"State your name and rank," the center Elder commanded.
"Nora Rivers," Nora said clearly. "Formerly of Silver Moon Pack."
"Alpha Damien Cross of Silver Moon Pack," Damien said.
The Elder, whose nameplate read "Elder Moira," surveyed them both with ancient eyes.
"Alpha Cross," she said. "You have brought this petition claiming that your rejection of Nora Rivers was not properly accepted. Explain your reasoning."
Damien cleared his throat. "Honored Elders, my rejection of Nora was done in a moment of weakness and confusion. My former mate, Sienna Hayes, had returned after years away, and I foolishly believed old feelings meant we were meant to be together. I was wrong."
"You rejected your fated mate for another woman," another Elder said. This one was male, with a long white beard. "That is not weakness. That is choice."
"I regret that choice," Damien said. "I've come before this Council to ask for a second chance. Nora accepted my rejection while in shock and emotional distress. She couldn't have been in a sound mind to make such a life-altering decision."
"I was perfectly sound of mind," Nora interjected.
"Silence," Elder Moira said sharply. "You will speak when asked. Alpha Cross, continue."
Damien shot Nora a look before continuing. "After the rejection, Nora disappeared. I later discovered she'd gone to Blackwood Pack territory. I believe Alpha Kael Blackwood took advantage of her vulnerable state and manipulated her into staying with him."
Murmurs rippled through the spectators.
Elder Moira raised her hand for silence. "That is a serious accusation, Alpha Cross. Do you have proof?"
"Nora was a loyal member of Silver Moon for her entire life," Damien said. "She had no reason to leave except for the broken mate bond. Within hours of our rejection, she was in Blackwood territory. That's not coincidence. That's manipulation."
"Or," a third Elder spoke up—a woman with kind eyes, "it's a young wolf seeking refuge from public humiliation."
"Exactly!" Damien said eagerly. "She was humiliated and hurt. She wasn't thinking clearly. That's why I'm asking the Council to grant us a reconciliation period. Thirty days for me to prove to Nora that we belong together. If, after that time, she still wishes to uphold the rejection, I'll accept it."
"How generous," Kael's voice came from the spectator section, dripping with sarcasm.
"Alpha Blackwood," Elder Moira said sternly. "You are not party to these proceedings. Another outburst and you will be removed."
Kael inclined his head but said nothing more.
Elder Moira turned to Nora. "Nora Rivers, you may now speak. Tell us, in your own words, what happened the night of the rejection."
Nora took a deep breath.
"Damien and I had been together for four years," she began. "We were planning our mating ceremony. Everything seemed perfect until his ex-girlfriend returned. I noticed him pulling away, spending more time with her, but I trusted him. I thought our bond was strong enough."
She paused, remembering the pain.
"The night of our ceremony, in front of our entire pack, Damien rejected me. He said Sienna was his true mate. That I had been a mistake. The bond breaking nearly killed me. The pain was... indescribable."
"And yet you survived," an Elder observed.
"Barely," Nora admitted. "I wanted to die. I almost did die. I was going to walk into the river and end it all. But someone stopped me."
"Alpha Blackwood?" Elder Moira asked.
"Yes," Nora said. "But not in the way Damien claims. Kael didn't manipulate me. He saved my life. He offered me shelter and protection while I healed. That's all."
"That's all?" Damien scoffed. "You expect us to believe the great Kael Blackwood took in a broken she-wolf out of the goodness of his heart?"
"I expect you to believe the truth," Nora said coldly.
Elder Moira held up a hand. "Nora Rivers, do you claim that your acceptance of the rejection was made willingly?"
"Yes."
"And you maintain that you were of sound mind at the time?"
"Yes," Nora said. "I was in pain, but I understood what I was doing. Damien made his choice. I made mine."
"What is your current relationship with Alpha Blackwood?" another Elder asked.
Nora hesitated. What was her relationship with Kael? Mentor and student? Alpha and pack member? Something more?
"He's my Alpha," she said carefully. "I'm a member of Blackwood Pack now."
"Did he pressure you to join his pack?"
"No. It was my decision."
"Show us," Elder Moira commanded suddenly.
Nora blinked. "Show you what?"
"Your wolf," the Elder said. "If you've truly healed from this rejection, if you're truly thriving as you claim, your wolf will show it. Shift. Now."
Nora glanced at Kael in the spectator section. He nodded encouragingly.
She closed her eyes and called to her wolf.
The shift came easily now, like breathing. In seconds, she stood on four legs, silver-streaked fur gleaming under the chamber's lights. Her amber eyes glowed.
The Elders leaned forward, studying her.
"Remarkable," one whispered.
"A Luna wolf," another breathed.
Even Damien looked shocked.
"I didn't know," he stammered. "Nora, you're—"
But Nora wasn't listening. She held her wolf form, letting the Elders see her power, her strength, her undeniable transformation.
"Shift back," Elder Moira commanded.
Nora did.
"Nora Rivers," Elder Moira said slowly, "you are a Luna wolf. Do you understand what that means?"
"Yes, Elder."
