Ch4: The Great Council Seat

The silence that followed the Lycan King's declaration hung heavily in the air, like the stillness before a storm. My father's face turned ashen, and I could see the struggle within him, torn between the duty to protect the pack and the love for his daughter.

"No," my father finally said, his voice trembling but resolute. "I will not sell my daughter for any kind of protection. Elara will not marry a monster."

"Dad..." I began, but he silenced me with a stern look, his eyes filled with both fear and determination.

Gareth, sensing an opportunity to further his own agenda, stepped forward. "She's wolfless and weak. She's better off being of some value to the pack by marrying the King."

My father shot Gareth a look of pure venom. "Elara is an equal member of this pack and has as much right to make her own choices as anyone else. She owes this pack nothing. This pack was built by me and my wife, through our contributions and sacrifices."

Lydia scoffed, rolling her eyes. Gareth's face twisted with anger. "You think your contributions mean anything now? This is what I think of your contributions." Gareth slapped me hard across the face, the force of it knocking me to the ground. Pain radiated from my cheek, but the emotional hurt was even deeper.

"Don't you dare lay your filthy hands on my daughter, you dirty scumbag!" My father growled angrily.

But Gareth didn't care. "You're just a weak old man in a wheelchair, and she's a useless girl without a wolf. What are you going to do about it?"

My father tried to lunge at Gareth, his eyes blazing with protective fury, but Gareth easily pushed him back. "What are you going to do, old man?" Gareth sneered. "You're useless, just like your daughter. All decisions of this pack are mine to make."

Tears stung my eyes as I scrambled to my feet, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and fear. I needed to get away, to think, to understand what the King truly intended.

I stormed out of the room, not caring about the bewildered stares that followed me. I fled to my sanctuary, the attic room, where I could be alone with my thoughts. Emma was already there, her concerned gaze meeting mine as I burst through the door.

"Elara, what happened?" she asked, rushing to my side.

I took a deep breath, the events tumbling out in a torrent. "The Lycan King... he proposed marriage as a condition for his protection. My father refused, and Gareth... he hit me, Emma. He hit me in front of everyone."

Emma's eyes widened in shock and anger. "That bastard! How dare he!"

"What am I supposed to do, Emma?" I continued, my voice shaking. "My mate hates me. Dad is the only family I have left, and we can't even protect each other."

Emma's face softened with understanding. "Elara, the King is married. He’s probably not serious. Maybe it's some kind of test."

A strange mixture of relief and something else—something like jealousy—washed over me. "You think so? You think he’s just testing us?"

Emma nodded. "Yes, I think he might be trying to see how you react under pressure. But don't let him break you, Elara. You’re stronger than you think."

I sighed, sinking onto the bed. "I hope you're right. I don't know what to believe anymore."

Emma sat beside me, her hand on my shoulder. "No matter what happens, you have me. We’ll get through this together."

I leaned into her, drawing strength from her unwavering support. The King's proposal, Gareth's cruelty, my father's defense—it was all too much to process.

The tension in the air was palpable as Callista barged into my room, her face twisted with disdain. The sunlight streaming through the window cast harsh shadows, highlighting her fury.

"You slutty girl," she sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "I saw your pathetic stunt. Trying to seduce the Lycan King, who's already married? You should be ashamed of yourself. You're a loose, desperate whore."

I stood up, my heart pounding in my chest. "I don't understand how you can call me loose when I've never been with anyone before. If anything, you should be looking in the mirror, Callista."

Her eyes widened with fury. "How dare you! The King will never take a nobody like you. And you will never be the Luna of this pack!"

I squared my shoulders, meeting her gaze with defiance. "Because the pack needs a disgraceful Luna like you. You hide behind your cruelty because you know deep down you're nothing without it."

With that, I stormed out of the room, leaving her seething behind me. Emma and I spent the rest of the day tending to the pack, ensuring everything was in order. The monotonous tasks provided a welcome distraction from the turmoil within.

That afternoon, Lydia unexpectedly invited me to dinner. Confusion gnawed at me. My father and I were never included in these family dinners. Something felt off.

I dressed in a beautiful emerald gown, the same one I had worn at the disastrous dinner party. As I entered the dining hall, the Lycan King's gaze locked onto me. His eyes flickered with something akin to admiration.

"Please join us, little princess," he said smoothly, a hint of a smile on his lips. Beside him sat a striking woman who glared at me with unrestrained hostility. An older man next to her mirrored her expression.

"Elara, meet Queen Liana and King Alexander," Alpha Gareth announced. "They are the Lycan King's wife and father."

I nodded as I sat beside my father, feeling the weight of their stares as we were served dinner. Alpha Gareth began, his tone pleading. "We need your protection desperately, My King. Our resources are rich, and we offer them in exchange for your aid. And we've heard..."

The King leaned back, his eyes cold as he cut Gareth off. "As I said before, I don't care about your resources. I will protect your pack on one condition: Elara marries me."

"But Elara already has a mate, my king. And with all due respect, you already have your wife, your lovely mate," Callista pointed out, but the King seemed firm on his words.

King Alexander quickly interjected, his voice authoritative. "There will be no such thing, Gareth. King Kael is just being stupid," he said, glaring at the King. "Our condition is simple. Elara's father signs over the seat of his late Luna Amelia she had in the Great Lycan Council."

The room fell silent, shock rippling through the gathered pack. My father, equally stunned, shook his head. "My wife was just a werewolf. How could she have had a seat in the Lycan Council? That's impossible."

It didn't make any sense. And why did no one know about it? Not even my father. Even the Alpha seemed to be surprised.

"My King, that's impossible. It's impossible for a werewolf to join the Great Council. You must be mistaken," Gareth said, his mouth almost open with shock.

"Amelia was not just any werewolf. She had a very important seat in the Council. It was kept a secret from everyone, even her husband apparently. But now we want that seat," Queen Liana clarified, but that made us even more confused. How? Why? Could it be the reason my mother was killed? Why did they keep it a secret?

"But how? I don't know anything about this," my father spoke, utterly dumbfounded.

King Alexander's eyes were steely. "Whether you knew or not is irrelevant. The seat exists, and we will only protect your pack if you give it to us. Otherwise, we will destroy your pack ourselves."

"And if your stupid Alpha here had accepted his beautiful Luna as his, that seat would have been his now," the King added. Gareth almost wanted to tear the room apart. The thought of losing something so valuable—a seat at the Great Council. There's no greater privilege. Even our dear King wants that seat so badly; it must be important.

My father’s face hardened with resolve. "I will do it if you leave my daughter out of this. We don't want anything to do with the marriage."

Queen Liana cut in, her voice icy. "There is no need for a marriage. He is already married to me, his fated mate."

The Lycan King glanced at her dismissively before turning his attention back to me. "I don't care, Liana. I still stand by my initial offer. I will take the seat and Elara's hand in marriage."

Anger surged through me, and I stood up, my voice trembling with rage. "You think you can use your power to get whatever you want, don't you? Well, I won't be part of it. I won't be controlled by you for some stupid seat. You can go straight to hell!"

I turned on my heel, ready to leave, but his voice stopped me. "Oh my dear princess," he said with a mocking tone. "I'll just wait for the day you beg me."

Ignoring everyone, I stormed out of the room, my blood boiling. The nerve of him, thinking he could dictate my life. The more I thought about it, the more my anger simmered. I wouldn't let him control me. Not now, not ever.