PACK COUNCIL
1941 Words
Chapter 9:
*6:00am. Blackwood Tower. 60th Floor.*
I woke to cedar + rain. Damien’s bed. Glass crunched under sheets from last night’s sniper window. Security sealed it with steel at 4am.
Damien’s arm locked across my waist. He slept facing me, Alpha mask gone. Just the boy from under the oak tree.
“You’re awake,” he murmured, eyes closed. “Nightmares?”
“No. You breathe loud.”
“You talk in your sleep.” Eyes opened. Black, tired. “Said ‘don’t let go’ three times.”
My face burned. “I didn’t.”
“Liar.” He tucked hair behind my ear. “Pack council in 43 minutes. Chief Adebayo called the emergency session. ‘Unauthorized rejection reversal’.”
My stomach dropped. “He can do that?”
“He can try.” Damien sat up. “Council law is old. But still, law.”
He pulled me up. Didn’t let go of my hand.
“Favour. Last night, I meant what I said. But the council needs blood. Old law. Mate bond witnessed, sealed. If I claim you, they’ll demand proof. Bite mark. Fresh. To override rejection.”
My wolf whined. _Not pain again._
“Ours,” he said, touching his neck over faint silver scar I left 3 years ago. “Take knife, mark me here. If you don’t, we walk. Exile. I don’t care. I choose you over Blackwood.”
Footsteps. Kemi outside: “Alpha, cars arriving. Chief Adebayo early.”
Damien closed eyes one second. When they opened, Alpha was back. But thumb stayed on my jaw.
“Last chance. Private jet. Iceland. No council. Just us. Say no now, and we run.”
I thought of laser dot. Photo from 3 years ago. Someone watching since we were kids. Running meant they’d follow.
“No.” I met his eyes. “I’m done hiding. Bite me. In front of all of them.”
His breath hitched. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” I kissed his jaw over old scar. “Make me yours where everyone can see.”
Damien exhaled like he’d held breath 3 years. Kissed me hard. Claiming.
When he pulled back, eyes pure silver. Possessive. Devastated with love.
“Then let’s go to war,” he said.
*6:32am. Council Chamber. 55th Floor.*
Ice. Circular black marble table. 12 chairs. Elders in house robes.
Vanessa sat by Chief Adebayo. Red dress again. Smile gone. Hunger instead.
200 wolves lined walls. Whispers hit instantly.
“That’s her. The omega he rejected.”
“Chief will destroy him.”
Damien stopped center circle. Hand out. I took it.
Gasps. Alphas didn’t hold hands in the council. Not unless—
“Sit,” Chief Adebayo said. Didn’t stand. “Alpha Blackwood. ‘Mate bond emergency’. Explain.”
Damien didn’t sit. “Not here to explain. Here to correct.”
Vanessa laughed. “Correction? You rejected her publicly, Damien. Video exists. You can’t undo 3 years.”
“I can.” Voice quiet but room silent. “Because she was never a mistake. I was.”
He stepped forward. Pulled me with him. Right before Chief’s chair.
“3 years ago I was 22. Father is dead. Council said ‘strategic mate’. Political alliance. So I chose status over soul.” He looked at Vanessa, then me. “I rejected Favour Chukwuma. My true mate. In front of you all.”
Chief slammed table. “Pack law doesn’t reverse rejection, boy. Severed bond is permanent.”
“Old law,” Damien said. “Before we knew severing isn’t death. It’s wound. Wounds heal.”
He turned to me. Knelt. One knee. In front of 200 witnesses. Alpha kneeling for rejected omega.
“Favour. 3 years ago, i asked if you’d survive without me. You said yes. You did. Stronger than me.”
He pulled a ceremonial silver knife. Council gasped.
“Law demands proof. Bite mark. Fresh. To seal new bond, override old.” He offered handle first. “Take it, mark me here.” He touched his neck. “Don’t take it, we walk. No shame. I face council alone.”
Silence. 200 wolves holding breath.
Vanessa stood. “Illegal! Manipulation—”
“Let her choose,” Damien said, eyes only on me. “Like she should’ve 3 years ago.”
My hands shook. Not fear. 3 years waiting.
I took a knife. Cold. Heavy.
Damien tilted head. Exposed neck. Old scar from me still faint silver.
“Do it,” he whispered. “Make me yours.”
I leaned in. Knife touched skin. Then teeth came down.
Pain. His. Mine. Bond snapped open like door we nailed shut.
I tasted Cedar. Rain. Alpha power. Regret. Love.
When I pulled back, blood welled in shape of my bite. Fresh. Silver edges glow.
Damien didn’t flinch. Just looked at the council with blood on the neck and fire in the eyes.
“She marks me,” he announced. “I claim her. Favour Chukwuma. My mate. My wife. My Alpha female. Any hand raised against her is hand raised against me. Against Blackwood.”
Chaos.
“Unprecedented!”
“Rejection can’t be undone!”
“He chose her!”
Vanessa screamed. “You can’t! I’m Chief’s daughter! Merger—”
“Merger canceled,” Damien cut her off. Still kneeling, still holding my hand. “Blackwood doesn’t merge with men who put laser dots on my mate.”
Chief stood, face purple. “Insane! You’ll lose status! Money! Council!”
Damien stood slow. Blood running down neck. Didn’t wipe it.
“I lost everything 3 years ago when I let you convince me to reject her. Today, I take it back. Her. Us. Peace.”
He raised our joined hands high. My fingers were against his scarred Alpha hand.
