Chapter 14 Pack Intervention (Declan POV)
I'm halfway back to my dorm when Callum intercepts me, his face grim.
"Emergency meeting. Now." He grabs my arm, steering me toward the woods before I can protest. "And Dec? You've really done it this time."
"What are you talking about?"
"You'll see."
The pack is waiting in Greyfang Hollow, all eight of them, arranged in a rough circle. The tension is palpable even before I step into the clearing.
"Sit down," Kieran says, his voice hard.
"What's going on?"
"Sit. Down."
I lower myself onto a fallen log, suddenly aware of the hostile energy radiating from my packmates. Owen won't meet my eyes. Brian is pacing. Even Liam, usually the most easy-going of us, looks tense.
"Half the school saw you," Callum says without preamble. "In the library. Against the bookshelves. With your tongue down Vivienne Ashford's throat."
My stomach drops. "We were in the back corner…"
"With floor-to-ceiling windows facing the courtyard," Owen interrupts. "Windows that at least twenty students were passing during the dinner hour. Windows that gave everyone a perfect view of their Alpha publicly claiming his mate."
"I didn't claim…"
"Your scent is all over her," Kieran cuts in. "Permanently. I could smell it from across the dining hall tonight. Every supernatural creature on campus knows she's yours now. There's no hiding it, no pretending it's just a casual thing. "
"I lost control for five minutes…"
"Five minutes was enough." Callum sits across from me, his expression a mixture of frustration and concern. "Declan, do you understand what you've done? You've just announced to everyone…human and supernatural…that Vivienne Ashford is under your protection. That she's your mate. And mate-claims can't be undone."
"I know what a mate-claim is."
"Do you? Because from where I'm sitting, you just painted a massive target on her back. Every enemy we have now knows your weakness. Every hostile pack can use her against you. And Edmund…" He stops himself, jaw tightening.
"Edmund what?"
The pack exchanges looks. Finally, Owen speaks up, his voice quiet. "We need to tell him."
"Tell me what?"
"About Edmund's identity. About who he really is and what he's been doing."
"I already know," I say. "Vivienne told me. She found his notebook. The one where he tracks werewolves. Where he documented killing my father."
The clearing goes silent.
"She knows?" Kieran's voice is dangerous. "The hunter's daughter knows her father killed your father, and you still claimed her?"
"She's not responsible for what Edmund did…"
"She's his leverage!" Kieran is on his feet now, anger rolling off him in waves. "Can't you see that? Edmund placed her at this school deliberately. He's been watching her, monitoring her, waiting for exactly this to happen. And you gave him exactly what he wanted…a confirmed mate bond he can exploit."
"Vivienne isn't working with Edmund. She found out what he is, what he's done, and she's horrified…"
"Or she's a brilliant actress playing the role her father assigned her." Kieran steps closer, and I feel my own wolf rising to meet the challenge. "Think about it, Declan. She shows up at Blackthorn at the exact moment you're coming into heat. She's conveniently paired with you for a project that forces proximity. She asks all the right questions, says all the right things, and you fall for it like a lovesick puppy."
"That's not what happened."
"Isn't it? Because from here, it looks like Edmund Ashford sent his daughter to seduce and distract the Greyfang Alpha while he sets up whatever trap he's planning."
My wolf surges forward, and I'm on my feet before I realize I've moved. "Watch your mouth."
"Or what?" Kieran doesn't back down. "You'll fight me? Prove me right that the bond has compromised your judgment?"
"Enough." Callum positions himself between us. "Both of you, stand down. Fighting each other doesn't solve anything."
"He's defending a hunter's daughter," Kieran spits. "While our enemies gather and Edmund Ashford prepares to eliminate us."
"She's not a hunter's daughter," I say, forcing my voice to stay level. "She's a suppressed werewolf from the Silvermane bloodline. Edmund has been dosing her with magical suppressants since childhood to keep her from transforming. She's not his ally…she's his victim."
That gets everyone's attention.
"Silvermane?" Owen breathes. "As in the Silvermane pack? The original bloodline?"
