Chapter 65 Kaden's POV
"Ethan!"
He appeared in the doorway within seconds, his eyes taking in the scene of servants scattered across the floor, Selena gasping for breath, Elara standing in the center of it all looking terrified.
"Get Elara back to her quarters," I ordered.
"Now I won't let anyone stop you, don't let anyone near her."
"What happened?" Ethan asked, moving toward Elara
"I'll explain later just get her somewhere safe."
Elara looked at me, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Kaden, I didn't mean to-"
"I know we will talk about it but right now you need to go." I turned to Ethan.
"Take her through the back corridors to avoid the main halls."
Ethan nodded and gently took Elara's arm. "Come on, let's get you out of here."
She resisted for a moment, looking at the servants still recovering on the floor. "Are they going to be okay?"
"Damian will take care of them if you need to go."
Finally, she let Ethan lead her away. I watched until they disappeared around the corner, then turned my attention to the chaos left behind.
Damian was already moving between the servants, checking pulses, looking in eyes, asking questions in his calm, professional voice.
"How bad is it?" I asked.
"No permanent damage that I can see but they're traumatized whatever power Elara used, it felt like death to them."
He moved to Selena, who was still on the ground. "Can you stand?"
Selena nodded weakly and let Damian help her to her feet. Her throat was already bruising dark marks where the invisible pressure had been strongest.
"What was that?" She whispered, her voice hoarse. "What did she do to us?"
"That's not your concern right now," I said coldly.
"Damian, get her to the medical wing to check her injuries. Then keep her there until I say otherwise."
"Kaden, you need to understand-" Selena started.
"I don't need to understand anything from you. You provoked her. I know you did. So whatever happened, you brought it on yourself."
"She tried to kill me! She tried to kill all of us!"
"And yet you are still breathing Damian, take her away."
As Damian led Selena out, I called for more medical staff. Within minutes, the servant quarters were filled with healers, checking over every person who'd been in that room.
I stood back, watching, trying to process what I had witnessed.
Elara had used Luna aura. Powerful Luna aura. Strong enough to bring an entire room of wolves to their knees.
But she wasn't officially Luna; we hadn't completed the mating bond. Hadn't performed the ceremony. She shouldn't have been able to command that kind of power.
Unless the bond was stronger than we realized. Unless the rejection hadn't actually broken it the way I'd thought.
Or unless Elara was something more than just an omega. I was still trying to make sense of it when I heard footsteps of heavy , purposeful people.
The elders.
All of Marcus, Rowan, Vera, and three others appeared in the doorway; their expressions were grave.
"Alpha Kaden," Marcus said formally. "We need to speak with you. Immediately."
"Not now. I'm dealing with-"
"This cannot wait what happened here is a threat to the entire pack."
I felt my jaw clench. "How did you even hear about this?"
"One of the servants ran to us in terror. Told us an omega attacked them with unnatural power. Nearly killed them all."
Marcus's eyes were hard. "We need to address this before it happens again."
"There's nothing to address. It was an isolated incident-”
"An isolated incident?" Rowan stepped forward. "An omega who can wield Luna aura without being Luna is not an isolated incident. It's an abomination."
The word hit me like a physical blow. "Don't call her that."
"What else would you call it? She has power she shouldn't possess. Power that's dangerous. Power that nearly killed pack members today."
"She didn't mean to hurt anyone. She lost control-”
"Exactly!" Marcus interrupted. "She lost control. Which means she's unstable. Dangerous. We cannot allow someone like that to remain in the pack."
Ice flooded my veins. "What are you suggesting?"
"We're suggesting she needs to leave. Today. Now. Before she hurts someone again."
"No."
"This isn't a request, Kaden the council is unanimous. She's a threat to pack safety. She needs to be removed from pack lands."
"I said no."
Elder Vera spoke up, her voice gentler than the others. "Kaden, please understand. We're not doing this to be cruel. But that girl nearly killed Selena and a dozen servants. What happens next time? What if next time she can't stop? What if someone dies?"
"There won't be a next time. I'll help her learn to control it."
"How?" Marcus demanded.
"You don't even understand what she is. None of us do. She's an omega wielding Luna power. That shouldn't be possible."
"But it is possible. Which means there's an explanation-"
"The explanation doesn't matter. What matters is keeping the pack safe." Marcus's voice hardened. "We're invoking our authority as council. The omega leaves. Today. By force if necessary."
"You don't have the authority to exile a pack member without my approval."
"We do when that pack member is a direct threat to others. It's in the pack charter. Article seven, section three."
I knew he was right. I had read that charter a hundred times. In cases of immediate danger, the council could override the Alpha's wishes.
"She's not a threat," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "She's just scared and learning to handle new abilities."
"Abilities she shouldn't have," Rowan said.
"Kaden, be reasonable, we understand you feel protective of her because of the child she's carrying. But the safety of the many outweighs-"
"She's my mate."
The words came out before I could stop them and the hallway went silent. All six elders stared at me like I'd just announced the sky was falling.
"What did you say?" Marcus asked slowly.
"I said she's my mate, my fated mate, she's not just some omega I'm protecting. She's my other half."
"But you rejected her," Vera said quietly. "Everyone knows you rejected your mate."
"I did and it was the worst mistake of my life. But the bond is still there. Damaged but not broken. And she's carrying my child. An heir to this pack with a lunar pulse."
More silence.
Then Marcus spoke, his voice tight with anger. "You kept this from us, you let us believe she was just a pregnant servant you felt responsible for."
"Because it was private personal none of your business."
"None of our business?" Rowan stepped forward. "The Alpha's mate is very much our business! The future of this pack is our business!"
"Then you should be celebrating, not trying to exile her!"
"Celebrating?" Marcus's face was red now.
"You rejected your fated mate, got her pregnant, kept the whole thing secret, and now she's demonstrated dangerous, uncontrolled power! What exactly should we be celebrating?"
"The fact that I'm trying to fix my mistakes! The fact that she's agreed to give our bond another chance! The fact that she's carrying a child who could be the most powerful wolf this pack has ever seen!"
"Or the most dangerous," Rowan said. "If she can't control her power-"
"Then I will help her learn control. I'll protect her and train her and do whatever it takes to help her master these abilities."
"And if you fail? If she loses control again and kills someone?"
"She won't."
"You can't guarantee that."
"Yes, I can. Because I won't let it happen."
The elders exchanged glances. I could see them silently debating, deciding how to handle this new information.
Finally, Marcus spoke. "The council needs time to discuss this. The revelation that she's your mate changes things, but it doesn't eliminate the danger she represents."
"There is no discussion. She stays. End of conversation."
"Kaden-"
"I am the Alpha of this pack. My word is law. And I'm telling you…she stays."
"Even if it means putting every pack member at risk?"
"She's not a risk. She's my mate. And anyone who tries to force her out will answer to me directly."
The threat was clear.
Marcus stared at me for a long moment. "This isn't over. We'll convene an official council meeting tonight to address this properly."
"Fine convene whatever you want. My answer won't change."
They left, their footsteps echoing down the hallway. I stood there alone, my hands clenched into fists, rage and fear warring inside me.
I'd just publicly claimed Elara as my mate. Revealed the pregnancy. Declared my intention to protect her against all opposition.
There was no going back now.
And I had no idea if I'd just saved her or made everything infinitely worse.