Chapter 3 MAYBE SOMETHING IS

KEIRAN

I mindlink Draven. *Fuck, Draven. Why the hell didn't you tell me Caius was coming?

Draven responds immediately. *I'm as surprised as you are, man. I checked with Silas to confirm attendance. Guess he must have wanted to catch you off guard. Let's not give him that satisfaction.

I sigh and step fully into the room. “Alpha.” Everyone rises at once to their feet at once, heads bowed in unison.

I dismiss them with a sharp wave of my hand. “Sit.”

I take my place at the head of the long table while Draven settles into the seat beside me. The rest follow suit. Everyone except Caius. He remains standing like a statue carved from old grudges and ambition.

The situation with the Red Claw Pack is straightforward enough. Caius fought beside my father during the Southern War years ago. Since Father's death, he's grown increasingly obsessed with the idea that the best way to preserve the alliance between our packs is through a permanent bond. Preferably a marriage alliance.

And judging by the look on his face tonight, he's probably here to push that agenda again in person. Since I've rejected him every other time.

“May I proceed, Alpha?” Elder Pius asks, cutting in before Caius gets the chance to speak.

“You may.”

Pius clears his throat and adjusts his robes with enough drama to entertain a theater audience. I ignore him. Ever since I elevated his rank, he's been finding new ways to remind everyone about it.

“Alpha,” he begins with a deep respectful bow. “We've been facing a sharp increase in rogue attacks throughout our territory. While we have taken measures to manage the situation, we believe...” He hesitates and glances around the room. “We believe our Alpha's presence is needed now more than ever.”

My jaw tightens. I know exactly what he’s really asking. Pius notices and his confidence immediately falters.

“We're simply concerned,” he continues carefully. “Many of us are wondering why it's taking so long for our Alpha to shift again.”

There it is. I knew we'd get there eventually. A familiar pressure settles heavy in my chest. There's no way they can learn the truth about the curse. Not the elders. Not the packs. No one at all.

For months, Draven, the healer, and I have fed them the story that my inability to shift is the result of a temporary illness which is a lie. A necessary one. Because if the truth gets out… If they discover that every failed shift weakens me while Ludo grows stronger, devouring what’s left of my humanity… Then everything I've built would crumble. And if I don't find my mate soon—

“Alpha?” Caius's voice drags me from my thoughts.

I look up quickly.

“Permit me to address the council.” He says slowly.

“That's impossible!” Elder Pius snaps. “You cannot make such requests of His Majesty. This isn't the Red Claw Pack where you can simply…”

“Enough.” The growl rips from my throat before I can stop it. My eyes instantly flash gold.

The room immediately falls dead silent. Everyone rises to their feet. Even Draven. “Apologies, Alpha,” they say in unison.

Anger burns beneath my skin. Ludo stirs dangerously close to the surface. I force myself to rein it back down. The last thing I need is losing control in front of a room full of elders.

“I allow discussion,” I say coldly. “I do not allow disrespect.”

No one dares meet my gaze as I continue. “I understand your concerns regarding the rogue attacks. My Beta has already informed you of the healer's assessment concerning my health.”

I stand. Immediately, every eye follows me. “As your Alpha, this is my decision. We will increase security at all four gates surrounding Blackthorne. Double patrols. Especially at the East Gate where most attacks have occurred.”

I nod at Draven. He immediately pulls a scroll from his satchel and unrolls it across the table. Confused murmurs spread through the room. Everyone stares at the symbol sketched in black ink.

“Look carefully,” I say. Their attention sharpens. “We found this mark burned into the arms of the survivors from the last attack. Do you know what that means?”

“Dark Cults.” Caius answers from the far end of the room.

“Correct.” I nod. “These aren't ordinary rogues anymore.”

Silence blankets over the chamber.

“The Dark Cults have their eyes on Blackthorne. Until we understand their purpose, we proceed cautiously. Every report, every sighting, every appeal comes directly to this council. Understood?”

“Yes, Alpha.” Their voices echo together.

Draven adds, “We should also notify the elders currently away on assignment. This information needs to reach every allied territory immediately.” Several heads nod.

Then he continues. “The Alpha will be occupied with both university obligations and pack responsibilities. Effective immediately, no personal audiences will be granted without approval through me.”

A few elders clearly dislike that order. I see the resentment flicker across their faces. But the second our eyes meet, every objection dies before it can be spoken.

Good.

The meeting is finally coming to an end when a voice stops me cold. “Alpha.”

I turn quickly because I know who it is. When I look back, Caius is still standing. “May I make a suggestion?”