"Yes. Her mother was Lyanna Silvermane. Edmund killed her when Vivienne was an infant and has been suppressing Vivienne's abilities ever since."
"If that's true," Brian says slowly, "then Vivienne isn't just your mate. She's potentially the most powerful female werewolf in Britain."
"Which makes her even more valuable as leverage," Kieran argues. "And even more likely that Edmund planted her here deliberately."
"He didn't plant her. He's trying to control her. There's a difference." I turn to address the whole pack. "I know this situation is complicated. I know having Edmund Ashford's daughter as my mate creates problems. But she's awakening. In ten days, at the next full moon, she's going to transform whether we like it or not. And when she does, she'll need protection. Training. Support."
"From us?" Liam asks.
"Yes. Because despite her father, despite the complications, she's pack now. My mate makes her pack. That's law."
"Pack law also says an Alpha who puts personal desires above pack safety can be challenged," Kieran reminds me.
"Then challenge me. Right now. Let's settle this." I meet his eyes, letting my Alpha power show. "But understand…if you win, Vivienne still transforms in ten days. Still needs protection. And Edmund still hunts us. Changing leadership doesn't change those facts."
Kieran holds my gaze for a long moment, then looks away. "I'm not challenging you. Yet. But Declan, you need to understand…we're vulnerable right now. Edmund knows where we are, knows our routines, probably knows our individual identities. The Culling invitation suggests someone is orchestrating events to trap us. And now you've publicly claimed a mate who gives Edmund direct access to you."
"So what do you suggest?"
"Investigation." Owen steps forward. "We need to know what Edmund's planning. Where he's staying, what equipment he has, whether he's working alone or with other hunters."
"We already know he's at the Hotel Ashcroft," I say. "Vivienne told me."
"But we don't know what he's doing here. What his actual plan is." Owen pulls out his mobile, showing me a map. "I've been tracking his movements over the past three days. He's spending a lot of time in the woods near campus. Setting up something. I saw him carrying equipment…cameras, maybe sensors."
"Surveillance," Callum says. "He's monitoring our territory."
"Or preparing an ambush." Kieran studies the map. "Those woods border our usual running paths. If he wanted to trap us during a full moon, that's where he'd do it."
The implications make my blood run cold. "We need to know what he's set up. What kind of equipment, how extensive his surveillance is."
"Reconnaissance mission," Owen agrees. "Tonight, while he's at the hotel. Callum and I can go. We'll document everything, see what we're dealing with."
"I should come…"
"No," Callum says firmly. "You're too close to this. Too likely to lose control if we find something that suggests he's targeting Vivienne. Owen and I will handle it."
I want to argue, but he's right. If I find evidence Edmund is planning to hurt Vivienne, I won't be able to maintain the objectivity needed for reconnaissance.
"Fine. But you report back immediately. And if you find anything that suggests imminent danger…"
"We call for backup. I know the protocol." Callum claps me on the shoulder. "In the meantime, you need to manage the public fallout from tonight's display. People are talking, Dec. Both human and supernatural students. You need to control the narrative before rumors spiral."
"What kind of rumors?"
"That you're dating the new girl. That you publicly claimed her. That there's something supernatural about both of you." Owen counts off on his fingers. "The humans think it's romantic. The supernaturals are trying to figure out what pack she's from and what alliance you're forming."
"She's not from a pack. She's been suppressed…"
"But they don't know that. All they know is that the Greyfang Alpha just claimed a mate with an unknown bloodline. That creates uncertainty. Questions."
"Especially from Helena," Brian adds. "The Pennine Pack female has been asking around. Trying to get information about Vivienne's background."
"Helena needs to mind her own business."
"Helena sees an opportunity," Callum says. "If she can prove Vivienne is connected to Edmund Ashford, connected to hunters, she'll use that information to challenge your leadership. The Pennine Pack has been looking for an excuse to move into Greyfang territory for years."
"Then she'll be disappointed. Vivienne isn't connected to hunters beyond an accident of birth."
