Chapter 5 The Alpha's Choice

Elsewhere, in the old council hall, the elders began to gather. The pack's emblem was carved into the stone walls, flickering torchlight casting shadows in every corner. Only the most important were invited here. And among them, Lyra was already seated at the far end of the table, waiting.

Elder Maeron entered last, his sharp eyes seeming to pierce the hidden agenda.

"You called us here, Lyra?" he asked without beating around the bush.

Lyra smiled calmly. "As the Alpha's destined mate, I have a duty to watch over the pack's stability."

The other elders exchanged uneasy glances. "You speak as if you already stand beside the Alpha."

"I speak because our Alpha is not fulfilling his duty," she said, voice sharper now. "Kael is hiding something. Or more precisely, someone."

The elders grew restless. "What do you mean?"

"A human. A girl. Inside the Alpha's own stone tower. No announcements, no clarity. But their scent... it's already spreading beyond the forest borders."

Maeron knocked the table. "That's a heavy claim. Do you have proof?"

Lyra lifted her chin, confident. "No one is allowed into Kael's room now. Even Rowan is restricted. But Kael has never been this strict unless he's hiding a bond."

One elder muttered quietly, "A bond? You mean... a soulmate?"

"Yes," Lyra said firmly. "And if true, then our Alpha is bound to a human."

Silence fell. Long. Heavy.

Maeron finally spoke softly, "If that's true ... Kael has broken the pure bloodline of our leader."

Lyra's sharp gaze swept to Maeron, then the other elders. "We must act. Before the entire pack loses its way. Or worse ... loses its leader."

Outside the hall, one of Lyra's followers slipped away, carrying a message to be spread quietly across the pack.

"Our Alpha has chosen a human. And rejected the wolf's blood."

The old village bell tolled from the center of the village. Kael stood before his room's window, staring toward the council hall in the distance.

The bell was no ordinary sound. It was a summons for the Alpha's trial. Aria stood behind him, her body trembling.

"This... it's because of me, isn't it?"

Kael turned slowly. "No. It's because they're afraid of something they cannot control."

"I want to leave."

"No." Kael's eyes sharpened. "You stay here. This is my fight."

The council hall was full. The elders sat in a circle, their faces dark and cold. In the center, Kael stood alone.

Maeron opened the session. "Kael, Alpha of the western pack. We did not call you here as friends... but as a leader who must be held accountable."

Kael remained silent. One by one, the elders spoke.

"You never announced your mate."

"The rumors of a human grow stronger."

"The scent of the bond can no longer be hidden from the pack."

Then Lyra stood, her voice soft but striking hard. "If our Alpha has fallen for a human, how can we protect our bloodline? Will we bow to human weakness just because of a bond?"

Kael lifted his chin. "I did not fall. I chose. I chose to protect my soulmate, no matter the blood."

Sighs and whispers filled the room.

Maeron's voice rang out. "With that statement, you admit... that the human is truly your soulmate?"

"Yes." One word. Firm.

Lyra glared with cold fury. "Then... we will hold your trial in three days. Under the blood law."

"And if you lose... you must surrender your position as Alpha. Or your life."

After the session, Kael left the room. The sky darkened with gathering clouds.

Rowan approached him. "You're crazy."

"Maybe. But I won't let them touch her."

That night was pitch black. Clouds blocked the moon. Inside Kael's room, Aria lay awake. She stood by the window, gazing out at the silent yet ominous forest.

Kael hadn't returned since the midday session. Rowan brought food but left soon after. Aria felt uneasy. Too quiet. Too ... empty.

Then a hiss sounded outside the window. Leaves rustled. Light footsteps, as if someone was trying to be silent.

Aria stepped back slowly. But the door creaked open by itself. Someone had picked the lock. She held her breath. A woman's figure stepped in slowly. Silver hair. Sharp eyes. A hateful smile.

"Finally, we meet without guards."

Aria retreated, trembling. "What do you want ...?"

"To restore the pack's balance. To remove the poison from the Alpha's blood."

In an instant, Lyra leapt forward, claws transforming, ready to strike. But just as she almost touched Aria, a strong force hit from the side. Kael arrived. They tumbled to the floor, the loud crash echoing through the room.

"I warned you, Lyra!"

"You disgrace yourself! All for that filthy human!"

Kael slammed the floor beside Lyra's head, holding back his rage. "Touch her again, and I won't wait for a trial. I'll end this here."

Lyra smiled with spite, blood dripping from a wound on her shoulder. "You've lost, Kael. Even before stepping into the trial arena. Because you chose love over blood."

Kael locked Lyra up for the time being. But the whole pack soon knew Aria had become the target. And Kael couldn't protect her forever, unless he won.

After that night full of attacks, Kael took Aria far from the stone tower. To an old underground chamber once used by past Alphas the safest, most hidden place.

In the silence, Aria stood before him. "Kael..."

Her voice trembled not from fear, but from wounds deeper than Lyra's claws. Kael looked at her wearily. His left arm was roughly bandaged, a mark of Lyra's attack.

"What are you thinking now?"

Aria took a deep breath, fighting tears. "Break the bond. Cut it all. Before you lose everything because of me."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "Don't say foolish things."

"This isn't foolish! It's sane! You're the Alpha. You're their leader. I ... I'm nobody!"

Kael stepped closer. "You're my soulmate."

"And because of that, I have to go. Before they kill you for protecting me. I'd rather die than be the reason you die."

Kael gripped her shoulder hard but gentle. "Don't ever say that again. I fight because you're the only reason I'm still Alpha. Without you, I'm just a monster wearing a leader's skin."

Aria cried, collapsing into his arms. "Then let me go. So they won't find me. Hide me. Hide me until this is over."

Kael fell silent. Beneath his strength and honor was a fear he'd kept to himself fear of losing the only person who made him feel alive. And far away, Rowan peeked from the hallway, holding his breath. He knew a choice had to be made, before the day of the trial.

Kael stood with his back to Aria, body tense. "You know what's the cruelest thing about all this?"

"What?" Aria whispered.

"I hate your blood." Kael turned, eyes sharp. "I hate that you're the daughter of the man who burned half our village down ten years ago."

Aria bowed her head, biting her lip. "I know. That's why I said ... let me go."

"But my body won't listen." Kael slammed the stone wall beside him. "Every time I want to hurt you, my body moves to protect you instead."

He laughed bitterly. "This bond ... it's like a curse. And I'm trapped in it with my enemy."

Aria's tears fell, but she stood firm. "Then ... hate me. But let me live. Don't destroy yourself just because of me."

Kael closed his eyes. "Do you think I didn't try to kill you on the first night we met?"

Aria was silent.

"But when my skin touched yours ..." He opened his eyes, filled with devastation. "All memories of your father vanished. All that remained was you. Your breath. Your heartbeat. And that scared me more than any war."