Chapter 78

Noah

The moon hung low in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow over the ancient council chamber. Tall, ornate pillars stood sentinel, their marble surfaces bearing the weight of centuries-old decisions.

Noah thought it was a bit tacky. Just because they were vampires didn’t mean that they had to decorate in the stereotypical vampire way. Less gothic art pieces would be just as good as the ones that they had hung up.

He didn’t say any of that though. The critique would not be welcomed. Instead, he focused on what was in front of him.

At the center of the chamber sat the Council, a group of powerful beings whose influence reached far and wide in the vampire world. Noah didn’t really want to be there, but they had summoned him and he had to obey.

Noah stood before them, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel their collective gaze, a weighty pressure that threatened to suffocate him. He knew why he had been summoned, but that still didn’t make the situation any more bearable.

"Noah," the head of the council, Elara, spoke, her voice carrying a weight of authority that made even the boldest creatures in the room lower their eyes. Noah bowed low, a sign of deep respect. However, on the inside he was seething.

He took a deep breath, straightening his spine. He didn’t look them directly in the eyes. Even Axel, who was his friend. "Elara, members of the council, I stand before you as a humble servant of this community."

The council exchanged glances, their expressions shrouded in an enigmatic mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Noah knew what they wanted. He had been aware of it from the moment he had told Axel about Almara. Now it had been months and they were getting impatient.

"The ritual," Elara continued, her eyes never leaving Noah's, "is an ancient and sacred tradition, one that has been upheld for centuries. You have been given clearance to complete it, yet you have not. Why is that?"

Noah nodded, swallowing hard. He understood the gravity of what they were asking. The ritual would bind Almara to him completely. She would be his. The child she carried would be his. They would control the future of the Hurricane Pack. It would be a great boon for the council.

But Noah didn’t care for any of that. All he wanted was Almara. He did not give a damn about the feud between the werewolves and the vampires. As long as Almara still had feelings for him somewhere, even if they were buried, they would all get what they wanted.

"We implore you, Noah," another council member, Arion, spoke, his voice a low, resonant rumble, "to complete the ritual. The balance of our world is shifting, and we require every available strength to maintain it."

Noah's gaze flickered to the stained-glass windows that lined the chamber, their vivid colors depicting scenes of battles, alliances, and victories. Arion was making a show of asking nicely, but he knew it was a command. If he didn’t take action, and soon, they would do it for him.

"I understand the importance of the ritual," Noah began, his voice steady, "Consider it done. You have my word that the she-wolf will be under my control before she gives birth. This is a delicate matter. I will not rush it."

The council members exchanged knowing glances. They had expected this resistance. Noah's caution was not unexpected, but it was nevertheless frustrating. Vampires, especially the council, were used to taking whatever they wanted when they wanted.

"Noah,"Axel started, a glimmer of feigned empathy in his eyes, "we do not ask this of you lightly. We have weighed the risks and the benefits. The future of our world hangs in the balance, and your role in it is pivotal."

Noah felt the weight of their words press upon him, a burden that threatened to crush his resolve. If he agreed to complete it now, it would get the council off his back, but if he moved too quickly, it would alert Arthur and there would be a war. That’s not what he wanted. He needed Arthur to think that Almara had left of her own accord. .

“I ask that you grant me the time that I need. The alpha of the Hurricane Pack is not a stupid man. We risk an all out war if he discovers what I truly am, what I am attempting to take away from him,” Noah persisted and bowed again. He had said his piece. Hopefully they listened to reason.

The council members exchanged glances once more. Noah could sense their deliberation, their recognition of the gravity of his request. They were not accustomed to this level of resistance, especially from one of their subjects who had always been loyal.

After what felt like an eternity, Elara spoke again, her tone measured. "Noah, we understand your concerns. We are prepared to offer you guidance, support, and protection throughout the process. We will ensure that there is no war between the two races. Not until we’re ready."

Relief swept through Noah. This could have gone very badly. He was glad that he could make them see reason. But now he actually had to do it. He only had less than two months before Almara was due to give birth.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. The council members made a sweeping gesture. He was dismissed. Axel shot him two thumbs up. Noah collapsed against the wall as soon as he was out of the room.

He never liked dealing with the council. They were the oldest vampires in the world and sometimes they forgot what it meant to be human. They were infuriatingly practical and had little use of feelings. If their population wasn’t so low, they’d probably have taken over the whole world by now.

He hadn’t even bothered mentioning the fated mate bond that Almara and Arthur shared. It was just another complication, another bump in the road. Luckily, that bond would be gone if he made Almara into a vampire. She’d lose her wolf, of course. People could not be both. Still, it was a small price to pay to make her his.

He would have a doctor perform a C-section before it came to that though. Vampires could not carry children. While he would be fudging the deadline he had given himself, it wouldn’t matter. It would be done before the council found out. Noah made his way home, the weight of what he had to do on his shoulders. But it would all be worth it in the end. He would have Almara by his side. She would love him just as much as she had loved Arthur. And then when it was time, they would destroy the Hurricane Pack.

The council could have their spoils of war. Noah intended on disappearing with Almara and the child before the fighting started. Their part in everything would be finished by then. All Noah wanted was to live out the rest of his immortality in peace.

And very soon he would have it. He would have everything he had ever wanted. Perhaps he was more like the council than he would like to admit.