"You better hope you're right," Kieran says. "Because if Edmund uses her against us…if she's compromised in any way…the pack won't forgive it. And neither will I."
He stalks off into the darkness, and one by one, the others follow. Until it's just Callum, Owen, and me in the clearing.
"He's scared," Callum says quietly. "We all are. This situation with Edmund, with the Culling, with everything converging at once…it's too much, too fast."
"I know."
"But Declan? For what it's worth, I believe Vivienne is genuine. I've watched her around campus. She's not faking her confusion or her awakening. Whatever Edmund's plan is, she's not part of it willingly."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. Because if I'm wrong, if she betrays us, I'll be the first one demanding she answer for it." He stands, brushing dirt from his jeans. "We'll scout Edmund's surveillance setup tonight. Should have intel by dawn."
"Be careful."
"Always am." He grins, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Owen, you ready?"
"Let's do it."
They disappear into the trees, and I'm left alone with my thoughts and the lingering scent of Vivienne on my clothes.
My phone buzzes. A text from her: Are you okay? Sophie said she saw you heading into the woods with your team. Everything alright?
I stare at the message, considering my response. The pack's concerns echo in my mind, what if she's reporting to Edmund? What if these messages are surveillance?
But then I remember her eyes when she talked about her father's notebook. The horror. The betrayal. The determination to stop being his victim.
Pack meeting. They're concerned about the kiss being public. About complications.
I'm sorry. I didn't think about windows.
Neither did I. Worth it though.
There's a long pause before her response: Yeah. It was.
Your father is going to know something happened. He'll notice.
Let him notice. I'm done hiding.
The words make my wolf rumble with approval. Brave mate. Strong mate.
Ten days until the full moon. We need to prepare you.
What kind of preparation?
Physical training. Mental conditioning. Understanding pack dynamics. A hundred things you should have been learning since childhood but weren't because of Edmund's suppression.
When do we start?
Tomorrow. But Vivienne, there's something you need to understand. The transformation is going to hurt. A lot. Your bones will break and reform. Your muscles will tear and rebuild. It's going to feel like dying.
But I'll survive?
Yes. You'll survive. And afterward, you'll be stronger than you can imagine.
Good. I don't want to do this alone.
You're not alone. Not anymore. You have me. And whether they like it or not, you have the pack.
Another pause. Then: Thank you. For not giving up on me even though I make everything complicated.
You're worth the complications.
I pocket my phone and head back toward campus, my mind already racing through what tomorrow's training needs to cover. First transformation protocols. Pain management. Maintaining consciousness during the shift. Pack hierarchy and territory law.
So much to teach her in so little time.
A figure steps out from behind a tree, and I'm in defensive stance before I recognize him.
"Gabriel Ashford," I say carefully. "Vivienne's brother."
"Declan Hartley. The Alpha who claimed my sister." He moves into the moonlight, and I see the family resemblance immediately,same dark hair, same violet-grey eyes. But where Vivienne's expression is open and earnest, Gabriel's is guarded. Calculating.
"You've been watching her."
"For years. Making sure Edmund didn't kill her like he tried to kill me." Gabriel crosses his arms. "I know about the mate bond. Know she's awakening. Know you've accelerated the timeline with tonight's kiss."
"If you've been watching, why haven't you approached her?"
"Because until now, Edmund's suppression kept her safe. Dormant werewolves don't attract attention from hostile packs or hunters. But you've changed that. The moment you claimed her, you made her a target."
"She was already a target. Edmund was planning to kill her rather than let her transform."
"I know. I've seen his journal entries." Gabriel's expression darkens. "Terminal solution. Like our mother wasn't enough."
"How much does Vivienne remember about you?"
"Nothing. Edmund used magic to suppress her memories of me along with everything else. As far as she knows, I died with our mother in that attack." His jaw tightens. "But in ten days, when she transforms, some of those memories will return. The wolf remembers what the human forgets."
"Will you tell her? That you're alive?"