“The Alpha needs to—” Draven starts to speak, but I silence him with a wave of my hand.

I know better than to cut Caius off. One thing I've learned in my years as Alpha is that the quickest way to kill a rumor is to drag it into the light and deal with it in front of everyone.

So I let him continue. “Thank you, Alpha.” Caius bows his head respectfully again. The old wolf is slick.

“In the past, we've witnessed cases similar to yours,” he begins. “And from my experience, many of these conditions are easier to address than people realize.”

“Would you spare me the history lesson and get to the point?”

His smile doesn't falter. “Of course.”

The room falls silent.

“All I'm saying is that perhaps your wolf has yet to find its balance.”

There it is. Exactly where I knew he was headed.

“Have you considered searching for your mate, Alpha?”

The words settle over the room like smoke. I don't answer. I don't need to. The nods from several elders tell me enough. This was never about concern. This was about steering the conversation where Caius wanted it to go. Toward an alliance.

Toward his daughter. Toward having control.

I slip one hand into my pocket and slowly walk toward him. The room grows still. “Are you suggesting there's something wrong with my wolf, Alpha Caius?” My voice remains calm. That's what makes it dangerous.

Caius's smile flickers just slightly.

“Because you should choose your next words very carefully.” I stop directly in front of him. “Whatever you say now will determine whether you're questioning your Alpha's strength... or committing treason.”

The scent of fear mixed with anger immediately reaches me. Both wrapped beneath expensive cologne and false confidence. For the first time all evening, Caius looks uncomfortable.

“Forgive me, Alpha,” he says carefully. “That wasn't my intention. Allow me to rephrase…”

“No.”

His mouth snaps shut. “You're not rephrasing anything.” My gaze sweeps across the room. Every elder immediately straightens. “This topic ends today.”

Nobody speaks. Nobody breathes as I continue. “When the time comes, you'll meet my mate.” I let the words hang. “And when that day arrives, you'll have your Luna.”

My eyes move from elder to elder. “Until then, I don't want to hear another discussion about my mate. Not from Caius. Not from this council. Not from anyone.”

Without waiting for another response, I turn and walk out. The moment the doors shut behind me, the anger I've been holding back crashes through my chest. The cold night air hits my face.

“Alpha.” Draven's voice follows me down the cabin steps.

I keep walking. “Give me the keys.” I command.

Draven sighs. He already knows. He's the only person who's seen me at my worst. The only one who knows what this curse is doing to me.

Still, he waits until we're outside the gate and away from prying ears before stepping in front of me. “Keiran.”

I try to move around him. He blocks me.

“Move.” I command him coldly this time.

“No.”

My jaw clenches. “Draven.”

“Just breathe for a second.” His voice stays calm. “You can't lose your shit right now.”

“You don't understand.” My voice almost softens.

His eyes narrow. “The hell I do.”

The words hit harder than they should.

“I'm the one dragging your ass out of the basement every month, remember?”

I look away. Big mistake. Because Draven sees everything. The frustration, the fear, the shame, I feel right now.

“You're angry,” he says quietly. “But not at Caius.”

I don't answer. Because he's right. “You're angry at yourself.”

The words sink straight into my chest.

“You can't shift.”

I close my eyes. “Draven—”

“And that's killing you.”

My hands curl into fists. “Sooner or later they're going to realize their Alpha is weak.”

The admission tears out of me before I can stop it. The silence that follows feels unbearable. Then Draven places a hand on my shoulder. “Look at me.”

I don't want to. But I do. His green eyes meet mine, steady and unshaken. “Don't ever call yourself weak.”

I laugh bitterly. “Really?”

“Really.” His grip tightens.

“We're going to fix this.”

“Draven…”

“We will.” The certainty in his voice almost breaks me. Because he's the only person left who still believes that.

I swallow hard.

“I'm serious.” He confirms again and for one stupid second, I almost tell him everything I'm feeling. How terrified I am. How exhausted I am. How every failed shift feels like another piece of myself slipping away. How the girl who slapped me today smells like home and danger at the same time. But Alphas don’t break. At least not where people can see.

“I need to cool off.” I hold out my hand.

Draven eyes me suspiciously. Then reluctantly drops the keys into my palm. I don't waste another second. I start moving.

“Keiran!” Draven calls out behind me but I ignore him. “Fine!” he shouts. “At least tell me where you're going!”

I climb into the car. Fire the engine. It roars to life. “Don't fucking follow me!” I yell through the side window.

And before he can answer, I slam my foot on the gas and tear out of the parking lot like something is chasing me.

…Maybe something is.