CHAPTER EIGHTY - ROSALIE

CHAPTER EIGHTY - ROSALIE
Within seconds it’s like someone has filled the space around us with black smoke and I can’t help but cough.

‘Hold your breath’. Aeron thinks.

‘Could have told me that two second ago’. I think back and hear Cain snort with amusement. 

And then it’s gone, like it was never there. I blink looking around but keeping myself between Aeron and Cain. We were in a room, a dark circular room, that with rich maroon carpet and mahogany furniture and an ambience that makes it feel ancient. 

In front of us are the entire Council. Every face I’d seen over a month ago. 

Alpha Juan and his Wolves arrived barely seconds after us. They stand to our left. Separate from us. Behind us are so many Wolves. So many people watching us. 

“About time.” Someone mutters and all three of us look to our right. 

I know it is him. Alpha Knox. He looks at me. His eyes boring into my very flesh as I gulp. 

He looks older than I imagined. He’s huge. With hair that’s almost jet black and eyes that seem to match. His face is covered in a thick stubble and his eyebrows seem almost groomed into a snarl shape. 

“Alpha Aeron, Alpha Cain.” Ezekial says.

Both Aeron and Cain incline their heads to the Vampire.

“It has come to our attention that you were not fully honest with us at our last meeting.”

“…and that certain facts were undisclosed.” Elder Mab says, throwing Ilsa a glare who acts like she hasn’t even noticed it.

“And what facts were those?” Aeron asks.

“That the girl is not just your mate. That she is a Sullivan.” Alpha Knox snarls before anyone else can.

Aeron glances at him. “Rosalie is our mate. She is marked by both myself and Cain. Any further discussion about the matter is unwarranted.”

Knox hisses. “You dare insult us?” He says. “You knew what she was, you kept it from us because you wanted her for yourself.”

“She is our mate. Of course we wanted her.” Cain states.

“Enough.” Someone says. 

“Come here girl.” Another says. 

I shrink further into my mates, only that clearly agitates everyone more.

‘Go.’ Cain thinks to me, and I grit my teeth stepping out.

“Before we do anything further, we need to see if the girl is with pup.” Ezekial says. 

My eyes widen and I want to step back, step further into Cain but Elder Mab grabs me before I get a chance, pulling me further from them and I’m left standing in front of everyone feeling like I’m surrounded, under siege almost.

“And if she is…?” Aeron asks narrowing his eyes. 

They ignore the question entirely. Their sole focus is on me. 

The Fae man walks up to me, assessing me, taking in the two prominent marks on my neck. He raises his hand and places it on my belly and for a second I hold my breath. 

In fact, it feels like the whole room holds their breath. Everyone is waiting, hanging on the words the Fae man is about to say.

“She is not.” He says. 

I look back at my mates, feeling for the first time saddened. I spent so long fighting them, fighting the idea of having pups that it feels even worse now to realise how much I actually wanted a different answer in this moment. How all three of us did. 

‘There is time’. Cain says to me. 

Knox laughs. It rings out loudly around us all. Mocking us. “So they have failed huh? How long have they been fucking you, girl? Two months?”

I snarl at him and if anything, his eyes twinkle with amusement at it.

“We are at a turning point members of the Council.” Knox says loudly. “Our race is in great peril. We have to do something to change it, to save us all.” 

“And what do you suggest, Alpha Knox?” Ezekial asks. 

“This girl is a gift from the Goddess herself. She belongs to a true Alpha. A strong Alpha. Me. Give her to me, and I will give you Lycan’s in return.”

“I am not yours. I belong with Aeron and Cain.” I snap before anyone else can even speak. 

“I see your mates have failed in teaching you manners just as they have failed to properly fuck you. Did they manage to get anything right?” He replies.

Aeron and Cain growl. I want to run to them, to hide between them but I hold my ground, glaring at Knox. I’m half tempted to lunge at him and rip his god damn throat out. 

“Enough of this. We are not here to have a petty fight between Alphas.” The Fae man says. 

“No, we are not.” Knox replies. “This girl is our future. Our chance to produce a stronger race, a fiercer race. The humans are killing us while we hide in the shadows. I say it’s time we rose up and took back what is ours. With this girl, I will make a race of Lycan’s, a new breed of Wolves that will herald a future for us.”

