Chapter Forty.

Chapter Forty.
Damon's POV:

I ran my hands through my hair, getting frustrated. This was the third meeting in the space of one week. Jace and Kian refused to show up, leaving me to face all the questions.

They kept talking about the prophecy, while I tried to concentrate, but my mind was somewhere else. I still wasn't able to get Jace's words out of my head.

“What do you think, Damon?” Alpha Nico's words snapped me out of my thoughts.

I was brought back to reality and realised that everyone's eyes were now on me and they were waiting for my response. I had been so lost in thoughts, that I couldn't even focus.

I cleared my throat, adjusting my position on the chair. “I think we need to be careful about this. After all, the girl hasn't been seen in this town for so many years now. So what if we're just making assumptions?”

Another Alpha—Alpha Marcus— Gasped. “What are you trying to say? What the hell are you insinuating at, Damon? Are you trying to say the prophecy is wrong?”

I shook my head. “I didn't not say that,” I clarified. “I'm just saying that we might have to take another look at this problem. What if we're actually focused on the wrong part?”

I almost cursed myself for coming up with such an excuse. But I was hoping they'd believe it so as to buy me more time. The last thing I needed was them trying to hunt down Jhelani.

Alpha Nicole nodded his head slowly. “You do make a great point, Damon. And I think I'm going to consider what you've just said.”

Alpha Marcus looked very displeased. “Don't give in to what he says, Alpha. He's just trying to coax his words so you won't go ahead with your plan,” he tried explaining.

Alpha Nico looked genuinely intrigued and asked, “And why would he do that? What is there for him to gain when he knows the consequences of going against me.”

Alpha Marcus replied quickly. “I don't know how to prove it, Alpha. But I can tell that Alpha Damon is hiding something and he doesn't want us to know. I mean, he's more than what meets the eyes.”

I scoffed at his statement. “And what are you trying to insinuate, Marcus? That I'm a traitor to my pack?”

“Yes,” he yelled. “I don't know how to prove it yet. But I know that you're far from loyal to this pack and I'd find out whatever you and your brothers are up to.”

Alpha Marcus slammed his palm on the table, his voice echoing in the large council room. “You’re hiding her, aren’t you? The girl who matches the prophecy’s signs!”

The room fell into silence. Every Alpha turned to look at me with narrowed eyes, waiting for a reaction. I didn’t move. I

“What are you talking about?” I asked calmly, forcing my tone to stay neutral even though my pulse had started to race beneath the surface.

Marcus’s lips curled, almost as if he’d been waiting for that question. “Don’t play dumb with us, Damon. A girl with a silver aura… born under the blood moon… the one who will either destroy or redeem all our packs. You expect me to believe you haven’t heard of her?”

My hands clenched under the table, hidden from their view. I could feel my wolf stir within me, restless, anxious.

“I’ve heard stories,” I replied with a shrug, pretending to be uninterested. “But they’re just that — stories. Nothing proves she’s real.”

“Nothing proves she’s not,” Marcus shot back, leaning forward. “And if she’s back — if she’s within our territory — then you’re the one hiding her. I can smell it all over you. You’ve been different lately, distant. You think we wouldn’t notice?”

I met his gaze head-on, even though a cold sweat had already broken out along my neck. “You’re crossing a line, Marcus. Don’t mistake my patience for weakness.”

But even as I said the words, my chest felt tight. Because every single thing he said wasn’t entirely wrong.

The memory of Jhelani’s face flashed in my mind — that first moment I saw her again after all those years. The moon had been high that night, and she stood under its light like she didn’t belong to this world. Her silver aura had shimmered faintly around her, something no ordinary human could see — but I did. I felt it.

I had known immediately. She was the one.

And I had sworn right then and there that no one — not the council, not even my brothers — would ever lay a finger on her.

“Why so quiet now, Damon?” Alpha Nico’s voice cut into my thoughts, sharp but . “You’ve been defending this mysterious girl since the first meeting. It’s beginning to sound like more than mere logic. Tell me, Alpha Damon… is there something you wish to confess?”

I drew in a long, slow breath and leaned back in my chair, meeting his gaze with one of my own. “There’s nothing to confess, Alpha. My concern is only for the welfare of our packs. Acting on assumptions could destroy more than it protects.”

Alpha Marcus let out a humorless laugh. “You’re lying through your teeth.” He turned to the others. “Can’t you see it? He’s protecting her. Probably even keeping her under his roof.”

I gritted my teeth, trying not to lose it. “You talk too much, Marcus,” I said quietly, but the warning in my tone was clear.

The room grew tense again. For a second, no one spoke. I could hear my wolf growling deep inside, wanting to lash out, to shut him up for good. But I forced it down. Losing control here would only prove them right.

Still, I couldn’t ignore the truth — if they kept digging, if even one of them caught her scent, everything would be over.

“She must be found,” Alpha Nico said finally, his tone final. “If this girl truly exists, we cannot take chances. The prophecy was clear. ‘When the cursed one returns under the red moon, the blood of many shall rise again.’ We can’t risk our packs for one girl.”

“And what if she’s not the threat?” I asked quietly. “What if she’s the answer?”

That made them pause. A few exchanged uncertain glances, but Marcus was already shaking his head violently. “You’re delusional if you think that,” he spat. “The prophecy calls her a curse. If you protect her, Damon, then you go against the Law of the Moon itself.”

The words hit hard, ringing in my ears long after they were spoken.

I felt my jaw tighten, every muscle in my body coiled with restraint. “Then maybe the Law needs to be rewritten,” I muttered under my breath, just loud enough for him to hear.

Marcus glared at me, his eyes burning with suspicion and hate. But I didn’t care anymore.

Because deep down, I already knew my choice.

No matter what they said, no matter what it cost — I would protect her. Even if it meant turning every pack against me. Even if it meant being cursed myself.

I met Alpha Nico’s gaze one last time before standing from my chair. “If you want to find her,” I said, voice low and calm, “you’ll have to go through me first.”

And with that, I turned and walked out of the council room — my heart pounding with the weight of t
he vow I’d just made.

I’d rather burn in the moon’s fire than let them touch her.