Your title or the girl?

Mystical world.

Valtor stood at the head of a long, ancient table, the gleam of candlelight casting shadows on the stone walls.

His wounds throbbed, a constant reminder of the confrontation that happened earlier.

He had been summoned for an impromptu meeting by the elders of his clan, who were visibly agitated. Their gazes were sharp, full of unspoken questions as they awaited his arrival.

“Where is she, Valtor?” one elder demanded, his voice heavy with authority. “The girl with strange powers. Rumors are spreading like wildfire about her presence in our territory.”

Valtor halted, the weight of the inquiry settling on his shoulders. “Who told you about her?” His voice was low but laced with an intensity that could not be ignored.

A younger council member shifted uncomfortably. “Word travels fast among our kind, Alpha. And it travels even faster among humans. They’ve begun to speculate about a girl with unusual abilities, and they suspect she’s connected to you.”

“Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?” Valtor snapped, his temper flaring. “If the humans catch wind of her, they will come for her with everything they have. They fear what they don’t understand.”

One elder, with silver hair and a weathered face, spoke up. “That’s exactly why we called this meeting. We need to know how you intend to handle the situation. You are risking not only your own life but the safety of the entire pack.”

“She must go back to wherever she comes from, Valtor." Another elder interjected, his voice stern.

Valtor clenched his fists. “So, let me get this straight,” he replied, sarcasm lacing his words. “You’re acting on rumors? Have you confirmed she was ever with me? Or are we just playing a game of whispers? I assure you, the last thing I want is to take her back to some ideal world.”

The elders exchanged uneasy glances, fear evident in their expressions.

A red-haired elder who's been quiet for long spoke up, “We can't afford to let her stay amongst us, she's different from our kind. The stars warned of her return, of the chaos she'll cause if left unprotected. I can't let you unleash-"

“Enough!" Valtor cut in, slamming his injured fist on the table, causing him to wince in pain. “Letting her go is not an option."

Another elder chimed in, voice edged with suspicion. “Valtor, what does your mate think of this? If this girl isn’t your mate, then why do you protect her so fiercely?”

Valtor stiffened, anger flaring in his eyes. “That is not your concern,” he said coolly. “Mate or not, I swore to protect her.”

The elder’s gaze didn’t waver. “That’s not a good enough reason, Valtor. You’d sacrifice your standing, even your life, for a girl who isn’t bound to you by fate?”

Valtor’s fists clenched. “Not every bond has to be made by fate to be worth protecting,” he replied, holding their gaze.

The eldest elder spoke, his voice trembling slightly. “You speak of loyalty, but do you even know who she truly is? The prophecy warns of a girl with powers that could disrupt everything. She could bring ruin to our kind.”

“Do you think I’m unaware?” Valtor replied, his voice low. “I know the risks. But she’s innocent in all this.”

“Then you must choose, Valtor,” another elder interjected, his tone stern. “Your loyalty to her or your duty as Alpha. Can you truly balance both, or will your affection for this girl blind you to the dangers that lie ahead?”

“Letting her go is not an option!” Valtor’s voice thundered through the chamber, ignoring the old man's assumptions. “She deserves our protection, and I will not abandon her.”

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions hardening. “You are playing a dangerous game, Alpha,” the silver-haired elder said, his voice colder now. “Your emotions could lead us to ruin. We cannot allow you to put the pack at risk for a single girl, no matter her potential.”

Valtor met their scrutinizing gazes, his resolve hardening. “I refuse to let fear dictate our actions. If it comes to a fight, I will lead my pack to protect her. I will not let Gaia down, regardless of your stance.”

“Your loyalty to her could very well cost you your position,” the elder warned, his voice low and menacing. “If you choose to protect this girl, you may find yourself leading a pack that no longer supports you.”

“Then let them choose!” Valtor shot back, fury rising in his chest. “I will not sacrifice her for the sake of appearances. I will protect Gaia, even if it means standing alone.”

“Very well,” the silver-haired elder said, his voice laced with finality. “We will watch closely, Valtor. Know that if you stray too far from your duties as Alpha, you may find yourself stripped of your title—and your pack.”

Another elder scoffed, rising from his seat, his patience exhausted. “We don’t gamble the fate of our clan on one girl! The prophecy speaks of a bloodline that can bring destruction upon us.”

Valtor stood his ground, his voice low and steady. “Prophecies are stories twisted by fear. I will not abandon her based on tales and shadows. Innocent or not, she deserves a chance to decide her own fate.”

The elder who had spoken last gave Valtor one final, scornful look before storming out of the room, his robes sweeping behind him. The remaining elders exchanged anxious glances, but they, too, left one by one, unwilling to challenge Valtor any further—for now.

As the heavy door slammed shut behind the last of them, Valtor exhaled, feeling the weight of his wounds more acutely. He looked down, eyes widening as he noticed something troubling. The edges of his injuries had turned a sickly blue and were not healing as they should. A cold realization crept over him—whatever that intruder had done, it was no ordinary attack.

Before he could dwell on it further, the door creaked open again. Damon stepped inside, his face a mix of anxiety and urgency. “Alpha... the girl... she’s awake.”