Chapter 44

Chapter 44
Elara’s POV

Damian led me down the hall toward the council chamber. His stride was firm, every step heavy with authority. Mine were slower. I felt like I was walking into my own trial, and in a way, I was.

The double doors were already open when we reached them. Inside, elders and ranked wolves sat in a half-circle, their faces a mix of stern, angry, and uncertain. The air was thick with tension. My chest tightened as whispers filled the space.

Damian stepped through first, his presence cutting through the noise. The room quieted, though the glares didn’t ease. When I followed, all eyes landed on me. Heat rose to my cheeks, my hands curling into fists at my sides.

“Sit,” Elder Thomas ordered, his voice flat but sharp.

Damian bristled, but I moved forward before he could snap back. I chose the empty chair at the center, directly under their gaze. My body wanted to curl into itself, but I forced my spine straight.

Thomas folded his hands. “Elara. Do you know why you’re here?”

“Yes.” My voice cracked but I didn’t look away. “Because the pack doesn’t trust me.”

A ripple of murmurs spread. Some nodded, some scoffed.

Thomas leaned forward. “You used your gift on a new wolf. Without warning, without control. Do you understand the risk you put us in?”

“I didn’t hurt him,” I said quickly. “Jason is alive because I was there. He shifted safely because I was there.”

An elder to the left, one I didn’t know well, narrowed his eyes. “Or because you made him. What if you forced his wolf? What if you could force any of us?”

The words hit like a slap. I shook my head, panic clawing up my throat. “I didn’t—no, that’s not what I did. I only helped him focus. I felt what he felt. I guided him.”

“Guided?” the elder repeated, voice dripping with suspicion. “Or controlled?”

My breath hitched. I looked at Damian. His jaw was tight, his fists clenched, but he held back, letting me speak.

I turned back to the circle. “I don’t know what you think I am, but I’m not a weapon. I’m not your enemy.”

Another elder, a woman with silver hair, leaned in. “Then what are you, Elara? A wolf who cannot shift, yet wields power no wolf should have. Tell us, how can we be sure you won’t turn it against us?”

The room buzzed with agreement. My palms were slick with sweat. I forced myself to breathe.

“Because I already chose not to,” I said, louder than I expected. The words spilled out before I could second-guess. “If I wanted to hurt this pack, I could have done it when I first came here. I could have used what I have to break you instead of helping Jason. But I didn’t. I won’t.”

The room went still. My heart pounded, every beat echoing in my ears.

Thomas studied me for a long moment, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Words are easy. Actions are harder.”

Damian stepped forward then, his voice firm and sharp. “She has already proven her actions. She stood against Kael. She fought for this pack. Some of you would be dead if not for her.”

“That may be,” Thomas said, unmoved. “But this is bigger than one battle. Her presence could divide us. Wolves are already whispering. Afraid.”

“They whisper because fear is easier than understanding,” Damian growled. “If you let it grow, it will destroy us faster than any enemy.”

The two men locked eyes, neither backing down. The air was suffocating.

Finally, Thomas looked at me again. “If you want the pack’s trust, prove it. Prove it in front of all of us, not just the Alpha who shields you.”

My throat tightened. “How?”

A cruel edge flickered in his gaze. “You’ll heal the next wolf who loses control. Not in private. Here. In front of the pack. If you succeed, they’ll see your worth. If you fail…” He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to.

The silence stretched. My stomach churned. My fingers trembled against my knees. I wanted to say no. I wanted to run. But Damian’s hand landed on my shoulder, grounding me.

“I’ll do it,” I said, my voice small but steady.

Whispers exploded again. Some scoffed, some muttered prayers, some shook their heads.

Thomas raised his hand and the noise died down. He gave a sharp nod. “So be it. Your chance will come soon enough.”

Damian leaned closer to me, his breath warm against my ear. “You don’t have to agree to this,” he whispered.

“Yes, I do,” I whispered back. “It’s the only way.”

The council dismissed us not long after. When we left the chamber, my legs felt like they would give out beneath me. Damian’s hand never left my back, steadying me as we walked down the corridor.

Once we were alone, he stopped and turned me toward him. His eyes burned with anger and worry. “They’re using you as a spectacle. They want to watch you fail.”

“Then I can’t fail,” I said.

His jaw worked, like he wanted to argue, but instead he pulled me against his chest. His arms wrapped tight, like he could shield me from the world. For a moment, I let myself sink into him, breathing in his warmth.

But even pressed against him, even in his arms, I knew the truth. The pack wasn’t going to trust me because Damian said so. I would have to bleed for their faith.

And the next time a wolf lost control, all eyes would be on me.