CHAPTER 169: Rowan Decides on Peace
CHAPTER 169: Rowan Decides on Peace
Rowan felt the decision's weight like a boulder pressing down on his chest. As he stood in front of the Wolf Council assembly, the once-noisy hall became oppressively quiet. His pulse pounded fiercely in his chest, and he could hear the thunder in his ears as he looked at the council members' features, which were a combination of dread, defiance, and scepticism.
Beyond the walls, he could hear the deep growl of the pack wolves ready for battle, for revenge, for triumph. Rowan, however, had already decided. Calm. The phrase lingered in the atmosphere like a flimsy dream that may break at any time. He had grown up to fight, to defend, to keep safe. However, he was now faced with a far more challenging assignment.
He had to give up all he had ever held dear by choosing peace.
The council was divided, with some members seeing the cost of unending carnage and others believing that war was the only viable solution. Although they were a formidable group, with each member being more driven than the others, they were split along profound ideological lines. Others who had become disillusioned with the concept of cohabitation battled with others who followed Selene, who believed in the strength of the packs and the power of unification.
The conflict had taken too many lives and lasted too long. Families had been broken and lives had been lost. The balance was now shifting even further in the direction of chaos since the kid was born during the eclipse. Rowan's choice to restore harmony to the split packs was not only a decision; it was a risk. A danger that might cost him his honour, his seat on the council, and even his life.
As the stillness drew on, Rowan took a deep breath and stepped forward, speaking to the council in a firm voice despite his internal distress.
He said, "The war ends today," his words piercing the tense air like a sword. "I go for a while. It's not that I'm weak; rather, I think it's the only option. We can no longer afford to destroy one another.
The room echoed with the muttering. While some expressions stiffened in shock, others softened. He sensed that his closest supporters were watching him, their dismay mixed with a silent sympathy. They were aware of the cost to him. Peace was a risky option, and it would be difficult to enforce in a society where authority often overrides reason.
"Calm?" From the darkness came a voice. One of the council's most seasoned and esteemed members, Thorne, was the one. His piercing eyes shone with a mixture of incredulity and rage. "You want us to surrender to the enemy and put down our weapons? To those who have only shown hate and violence against us?
With resolute determination, Rowan looked into Thorne's eyes. "We are each other's worst enemies. The cycle of violence that unites us all is the real adversary, not the packs we battle. The eclipse-born kid is a representation of who we have become if we don't change. Our future cannot be dictated by the past.
The weight of his remarks hung over the council like a dense mist, and the chamber became silent once again. Everything was entangled in the web of fate: the kid, the eclipse, the old prophecy and Rowan saw that the only way to free himself was to provide a route ahead, even if it meant alienating his own people.
"I am unable to endorse this." The silence was broken by Thorne's harsh, icy voice. "You talk about peace, but you don't know the politics of this country. Without power, peace cannot be achieved. You've overlooked that.
Rowan's eyes strayed to Kael, who was standing next him, nervous but quiet. Like himself, Kael had always been a fighter. Together, they bled and battled. However, Kael recognised the responsibility of leadership. Rowan was aware that the pack, the conflict, and the relationships they had formed had split Kael's heart in two. They were now on the brink of making a difficult decision.
With a quiet, low voice, Rowan said, "I understand more than you think." But for pride's sake, I won't let our planet burn to ashes. We have to figure out how to live together.
A sneer curved Thorne's mouth. "And, Rowan, where do you fit into this world? How much will your choice cost you? If you give peace, the packs will not follow you. They'll think you're a simple target and weak. And who will support you if the wolves turn against you?
Rowan's chest became constricted. Days, weeks, even months had passed as he prepared for this moment. He had made up his mind, but what would happen next was still up in the air. He needed to have faith that his people, who held him in high regard, would support him. believed by working together, they might create a future free from bloodshed. However, he realised deep down that this was about survival, not simply togetherness. And all he had fought for would be gone if he was mistaken and the council did not back him.
"Thorne, the pack is more than just bloodlines," Rowan said. "What we decide to make of it is what matters. And I go quietly.
Then he turned to the other members of the council. "If it becomes necessary, I will resign. If it means ensuring peace for our people, I will renounce my title and my position. I will accept any repercussions I encounter, but I refuse to go on in this never-ending fight.
His stern and definitive remark hovered in the air. However, he sensed the change in the atmosphere even while he was speaking. The council members who had previously opposed him were now observing him with fresh eyes, eyes that were filled with uncertainty, dread, and maybe other emotions. Something more profound.
"This is unacceptable," another voice interrupted. It was Maris, a youthful but very driven council member who had always held on to the notion of power and domination. Rowan, you can't simply give up. A leader who ignores his followers will not be followed by the packs.
With a stern tone, Rowan said, "I don't turn my back." However, I refuse to guide them into the abyss.
There was silence for a minute. The stillness was almost deafening, and the strain was intolerable. Rowan felt the weight of their judgement and the heat of their stares. It seemed that the council had not yet made its decision, but he had.
After a lengthy silence, Thorne said, "We have to have a vote." "No matter how admirable your intentions are, Rowan, the decision to end the war cannot be made on a whim."
Rowan accepted the situation as it was and nodded. This was what he had anticipated. The council would call for a vote, and the outcome would determine the future of his peace vision.
However, his heart tightened in his chest as he faced the other members of the council. He was aware that there would be serious repercussions regardless of the result. It seems that peace was more expensive than war.
Rowan's heart fell as the final number was announced out loud, despite the overwhelming stillness throughout the voting. This was not what he had anticipated. Not like this.
He had been voted down by the council.
Voices of incredulity, terror, and rage increased, and the room exploded into anarchy. The weight of their choice was crushing Rowan as he remained still, but there was no going back now. The world had rejected his choice for peace.
Kael's hand landed on his shoulder as he started to move away from the council table.
"Rowan," Kael's tone was warning and his voice was low. Something is important for you to know. Even if the council no longer supports you, not everyone in this room is against you.
Rowan's eyes flashed with astonishment as he looked at Kael. "What do you mean?"
With a sombre tone, Kael said, "I've learnt something." "Something that could make all the difference."
With everyone's attention on Kael, the room became quiet again.
"What is it?" Rowan's pulse accelerated as he asked.
Kael inhaled deeply before continuing.
"The child, the one born under the eclipse, is a threat to everyone, not just to us."
Rowan's gut twisted as the lengthy stillness continued. He had believed that he grasped the significance of the child's fate, but this was something more sinister.
Kael's last remarks then came like a thunderclap.
"She holds the secret to destroying all realms.”