Chapter 3 Five Years of Transformation

Chapter 3 Five Years of Transformation
Chapter 3:

Sera's POV

"Again."

I hit the ground hard enough to taste blood, vision swimming. Every muscle screamed protest. My lungs burned like I'd swallowed fire.

"I said again, Sera."

Marcus's voice carried no sympathy, only expectation. The same expectation he'd wielded like a weapon for the past five years.

I dragged myself upright, spitting crimson into the dirt. Around us, the Aurora Territory's training grounds sprawled fifty acres of combat rings, obstacle courses, and wolves who'd learned to fear their Queen's temper.

"You're holding back." Commander Rhett circled me, his scarred face impassive. "Still fighting like prey instead of predator."

"I'm tired." The admission came out sharper than intended.

"And you think enemies care?" He moved faster than his bulk suggested possible, sweeping my legs. I crashed down again. "Tired Queens become dead Queens."

Rage ignited. The same rage that had sustained me through five years of brutal training, political maneuvering, and raising a son who could level buildings with a tantrum.

My wolf surged forward, and I let her.

Silver light exploded from my skin. I moved before Rhett could react, caught his arm, twisted, and used his momentum to flip all two-hundred-fifty pounds of warrior onto his back.

My forearm pressed against his throat.

"Dead?" I growled. "I don't think so."

He grinned, pride flashing in his eyes. "There she is. The Twilight Sovereign."

I released him, offering a hand up. He took it, the casual gesture of respect that had taken years to earn.

"Better," Marcus called from the observation platform. "But you telegraphed the move. A trained opponent would have countered."

"A trained opponent can try." I rolled my shoulders, feeling power hum beneath my skin. So different from the terrified girl who'd stumbled into Marcus's cabin. "How much time before the council meeting?"

"Two hours." Rhett's expression sobered. "They're going to push for the Aurora Territory to join the Continental Alpha Council."

"Let them push." I headed toward the changing rooms, guards falling into step around me. Five years, and I still wasn't used to the constant presence. "We join when I decide we're ready. Not before."

Inside, I stripped off ruined training gear and stepped into the shower. Hot water sluiced away sweat and blood, but couldn't touch the knot of tension coiling tighter each day.

The Continental Alpha Council. The annual summit where the most powerful packs gathered to posture and scheme.

This year's host was the Crimson Fang Pack.

This year, Alpha Dante would finally see what he'd thrown away.

"Mama!"

The shout came from outside, followed by the distinctive sound of something expensive breaking.

I smiled despite myself. "Asher, what did I say about running in the corridors?"

My son burst through the door, technically a violation of protocol, but the guards had learned not to stop him. At five years old, Asher already stood taller than most human seven-year-olds. His eyes glowed silver, my legacy. Everything else. The sharp jawline, the storm-gray eyes that shifted to silver when emotional, the natural authority that made grown warriors step aside, came from his father.

A father he'd never met.

"Sorry, Mama." He didn't look particularly sorry. "But Uncle Marcus said the invitation came! We're really going?"

"Asher-" I caught him before he could tackle-hug me. "Let me get dressed first."

"But Mama-"

"Asher." I used my Alpha voice, the one that made council members squirm. "Wait outside."

His lower lip jutted out. Another trait from Dante, but he obeyed. The door clicked shut behind him.

I dressed quickly in the formal attire that had become my uniform: black leather pants, silver-threaded tunic, the crown of white gold and moonstone that marked me as Sovereign. The Aurora Territory's crest. A rising moon over crossed swords, gleamed on my chest.

Not the rejected Omega in a torn dress. The Twilight Sovereign.

Marcus waited in my office, the thick envelope spread across my desk. The Crimson Fang crest gleamed on the wax seal.

"They included a personal note." His tone suggested I wouldn't like it.

I broke the seal, scanned the formal invitation, then found the smaller card tucked inside.

'The Alpha of Crimson Fang requests the honor of the Twilight Sovereign's presence at the Continental Alpha Council. Old wounds need not prevent new alliances.'