"Eventually. When she's strong enough to handle it. Right now, she's got enough to process…awakening, mate bond, Edmund's betrayal. Adding a supposedly dead brother to the mix might be too much."
I study him, trying to read his intentions. "Why tell me this? Why reveal yourself now?"
"Because I need to know…are you going to protect her? When Edmund makes his move, when this situation explodes, will you choose her over your pack if it comes to that?"
The question hits at the heart of my ongoing conflict. Pack or mate. Duty or bond.
"I'm going to try to protect both," I say.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer I have. Because Vivienne is pack now. She's my mate, which makes her Greyfang. Protecting her is the same as protecting them."
"Unless they decide she's a liability. Then what?"
I meet his eyes steadily. "Then they'll have to go through me first."
Gabriel nods slowly. "Good. Because Declan, you need to understand something about the Silvermane bloodline. My sister is going to be powerful. More powerful than any Alpha, possibly more powerful than any werewolf alive today. That power will make her valuable to some packs and threatening to others."
"I'm aware."
"Are you? Because right now, you're thinking about protecting one girl. But in ten days, you're going to be protecting someone who could unite or destroy every werewolf pack in Britain. The responsibility is going to be crushing."
"Then I'll bear it. Because she's mine to protect."
"And if she doesn't want protection? If she wants to use her power to change things?"
"Then I'll support her. That's what mates do."
Gabriel's hard expression softens slightly. "My mother chose wrong. She chose a man who couldn't accept what she was. I hope my sister chooses better."
"She didn't choose me. The mate bond chose for both of us."
"Maybe. But she's choosing you now, every day, by not running. By staying and facing the transformation despite knowing what's coming. Don't make her regret that choice."
He melts back into the shadows, disappearing as silently as he appeared.
I stand alone in the darkness, the weight of too many expectations pressing down on my shoulders. The pack wants me to prioritize their safety. Gabriel wants me to protect Vivienne above all else. Vivienne wants training and support. Edmund wants us all dead.
And me? I want the impossible.
I want Vivienne safe and transformed and by my side. I want my pack intact and trusting. I want Edmund stopped without more bloodshed. I want the Culling to be cancelled and the Silver Moon to pass peacefully.
I want things I can't have.
My phone buzzes again. Callum: Found Edmund's surveillance setup. You need to see this. Meet us at the north woods entrance.
I head toward the rendezvous point, trying to prepare myself for whatever they've discovered.
But when I arrive and see their faces, I know it's bad.
"Show me," I say.
Callum pulls out his phone, scrolling through photos. Cameras mounted in trees. Motion sensors. Silver-lined traps disguised as natural terrain features. And most damning—detailed maps of our running routes marked with optimal shooting positions.
"He's preparing for a hunt," Owen says quietly. "Full moon in ten days. He knows we'll be out here, knows our patterns. And he's got enough firepower to take out the entire pack."
"We need to change our running grounds."
"Or we need to spring his trap on our terms," Callum suggests. "Catch him in the act, eliminate the threat permanently."
"Killing him creates other problems. Legal ones. And Vivienne…"
"Vivienne will understand that it was him or us." Callum's expression is grim. "Declan, we're out of time. In ten days, we have a full moon, Vivienne's first transformation, and Edmund's ambush. We can't handle all three simultaneously."
"Then we separate them. Change the full moon run location. Have Vivienne transform somewhere secure, with only trusted pack members present. Deal with Edmund before he can activate his trap."
"How do we deal with him without killing him?"
"I don't know yet. But we have ten days to figure it out."
Owen and Callum exchange looks but don't argue.
"We'll increase patrols," Callum says finally. "Monitor Edmund's movements. Make sure he doesn't adjust his trap to account for our changed behavior."
"And Vivienne?"
"Gets trained. Protected. Prepared for the worst-case scenario."
I nod, looking at the surveillance photos one more time. Edmund has been busy. Thorough. Methodical.
Just like Vivienne said.
Which means we need to be smarter, faster, more adaptable than he expects.
Because in ten days, everything changes.
And whether we're ready or not, war is coming.