Chapter 109 Chapter 109

Chapter 109 Chapter 109
Sienna

The atmosphere in the clearing was tense, the air smelling of wet grass and smoke from the torches the Lycans had lit earlier. Elias gripped my hand tightly… or was it the other way round? Either way, our hold became tighter. I nudged him directly in front of me, putting my hands on his shoulders and giving him a light squeeze to reassure him.

I wasn’t going to let these people intimidate my cub.

We silently mounted the stage, barely standing for a full minute before the Elders graced us with their presents. Beside me Logan tensed, and I wished I had enough courage to share with the three of us. I gave him a sideways glance, feeling the tingle I always got whenever I looked at him.

Any other day and I might have let him know how good he looked in the clothes he wore. How much I loved the way they hugged the planes of his chest. I forced myself to be positive. Maybe I would. The goddess willing, we would get past whatever phase this was.

Elder Braem led the other two, the silver at his temples glinting harshly in the sunlight. I didn’t need a seer to tell me he would say the first words. Vaughn brought up the rear, the grey streaks catching the light from the torches. My eyes caught onto Cecelia.

Quiet, but deadly.

Braem got to the raised platform, walking straight to Logan. His lips moved, but I couldn’t make out the words. Logan snapped his gaze to me the second Braem stepped back. He took a step forward, curving his hand protectively around my waist and leaning down to whisper in my ear. “He wants us to have a discussion first, together with the Inner Circle.”

I met Braem’s eyes, but I couldn’t read the expression in them. He was staring at me coolly, like… fuck. I really couldn’t read his expression. I gave Logan a nod and passed the message to Elias.

Kael announced to the pack to go on a break while the rest of us headed to the mansion. Elias clung to my side, and I could tell from the way his eyes bounced that he was trying to get a read on these people too.

I wished Mara was here.

The thought slipped, and I didn’t bother trying to take it back. She would know what to do, what to say. If we survived this, which we would, I would go see her and fix things. We could take it one at a time. 

Maybe she would agree to move into the pack with us.

Eyes followed us as we walked; some curious, some wary. I could feel their judgment, but I could also feel the sympathy that seemed to radiate off a few of them. I couldn’t help but imagine that this would probably be their worst nightmare; having any business whatsoever to settle with the Elders.

The courtroom was colder than it usually was. Then again, it could be the effect of having the Elders in the room. There certainly wasn’t anything warm about them. Logan sent for Maurie to keep Elias occupied for as long as the discussions would go on. 

We settled around the table. I swallowed, tasting bile as their gaze swept over Logan and me. “There will be no choice but to execute Elias and Sienna if they fail the tests,” Vaughn announced bluntly.

My chest froze. What? Had I heard right? Eyes as wide as saucers, I turned to Logan, silently willing him to do something. Anything. Execute my cub? My stomach clenched. I could feel all the blood in my body rush to my head as my ears rang. Logan’s hands were fists at his sides, his shoulders as tight as steel.

He stood to his feet with a force that sent his chair flying backwards. His palms slammed on the desks, causing even my wolf to jump. “You will not touch them,” he growled, low and dangerous. It was the angriest I’d ever seen him and j was grateful I didn’t have his anger directed at me.

His outburst fueled me. I snapped my eyes to Vaughn’s, dropping my voice to a lethal octave and letting him see the warning in my eyes. They thought I was a threat because of my powers? They hadn’t seen anything yet. “You hurt one hair on my cub’s head and I swear I would make sure you breathed your last breath in the same second.” 

It wasn’t even a threat. 

It was a vow.

His jaws grinded at my words. Kael and Cassian both stood to their feet with their arms raised, palms facing out. The message they were passing across was clear as day. We all needed to calm the fuck down. I let my eye move from Veawm to Vaugh to Cecelia. Cecelia, who was watching me closely.

Hopefully it wasn’t too late to calm down.

How could she stay there and listen to the things these Lycans were saying?

Wasn’t she a mother herself? Didn’t she also have a cub she would fiercely protect?

Even Mara, despite abandoning me, had been trying to protect me in her own way. Braem gently placed his hands on the table. “Like he said,” he emphasized testily, “an execution could likely occur today–“

Logan flung his chair at the wall. I jumped as it shattered to pieces, quickly recovering when Braem’s words registered in my mind. “Over my staked body will you lay a finger on them!” Logan bellowed, his voice rattling the room.

Chaos ensued. I slapped my hands over my ears as everyone shouted over each other. Elias. My legs carried me towards the door. I had to get my cub far away from these people. Someone stepped in front of me. Elise, with her concerned expression. She wouldn’t let me leave the room.

Around me Kael and Alicia tried to calm Logan down. The Elders were raising their voices for the first time since I’d been introduced to them. Their words made their impact despite the fog clouding my mind. “If you say no to the tests, they will be executed either way! You do not want chaos in your pack, Logan! Trust me, you have no idea what you’d be bringing upon yourself!”

Logan’s raw cut through the room, raw and jagged.

Tears stung my eyes and streamed down my cheeks. Goddess, this was really happening. They were really putting us to the test. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I noted the trembling of my own hands as Kael and Cassian finally got Logan under control. 

Nessa and Elise were at my side, making sure I also remained calm. Everyone got seated despite the bubble of negative energy crackling in the room. The Elders passed us a form. I tried not to look at it, but the words stared back at my like a reflection glinting off a sharp blade.

Logan signed first, his teeth clenched and his eyes flashing fire. My vision blurred as I scrawled my own name, my heart hammering. The meeting ended shortly after, and we were herded back to the clearing. The Elders’ eyes followed us like hawks.

There was no trying to talk to Elias.

No

Stepping out of line.

Braem addressed the crowd. “The tests will begin.”