“And how do you propose to be more successful than her current mates?” Elder Mab asks. 

He smirks. “I have already pupped enough sons to prove my virility. Give the girl to me and I guarantee she’ll be fat with my pups before the month is out.”

Aeron and Cain growl so loudly at his words and I clench my fists to the point that my nails impale themselves into my palms.

I scowl disgusted. “Does no one even care what I want?” I snap. 

“No.” Knox says facing me down even from the distance between us. “You’re human, the only thing we care for is what’s between your legs, girl. So keep your mouth shut and let your betters decide.”

I clench my fists more. 

“Alpha Knox.” Aeron snaps moving near to me. “You claim we misled the Council and yet our mate was in your Pack for two years. You had more than enough time to claim her and yet you failed. I’d say the Goddess gave you your chance and you missed it.”

Knox narrows his eyes. “If I had known what she was do you think I would have left her in Silas’s bed?” He snaps. “I would have taken her for myself even if I had to kill my cousin to do it.”

“You hear how he is?” Cain says. “How he speaks. He does not care for our laws. He takes what he wants, and you want to reward him with giving over our mate?” He hisses. 

“We have not said that.” One of the Council states loudly. 

“She belongs to me.” Knox growls.

“She is our mate. Not yours.” Aeron states.

“Her mother was promised to me.” Knox bellows. “Orion promised his daughter in a treaty that he failed to honour. I’d say giving me the daughter rectifies that.”

I gasp. Knox was the man my grandfather chose? I shake my head refusing to believe it.

“It’s true I did agree to it.” Orion says and I glare at him. Since when did he get here? “I was a fool, and idiot. I have since learnt the error of my ways. I once believed as you did Alpha Knox, that we needed to create a super race, but now I know we shouldn’t interfere in such things. My granddaughter is happy with her mates. She has only just been marked by them. She would not have been able to conceive until she was fully marked so it is premature to expect her to already be with pup.”

I feel Aeron and Cain looking at me and the fact I haven’t reacted to Orion’s words tells them that I knew this fact.

“I think we’ve heard enough.” Ezekial says. 

I hold my breath. If they give me to Knox I will fight them. I will fight them all.

“Alpha Juan what are your thoughts?” Elder Mab asks. 

Juan looks at me then at the Council. “The fact the girl can pup Lycans is of course of interest to me. But she is already marked and mated.” He says.

“That doesn’t mean she can’t carry another Alpha’s pups.” Knox says.

“What are you saying, Knox? That you’ll force the girl? Force her to bear your pups?” He snarls.

“If that’s what it takes.” Knox says running his eyes over me and I’m half tempted to launch myself at him and punch him in his god damn face, only I learnt that lesson months ago, you can’t punch a werewolf, you only end up hurting yourself. 

“You disgust me.” Juan says. “The girl is not willing. She is happy where she is. She will provide Alphas Aeron and Cain with Lycans in time. It is not our place to separate them. Besides, I have a mate as do you, Alpha Knox. Be content with what the Goddess has given you.”

Knox sneers at his words. 

“I’m inclined to side with you, Alpha Juan.” The Fae man says. 

“Me too.” Ezekial adds. 

“Let’s see if this girl can even produce Lycans.” Elder Mab says. 

“Of course she can. She’s a Sullivan.” Knox states. 

Ezekial looks at me. “You want to remain with Alphas Aeron and Cain?” 

“Yes.” I say without hesitation. “They’re my mates. My only mates. Even if they hadn’t marked me, even if I’d formed a mate-bond with other Alphas, I would choose them. Every time.”

He nods. “Fine. I say we’re done with this.”

“Alpha Aeron and Alpha Cain, you will inform us the moment you know your mate is with pup.” Elder Mab says. 

“And if you ever mislead this Council again…” The Fae man says.

Aeron narrows his eyes before inclining his head just a tiny bit.

‘Rosalie’. Cain says to me and I step back quickly taking his hand. 

Within seconds Carli is transporting us back and as I barely register the whirling in my head and all the smoke, we are here, in the Residence. 

Home.