Chapter 5

Kael's POV

Zack's keen attention flew to the door the moment it flung open. I followed his gaze, and there was Aurelia, demanding to know what we were talking about. I don't know how long she'd been there, but I knew she had heard more than she should have.

I glanced at her, keeping my expression steady even though I was slightly caught off guard by how she came in.

"Accepted by who?" she repeated, coming closer.

Zack straightened, glancing back at me with a slight frown that indicated I should help him out.

"Zack and I were just talking about my family regarding our sudden marriage," I said calmly.

Zack blinked, clearly confused by my explanation, but when I glanced at him to play along, he quickly got the message, nodding in agreement. "Yes! His family is difficult to convince sometimes."

Aurelia stared at me for a moment, and I couldn't tell if she completely believed me, but then she finally sighed. "I understand. Family situations can be complicated, mine isn't exactly welcoming."

Relieved, I acknowledged her response with a nod.

"This is Zack," I said, gesturing toward him. "My personal assistant."

Zack offered her a polite nod. "Nice to officially meet you, Mrs. Walter."

She gave a small, tired smile in return.

Picking up my phone, I called one of my senior house staff, who arrived immediately.

"Help her get properly settled and show her around the mansion."

She nodded immediately, turning to Aurelia. "After you, ma'am."

Aurelia hesitated for a moment, glancing at me one last time before walking out, followed by the staff.

Once she was gone, Zack turned back to me with the same distressed expression he wore before Aurelia walked in.

"What were you thinking!"

I exhaled slowly, "Zack..."

"You got married to her without telling her who you really are?" he asked in utter disbelief. "Now, she thinks that she is married to a businessman, not knowing she's married to a freaking Alpha King?"

"If she had known everything from the beginning, she wouldn't accept the marriage proposal."

"You don't get it. Hiding something like this from someone you just got married to is not wise."

"Zack, you are overthinking things. This marriage isn't serious enough to require me telling her everything about me. She needed protection, and I offered her a way out. That's all."

"And now she's tangled in pack politics she doesn't even understand," Zack said. "It's only fair she knows the truth."

"She already has enough on her plate. I can't add this to it. Besides, I need the elders' approval before I tell her everything. If I reveal the truth too soon, and the elders reject her too, it will only make things worse for her."

Zack gave me a disapproving look. "Kael… You know she isn't Fiona, right?"

My jaw clenched involuntarily, and I felt my body respond oddly as he mentioned that name. "I know that."

"Do you?" he inquired. "Because now, I'm wondering if you're trying to offer her protection or trying to make up for what happened to Fiona."

His question threw me into a dilemma, and before I could sort out a reply, a knock came at the door, disrupting us.

"Come in," Zack said with his eyes still on mine.

The door opened, revealing one of the guards.

"Alpha Kael, the elders are waiting at the council Chambers."

I glanced at Zack, and he shrugged slightly. We both knew what this was about, so he didn't need to say anything.

"Okay, I'll be there shortly," and the guard nodded, leaving immediately.

I made my way to the council chamber and the elders were already seated, discussing amongst themselves. Their whispers died down, and their scrutinizing gazes landed on me the moment I walked in.

Ignoring them, I sat in my seat.

"Greetings, elders of Blackthorn." I acknowledged them and waited for whatever judgement they were about to pass.

No one replied at first until the head elder, Elder Duncan, spoke first.

"News got to us that you got married to a woman from Crimson Fang."

"Yes."

Murmurs erupted across the room again, their eyes darting to each other in shock.

"And why would you do that without consulting us all?" Elder Duncan added.

"I don't require permission to choose my own wife," I replied calmly, but it only enraged them more.

Elder Corwin's eyes narrowed in disdain. "Do you even know what that means? Crimson Fang pack is not a noble and trustworthy pack!"

"Well... she is not her pack."

"Oh, for the goddesses' sake, they are all the same!" Another annoyed elder cut me off. "She is the Beta's daughter. Making any woman from that pack Luna of Blackthorne would be us going against our laws."

I understood their worries, but I can't let them bend me to doing their will.

"Elders, I understand your concern, but this is the decision I have made as the Alpha. I don't expect you all to question whom I choose or choose not to be with."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Elder Duncan studied me carefully before speaking again. "We aren't questioning your authority as alpha, but that does not mean we should turn a blind eye to the consequences of your choices. You cannot just hand the position of Luna to a stranger. Being Alpha grants you authority, not immunity from this pack's judgment."

I clenched my jaw and said nothing. Elder Duncan wasn't wrong. As one of the oldest and most respected elders, I do put his words into consideration.

"So we will give you a chance to prove us wrong." He continued. "We will give you one year to prove that this woman is worthy of standing beside you both as Luna and leader. Until then, she will not be accepted."

The room remained tense, every elder watching my reaction carefully.

"One year," I repeated.

"If, by the end of that year, she has not proven herself capable of leading alongside you, this council will act accordingly," Elder Duncan said. "Do we have a deal, Alpha?"

"Yes we do."