Chapter 4: The Council’s Secrets

The long, rectangular table in the council hall was filled with the pack's leaders, warriors, strategists, and respected elders. The air was tense due to the weight of their discussions, each word carrying the weight of the decisions that could shape the future of their pack. Aveline sat at the far end, her eyes fixed on the Alpha, who stood at the head of the table. He was a tall, imposing figure, his voice steady as he addressed the room, but Aveline could see the unease behind his carefully composed expression.

"Reports from the western territories are troubling," the Alpha said, his voice echoing in the large hall. "Skirmishes at the borders are becoming more frequent. We must strengthen our alliances and ensure the rival pack knows we are prepared for any conflict."

Aveline's mind raced as she listened, her thoughts moving back to the strange encounter in the woods. The scent she had tracked, the claw marks, was this what they had been preparing for all along? Were the rival pack's movements a deliberate provocation, or was there something more to it?

She shifted in her seat, feeling uneasy. The council was discussing strategies for peace, but there was tension in the room that no one acknowledged outrightly. It wasn't just the rival pack causing unrest, there were whispers of unrest within their own territories too, there were factions that wanted more power, and more control. But no one dared speak of it openly. They all knew the forbidden topic that lingered between them, for now, everyone was pretending the topic didn't exist: Gabriel's "death."

Aveline tightened her grip around the armrests of her chair as she listened to the debate. Her mind kept returning to the strange scent in the woods, to the claw marks, to the unspoken memories of her mate. Could Gabriel still be alive? Was he somehow connected to these skirmishes? The questions stared at her, but she knew better than to bring them up here. No one dared mention his name.

The discussion shifted to alliances with neighboring packs. The Alpha was trying to broker peace, talking about shared territories and the promise of mutual defense. But there was something about the way he spoke that made Aveline feel more suspicious than reassured.

Elder Thorne, the most respected figure among the pack's leaders, was speaking now. He spoke with a low and firm voice, but it was with authority. He was a man of few words, but when he speaks, everyone listened.

"We cannot afford to wait for the rival pack to make the first move," Elder Thorne said, his eyes looking at the faces around the table. "We must strengthen our alliances with other packs, and we must do so quickly. The threat from the rival pack is real. But the greater threat may be from within. We must protect ourselves from all angles."

Aveline's heart skipped upon hearing Thorne's words which felt like a sword piercing into her skin. The mention of "threats from within" moved something deep in her, something that felt familiar, something that had always been just beyond her reach. But what did he mean? What threats? And why was he speaking in riddles?

She watched him closely, noting the tension in his features. There was more to this than he was letting on. Elder Thorne always spoke openly, but today, his words felt more urgent, more deliberate. He was hinting at something. But what?

"Prepare yourselves," Thorne continued, his voice lowering. "The world we know is changing, and sacrifices may be necessary. The old ways will not protect us anymore."

Aveline's eyes narrowed. Sacrifices? What kind of sacrifices was he talking about? Her mind immediately jumped to Gabriel. Was his death or disappearance part of this sacrifice? Was he one of the pieces in a larger game she didn't understand?

Unable to contain herself, Aveline cleared her throat and spoke. "Elder Thorne, what do you mean by 'sacrifices'? What exactly are you warning us about?"

The room became silent, every pair of eyes fell on her. She could feel their eyes centered on her, but she stood her ground with determination to get answers. Elder Thorne turned to her with a frown, and for a moment, it felt like he was checking her and deciding how much to reveal.

"You're too young to understand everything, Aveline," he said with a soft and firm tone. "Some things are better left unsaid. Some knowledge is too dangerous to carry. I suggest you focus on the greater good, the future of this pack, rather than the past."

Aveline's breath seized in her throat. She could feel the underlying meaning in his words, the warning in his voice. She had always respected Elder Thorne, but now there was something in his looks that unsettled her. He knew more than he was letting on. About Gabriel. About what had happened. About the larger plot that seemed to be unfolding.

But she couldn't back down now. "I will protect this pack," Aveline said, her voice steady. "But I won't stop looking for answers. If there's something we don't know, I will find it."

Thorne's eyes filled with something unreadable, but he said nothing more. He simply nodded as a sign of acknowledgment of her determination, before turning back to the rest of the council. But the moment had passed, and Aveline knew she had made a mistake. Her words had moved something in Thorne something that was better left untouched.

The Alpha called the meeting back to order, but Aveline's mind was no longer on the proceedings in the meeting anymore.

As the council continued, Aveline tried to focus, to continue listening to the conversation. But every time she looked at Elder Thorne the earlier conversation came to her mind. She maintained her suspicion that he knew more about Gabriel than he was telling her and that made her more determined to uncover the truth.

Finally, the meeting began to wind down. The Alpha stood, his eyes moving through the room.

"We have a decision to make," he said, his voice commanding. "The rival pack's new Alpha has personally requested a diplomatic gathering. We will meet with them tomorrow. Prepare yourselves."

Aveline felt unease at the mention of " The rival pack's Alph". A strange feeling came to her upon hearing the word. Was this the moment she had been waiting for? Was she finally going to face Gabriel—or the person who had taken his place?

She sat frozen in her seat, The Alpha's words echoed in her mind. Gabriel's name hadn't been spoken aloud, but she couldn't ignore the implication. The rival Alpha wanted to meet, and this meeting would change everything.

As the meeting broke up, Aveline stayed in her seat, her mind continued beating fast. She had come here seeking answers, but now, she realized, she was standing at the edge of something much larger. Tomorrow, she would come face-to-face with the rival Alpha, and perhaps with the truth about Gabriel's disappearance. But would she be ready for the answers?Bottom of Form