“This is Favour Blackwood,” he said. “My wife. My peace. My future. Challenge her, challenge me.”
Silence. Then—
One security guard knelt. “Alpha. I follow strength. Not old rules.”
Another elder. Then, five more.
Vanessa’s face crumpled. “No. They can’t—”
“They just did,” Damien said. Wiped blood with thumb. Looked at it, then me. “3 years late. But we’re here.”
Chief lunged. Guards blocked. Kemi stepped forward, tablet out.
“Chief Adebayo, you threatened Alpha female. Treason. Security, detain.”
Guards dragged Chief out. Vanessa tried to follow. Blocked.
“Miss Adebayo,” Kemi said, cool. “Banned from Blackwood property. For life. Return, council hears about sniper rifle last night.”
Vanessa’s mask dropped. Pure hate. Mouthed: “This isn’t over, bitch.”
I didn’t flinch. Lifted chin. Damien’s hand in mine.
“No,” I said. First words in council. “It’s over. You lost him 3 years ago. I’m collecting what’s mine.”
Her scream followed her out.
*7:43am. Elevator to 60th floor.*
Silence. Damien leaned on wall, eyes closed. Bite mark glowed faint silver.
“You did it,” I whispered. “Chose me. In front of everyone.”
He opened eyes. Looked like I was only thing in world.
“I chose you 3 years ago,” he said. “Took this long to be brave enough to show it.”
Doors opened. Steel panels over broken window. Guards outside my door.
He led me in. Locked door. Pulled me to him. Forehead to forehead.
“Okay?” he asked, thumb on my lip.
“I’m okay,” I said, meaning it. “You knelt for me, Damien. Alpha knelt for rejected omega. How am I not okay?”
He laughed, broken, then kissed me. Soft. No audience. Just us.
When we broke apart, forehead still touching.
“Pack council ended,” he murmured. “New rule: Damien Blackwood answers to one person.”
“Who?” I teased, heart racing.
He grinned. Boyish. 19-year-old under oak tree.
“You.” Kiss to my knuckles. “Always you, Favour. Mate. Wife. My peace.”
My phone buzzed. Unknown number.
New message: _Cute speech. Council loves drama. But bonds break, Alpha. Especially when original mate isn’t dead. -V_
Attached: ultrasound. 12 weeks. Baby silhouette. Caption: _Damien’s child. Due March. Explain that to council, wife._
Blood froze.
Damien saw over shoulder. Body went stone still.
“Favour,” he said slow. “I have never—”
“I know,” I cut him off. “Someone wants council thinking you lied. Another mate. Another child.”
Damien crushed phone. Plastic cracked.
“They’re not after me,” he said quiet. “After you. After us. After future we claimed.”
He looked at me. At my stomach. At our hands.
“Favour. If photo real—”
“It’s not,” I said fast. “Can’t be. You’d tell me.”
“Unless…” Eyes silver. Rage. “Unless someone used my DNA. Without consent. 3 years ago.”
He pulled me close. Shielding from photo, lie, world.
“Don’t care if council believes. Don’t care if pack turns. I claimed you tonight. In blood. In front of everyone. Law older than ultrasound.”
He cupped my face. Made me look.
“Believe me?” Voice rough. Like no would break him.
I looked at bite mark on his neck. Silver glow now faint under my skin. Bond. Real. Sealed.
“Yes,” I whispered. “I believe you.”
“Good.” He exhaled. Kissed me desperate. “War starts now. Not fighting without you.”
Phone buzzed again. Same number.
_New: Council adjourned. Rumor spreads fast, Mrs. Blackwood. By noon every wolf in Lagos thinks Damien cheated. By sunset, demand DNA test. By midnight… see if bond survives truth. -V_
Damien read it. Looked at bite mark. Glow under my skin.
“Let them talk,” he said. Dropped crushed phone. “Let council demand tests. Let Vanessa scream.”
He lifted me. Carried to bed. Laid me down among missed glass shards.
“Tonight I proved one thing to 200 witnesses,” he murmured against lips. “You’re mine. Not law. Not council. Because I choose you. Every day.”
Outside, Lagos woke. Rumors spread. Pack whispered. Vanessa plotted.
In here, 60th floor, steel over window, new bite glowing silver…
Damien Blackwood held me like oxygen.
For first time in 3 years, I believed we might survive this.
But my phone lit again. New photo loading. Me at 16, oak tree, laughing. Damien below, arms open.
Caption: _We were always watching. - The Keeper_
Damien saw it. Jaw locked.
“Favour,” he said, voice dangerous quiet. “Only one person could’ve taken that photo. Only one person had camera in Blackwood gardens that day.”
He stood. Walked to window. Hand on steel.
“Someone inside,” he said. “Someone we trusted.”
Behind us, elevator dinged. Floor 60. Kemi’s voice: “Alpha, unscheduled visitor. Says she has evidence about ultrasound. Name is… Elena Blackwood.”
My blood froze. Elena. Damien’s younger sister. Presumed dead in car crash 3 years ago. Same week he rejected me.
Damien turned slowly. Face blank. But his eyes…
“Elena died,” he whispered. “I buried her.”
Footsteps in hall. Heels on marble.
Voice through door, soft, impossible: “Brother. Open the door. We need to talk about your wife. And your child.”
Damien didn’t move. Just looked at me.
“Favour,” he said. “If my sister is alive… everything I know about last 3 years is lie.”
Knock. Three times.
“Damien? It’s me. Let me in. Before Vanessa’s people find me first.”
_[End Episode 9]_
- Writer