"Luna wolves are born leaders. They don't need mates to complete them. They are complete on their own." The Elder's gaze sharpened. "Tell me honestly, child. Do you wish to reconcile with Alpha Cross?"
"No," Nora said without hesitation.
"Not even for a trial period?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Nora looked directly at Damien. "Because I know my worth now. And it's more than he ever valued me at."
The room erupted in whispers.
"Order!" Elder Moira demanded. The room fell silent. "Alpha Cross, what say you to this?"
Damien's face had gone pale. "She's different. Changed. This isn't the Nora I knew—"
"Exactly," Nora interrupted. "I'm not the girl you could control anymore. I'm sorry that's inconvenient for you."
"Nora Rivers," Elder Moira said, "this Council finds that your acceptance of the rejection was made willingly and with full understanding of the consequences. The bond is lawfully broken."
Relief flooded through Nora.
"However," the Elder continued, and Nora's heart sank, "we cannot ignore the sacred nature of fated mate bonds. We grant Alpha Cross one opportunity."
"What?" Nora gasped.
"One trial period," Elder Moira said. "Not thirty days. Seven. Seven days for Alpha Cross to prove his worth to you. If, at the end of that time, you still wish to uphold the rejection, it will be permanent and unbreakable. No further appeals."
"No," Nora said. "No, I won't—"
"This is the Council's ruling," Elder Moira said firmly. "You will return to Silver Moon Pack for seven days. At the end, you will appear before us again and make your final choice. This is non-negotiable."
Nora looked at Kael. He looked furious.
"You can't force her—" he started.
"We can and we have," Elder Moira said. "It is done. This hearing is adjourned."
The Elders stood and filed out.
Damien smiled triumphantly. "Seven days, Nora. That's all I need. You'll remember why we were perfect together."
"Don't count on it," Nora said.
But inside, she was panicking.
Seven days back in Silver Moon.
Seven days with Damien.
How was she going to survive this?"Yes," Nora said. "I was in pain, but I understood what I was doing. Damien made his choice. I made mine."
"What is your current relationship with Alpha Blackwood?" another Elder asked.
Nora hesitated. What was her relationship with Kael? Mentor and student? Alpha and pack member? Something more?
"He's my Alpha," she said carefully. "I'm a member of Blackwood Pack now."
"Did he pressure you to join his pack?"
"No. It was my decision."
"Show us," Elder Moira commanded suddenly.
Nora blinked. "Show you what?"
"Your wolf," the Elder said. "If you've truly healed from this rejection, if you're truly thriving as you claim, your wolf will show it. Shift. Now."
Nora glanced at Kael in the spectator section. He nodded encouragingly.
She closed her eyes and called to her wolf.
The shift came easily now, like breathing. In seconds, she stood on four legs, silver-streaked fur gleaming under the chamber's lights. Her amber eyes glowed.
The Elders leaned forward, studying her.
"Remarkable," one whispered.
"A Luna wolf," another breathed.
Even Damien looked shocked.
"I didn't know," he stammered. "Nora, you're—"
But Nora wasn't listening. She held her wolf form, letting the Elders see her power, her strength, her undeniable transformation.
"Shift back," Elder Moira commanded.
Nora did.
"Nora Rivers," Elder Moira said slowly, "you are a Luna wolf. Do you understand what that means?"
"Yes, Elder."
"Luna wolves are born leaders. They don't need mates to complete them. They are complete on their own." The Elder's gaze sharpened. "Tell me honestly, child. Do you wish to reconcile with Alpha Cross?"
"No," Nora said without hesitation.
"Not even for a trial period?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Nora looked directly at Damien. "Because I know my worth now. And it's more than he ever valued me at."
The room erupted in whispers.
"Order!" Elder Moira demanded. The room fell silent. "Alpha Cross, what say you to this?"
Damien's face had gone pale. "She's different. Changed. This isn't the Nora I knew—"
"Exactly," Nora interrupted. "I'm not the girl you could control anymore. I'm sorry that's inconvenient for you."
"Nora Rivers," Elder Moira said, "this Council finds that your acceptance of the rejection was made willingly and with full understanding of the consequences. The bond is lawfully broken."
Relief flooded through Nora.
"However," the Elder continued, and Nora's heart sank, "we cannot ignore the sacred nature of fated mate bonds. We grant Alpha Cross one opportunity."
"What?" Nora gasped.
"One trial period," Elder Moira said. "Not thirty days. Seven. Seven days for Alpha Cross to prove his worth to you. If, at the end of that time, you still wish to uphold the rejection, it will be permanent and unbreakable. No further appeals."
"No," Nora said. "No, I won't—"
"This is the Council's ruling," Elder Moira said firmly. "You will return to Silver Moon Pack for seven days. At the end, you will appear before us again and make your final choice. This is non-negotiable."
Nora looked at Kael. He looked furious.
"You can't force her—" he started.
"We can and we have," Elder Moira said. "It is done. This hearing is adjourned."
The Elders stood and filed out.
Damien smiled triumphantly. "Seven days, Nora. That's all I need. You'll remember why we were perfect together."
"Don't count on it," Nora said.
But inside, she was panicking.
Seven days back in Silver Moon.
Seven days with Damien.
How was she going to survive this?