....Dante

"He thinks I've forgiven him." I set the card down carefully, keeping my hands steady through sheer will. "He thinks enough time has passed that we can be civil."

"Have you?" Marcus asked quietly. "Forgiven him?"

The question hung in the air between us. I thought of the girl who'd loved Dante with desperate, all-consuming devotion. Who'd believed the mate bond meant forever. Who'd died in the Forsaken Hollows while Sera the Queen was born.

"No." The word came out cold. "And I never will."

"Good." Marcus's smile was sharp. "Forgiveness is weakness. But you'll need to control your emotions when you see him. Can you do that?"

Could I? Face the man who'd rejected me, humiliated me, sent me to die and act like he meant nothing?

"I can." I had to. "He gets nothing from me. No anger, no pain, no satisfaction."

"And when he sees Asher?"

That was the real question. Asher was Dante's mirror image, impossible to deny. The entire Council would know within seconds.

"Let him see." I'd spent five years planning this moment. "Let him understand exactly what he rejected. What he'll never have."

A knock interrupted us. Rhett's voice carried through the door. "Majesty, the council is assembled."

I straightened my crown, checked my reflection in the window. The woman staring back bore little resemblance to the frightened Omega. This woman radiated power, confidence, danger.

"Show time," I murmured.

The council chamber buzzed with voices that fell silent as I entered. Twelve wolves. The strongest in Aurora Territory, rose from their seats. Respect, fear, and calculation warred across their faces.

"Sit." I took my place at the head of the table. "I assume you've all heard about the Continental Alpha Council invitation."

"We have, Majesty." Elder Thorne spoke first, his ancient eyes sharp. "And we believe this presents an opportunity."

"Or a trap." Commander Lyssa, one of the few who'd challenged my rule in the beginning, leaned forward. "The Crimson Fang Pack's lands are failing. Their Alpha is weak. This could be a play for resources."

"Then we refuse," someone suggested.

"No." The word cut through the debate. "We accept."

Silence crashed over the room.

"Majesty-" Thorne began.

"The Aurora Territory has been isolated too long." I'd rehearsed this speech, refined it, weaponized it. "We're the strongest pack in the North, but if we remain hidden, we remain vulnerable. The Continental Council needs to see our strength. They need to understand that Aurora doesn't beg for scraps. We take what we're owed."

"And what are we owed?" Lyssa asked.

"Recognition. Respect." I let silver bleed into my eyes. "Fear."

Murmurs of approval rippled around the table. These wolves had followed me because I'd proven myself stronger, smarter, more ruthless than any Alpha who'd come before. They didn't need to know about personal vendettas or broken hearts.

"The Crimson Fang Alpha-" Thorne chose his words carefully. "There are rumors about your history."

"Ancient history." I kept my voice bored. "Irrelevant to current politics."

"And the boy?" Lyssa's gaze sharpened. "He bears a striking resemblance to Alpha Dante."

"My son's parentage is my business." The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. "Anyone who questions it can leave. Permanently."

No one moved.

"Good." I stood, signaling the meeting's end. "We leave in three weeks. Commander Rhett will coordinate logistics. Elder Thorne, I want intelligence on every pack attending the Council. Strengths, weaknesses, alliances. Everything."

They filed out, leaving only Marcus.

"You handled that well," he said.

"They're still afraid I'll snap and burn the territory down." I moved to the window overlooking the courtyard where Asher was supposed to be studying but was instead practicing shifts with the young warriors. "Can't say I blame them."

"You've earned their loyalty."

"I've earned their fear." I corrected. "Loyalty takes longer."

Below, Asher shifted...smooth, controlled, perfect. His wolf was massive for his age, silver-tipped black fur gleaming in the afternoon sun. Dominant Alpha written into every line.

"He's ready," Marcus said quietly.

"No one's ready to meet the father who rejected them before birth."

"I meant he's ready to understand who his father is. What you are. The truth."

My chest tightened. "He thinks his father is dead."

