Chapter 90
Ethan's POV
The conference room was silent except for the faint rustle of maps and papers as Kerrick spread them across the table. Marlus stood beside him, arms crossed, his sharp gaze scanning every detail.
The electricity in the air was palpable, a reflection of the high stakes we faced tomorrow. The Council vote was looming, and the tension had pushed us to the brink.
“This,” Kerrick said, tapping a position marked near the Council chambers on the map, “is where we’ll station the first wave of reinforcements. It gives us a clear view of all entry points.”
“Good,” I replied, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “What about the secondary perimeter?”
Marlus stepped forward, pointing to a different section. “Here. It’s more discreet but close enough to respond quickly if the Rogues try anything. I’ll lead the team myself.”
I nodded, appreciating his initiative. “And Olivia?”
Kerrick straightened, his expression resolute. “She’ll be with the main group inside the chambers. We’ll keep her surrounded at all times.”
My wolf stirred, its possessive instincts rising at the mere thought of danger coming near her. “She’s the priority,” I said firmly. “If anything happens, your focus is on getting her out safely.”
Marlus met my gaze, his eyes reflecting the same determination I felt. “Understood. We’ve got her, Alpha.”
I exhaled, the weight of their loyalty grounding me. “Good. Tomorrow’s not just about protecting Olivia or me. It’s about ensuring the future of our Packs. Chloe’s shit ends here.”
The two of them nodded in unison, their confidence bolstering my own.
“As for the vote,” I continued, my tone hardening, “we’ll use Chloe’s tactics against her. The evidence we’ve gathered will turn the undecided Alphas in our favor. But if it comes down to a fight, we’re ready.”
Marlus placed a hand on my shoulder. “We’re with you, Ethan. All the way.”
The room fell quiet again, but this time, it wasn’t the silence of unease, it was the calm before the storm.
As I looked at Kerrick and Marlus, I knew one thing for certain: whatever happened tomorrow, we would come out on top.
The night was unnervingly still, the kind of quiet that made my wolf restless. I stood on the porch outside the Pack house, staring into the shadows of the forest.
The meeting had gone well, better than I expected, but the anticipation of tomorrow pressed on my chest like an unseen force.
My wolf stirred, growling softly in the back of my mind. He didn’t doubt our strength, but I could feel its frustration with my hesitation. The thought of balancing the sheer force needed to protect our Pack with the care Olivia deserved had me questioning every decision I’d made leading to this moment.
Was I strong enough? Could I protect her, our Packs, and everything we’d built together?
The door creaked open behind me, and her scent reached me before her voice.
Olivia. My Mate.
“Ethan,” she said softly, stepping out to join me. She didn’t ask why I was out here, didn’t press me for answers I wasn’t ready to voice. Instead, she leaned against the railing beside me, her shoulder brushing mine.
Her presence alone steadied me. The turmoil within me ebbed, replaced by a calm I could only find in her.
“You’re thinking too much,” she said, her tone light but knowing.
I huffed a quiet laugh, shaking my head. “Is it that obvious?”
She turned to face me, her eyes searching mine. “It is to me. You’ve built something incredible, and tomorrow, we’ll prove it. I believe in you, completely.”
Her words struck something deep within me. The bond between us hummed with her conviction, her unwavering belief in me erasing my own lingering doubts.
I reached for her hand, intertwining my fingers with hers. “You’re the reason I can do this, Luna-mine. Every step I take, every decision I make, it’s you beside me.”
She smiled, squeezing my hand. “We’ve got this.”
For the first time all day, the tension in my chest loosened. My wolf quieted, its restless energy replaced by a fierce determination.
“We’ve got this,” I echoed, pulling her closer to cage her in the safety of my arms.
Tomorrow would be the battle of a lifetime.
But it would also be a fresh start.
The morning light filtered through the trees as I stood at the top of the Council chamber steps, my gaze sweeping over the assembled warriors from allied Packs, their presence a tangible reminder of how far we’d come.
Storm Haven and Thorne Ridge: two Packs that had once been divided, now stood together, united under a common cause. My wolf stirred, its energy vibrating through me, proud of the strength we had built but still restless, eager for the fight ahead.
Today would define everything.
I flexed my hands, eager to get this over with. It wasn’t just about the outcome, it was about securing the future of our Packs, of Olivia and me. The stakes had never been higher, and Chloe’s lies threatened to tear everything apart.
But in this moment, I could feel the collective will of my Pack behind me, their faith and loyalty giving me strength.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Olivia approach. Her presence was the calm to my racing thoughts, and my wolf settled at the sight of her.
She stepped up beside me, her expression calm but determined. We didn’t need to speak to understand the gravity of the situation; it was written in every line on her face, in the way she stood beside me, unwavering.
“You ready?” she asked, her voice steady, yet carrying an edge.
I turned to her, forcing a smile, though inside I was anything but calm. “Always.”
Her eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, it was just the two of us, the rest of the world outside forgotten.
In that fleeting moment, I saw the same determination that had always been there, the same strength that had gotten us through every trial.
Olivia was the reason I could face the Council with my head held high.
I took her hand in mine, squeezing it briefly, reassuring myself as much as her. “No matter what happens in there, I’ll make sure you’re safe. I love you, my Mate.”
She nodded, and I could feel her belief in me, in us, in the bond we’d fought so hard to build. I felt her love beam right through into our bond.
My wolf growled low in my chest, becoming restless and protective, sensing what was at stake.
As I looked at Olivia, her eyes met mine with quiet strength, the same fire in her that had always drawn me in. She was my anchor, my heart, and my future.
But even with that reassurance, uncertainty lingered. We both knew how much was riding on this, and the next steps would change everything.
I could feel her breath steady, but beneath it, there was a flicker of nerves, just as I felt mine. But we were in this together, no matter what came next.
With a final deep breath, I turned toward the entrance to the chamber.
The challenge awaited.
