Chapter 6

I woke just before dawn, my eyes flying open as a strange burst of energy surged through me.

My body felt different. Stronger and healthier. It was as if every ache I'd carried my entire life had vanished overnight.

Yesterday hadn't been a dream. The memory replayed in my mind, making my heart race with excitement. I had stood up to the one person who had made my life miserable since coming here.

But even though Axel had assured me everything would be alright, I couldn't stop wondering how it could affect our court case.

The thought lingered until another feeling crept over me. A heavy tension settled over my chest, followed by an overwhelming wave of frustration.

That wasn't how I'd felt a second ago. The realization struck me almost then.

"These aren't my emotions..."

My eyes widened. "They're Axel's."

It was the mate bond, I was finally experiencing it.

Hugging the pillow to my chest, a grin tugged at my lips.

If I could feel him this clearly now, how much stronger would our connection be after he marked me?

My silly thoughts brought heat to my cheeks.

In a soft whisper, I screamed. “Axel.”

I reached toward his side of the bed. It was empty. Where was he?

Rising from the bed, I grabbed my phone from the bedside table. It was 6:00 a.m, he never started his day this early.

My eyes scanned the room in haste. His phone was still on the left bedside table.

Which meant he hadn't gone far.

The anger hit me again.

This time, it slammed through my chest so fiercely that my fingers curled into fists. If only I could reach him through the mindlink.

I wouldn't have to stand here guessing.

My footsteps struck the floor as I hurried into the hallway. Voices drifted up from downstairs, overlapping into an indistinct murmur.

Footsteps sounded somewhere below. Outside, birds called from the trees while leaves scraped and rustled against one another.

My steps faltered.

Another voice floated through the house, coming from somewhere I couldn't place.

I strained in an attempt to locate the voice.

The footsteps seemed to come from every direction. Birds sang, leaves whispered and voices overlapped.

I pressed both hands over my ears but it didn't help.

My breathing quickened as I squeezed my eyes shut, desperately trying to separate the voices from the footsteps, the birds from the rustling leaves.

There were simply too many, I couldn't shut any of them out.

Calm yourself…

I stiffened, the voice was inside my head.

Focus on one sound.

I spun around.

"Who's there? Am I running crazy?"

You're not crazy. The voice let out a soft chuckle.

I'm your wolf, Scarlet.

I blinked.

"My wolf can... talk?"

Of course.

There was amusement in her voice, but something else too, something older, like she'd been waiting a very long time to finally say something.

Every wolf speaks with their bearer.

"How long have you been... there?" I asked, unsettled by the thought of a second mind quietly sharing my body.

Longer than you'd believe.

She didn't elaborate. I decided not to push, not yet. I let out a nervous laugh.

"This is going to take some getting used to."

You'll learn.

"I can't focus," I admitted. "There are too many sounds."

Yes, you can.

Scarlet's voice was calm and reassuring.

Stop trying to hear everything. Find the one voice that matters. Then follow it.

I closed my eyes and took a slow breath.

I ignored the footsteps, the birds. Ignored everything until I found it.

Axel's voice. The moment I locked onto it, every other sound faded into the background.

There you go, Scarlet purred with pride.

My eyes flung open as I followed the sound through the hallway. It led me straight to the study.

Getting closer, I realized Axel wasn't alone. And the closer I came, the stronger his anger became. Whatever was happening in that room, it wasn't good.

Reaching for the doorknob, I pushed the door open with the speed of a slug.

I stepped into the study to find five other people in the room besides Axel.

His Beta Jerry, sat to his left, posture as straight as ever. Across from them sat four elderly men, their expressions were stern and unreadable. Judging by the respect in the room, I didn't need to be told who they were, the Pack Elders.

Whatever discussion I'd interrupted came to an abrupt halt. Every pair of eyes turned to me. Then Axel looked up.

The anger I'd been feeling through our mate bond eased the instant his gaze met mine.

"There you are," his voice laced with tenderness.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips before he looked back at the elders.

It was a command. The room fell into an even more uncomfortable silence.

I glanced between the elders, noticing the hesitation in their eyes.

Axel's expression darkened as he slowly rose to his feet. The air in the room grew noticeably heavier.

"If anyone here refuses to acknowledge my mate, Nina, as the Luna of Blue Crystal Pack..."

His icy blue eyes swept across each elder one by one. "...then consider this your only warning."

His voice was calm. Too calm.

"The refusal to recognize the Alpha's mate is an act of defiance against the Alpha himself."

One of the elders, the oldest among them, rose partway from his seat.

"With all due respect Alpha, the pack's prosperity depends on—"

"I am aware of what the pack's prosperity depends on." Axel's voice didn't rise, but the room seemed to shrink around it.

"Sit down."

The elder hesitated, then sat.

A second elder spoke, quieter, but no less pointed.

"And the girl put Princess Hazel through a wall yesterday, Alpha. Word has already reached three neighboring packs. Is that the temperament you'd have leading Blue Crystal as Luna?"

My stomach dropped. Axel didn't so much as glance my way.

"Hazel attacked her first. Unprovoked, in front of a full classroom." His eyes swept the room once more.

"If any of you would like to discuss provocation and consequence further, I'm happy to continue this conversation another time."

No one spoke again.

"And defiance against your Alpha is treason. You all know the punishment for treason."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Axel folded his hands behind his back.

"Now..."

His voice left no room for negotiation.

Almost immediately, all four elders stood. They bowed their heads deeply toward me.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"Luna."

Their voices echoed in perfect unison.

I stood there for a heartbeat, almost unable to believe what I was seeing.

Weeks ago, I had been a rogue. A nobody. Today, the most respected men in the pack were bowing before me.

A quiet confidence blossomed inside me.

I lifted my chin and walked toward Axel with slow, steady steps. I could feel every eye following me.

When I reached his side, I faced the elders with a gentle smile.

"Greetings, my elders." My voice came out steadier than I expected.

"You may rise."

They straightened respectfully before taking their seats once again.

Glancing sideways, I found Axel's eyes fixed on me.

He crossed the small distance between us. His hands came up to cradle my face, his thumbs resting gently against my cheeks. Then he leaned in, and his lips met mine.

The kiss was soft, deliberate, and unmistakably tender.

When he finally pulled away, the silence around us seemed louder than before.

The Pack Elders had witnessed every second.