Chapter 23: The Revelation
Darius's POV
The ballroom had turned into a war zone.
Rogues littered the floor, some dead, others retreating through the shattered windows. But the real danger wasn't the rogues anymore. It was the hundreds of wolves staring at Calla with her silver eyes glowing in the dim light.
"She's the one from the prophecy," someone shouted. "The destroyer!"
"Kill her before she kills us all," another voice called out.
I moved in front of Calla, teeth bared. "Anyone who touches her dies."
Lucas flanked her other side, his wolf barely contained beneath his skin. "She's under my protection."
"And mine," I added. For once, we agreed on something.
But the crowd wasn't backing down. Wolves shifted into fighting stances, fear making them dangerous. I could feel my pack members gathering behind me, ready to defend their Alpha's choice.
This was about to become a massacre.
"ENOUGH."
The voice rang out with such power that every wolf in the room froze. Even the rogues still alive went still.
Elder Miriam walked through the crowd, her cane tapping against the broken glass. Wolves parted for her like water, bowing their heads in respect. She might be old, but her authority was absolute.
"You will not harm this girl," the elder said, stopping in front of Calla. "She is exactly what you fear. And exactly what you need."
"She'll destroy us," a wolf from Northridge pack called out. "The prophecy—"
"The prophecy has been misunderstood for two hundred years," Elder Miriam interrupted. "Morgana was killed because we feared her. We gave her no choice, no guidance. And yes, she destroyed three packs before we stopped her. But that doesn't have to be Calla's fate."
Calla's eyes had returned to normal, brown and wide with fear. She pressed closer to me, and I put my arm around her shoulders.
"What are you saying?" Lucas asked.
"I'm saying the prophecy gives her a choice." Elder Miriam turned to address the whole room. "Unity or destruction. But unity doesn't mean choosing between you two fools. It means bringing all packs together."
"How?" I asked.
"By accepting what she is." The elder looked at Calla. "By standing with both her mates and showing the packs that old grudges can be set aside."
"Both mates?" Several wolves exchanged shocked looks.
"She carries the mark of two bonds," Elder Miriam continued. "Lucas, her fated mate. And Darius, her chosen mate. Most wolves cannot bear two bonds. But she is not most wolves."
"This is madness," someone called out.
"This is evolution," the elder corrected. "The Moon Goddess marked her for this purpose. To bridge divides. To unite what has been separated."
Lucas stepped forward. "If that's true, then the challenge fight—"
"Will still happen," Elder Miriam interrupted. "But the stakes have changed. You're not fighting for ownership of her. You're fighting for the right to stand beside her as she makes her choice."
"What choice?" Calla asked, her voice small.
"Whether to unite the packs or destroy them." The elder touched Calla's face. "The power is yours, child. These two alphas can only support your decision. They cannot make it for you."
"I don't want to destroy anyone," Calla said.
"Then choose unity." Elder Miriam smiled. "Choose to accept both bonds. Show the packs that peace is possible."
Before anyone could respond, a new voice cut through the crowd.
"She can't unite anything if one of her mates is a traitor."
Jackson, Lucas's beta, pushed through the wolves. His expression was grim as he approached Lucas.
"What are you doing?" Lucas asked.
"What I should've done days ago." Jackson pulled out his phone and held it up. "Telling the truth."
He pressed play. Lucas's voice filled the ballroom.
…“Call Northridge. Tell them I need their best fighters.”
…"Lucas, this is dishonorable—"
…"I don't care. Honor didn't get me anywhere. So now I play dirty."
The recording continued, laying out Lucas's plan to cheat in the challenge fight. To bring in outside wolves to help him win.
The room erupted in angry shouts.
"You hired those rogues?" An Eclipse wolf stepped forward, betrayal written across his face. "You brought them here?"
"No," Lucas said quickly. "That recording is about the challenge, not—"
"The rogues wore Northridge pack markers," Jackson interrupted. "I checked the bodies. You made a deal with them, and they turned it into an attack. You endangered every wolf here."
"I didn't know they'd go rogue," Lucas said, but his voice had lost its certainty. "I just wanted—"
"To win at any cost," I finished. "Even if it meant putting everyone in danger."
Lucas's eyes found Calla's. "I was trying to get you back."
"By cheating?" Calla stepped away from both of us. "By making deals that got people hurt?"
"I made a mistake—"
"You made several," Jackson said. "And as your beta, I can't let this stand."
He turned to address the Eclipse wolves. "Lucas Blackwell endangered our pack and violated sacred combat laws. I'm placing him under arrest pending Council judgment."
"You can't arrest me," Lucas said. "I'm your Alpha."
"An Alpha who betrayed us." Jackson gestured to several Eclipse wolves. They moved forward, surrounding Lucas. "I'm sorry, Lucas. But this is the only way."
Lucas looked at Calla. "Tell them. Tell them I was only trying—"
"Trying to what?" Calla's voice broke. "Control me? Own me? You never asked what I wanted."
"Calla, please—"
"I don't know what to believe anymore," she whispered.
The Eclipse wolves grabbed Lucas's arms. He didn't resist, just kept staring at Calla like she was the only thing that mattered.
"The Council will convene tomorrow," Elder Miriam announced. "Lucas Blackwell will face judgment for his actions."
"What about the challenge?" I asked.
"Postponed until after the trial." The elder looked at me, then at Lucas. "The winner won't claim Calla as property. The winner earns the right to stand beside her as she decides the future of all packs."
"And if he's found guilty?" someone asked.
"Then there is no challenge," Elder Miriam said. "Only Calla's choice remains."
They started dragging Lucas toward the exit. He looked back once, his eyes meeting Calla's. “This is all you fault.”