"A lie that's getting harder to maintain." Marcus joined me at the window. "He asks questions, Sera. About why he looks different from you. Why other children have fathers. How long before he demands answers?"

"After the Council." The decision felt like swallowing glass. "I'll tell him after. When he can see Dante for himself and understand why we stayed away."

"And if Dante claims him?"

"He won't." I said it with more certainty than I felt. "He rejected me, rejected the bond. He has no legal claim."

"The mate bond doesn't care about legalities."

I turned on him. "The mate bond died five years ago in the Forsaken Hollows. Whatever connection existed between us is gone."

"You sure about that?"

No. I wasn't. Sometimes, late at night when my guard was down, I still felt it. A phantom pull toward something lost. But admitting that meant admitting weakness.

"Positive." The lie tasted bitter.

A messenger rushed in, interrupting. "Majesty, urgent news from the border."

"Speak."

"Rogues. A pack of them, bearing the High Council's insignia. They're asking for you by name."

Every muscle locked. The High Council....the same organization that had exterminated my family, that Marcus had spent five years hiding me from.

"How many?"

"Twenty. Maybe more."

"Battle-ready?"

"Yes, Majesty."

I grabbed my weapons belt, checked my blades. "Rhett, mobilize the guard. Lyssa, get Asher to the safe room. Marcus-"

"Way ahead of you." He was already moving toward his arsenal. "But Sera, if the High Council found you-"

"They can try to take me." Silver light crawled up my arms. "See how that works out for them."

We reached the border in minutes, my personal guard flanking me. The rogues waited just beyond our territory line....twenty warriors in High Council colors, their leader a scarred brute with calculating eyes.

"The Twilight Sovereign." His voice carried across the distance. "We've heard impressive things."

"You've got thirty seconds to state your business before I paint my border with your blood."

He smiled. "Direct. I appreciate that. My name is Kross. I'm here with an offer from the High Council."

"Not interested."

"You haven't heard it yet."

"Don't need to." I drew my blade, moonlight catching on silver. "The High Council murdered my family. You get nothing from me but steel."

"Your family was killed because they threatened the natural order." Kross didn't move, didn't react to my weapon. "But times change. The Council recognizes your strength, your legitimate bloodline. They're willing to negotiate."

"Negotiate what?"

"Your attendance at the Continental Alpha Council. The Crimson Fang's Alpha has been... troublesome. Refusing Council directives, weakening pack alliances. We want him removed."

My blood ran cold. "You want me to kill Dante."

"We want you to replace him." Kross leaned forward. "Support our motion at the Council, and we'll recognize your claim to not just Aurora, but Crimson Fang as well. Two territories. Twice the power."

Everything I'd wanted was handed to me on a blood-soaked platter.

"And if I refuse?"

"Then we'll be forced to question whether Aurora's leadership is truly legitimate." His smile turned predatory. "Whether your son is truly fit to inherit."

There it was. The threat I'd been waiting for.

"You touch my son-" power exploded from me, forcing every rogue to their knees. "I'll burn the High Council to ash."

"Noted." Kross managed to rasp out. "But the offer stands. Think about it, Majesty. We'll be watching."

They retreated, melting back into the forest.

I stood frozen, rage and fear warring inside me.

"They know about Asher," Marcus said quietly. "They've been watching us."

"For how long?"

"Long enough."

I turned back toward home, my mind racing. The High Council wanted Dante dead. Part of me sang with satisfaction at the thought. But using their blade to do it? Becoming their puppet?

Never.

But they had leverage now. Asher's safety. His future.

We reached the compound to find chaos. Guards shouting, warriors mobilizing.

Rhett ran toward me, his face pale. "Majesty....it's Asher."

My heart stopped. "What happened?"

"He's gone. The safe room was breached. We found this."

He handed me a piece of paper, pinned with a silver dagger.

'The Queen belongs to the North. But the King belongs to us. Come to the Continental Council, Majesty. Come see what we've made of your precious heir.'

.....The High Council

The world tilted sideways.

They'd taken him.

They'd taken my son.