"Then I'll reject him," I retorted, refusing to accept my fate so easily. Liam's eyes widened in anger, but I didn't care. I wanted my freedom back.
"Silence, Liam," Alpha Declan warned, sensing his son's outburst before it could happen. Turning his attention back to me, he continued,
"We've contacted the Conclave to mediate this situation."
"Couldn't I just go home?" I pleaded, my voice wavering as the weight of my circumstances threatened to crush me. I needed some sense of normalcy, some semblance of safety.
"Erica," said Marshall softly, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder, "it's best to let the Conclave handle this. Trust us."
"Trust?” That word felt like a foreign concept now. But as I looked into Marshall and Becca's eyes, I realised they were all I had left. With a heavy sigh, I reluctantly agreed to wait for the Conclave's decision.
An hour later, the atmosphere in the Alpha's office had shifted dramatically. The Conclave had arrived, and their power was immediately palpable. I could feel it prickling my skin like static electricity, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to rise. Their leader, Coleman Browning, stood at the head of the group like a lion among wolves. He exuded an overwhelming sense of authority, his mere presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room.
The Conclave was run by a group of highly powerful supernatural beings called the Alchemists. Little was known about them, even within the supernatural community. They were shrouded in mystery, but one thing was clear: they were not to be trifled with. These enigmatic figures looked just like normal human beings but their blank expressions, dark tailored suits and enigmatic postures seemed to absorb the light around them, making it difficult to focus on anything but them. Their very presence seemed to glow with an otherworldly luminescence that sent chills down my spine. They were the judge, jury and executioner of pretty much any situation within the supernatural community. But they were particular about what they actually got involved with, and I was all too aware of their overall belief that werewolves and other shifters were just animals to them.
"Alpha Declan, please recount the situation involving your son and Erica," Coleman Browning requested, his voice resonating throughout the room.
"Of course," replied Alpha Declan, straightening his posture as he began. “Erica is a rogue werewolf-”
“Rogue?” I interrupted, and the Alpha glared at me. I didn’t let it faze me. “There are two members of my pack right here.” Browning regarded me like something on his shoe and then looked at both Marshall and Becca.
“Your pack?” he asked. “What is the name?”
“The Moon Key pack,” I said defiantly. Coleman glanced at Marshall again and then back to me.
“And where is your territory, young one? Who is your Alpha? How many shifters are in your pack?” he shot the questions at me knowing that I wouldn’t have the answers.
“Well, erm…” I hesitated.
“Our Alpha has just passed away,” Marshall replied. “And we do not hold any territory at the present time.” He glanced at me with a weak sad smile. “Only Erica and I are the remaining shifters.” Coleman watched him for a few moments before nodding.
“So you hold no land, no alpha and have only two shifters?” he asked. I put my head down, worried that I might say something stupid. “I think that it is fair to say that Alpha Declan’s description is an accurate one. Please carry on Alpha.”
“But-” I said, annoyed at being brushed off like some child.
“Erica,” Becca scolded, and I put my head down again. It was no use, the almighty prick wasn’t listening, anyway. Browning watched me for a moment and then nodded at Alpha Declan to carry on. The alpha glanced at me with sympathy but then continued.
“As I was saying,” he said, “Miss Hallows has formed an incomplete fated mate bond with my son Liam. She had planned to leave the area due to danger, but Liam panicked and kidnapped her.”
As the Alpha continued to recount the events, Coleman watched intently, occasionally asking a probing question or two. His gaze never wavered, and I couldn't help but feel increasingly uncomfortable under his scrutiny. It was as if he could see through me, peeling back every layer until my soul lay bare before him.
"Thank you, Alpha Declan," Coleman said finally. "We will hold a private hearing with you and Beta Gregg as Mr Anderson's representatives, and Beta Hayes and Luna Hughes as Miss Hallows' representatives." I swallowed hard, my throat feeling like it was lined with sandpaper. The mere thought of having my fate decided by these mysterious beings was terrifying, but I had no choice. I glanced at Becca and Marshall, hoping to find some reassurance in their faces, but they seemed just as tense as I felt.
"Very well," agreed Alpha Declan, his voice betraying a hint of trepidation. "We will abide by your decision."
As the Alchemists filed out of the room to conduct their private hearing, a heavy silence settled among us. I couldn't help but feel like a lamb being led to slaughter, my future hanging in the balance. But then again, I thought bitterly, that's exactly what I am. I clenched my fists, trying to push away the anger and fear that threatened to overwhelm me. No matter what happened next, I knew one thing for certain: I would not go down without a fight.
The door clicked shut, leaving me alone with Liam and Damon. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room, replaced by a suffocating tension. I glanced at Liam, trying to determine if he was even sorry for what he'd done. He opened his mouth, attempting to speak, but I cut him off.
"Listen, Liam," I snarled, "if you ever speak to me again, I'll rip your tongue out and shove it up your ass." The colour drained from his face, and he quickly clamped his mouth shut. A half-smile tugged at Damon's lips, and he attempted to make light of the situation.
"Oh, this is so fun," he muttered sarcastically. I shot him a glare, and he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair.
We all lapsed into an uncomfortable silence, the weight of the situation bearing down on us like a crushing force. My thoughts raced, anxiety gnawing at the edges of my mind, wondering what would happen next. Time crawled by at a snail's pace, each minute feeling like an eternity. The sun began to rise outside the window, casting a weak, gloomy light across the room. I sighed, shifting in my seat as my muscles ached from hours of sitting.
Finally, the door swung open, and the Conclave, Alpha Declan, Beta Gregg, Becca, and Marshall returned. My heart leapt into my throat as I searched their faces for any hint of what had transpired. Becca's eyes were red and swollen, and neither she nor Marshall would meet my gaze.
"Can we go home now?" I asked tentatively, hope flickering in my chest. Coleman Browning stepped forward, exuding power and authority that seemed to fill the entire room. I shrank back slightly, suddenly feeling very small and insignificant.
