Chapter 91: The Summit

Kaelen's POV

Zephyr's face split into a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Kaelen. Heard congratulations are in order."

I kept my expression neutral. Walked to the head of the table. Orion took position to my right—silent, watchful, reading the room like he always did.

"Congratulations?" I let the question hang.

"Come on." Zephyr's smile widened. Definitely more teeth than warmth. "Finding a new mate? That's big news. Especially for someone who swore off love after..."

He trailed off. Diplomatic enough not to say Isolde's name out loud.

Kieran pushed off from the table. His amber eyes caught the firelight. "Yeah. I remember that conversation pretty clearly. You said—what was it? 'Never again. Not for anyone.' Pretty dramatic stuff."

"Guess vows have expiration dates," Zephyr added.

The other wolves in the room stayed quiet. But I felt their attention. The way predators watched each other in close quarters. Waiting to see if someone would make a wrong move.

My jaw tightened. This was a test. They were pushing to see how I'd react. How stable I was. Whether this mysterious new mate made me vulnerable.

"Things are more complicated than gossip suggests," I said. Kept my tone flat. Gave them nothing to work with.

Zephyr's smile faded. "I'm sure they are."

Kieran crossed his arms. "We're listening."

The casual atmosphere evaporated. Just like that—from jokes to business. The shift was deliberate. Calculated. They'd gotten their measure of me. Now came the real reason for this meeting.

I gestured to the chairs. "Sit."

Everyone moved at once. The scrape of wood against floor echoed through the chamber. I took the head seat. Zephyr to my left. Kieran to my right. Their Betas and Elders filled in the spaces between.

Orion remained standing behind my chair. Standard Beta position during formal councils. But I knew he was cataloging everything—every micro-expression, every shift in posture, every word choice.

Kieran leaned forward. His expression had gone cold. "Let's cut through the bullshit. Strange wolves are prowling our borders. They're not local. They're not here for territory disputes. And they're getting aggressive."

"Thornwick's northern border has been hit five times in two weeks," Zephyr said. His diplomatic tone was gone. Pure Alpha now—direct, demanding. "Three patrol members injured. One in critical condition."

I nodded slowly. "I'm aware of the incursions."

"Are you?" Kieran's eyes narrowed. "Because these aren't random attacks. They're searching for something. Or someone."

My wolf stirred beneath my skin. Warning me. These Alphas weren't here for information. They already knew. Or suspected.

"Tell me about the injuries," I said.

Zephyr's jaw worked. "Coordinated ambushes. Professional. Like they've been trained for pack warfare. My wolves reported that before the attackers fled, they asked questions."

"What kind of questions?"

"About new arrivals. Refugees. Women specifically." Zephyr's blue eyes locked onto mine. "They mentioned a name. Seraphine."

The silence that followed felt heavy enough to suffocate.

I didn't let my expression change. Didn't let them see the ice sliding down my spine. But through the bond, I felt Seraphine's distant emotions shift. Like she sensed something was wrong even from miles away.

Kieran stood. Started pacing. "Ironfall's had seven incursions. Two dead warriors. Same pattern—searching, asking questions, mentioning that name." He stopped. Turned to face me. "And then there's the human problem."

That made me straighten. "Humans?"

Elder Aldric spoke up. Zephyr's most senior advisor—seventy-something with a white beard and sharp mind. "Hunters. More than usual. They've been spotted near all our territories. Deep patrols. Professional equipment. Like they're tracking something."

Shit.

I kept my face blank. But my mind was racing. The humans were looking for Seraphine and Lyralei because of what happened in that village. The theft. The fire. And now they were pushing into pack territories.

I couldn't tell them that. Couldn't admit Seraphine had given humans a reason to invade. That would destroy any remaining goodwill in this room.

Kieran stopped directly across from me. Planted both hands on the table. Leaned in. "These intruders are looking for someone. A woman. And I think you know exactly who she is."

Every wolf in the room was staring at me now.

I met Kieran's gaze without flinching. Let the Alpha power roll off me—not threatening, but absolute. A reminder that this was my territory. My pack. My decision.

"You're right," I said. "They're looking for someone in my protection."

Zephyr's expression darkened. "Start talking."

I took a breath. Measured my words carefully. "Her name is Seraphine. She's from a distant pack called Silverwood. Her father was their Alpha."

"Was?" Elder Aldric asked.

"Three months ago, Silverwood was destroyed. Completely. By a pack called Ravencrest—former allies who turned on them." I kept my tone even. "Seraphine escaped. Ended up in my territory."

Kieran's eyes flashed. "A refugee from a massacred pack just happens to stumble into your lands? And you just happen to make her your mate?"

My wolf surged. Both eyes went gold before I could stop them. The temperature in the room dropped.

"Careful," I said softly. Dangerously.

Kieran didn't back down. Never did. "I'm just asking the obvious questions. This woman brings war to our doorstep, and you're protecting her why? Out of the goodness of your heart?"

"Because she's mine." The words came out harder than intended. "We have a mate bond."

That stopped him. Stopped everyone.

Mate bonds were sacred. Unquestionable. Every wolf in this room knew that. Refusing a mate bond was essentially refusing the Moon Goddess herself.

But Zephyr wasn't satisfied. "Mate bond or not, this woman is causing problems for three packs. We need more information. Who destroyed her pack? Why are they chasing her? What makes her so important?"

"There was a betrayal," I said. "Silverwood had enemies. Internal traitors working with Ravencrest. The Alpha who led the attack..." I paused. Let the weight of it settle. "His name is Damien. He's the one sending wolves into your territories. Looking for Seraphine."

Kieran's eyes narrowed. "Survivors from massacres usually run far and fast. Why is he chasing her across multiple territories? What makes her so important that he'd risk war with three packs?"

I could feel Orion's tension behind me. We were approaching dangerous ground. How much to reveal? How much to hide?

The truth was complicated. Damien wanted Seraphine because she'd witnessed everything. Because she knew about the betrayal. Because leaving her alive meant leaving a witness who could expose what really happened.

But I couldn't say all that. Not yet.

"She witnessed the attack," I said carefully. "She knows things. About the betrayal. About who was involved. Damien can't afford to let her talk."

"So she's a loose end," Zephyr said. "He's not just hunting a survivor. He's silencing a witness."