Chapter 11
Serena left Silver Fang within the hour—but she didn't go quietly.
Within days, rumors spread through every pack on the continent. Stories about me. About Nora. Twisted, venomous tales painting Nora as a deceiver who'd used dark magic to fake a Lycan bloodline—a fraud desperate for power.
The whisper campaign was vicious. Efficient. Clearly orchestrated.
I spent every waking hour trying to counter the narrative, but Serena's family connections ran deep. Elders I'd trusted for years suddenly wouldn't return my calls. Alliance packs grew cold. My own wolves started asking questions.
And then the summons came.
The Continental Pack Council—the governing body that oversaw all packs—issued an official inquiry into the "Lycan claim." They wanted Nora to present herself for verification.
I requested permission to attend. Denied.
I sent messages to Blackridge. No response.
On the fifth day, I did what I'd sworn I wouldn't do. I called Dominic directly.
He answered on the third ring. His voice was ice.
"Alpha Kael."
"Where is Nora? Is she safe?"
A pause. When Dominic spoke again, there was something territorial in his tone that made my wolf bristle.
"She's safe. She's preparing for the Council appearance."
"I need to see her—"
"No."
"You don't get to decide—"
"She decided. She doesn't want to see you. And frankly, Alpha, you've done enough damage." Another pause. "But since you called—you should know. Serena's family has retained a challenge advocate. They're going to contest Nora's bloodline claim at the Council hearing."
"On what grounds?"
"Fraudulent identity. They're arguing that a wolf who was 'wolfless' for twenty-two years couldn't spontaneously manifest Lycan blood. They want her detained and examined."
*Detained.* The word sent ice through my veins.
"That's insane. Her awakening was witnessed by dozens—"
"Witnesses can be discredited. Especially when the opposing family has half the Council in their pocket." Dominic's voice hardened. "This is your mess, Kael. Your former mate's family is weaponizing pack law to destroy the woman you failed to protect."
The accusation hit like a fist.
"What can I do?"
Silence stretched.
"Testify," Dominic said finally. "At the Council hearing. Testify about the contract, the blood seal, the fabricated bond. Bring your records. Bring proof of what Serena's family did."
"They'll destroy my reputation. My pack's standing—"
"Yes. They will." Dominic's voice held no sympathy. "The question is—is she worth it?"
I closed my eyes.
Nora's face in my memory—soft, trusting, full of a love I'd taken for granted every single day. And then her face on that bridge—hard, radiant, untouchable. A queen who'd risen from ashes I'd created.
"Yes," I said. "Tell me when and where."
---
Within days, rumors spread through every pack on the continent. Stories about me. About Nora. Twisted, venomous tales painting Nora as a deceiver who'd used dark magic to fake a Lycan bloodline—a fraud desperate for power.
The whisper campaign was vicious. Efficient. Clearly orchestrated.
I spent every waking hour trying to counter the narrative, but Serena's family connections ran deep. Elders I'd trusted for years suddenly wouldn't return my calls. Alliance packs grew cold. My own wolves started asking questions.
And then the summons came.
The Continental Pack Council—the governing body that oversaw all packs—issued an official inquiry into the "Lycan claim." They wanted Nora to present herself for verification.
I requested permission to attend. Denied.
I sent messages to Blackridge. No response.
On the fifth day, I did what I'd sworn I wouldn't do. I called Dominic directly.
He answered on the third ring. His voice was ice.
"Alpha Kael."
"Where is Nora? Is she safe?"
A pause. When Dominic spoke again, there was something territorial in his tone that made my wolf bristle.
"She's safe. She's preparing for the Council appearance."
"I need to see her—"
"No."
"You don't get to decide—"
"She decided. She doesn't want to see you. And frankly, Alpha, you've done enough damage." Another pause. "But since you called—you should know. Serena's family has retained a challenge advocate. They're going to contest Nora's bloodline claim at the Council hearing."
"On what grounds?"
"Fraudulent identity. They're arguing that a wolf who was 'wolfless' for twenty-two years couldn't spontaneously manifest Lycan blood. They want her detained and examined."
*Detained.* The word sent ice through my veins.
"That's insane. Her awakening was witnessed by dozens—"
"Witnesses can be discredited. Especially when the opposing family has half the Council in their pocket." Dominic's voice hardened. "This is your mess, Kael. Your former mate's family is weaponizing pack law to destroy the woman you failed to protect."
The accusation hit like a fist.
"What can I do?"
Silence stretched.
"Testify," Dominic said finally. "At the Council hearing. Testify about the contract, the blood seal, the fabricated bond. Bring your records. Bring proof of what Serena's family did."
"They'll destroy my reputation. My pack's standing—"
"Yes. They will." Dominic's voice held no sympathy. "The question is—is she worth it?"
I closed my eyes.
Nora's face in my memory—soft, trusting, full of a love I'd taken for granted every single day. And then her face on that bridge—hard, radiant, untouchable. A queen who'd risen from ashes I'd created.
"Yes," I said. "Tell me when and where."
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