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CHAPTER 22
~Seraphina's POV~
Elder Mauris' Private Estate – East Wing Parlour
The scent of lavender drifted through the lavish room. A fire crackled softly in the hearth, but it did little to warm the chill coiled in my spine.
Mira sat beside me, hands folded primly in her lap, but I could feel her tension as clearly as my own. Every so often, she glanced at the elder pacing the edge of the rug—each pass slower, heavier.
Elder Mauris had been silent for the past full minute. The only sound was the ticking of the grandfather clock and the shifting of his robe.
Finally, he stopped.
He turned toward us with an expression carved from stone. "This… news you've brought me," he said slowly, "is deeply troubling."
I dipped my head. "We thought you should be made aware, Elder. Before things spiral beyond repair."
He nodded once, then gestured for us to continue.
Mira spoke next. "It is as I have said before, Elder. We've seen it firsthand. Rhiannon is manipulating the Alphas. She speaks softly and hides behind pain, but it's not grief. It's strategy."
Mauris narrowed his eyes. "And how far has her influence spread?"
Mira didn't hesitate. "Far enough to cause a rift between them. I was told that during Alpha Solaris and Alpha Aiden's visit yesterday, things nearly erupted. The Alphas almost clashed."
Mauris stiffened. "Clashed? Over her?"
I nodded, slowly. "The room was nearly torn apart over a single woman. She hasn't even been in the pack for a full moon cycle, yet already..."
"She's driving wedges," Mira finished grimly. "Between them. Between us."
The Elder's fingers curled into fists. "No. No, what were those boys thinking?" He turned away again, pacing now. "To provoke war with the Northern Alliance over a girl?" He spat the word like poison. "No one dares challenge Solaris openly and definitely not without consequence."
He stopped at the mantel, breathing heavily.
"We need peace," I said gently, rising from my seat. I kept my voice soft, the way I always did around men in power. "With Rhiannon in the picture, we'll lose it. She must stand trial, Elder. The bond she holds—five Alphas, one mate—is unnatural and unstable."
"She's dangerous," Mira added. "To the pack. To the Council. Even to the traditions we swore to uphold."
Mauris's shoulders lifted and dropped in a long, tired breath. Then he turned to face us fully, his expression hardened now.
I could see resolve in his eyes. Men in power most likely hated to see a woman manipulate things, thereby controlling them.
"You're right," he said at last. "And I've already sent word to the other elders. I suspect they're already making a move."
I allowed myself a small smile, letting my shoulders slouch. "Then we can trust justice will be served."
He inclined his head. "Do not worry, my ladies. The Council will see reason. And that girl will face it—soon."
I bowed slightly in gratitude, though inside, my heart burned coldly with satisfaction.
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~Rhiannon's POV~
The Council Hall
The sleek double doors slid open with a soft mechanical hiss.
I stepped into the council chamber with my head high, spine straight, and every nerve in my body on edge, but none of it showed on my face.
I knew what to expect but I still did not know what they had planned either.
Gone were the rags and oversized clothes they'd once thrown at me. Today, I wore a storm-grey dress—minimalist, fitted at the waist, elegant but not flashy.
It was exactly what they weren't expecting.
Eyes tracked me the moment I entered. The room was already full—ten council elders seated in a perfect arc of matte black chairs, every angle of the space built to intimidate.
On the other name tags, I could see that the extra five were all assistants of the first five I had met prior.
Their files were opened in front of them as all eyes remained fixed on me. Not one of them smiled.
Elder Mauris sat in the centre. Seraphina, unfortunately, occupied one of the observer seats near him, legs crossed, expression poised and polished.
And another lady sat two seats down, not even pretending to hide her interest.
"Ah," one elder muttered under his breath, eyeing me from behind thin, gold-rimmed glasses. "She's finally dressed like she belongs in this century."
A few soft chuckles circled the table.
Elder Saben cleared his throat and leaned forward slightly. "You may present your case, Rhiannon of no known lineage. You have five minutes to convince us why the bond between you and our Alphas is not a threat to this pack."
Before I could respond, the doors behind me slid open again. Their timing was perfect.
The air in the room shifted the moment the Alphas entered.
Kael walked in first, clad in dark slacks and a crisp black shirt, every line of his body radiating command.
The others flanked him in coordinated tones like shadows—Lucien with a lazy kind of grace, looking casually arrogant in charcoal, and Talon deadly calm in a clean-cut navy.
Darian was dressed in white-on-black, with a scowl that dared someone to challenge him, and Riven trailed behind, all lethal silence and shadow.
"Excuse me," Kael's voice cut cleanly through the chamber. "There will be no trial for our mate unless we are present."
The room broke into whispers and mutters—unfavourable ones, from the look of it.
Council members shifted uncomfortably. One of the elders on the right side began to rise, his mouth opening…but Elder Mauris raised a hand, and the room went still.
"Let them speak," Elder Mauris said suddenly, rising slowly, hands clasped behind his back.
A cold smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"If they insist on proving how thoroughly they've been bewitched, then who are we to interrupt? Be our guest, Alphas."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed like slits across the room, but she said nothing. I caught it, and so did Kael.
They didn't ask permission and didn't explain themselves.
Seraphina stiffened at that. I turned my attention back to the elders, ignoring my mates, the alphas, as they each proceeded to take their seats.
"Let us begin."
The questions started almost immediately.
"Name and origin?" Elder Dhorian asked sharply.
"My name is Rhiannon Vale," I answered calmly. "I was born and raised in a human town."
"And what is a human girl doing here?" another elder snapped. "We are not a sanctuary for strays."
"I didn't come here by choice," I said tightly. "I was taken, captured, sold, and bought."
"She lies!" Seraphina shot to her feet