"You're protecting her," he said quietly. "Yoursister."
"I'm protecting everyone. Including you." Rae didn't flinch.
The silence stretched.
Twilson's jaw worked. I could see him calculating — weighing options, assessing risks, doing the political math that had kept him in power for decades.
Finally, he nodded.
"The Council session," he said. "When?"
"I'll send word tonight."
"And the ferals?"
"Remain in isolation until the Council decides otherwise. No contact except medical staff. No exceptions."
Twilson's gaze flickered to me again. That measuring look, sharper now. Like he was filing me away for future reference.
"This isn't over," he said.
"No," Rae agreed. "It isn't."
He left without another word.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Rae sank back into her chair.
For a long moment, she just sat there — eyes closed, fingers pressed to her temples, the weight of what had just happened settling over her like a physical thing.
"Rae," I started.
"Don't." She held up a hand. "Don't apologize. Don't explain. I know why you did what you did. I probably would have done the same thing, at your age." She opened her eyes. "That doesn't mean I'm not terrified of what comes next."
"The Council—"
"The Council will do what the Council does. Argue. Debate. Eventually reach a decision that satisfies no one completely." She almost smiled. "That's how these things work. The question is what happens while they're deciding."
"Twilson."
"Yes. Twilson." Rae's expression hardened. "He's not wrong, Lumi. His concerns are legitimate. Three hundred students on this campus, and most of them have no idea what we really are. If even one of those ferals gets loose, if anyone sees something they shouldn't—"
"They won't."
"You can't promise that."
She was right. I couldn't.
The alpha was in isolation, sedated, contained by reinforced walls and heavy locks. But I could feel him through the bond — the rage that even sedation couldn't fully suppress. He wasn't going to stay contained forever. Sooner or later, he'd wake up. Sooner or later, he'd fight.
And I didn't know if I could stop him.
"Go get some rest," Rae said. "Both of you. There's nothing more you can do tonight. Tomorrow, when the Council convenes..." She trailed off. "Tomorrow will be difficult enough, but first come here.”
Pulling me into her arms, Rae breathed deeply. Hugging me tightly even while she probably wanted to strangle me.
I felt James’s hand on my elbow, steadying me when my legs threatened to give out.
