Chapter 264

Chapter 264
Iris's POV

Mother turned to me, expectation in her eyes: "Iris, show your token."

I understood mother's intent—this was a symbolic moment, crucial to resolving the current crisis. Taking a deep breath, I raised my wrist, making the Alpha token clearly visible in the moonlight. With both tokens displayed in the plaza, their silver light seemed to reflect each other, as if energy flowed between them.

The effect was dramatic. Almost instantly, everyone in the Northern European pack except Beta Erik dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in respect. Even those who had been attacking us moments before followed this ancient protocol, leaving only Erik standing alone, his face livid.

This sudden scene caught me off guard. I never imagined receiving homage from an entire pack, especially when they had viewed me as an enemy just minutes earlier. The transformation was so abrupt it felt unreal. I glanced at Sebastien, whose expression mirrored my surprise, though he quickly composed himself, calmly observing the situation's development.

"In their eyes, seeing both tokens together is like seeing their Alpha and Luna," K explained softly near my ear. "This is one of the Northern European pack's oldest traditions. The tokens aren't just symbols of power; they represent the pack's soul and continuity."

"But I never wanted to be an Alpha or any kind of leader," I whispered back, feeling overwhelmed. "I came here only to protect my family and stop the attacks."

"Sometimes destiny pushes us in unexpected directions," K's voice carried a hint of mystery. "But for now, this works in our favor. At least they won't see you as an enemy anymore."

I felt the dramatic shift in power balance. Werewolves who moments ago were hostile now bowed in respect; the once aggressive Beta now stood isolated. The transformation happened so quickly it was dizzying. I began thinking how to use this unexpected advantage to achieve my original goals—ensuring my family's safety and establishing peaceful relations with the Northern European pack.

An elderly female elder—I remembered her as Magnhild—stepped forward, first bowing deeply to my mother, then turning to me with respectful tones: "The Northern European pack welcomes you."

I noticed my mother's satisfied smile, though also a hint of vigilance as she kept watching Erik's movements. I understood her concern—despite the reversal of fortune, Erik clearly wouldn't easily accept this change. His body language remained hostile, dangerous light flickering in his eyes, like a wolf poised to strike.

Mother walked to my side and gently took my hand. This was our first physical contact in years, and the warm touch nearly brought tears to my eyes. I had so much to say, so many questions to ask, but I knew this wasn't the time. Mother seemed to understand my feelings; she squeezed my hand gently, her eyes communicating "I'll explain later."

Just as I was considering what to do next, a deep growl broke the plaza's silence. All eyes turned toward the source—Erik.

Erik stood trembling with rage, the golden glow in his eyes intensifying—a clear sign a werewolf was about to shift. His face contorted with fury, his voice hoarse with hatred: "This is impossible! You're all dead! This is a trick, a conspiracy!" His voice grew increasingly bestial. "I won't let you take everything that belongs to me!"

The air suddenly tensed; pack members backed away, making space for the potential conflict. I felt mother's hand tighten around mine, her body leaning slightly forward, ready to protect me. This small gesture touched my heart—despite our years apart, the maternal instinct remained intact.

Erik's transformation was astonishingly fast—his bones cracked horribly, muscles rapidly expanded, and fur grew wildly beneath his skin. In seconds, a massive silver-gray werewolf stood where he had been, over two meters tall, powerful muscles covered in fur, claws and fangs gleaming dangerously. His eyes locked on me, murderous intent clear.

"Look out!" Before I could react, mother pushed me aside while shouting: "Erik, stop! I command you in the name of the Council of Elders!" But Erik had completely lost control, ignoring her command and lunging toward me with incredible speed, claws aimed directly at my throat.

In that critical moment, a black lightning bolt flashed past me—Sebastien had transformed with extraordinary speed, his wolf form agile and powerful, black fur shimmering with blue highlights in the moonlight. He collided with Erik mid-air, the two massive figures crashing together with a deafening impact.

The shockwave pushed me back several steps, but I quickly regained my balance. Sebastien and Erik were already locked in combat, claws and fangs clashing with metallic sounds. Though Erik, as a purebred werewolf, had the size advantage, Sebastien's fighting technique was clearly superior. Each of his attacks precisely struck vulnerable points, while he skillfully avoided counterattacks.

"They can't keep fighting like this," mother said urgently. "A life-or-death battle on pack territory will cause even greater chaos!" She was about to step forward to intervene, but I held her back.

"Wait," I said, observing the battle. "Sebastien won't kill him; he's only defending and subduing." I knew Sebastien's fighting style; he never needlessly took lives, even against enemies. Indeed, I noticed several opportunities when he could have delivered fatal blows but chose controlling attacks instead.

The battle was intense but brief. Sebastien's skill and speed ultimately prevailed. Finding the right moment, he executed a beautiful side roll, avoiding Erik's lunge while powerfully kicking him in the abdomen with his hind legs, sending Erik flying into a stone pillar in the plaza's center. Erik let out a pained howl, attempting to rise but clearly weakened.

Sebastien didn't press his advantage, instead taking a steady defensive position in front of me, a low growl warning of any potential threat. This action demonstrated tremendous restraint and wisdom—he had proven his strength without causing unnecessary casualties on pack territory.

The plaza fell silent, everyone stunned by the battle's outcome. Erik was recognized as the pack's strongest fighter, yet defeated in minutes. This result not only proved Sebastien's strength but further solidified our position.

Mother looked at me, her eyes showing approval and pride: "You've chosen a powerful mate." Her assessment was simple and direct, yet it warmed my heart.

I approached Sebastien, gently stroking his wolf form, feeling his strong muscles and steady breathing beneath my hand. "Thank you," I said softly, both for his protection and his restraint. "We're safe now."

Sebastien slowly returned to human form, standing beside me, vigilantly scanning our surroundings. Though the battle had ended, I could feel every nerve in his body remained tense, ready to respond to any threat.

Erik was helped up by several pack members. He had reverted to human form, his face pale, clearly seriously injured. His eyes still burned with hatred, but now showed more defeat and shock than anger. "This isn't over," he said through gritted teeth. "The Northern European pack won't accept outsiders' rule."

"Enough, Erik," Elder Magnhild said sharply. "You violated our most ancient tradition by attacking a token bearer. The Council will judge your actions." Her words were echoed by other elders, and I noticed Erik's followers beginning to distance themselves, unwilling to be associated with his crimes.

Watching Erik being led away, I felt a complex mix of emotions. This crisis had been temporarily resolved, but I knew it was just the beginning. I turned to my mother, with countless questions demanding answers: "Now, we need to talk."