Part 8 — The Council
1360 Words
“The council is coming.”
The words changed the entire atmosphere instantly.
Even Alessandro’s expression darkened further.
Elena looked between both men in confusion.
“What council?”
Luca hesitated.
But Alessandro answered calmly.
“The leaders of the werewolf territories.”
Elena stared at him.
“There are more people like you?”
“Yes.”
The thought alone overwhelmed her.
She had only just accepted that werewolves existed.
Now there were councils and territories too?
How large was this hidden world?
Alessandro turned toward Luca immediately.
“When will they arrive?”
“By morning.”
“That fast?”
“They were already nearby after hearing about the Romano attack.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened slightly.
Of course they were.
The council watched everything.
Especially him.
Elena crossed her arms nervously.
“And why exactly are they coming here?”
Neither man answered immediately.
That silence already told her enough.
Because of me.
Alessandro finally looked at her.
“They know I found my mate.”
Her heartbeat skipped painfully again at that word.
Mate.
The bond still felt unreal.
“And that’s bad?”
“It can be.”
Elena frowned. “You keep saying things like that without explaining anything.”
Alessandro stayed silent for a moment before speaking.
“In our world, power matters more than emotions.”
“And?”
“And powerful Alphas are not expected to fall in love.”
The strange ache inside Elena’s chest returned unexpectedly.
Love.
This wasn’t love.
It was supposed to be a contract.
A fake marriage.
Nothing more.
So why did hearing him say that hurt slightly?
Before she could think further, Alessandro spoke again.
“You should rest tonight.”
Elena laughed softly in disbelief.
“How exactly am I supposed to sleep after all this?”
For a second, Alessandro almost looked sympathetic.
Almost.
Then his cold expression returned.
“Tomorrow will be difficult.”
“That’s not comforting.”
“No,” he admitted quietly. “It isn’t.”
The next morning, the mansion looked more tense than ever.
Guards stood everywhere.
The staff whispered nervously while preparing the estate.
Even the air felt heavier.
Elena stood near her bedroom window watching black vehicles enter through the giant gates outside.
Her stomach tightened immediately.
The council had arrived.
A soft knock came at her door moments later.
“Come in,” she said quietly.
A maid entered carrying a large black dress carefully folded in her arms.
“Mr. De Luca asked me to bring this.”
Elena frowned slightly.
“What’s wrong with my clothes?”
The maid looked nervous.
“The council values appearances.”
Wonderful.
Another hour later, Elena finally walked downstairs wearing the elegant black dress.
The fitted fabric hugged her body perfectly while the dark color made her look older and more sophisticated.
The moment she reached the bottom of the stairs, several people turned toward her immediately.
And the room became silent.
Three older men stood near the fireplace wearing dark formal suits.
Beside them stood a woman with cold sharp eyes.
All of them stared at Elena intensely.
Like they were studying her.
Judging her.
Alessandro stood nearby looking calm and unreadable.
But his eyes softened slightly the moment he saw her.
The woman noticed immediately.
Interesting.
“So this is the human girl,” one of the older men said coldly.
Elena resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
Human girl?
She had a name.
Alessandro walked toward her slowly before stopping beside her.
“Yes.”
The possessiveness in his voice did not go unnoticed.
Another man stepped forward.
“I’m Dominic Volkov,” he introduced calmly. “Head of the Northern Council.”
Elena forced a polite smile.
“Nice to meet you.”
But Dominic continued staring at her thoughtfully.
“You’ve caused quite a problem.”
Her expression hardened slightly.
“I didn’t ask for any of this.”
For the first time, the cold woman near the fireplace spoke.
“And yet here you are.”
Elena immediately disliked her.
The woman’s sharp green eyes moved toward Alessandro.
“You hid the mate bond from us.”
Alessandro’s expression stayed calm.
“I was handling it.”
“Poorly,” another council member muttered.
Tension filled the room instantly.
Elena looked toward Alessandro carefully.
For the first time since meeting him, she noticed something surprising.
These people challenged him openly.
And they weren’t afraid.
Dominic stepped closer slowly.
“The Romano family already knows about the girl.”
“I know,” Alessandro answered coldly.
“They believe killing her will weaken you.”
Elena’s chest tightened painfully.
Why did everyone keep talking about her death so casually?
The female council member studied Elena again.
“What exactly makes her special?”
Alessandro’s eyes darkened instantly.
“Careful.”
The warning in his voice sent chills through the room.
The woman smiled slightly.
“There it is.”
Elena frowned.
“There what is?”
Dominic sighed quietly.
“The bond is already affecting him deeply.”
Silence followed.
Then another council member looked directly at Alessandro.
“You’re becoming unstable.”
Elena immediately looked toward him.
Unstable?
Alessandro’s face became cold again.
“I’m perfectly in control.”
“Last night you nearly shifted during interrogation.”
Elena froze.
Shifted?
As in fully transforming into the wolf?
The thought terrified her.
Dominic looked serious.
“If the bond grows stronger while the girl remains unmarked, your wolf will continue becoming aggressive.”
Elena blinked.
“Marked?”
Nobody answered immediately.
Then the female council member finally explained.
“When a wolf claims their mate permanently.”
Something about her tone made Elena nervous.
“How?”
Silence again.
Then Alessandro answered quietly.
“With a bite.”
Elena’s eyes widened instantly.
“A bite?”
The woman almost smirked.
“You really told her nothing.”
Alessandro ignored the comment.
Dominic stepped forward again.
“The problem is bigger than the bond now.”
Alessandro’s gaze hardened.
“Say what you came to say.”
The older man’s expression turned serious.
“The council believes Elena is no longer safe here.”
Fear immediately rushed through Elena’s chest.
“What does that mean?”
“It means,” the female council member answered calmly, “we want to move you somewhere hidden until this war ends.”
“No.”
Everyone looked toward Alessandro instantly.
His voice had become dangerously cold.
Dominic sighed heavily.
“This is not only your decision anymore.”
“She stays here.”
“And if the Romanos attack again?”
“They’ll die.”
The female council member crossed her arms.
“You’re blinded by the bond.”
Rage flashed briefly across Alessandro’s face.
The temperature in the room suddenly felt colder.
Elena noticed his hands tightening slowly beside him.
Like he was struggling to stay calm.
Then suddenly his eyes flashed silver for half a second.
Only half a second.
But everyone noticed.
Silence filled the room heavily.
Dominic looked grim.
“This is exactly what we feared.”
Elena’s heartbeat quickened nervously.
Alessandro was losing control again.
Because of her.
The realization hurt more than she expected.
Before anyone could speak again, loud shouting suddenly echoed from outside.
A guard rushed into the room breathing heavily.
“Boss!”
Alessandro turned immediately.
“What happened?”
The guard looked pale.
“We found one of Romano’s men near the west forest.”
“And?”
The guard hesitated.
Then he answered quietly.
“He left a message.”
Fear spread through the room instantly.
“What message?” Alessandro asked coldly.
The guard swallowed nervously before speaking.
“He said Romano knows the girl is carrying the Alpha’s future.”
Silence.
Dead silence.
Elena frowned in confusion.
“What does that mean?”
But nobody answered.
Because every person in the room had suddenly realized something terrifying.
The mate bond between Elena and Alessandro was becoming far stronger than it should this quickly.
Dangerously stronger.
And if the enemy discovered why…
The war would only get worse.
To be continued…
- Writer
