The Council's chamber was smaller than the Judgment Hall, more intimate and far more intimidating.
Seven seats arranged in a semicircle. Kael's throne-like chair at the center, elevated above the others.
When Kael entered with Seraphine at his side, the five Council members already present went silent.
Marcellus sat in his usual position, his expression unreadable.
Vivienne's seat was empty she'd lost her position when Astrid was banished.
Thorne nodded respectfully at Seraphine, which earned him sharp looks from the others.
Two other elders Cassia and Viktor watched with carefully neutral expressions.
And in Vivienne's old seat sat someone new.
An elder woman Seraphine had never seen before, with silver hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through her.
Kael guided Seraphine to a chair that had been placed beside his throne not lower, not subservient, but equal.
A clear statement.
He sat, his posture radiating authority.
"You invoked the King's Right," he said coldly. "This had better be important."
Marcellus stood. "My king, what we discuss today affects the very survival of our pack."
"Then speak."
Marcellus gestured to the silver-haired woman.
"First, allow me to introduce Elder Morrigan. She has recently returned from the northern territories where she's been studying ancient texts in the Moonwalk archives there."
The woman stood gracefully, bowing to Kael but not to Seraphine.
"My king. It is an honor."
"Morrigan." Kael's eyes narrowed. "I didn't authorize your return."
"No. But what I discovered required immediate report."
She pulled out an ancient book leather-bound, pages yellowed with age.
"I found this in the sealed section of the northern archive. A complete text of the Lunar Prophecy."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Kael's hand found Seraphine's, gripping tightly.
"And?" he demanded.
Morrigan opened the book carefully.
"The prophecy we know is incomplete. What most wolves have heard is only the first verse."
She began to read in a clear, measured voice:
"When the Hidden Omega rises under the blood moon,
She will crown the Ruthless King or cast him to ruin."
"We know this part," Kael said impatiently.
"Yes. But there's more." Morrigan turned the page. "Much more."
She continued:
"Three trials she must face, three sacrifices make,
Before the old world shatters and the new one wakes.
The first trial: Blood of the innocent, freely given.
The second trial: Power of the bond, willingly broken.
The third trial: Life of the beloved, surrendered unchosen.
Only when all three are paid in full,
Will the Hidden Omega fulfill her rule.
But know this, wolves of moon and star:
The price of power reaches far.
For she who crowns must first destroy,
And he who loves must learn to die.
The Ruthless King will kneel or burn,
And only blood will decide which turn."
Silence crashed over the chamber.
Seraphine felt ice spreading through her veins.
Life of the beloved, surrendered unchosen.
He who loves must learn to die.
Her hand trembled in Kael's grip.
"What does it mean?" Elder Viktor asked quietly.
Morrigan closed the book. "It means that for Seraphine to fulfill the prophecy to fully awaken her power and reshape the werewolf world three prices must be paid."
She looked directly at Seraphine.
"Blood. Bond. Life."
Marcellus stepped forward. "And the final lines suggest that the Alpha King himself is part of that price."
"You're suggesting she has to kill him," Thorne said flatly.
"I'm suggesting," Marcellus corrected, "that the prophecy demands sacrifice. Possibly the ultimate sacrifice."
His gaze shifted to Kael.
"My king, you must see now why we are concerned. This girl this omega she may be destined to destroy you."
"Or crown him," Thorne countered. "The prophecy gives two options."
"Both require trials that involve death and destruction," Cassia added, her voice trembling slightly. "How can we allow her to remain when"
"Enough."
Kael's voice cut through the debate like a blade.
He stood slowly, his aura filling the room.
"I don't care what the prophecy says."
"My king"
"I. Don't. Care."
His hand tightened around Seraphine's.
"Prophecies can be interpreted a thousand different ways. The future isn't written in stone."
He pulled Seraphine to her feet beside him.
"And even if it were even if choosing her meant my death"
His eyes met hers, fierce and unwavering.
"I'd make the same choice."
