Chapter 92: The Council Had Nothing

Lia

We grappled, both breathing hard, both bloodied. For a moment, I thought I might actually have a chance—

Then Viktor's eyes focused over my shoulder, and his entire body went rigid.

"Stop." The single word cut through the crowd's noise like a blade.

I turned, chains rattling, and felt my heart lurch.

Kai stood at the edge of the platform. He looked like death—hollow-eyed, unshaven, his clothes wrinkled like he'd been sleeping in them. But his Alpha aura radiated outward in waves, forcing every wolf present to bare their throats in submission.

Even Vera took an involuntary step back.

"This trial," Kai's voice was soft but somehow louder than shouting, "is over."

"Alpha, the Council has authority…" Vera started.

"The Council has NOTHING." Kai's roar made the platform shake. "You held an execution disguised as justice while I was detained. You put my mate in chains and my most trusted warrior in an impossible position. You thought I wouldn't find out? Thought I wouldn't break through your pathetic locks?"

He climbed onto the platform, and I saw the blood on his knuckles. Saw the wild, barely contained fury in his eyes. He'd fought his way here. Torn through whatever guards they'd posted, whatever barriers they'd erected.

For me.

"The trial stands," Damien said, but his voice wavered. "Pack law…"

"Pack law says an Alpha's mate cannot be challenged without his consent." Kai moved between Viktor and me, his body a wall. "Which I never gave. This entire proceeding is illegal. Anyone who participated will answer to me personally."

Silence. Heavy. Tense. Terrified.

Then Vera laughed. Actually I laughed.

"You still don't understand, do you?" She gestured to the assembled pack. "Look around you, Alpha. Half of them want her dead. The other half want her gone. Your mate has become a liability you can't afford. And your refusal to see that proves you're no longer fit to lead."

"Is that a challenge?" Kai's voice dropped to a dangerous purr.

"It's a fact." Vera pulled out a document, waving it like a weapon. "The Council has voted. Unanimous decision. You step down, or we strip your title by force."

"Try it." Kai's claws extended. "Any of you. All of you. I'll paint this courtyard with your blood before I let you touch her again."

"You'd kill your own pack members for her?" Damien's face twisted with disgust. "You'd tear Feril apart for one unstable she-wolf?"

"Yes." No hesitation. No doubt. "I'd burn this entire territory to ash before I let you hurt her."

The bond, damaged, suppressed by silver, barely functional, suddenly flared to life. I felt Kai's absolute certainty, his willingness to destroy everything he'd built if that's what it took to protect me.

And I felt something else. Something terrifying.

He meant it. Completely. If the pack tried to kill me, Kai would slaughter them all. Would become exactly the monster they accused him of being.

Because of me.

"No." My voice was weak, nearly inaudible. But Kai heard it. His head snapped toward me, and I saw the fractures in his control, the barely leashed violence.

"No," I repeated, stronger this time. "I won't let you destroy yourself for me. I won't…"

"I don't care what you'll let me do." He moved to my side, his hand gentle as it touched my bloodied face. "You're my mate. My Luna. And I failed you. I put you in that cell, let them torture you with this farce of a trial. But that ends now."

"Kai, please…"

"Enough." He turned back to Vera and Damien. "Here's what's going to happen. Lia will be released immediately. Anyone who objects will face me in single combat. And tomorrow, when the Eastern Pack arrives, they'll find a united front, or they'll find corpses. Your choice."

"You're insane," Vera breathed.

"Probably." Kai's smile was all teeth. "But I'm still your Alpha. So bow. Or bleed."

For a long moment, no one moved. The pack held its collective breath, waiting to see who would break first.

Then Viktor dropped to one knee, head bowed. "I stand with my Alpha."

One by one, others followed. Not all. Not even most. But enough.

Enough to show that Kai still had power. Still had loyalty.

Still had something to fight with when the Eastern Pack came for blood.

But as he helped me off the platform, as he cradled my broken body against his chest, I looked back at the faces of those who hadn't knelt.

At Vera's calculating expression.

At Damien's barely contained rage.

At the dozens of wolves who'd rather see me dead than accept me as their Luna.

And I knew, absolutely knew, that this wasn't over.

It was just beginning.