Seraphina’s POV
Caden’s bite on the man’s neck ended the struggle swiftly. Turning to Trent, he commanded, “Stay here. Make sure no Ironclaw soldier leaves alive!”
Trent nodded sharply. “Got it! But what about Holly—”
“I’ll go after Holly with Caden!” I interrupted, urgency in my voice.
Without wasting another second, Caden and I climbed into the secret passage above, following the direction Holly and Sid had fled.
The narrow tunnel stretched endlessly, the walls pressing against us with jagged rocks and damp air. Sid’s labored breathing echoed ahead, growing fainter with each second. Anxiety twisted in my chest like a vice.
A sharp rock grazed my back, making me cry out in pain.
“Easy,” Caden said, his voice soft but steady. He leaned close, his warm tongue brushing against my wound in a soothing gesture. “We’ll catch up to them.”
The passage finally widened, and we squeezed out, emerging into the cold night. Ahead, the silhouette of the packhouse stood faintly illuminated by the moonlight. Somehow, the tunnel had brought us back from the border to the heart of the Emerald Howl territory.
“Holly must have taken Sid back to the packhouse,” I said, my voice taut with urgency.
Before Caden could respond, the deep toll of the Council Hall’s bell cut through the night.
“The Council meeting,” Caden murmured.
But we both knew it wasn’t Sid calling the pack’s elders—it was Holly, pulling his strings.
“To the Council Hall!” I growled. Fury coursed through me, sharpening my focus.
We sprinted across the open field. Elin surged forward with exhilarating speed, her paws barely touching the ground. Her howl of exhilaration blended with the cold wind as we raced toward the packhouse.
Shifting back to human form, I didn’t waste a moment rushing into the Council Hall.
Inside, elders filled the room, their faces a mix of confusion and unease. Some had returned straight from the hunt, snow still clinging to their boots. Eason stood apart, his expression stormy as he glared at Holly.
“Alpha Sid, it’s good to see you up and about,” Beta Frank said, bowing respectfully. “But why the urgent meeting? Is something wrong?”
Sid sat motionless in his throne, his once-vivid presence dulled to a vacant stare. He looked like a man without a soul.
Holly stepped forward, her hand resting possessively on Sid’s shoulder. “Alpha Sid thanks you all for coming so quickly,” she announced loudly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “He has an important announcement: Starting tomorrow, the Emerald Howl Pack will officially submit itself to Silverclaw Pack under Alpha Johnson’s leadership!”
The room erupted in shock. Gasps and murmurs filled the air before Eason’s furious voice cut through the chaos. “Are you kidding me? That’s fucking bullshit!”
Holly’s eyes flashed with cold malice. “That’s Alpha Sid’s order!”
I couldn’t hold back any longer. Storming into the room, I snarled, “Stay away from Sid!”
Holly turned icy eyes on me, her voice rising with theatrical indignation. “Guards, throw her out! This woman nearly killed Alpha Sid and is now openly defying his order. She’ll be executed for treason tomorrow!”
The guards shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to act.
Caden stepped forward, his imposing presence silencing the room. “Nobody hurts Seraphina under my watch,” he growled.
“I command you to follow my order as your Luna!” Holly shrieked, her voice cracking with desperation.
“How dare you call yourself our Luna?!” I shouted, trembling with fury. “Listen up, everyone—she’s not Sid’s mate! I saw her use a bottle of drugs on him—something that messes with his mind and makes him think she’s his mate! Sid isn’t himself right now!”
The room went still. All eyes turned to me, a mix of confusion and disbelief on their faces.
“Hallucination drugs? Like LSD?” Beta Frank muttered, his gaze darting between Holly and me. “It can fake a mate bond? This… this is unbelievable. Alpha Sid, is this true?”
Sid sat silent, his eyes vacant, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
Holly’s face twisted with rage. “LIES! She’s making it up to save herself!”
Caden stepped closer to Holly, his voice cold and commanding. “If you’re innocent, then you won’t mind a thorough investigation. But if you resist…” His piercing gaze left no room for argument.
The tension in the room was suffocating. Everyone was waiting for the next move—for the truth to finally surface.
