Chapter 14 – The Pack Sees

The morning the great hall was packed with people. They were not there for a meeting or a feast just standing around waiting and watching. The news had spread like wildfire overnight. Someone had seen the white light coming from the yard the day before. Someone had heard me let out a howl that I did not even remember. Someone had seen Damon walk me inside wrapped in his cloak with my hair wild and my eyes glowing gold for a brief moment before I shifted back.

They knew something was going on. They did not know everything. They knew enough to stop pretending that I was just a wolfless omega. Damon did not try to hide it. He walked into the hall first with me beside him not behind him not hiding. I was standing tall with my head up. My shoulders back. I was still wearing the clothes from the day before because I had not had time to find clean ones.

The room fell silent soon as we stepped through the doors. It was like all the air had been sucked out. The elders were seated at the table the warriors were lined up against the walls and the omegas were clustered near the kitchens. Everyone was staring at us. Marcus was there with his arms crossed and a hard look on his face.. He did not speak first.

One of the warriors Rafe stepped forward. His voice was shaking a little as he asked "Is it true what they are saying? That you shifted into a wolf a full shift?" Damon did not answer away. He looked around the room taking his time like he was memorizing every face. Then he nodded once. Said, "It is true."

The hall erupted into murmurs. Gasps. Someone dropped a tray. It clanged loudly. I felt my wolf stir inside me. I was not scared. I was ready. Damons hand brushed against mine steady. He said, "She is not wolfless. She was never wolfless. She was hidden, protected by magic that's stronger than anything this pack has seen.. Now she is awake."

The murmurs grew louder. Marcus finally spoke up "And you knew about this?" Damons jaw. He said, "I know now and that is what matters." Marcus laughed, a bitter sound. "So we are supposed to accept it? Accept that the girl we all blamed for her parents death is suddenly the White Wolf, the one the legends say could save us or destroy us?"

The room fell silent again. I felt every eye on me. My heart was pounding hard that I thought it would crack a rib.. My wolf did not flinch. I stepped forward past Damon into the space between the tables. I looked at Marcus at the elders and then at the whole pack. I said, "I never asked for this. I never asked for the bond. To be the Alphas mate or to be the White Wolf.. I am and I am done hiding it."

Someone. Someone else whispered "White Wolf" like a prayer. I took another step forward. Let a little light flicker under my skin just enough to show them. I said, "I am not here to destroy anything. I am here to protect what is mine this pack, this land and the people in it. Even the ones who spent ten years kicking me when I was down."

The room was so quiet that I could hear my heartbeat. I looked straight at Marcus. Said, "But if anyone tries to hurt what is mine I will destroy them.. I will not need permission." The light flared brighter for a moment. Then dimmed. I stepped beside Damon. He put his hand on my lower back, solid and claiming.

No one spoke for a moment. Then one of the elders Mara stood up slowly. She said, "The legends speak of the White Wolf as both savior and destroyer. The choice is hers." She looked at me not with fear. With something like respect. She asked, "What will you choose, child?"

I looked around the hall and saw the fear the hope and the doubt. I said, "I choose to fight for this pack not because I owe it to you but because it is mine now.. I protect what is mine." There was silence and then Rafe, the young warrior who had asked the question dropped to one knee. Then. Another. Not all of them not Marcus, not everyone.. Enough.

Damons hand tightened on my back. He did not speak,. He did not need to. The pack was starting to see. The enemies, in the shadows were about to learn what happens when the White Wolf chooses to fight. For real. This time.