Seraphine's heart cracked. "Kael, no"
"You don't get to decide this for me," he said gently. Then he turned back to the Council, his expression hardening. "None of you do."
"But the pack" Marcellus started.
"The pack will follow my lead. As they always have."
Kael's aura pressed outward, forcing even the elders to lower their gazes.
"This session is over. If you have concerns about the prophecy, bring me solutions. Not fear."
"My king"
"Over."
The Alpha command was absolute.
The Council members bowed and filed out silently.
All except Morrigan, who paused at the door.
"My king," she said quietly. "I hope you know what you're doing."
"So do I," Kael said honestly.
She left.
Thorne lingered a moment longer.
"There's something else," he said. "Something Morrigan didn't mention."
Kael's eyes sharpened. "What?"
"The prophecy mentions trials. Three of them. But it doesn't say when they'll come, or in what form."
He looked at Seraphine with something like pity.
"Which means they could already be happening. And we wouldn't even know."
He bowed and left.
Seraphine and Kael stood alone in the chamber.
The weight of the prophecy pressed down on them both.
Finally, Seraphine spoke, her voice barely a whisper.
"What if it's true? What if I'm destined to"
"Don't." Kael turned her to face him. "Don't say it."
"But Kael"
"Listen to me." His hands gripped her shoulders. "I have spent my entire life defying expectations. Breaking rules. Refusing to bow to fate or tradition or fear."
His eyes blazed.
"I'm not going to start now."
"The prophecy says"
"The prophecy can go to hell."
He pulled her against him, fierce and protective.
"We'll face the trials if they come. We'll make the choices we have to make. But we do it together, on our terms."
"What if there's no way around it?" she whispered against his chest. "What if saving the werewolf world means"
"Then we find another way." His voice was iron-hard. "Or we burn it all down and build something new."
She pulled back to look at him. "You'd really choose me over everything?"
"I already have."
The simple truth of it stole her breath.
Kael's expression softened slightly.
"Come on," he said. "We have work to do."
"What work?"
"If trials are coming, we need to be ready." His hand found hers again. "Which means your training intensifies. No more holding back."
"Kael"
A massive howl cut through the air.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Alarm howls. Coming from multiple directions.
Kael's entire body went rigid.
"No," he breathed.
The doors burst open.
Garrett stumbled in, bleeding from a gash across his chest.
"My king!" he gasped. "The borders—all of them—we're under attack!"
"Blackwater again?"
"No." Garrett's face was white with terror. "All three of them. Blackwater, Ashford, and Crane. They've formed an alliance."
The blood drained from Kael's face.
"How many?"
"Over a thousand wolves. Maybe more." Garrett swayed. "They're demanding the Hidden Omega. They say if we don't surrender her in one hour"
He didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
Seraphine understood with perfect, horrible clarity.
The three rival Alpha Kings had united.
And they were coming for her.
All of them.
At once.
Kael's expression went cold as death.
"Sound the war bells," he said quietly. "Mobilize every warrior. Every able-bodied wolf."
"My king, we can't fight them all"
"We won't have to." Kael's eyes glowed bright silver. "Because I'm going to kill all three of them myself."
He turned to Seraphine.
"You stay in the stronghold. Deep underground. Darius will guard you with his life."
"No." Her voice was stronger than she felt. "I'm not hiding."
"Seraphine"
"They want me. If I hide, wolves die." She lifted her chin. "You taught me to stand. So I'm standing."
Kael looked like he might throw her over his shoulder and lock her away.
But then something shifted in his expression.
Pride. Fear. Love.
"Then we stand together," he said.
He grabbed her hand.
"But if things go wrong if they break through—"
"They won't."
"If they do," he insisted, his voice rough, "you run. You survive. Do you understand?"
"Kael"
"Promise me."
She saw the desperation in his eyes. The fear of losing her.
"I promise," she whispered.
He kissed her hard, desperately, like it might be the last time.
Then he pulled back.
"Let's go to war."