Chapter 196

Nathan

The Council chamber was a place I had visited countless times, but today, the air inside felt heavier, the weight of a thousand decisions and conflicts pressing down on me. The walls seemed to whisper the tales of meetings past, of verdicts made and lives changed forever.

Entering the dimly lit chamber, the prominent figures of the Elders met my gaze. Each face told a story—a story of wisdom, of experience, and today, perhaps, a story of judgment.

“We convene today on matters of grave importance,” Elder Amara began, her wise and yet sharp eyes locked onto mine. “Nathan, this issue cannot be ignored any longer. Have you made your decision? Will you hand the child over?”

“I never intended to ignore it,” I replied, trying to keep my voice level. “But the solution isn’t as simple as giving up a child, my child.”

Elder Enoch nodded slowly. “These are not normal circumstances, Alpha Nathan. The death of the Ancient Wolf is not just another hiccup in our history. It’s a dark prophecy come to life. The first step towards our downfall. And this threat of war is just the beginning.”

“So, you believe my children are omens of destruction?” I asked, my voice taut with frustration.

“We only interpret what history and prophecies tell us, Nathan,” Elder Lysandra murmured, her usually gentle voice tinged with sorrow. “It's not a matter of belief. It’s about the safety of our pack.”

“It's always about the safety of the pack,” I countered bitterly. “But would you really send Olivia and the babies into exile? Condemn them to be rogues? Hand one of her children over to a war pack?”

Elder Corbin, with his stern and unyielding demeanor, cleared his throat. “We do not wish to cause harm, Nathan. But if it means ensuring the longevity and well-being of our people, we must consider every possibility.”

Elder Amara’s voice softened. “We know of places where Olivia and her daughter would be safe. There are covens of witches known to take in rogue women and children, offering them a chance at apprenticeship.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. “Witches? You would have Olivia and Aurora seek refuge with witches? After everything we’ve been through, you’d suggest throwing them to outsiders?”

“Many witches were once rogues, Nathan. They understand the struggle, the pain,” Elder Lysandra explained gently.

I could feel the blood rushing to my face, my heart pounding hard against my ribcage. “So, you'd have my family cast out, dependent on the whims of outsiders? I am deeply disappointed, Elders. I thought our loyalty was to our own.”

Elder Enoch sighed, looking pained. “Nathan, it’s not about loyalty. It’s about the survival of the entire pack. The prophecies are clear. With the Ancient Wolf dead, our end may be near. You must hand the boy over to the Redclaws, and send Olivia and her daughter away. It has to be done.”

There was a heavy silence. The weight of their words, their decisions, threatened to crush me. But I couldn’t, wouldn't, let them see how much it affected me.

There has to be another way, I thought to myself that evening as I walked home. I’ll try everything before I willingly let anything happen to Olivia and our children.

…

The journey home was one riddled with contemplation. The looming weight of the Council’s decisions weighed heavily on my mind, yet an idea—a spark of hope—slowly began to form.

The comfort of our home, nestled amongst the trees with the ocean behind it as a backdrop, was a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere of the Council chamber. The soft flicker of a candle in the window illuminated Olivia’s silhouette as I entered.

Our eyes met, both bearing the weight of uncertainty.

“Olivia,” I began, taking a deep breath, “I’ve been thinking. Maybe, just maybe, diplomacy might be our first approach with Ryan.”

She looked puzzled. “Diplomacy? With Ryan? Nathan, he’s adamant about taking Elliot.”

“I know,” I replied, “But what if we offer him a compromise? What if we ensure that when Elliot grows up, he will become the Alpha of Ryan’s pack? He stays with us during his formative years, but the future leadership of that pack remains with him.”

Olivia’s expression was unreadable. She looked into the fire, seemingly processing the proposition. “You want to promise our son’s future, just like that? What if he doesn’t want it when he’s older?”

I sighed. “I’m trying to find a way for our son to stay with us now, without alienating the other pack. It’s a potential solution, Olivia.”

Olivia looked apprehensive. “I don’t know, Nathan,” she murmured, chewing her lower lip thoughtfully. “The thought of signing away my son’s future isn’t ideal, either.”

“Of course it isn’t,” I replied. “But it might be the only way to keep Elliot safe, home, with us, for many years to come.”

Seeing her doubt, I decided to pen down the thoughts into a letter to Ryan’s mother. Perhaps in words, the idea would be more palatable. Retrieving a parchment and ink, I began to write, each word a plea, a compromise.

Handing the letter to Olivia, I watched her read. Her eyes scanned the lines, her face a canvas of emotions. And then, without a word, she tore it up.

“What—?” I stammered, the paper's shards scattered like the fragments of my hope.

“It’s not right, Nathan,” she said with a voice firmer than I expected. “Your words... they’re desperate, but not assertive. ‘We plead with you to allow us to keep Elliot with us until he comes of age.’ We can’t show Ryan’s mother that kind of desperation.”

I felt a familiar frustration surge within me. “Then what do you suggest?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Taking a deep breath, she responded, “Try again. Find the balance between a plea and a demand. We’re offering a solution, not begging.”

With a deep sigh, I tried again. Words flowed onto paper, forming sentences that encapsulated our plea. But, when Olivia read it, she again shook her head. “It still isn’t right, Nathan.”

“Damn it, Olivia!” I exploded, the strain of the day catching up to me. “I'm trying my best here! I wish I had someone to guide me, to advise me.”

She looked away, and I immediately regretted the outburst. The room was filled with a heavy silence. I wished I had my parents to turn to, but they were no more. My mother would have had solid advice to give me, but she was dead. And my father… I would die before I chose to hear his voice ever again.

And the Elders, they had already cast their judgment on Olivia and our children. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before they tried to kick us out, unless we resolved this issue with Ryan’s pack without any damages.

I felt trapped, cornered. “I’m at the end of my rope, Olivia. I don’t know what to do,” I confessed, my voice breaking.

Olivia came close, her hand gently touching mine. “Nathan,” she whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, “I know this is hard. We’re in this together, but we can’t lose hope. Not yet.”

“But we can’t even draft a simple letter. How are we supposed to fight Ryan, defy the Council, and protect our family?” I said, the despair evident in my voice.

“We will find a way. We always have,” she said, her voice filled with determination.

Leaning my head on her shoulder, the weight of the world pressed down on me. But, with Olivia by my side, I held on to that small glimmer of hope. We would find a way, somehow.