Chapter 25 Scepticism - Aleksandr’s POV
All eyes turned to me, varying degrees of surprise and scepticism evident in their expressions.
"It's true," I confirmed. "I've sensed her wolf from the moment she arrived. Kaela is there, trapped somehow, but very much present."
"Kaela?" Kane echoed, his expression calculating. "The wolf has a name? You've communicated with it?"
I nodded. "Both Skoll and I have. She's powerful, protective of Amelia. Frustrated by her inability to shift."
"Fascinating," Elder Nora murmured, her gray eyes bright with intellectual curiosity. "I've read of similar cases in the ancient texts—wolves that remain dormant despite reaching maturity. There are rituals, techniques that might help."
"Of course I will try to help Miss Lovelace," she continued, straightening in her chair. "This case presents a unique opportunity to apply some of the forgotten knowledge I've preserved. If successful, it would be a significant advancement in our understanding of werewolf physiology."
I caught the gleam in her eye—that mixture of academic fervour and collector's zeal that made Nora both valuable and occasionally dangerous. "Remember that Amelia is a person, not a research subject," I cautioned, my tone leaving no room for argument.
Nora inclined her head slightly, acknowledging the rebuke. "Of course, Your Majesty."
Councillor Kane tapped his fingers against the table, drawing attention back to the larger issue at hand. "While Elder Nora's assistance may prove valuable, we cannot ignore the ticking clock. Your Highness, you have just three months until your hundredth birthday. The curse's manifestations are already becoming more frequent, more severe."
A heavy silence fell over the chamber. We all knew what he meant. The episodes where Skoll nearly overwhelmed me, where my control slipped like water through cupped hands. The rage that built too quickly, the shifting that came unbidden in moments of strong emotion.
"The curse demands a specific solution," Kane continued carefully. "Not just any mate, but your true Alpha Queen. If Miss Lovelace isn't the one—"
"If she isn't the one," I interrupted, emphasizing the 'if,' "then we will face that reality when it comes. Not before."
Blackthorn exchanged a glance with Blackstone, their silent communication obvious to anyone with eyes. "Your Majesty," Blackthorn began again, "we must consider contingency plans. The kingdom cannot afford another incident like what happened with Queen Samantha."
I felt my jaw tighten at the mention of my mate's name. "Careful, Councillor."
He pressed on despite the warning. "Forgive me, but we all remember the destruction when you lost her. And that was before the curse had progressed this far. If you reach your hundredth year without finding your true queen..." He left the sentence unfinished, the implications hanging in the air like a storm cloud.
"Perhaps," Kane suggested, smoothly stepping into the tension, "we should arrange a gathering. A formal ball, where eligible unmated she-wolves from across the kingdom could be presented. If Miss Lovelace proves unsuitable, we would have alternatives immediately available."
I rubbed my eyes, suddenly tired of their political maneuvering, their contingency plans, their barely concealed doubts about Amelia. "If, and only if, it doesn't work with Amelia, then yes, arrange your ball."
"With respect, Your Majesty," Blackthorn said, clearly unsatisfied with my conditional agreement, "preliminary preparations should begin now. We cannot afford to wait until the last moment if Miss Lovelace fails to—"
"Enough!" The word escaped as a growl, deeper than my human voice should have been capable of producing. I felt the change begin—the burning in my gums as my canines lengthened, the prickling along my spine as fur threatened to emerge, the sudden sharpening of my vision as Skoll pushed forward.
'She is not some disposable option,' Skoll raged inside my mind. 'She is ours to protect, to heal, to cherish. They speak of her like she's worthless.'
I closed my eyes, focusing on the techniques I'd developed over decades to maintain control. Slow breaths. Mental barriers. The careful separation of my consciousness from Skoll's that had become increasingly difficult as my hundredth birthday approached.
When I opened my eyes again, I knew they were glowing purple—Skoll looking out at the world through my face. The council members had gone very still, their expressions carefully neutral despite the fear I could smell rolling off them in waves. Only Elder Nora seemed unfazed, watching with academic interest as I wrestled my wolf back under control.
"I apologize," I said when I could trust my voice again, though I didn't mean it. "As you can see, Councillor, the curse's effects are indeed progressing. All the more reason not to waste time on hypotheticals when we have a real path forward with Amelia."
I stood, signaling an end to the discussion before it could deteriorate further. "Come, Elder Nora. I'll introduce you to Amelia now. The sooner you begin working with her, the better."
She rose immediately, gathering her notes with efficient movements. "Of course, Your Majesty."
The other council members remained seated, knowing dismissal when they saw it. As Elder Nora and I moved toward the door, I caught Kane watching me with calculating eyes. He, more than the others, understood what was happening—not just the curse's progression, but my growing attachment to Amelia. Whether that made him an ally or a threat remained to be seen.
"Your Majesty," he called as we reached the door. "We serve only your best interests, and those of the kingdom. Remember that."
I turned to face him, letting Skoll's presence color my response. "Then serve those interests by treating Amelia Lovelace with the respect she deserves. She has suffered enough at the hands of those who should have protected her. I will not allow it to happen again. Definitely not from my own council."
With that, I swept from the chamber, Elder Nora following close behind. The heavy doors swung shut behind us with a resonant thud that echoed through the corridor like a closing argument.
'To Amelia,' Skoll urged, his earlier rage subsiding into anticipation. 'Take Nora to Amelia now.'
"Yes," I murmured, more to myself than to my wolf. "It's time Amelia learned she might have a real future here. With us."
As we walked through the morning-lit corridors toward the eastern tower, I felt something I hadn't experienced in decades: hope. Dangerous, perhaps, given all that had happened before. But present nonetheless, warm and insistent as a heartbeat.