But he stands in front of that empty throne like it's already his, and everyone in this room looks at him with respect. Even the ones who are supposed to be in charge of him.

His head tilts slightly, but his eyes remain elsewhere.

I look away.

Theron clears his throat.

“We’ve discussed the matter and come up with a solution.” He doesn't look happy about it. That's how I know it won't be good for me.

Gideon speaks again. “Until the debt between you and Alpha Knox is settled, you will remain under his supervision.”

I frown.

“His supervision?”

“You will be within his sight from the rising of the sun until its setting. Wherever he goes, you will go. Whatever duties he attends to, you will remain close enough to be accounted for.”

I stare at him.

“Every day?”

“Every day.”

I look between the council members.

“That’s not necessary.”

“That isn’t for you to decide,” Marcella replies.

I swallow my frustration.

Gideon continues.

“You will be relieved of your current cleaning duties and transferred to work under him. Your responsibilities will be determined by Alpha Knox.”

"Wait." The word comes out before I can stop it. "I have a clan of my own."

“Do you?”

Her eyes move over me.

“You have no wolf, no standing and no position within the hierarchy. If you disappeared tomorrow, I doubt anyone would notice.”

My chest tightens.

I want to say something.

I want to tell her that she’s wrong. That people would notice. That Levana would notice. That Alaric would—

I stop.

I don’t need to prove anything to her.

Isolde leans forward slightly.

“Tessa, this is the fastest way to resolve the debt. Once the conditions have been met, you’ll be free of the arrangement.”

I look at her.

She gives me another small smile, although I can tell she isn’t entirely comfortable with the decision either.

She has no idea what Knox would do to me when the debt is broken.

I turn back to the others.

"So..." I look from face to face. "You want me to become his slave?"

Nobody answers.

Marcella lets out a long breath, like she's already tired of me.

"You will move into Knox's quarters," she says. "Today."

"What?"

"This meeting is adjourned."

She stands up. The others follow.

I can't move. I can't speak. I stand there with my mouth open while the council members walk out one by one. Isolde glances back at me before the doors close.

Then it's quiet.

It's just me and Knox.

He chuckles.

I turn my head slowly.

He laughs. It starts small, then grows, and the sound bounces off the stone walls.

"Why do you do that?" I say.

He looks at me. One eyebrow lifts. “Do what?”

“That.” I gesture towards him. “Laughing like everything is amusing when I can practically feel how angry you are.”

"And what would you prefer?" Knox says. "That I cry?"

I don't answer.

His eyes move over my face. "Like you're about to."

I clench my jaw. I hold it so tight my teeth hurt. I will not cry in front of him. I will not.

Knox sighs, flat and unimpressed.

"Let us go.”