Kael sat at the head of a long table, surrounded by seven Council elders.
Elder Vivienne glared at him with barely concealed hatred.
Elder Marcellus wore a mask of polite concern that didn't reach his eyes.
Elder Thorne looked uncomfortable.
The others were a mix of neutral and disapproving.
"My king," Marcellus began smoothly. "We must discuss your recent... decisions."
"You mean Astrid's banishment," Kael said flatly.
"Among other things." Marcellus folded his hands. "The pack is uneasy. There are whispers that you've become... distracted."
"By an omega," Vivienne spat, unable to contain herself. "You banished my daughter for defending pack hierarchy."
Kael's eyes flashed silver. "Your daughter attacked someone under my protection."
"An omega"
"Mine," Kael snarled, his aura slamming into the room.
Every elder flinched.
"She is mine," Kael continued, his voice deadly calm. "And that makes her untouchable."
Marcellus cleared his throat carefully. "My king, we understand your... attachment. But surely you see how this appears to the pack. An Alpha King claimed by an omega"
"I have claimed her," Kael corrected coldly. "Not the other way around."
"Semantics," Vivienne snapped. "The result is the same. You're compromised."
Elder Thorne finally spoke up. "Perhaps what my colleagues are trying to say, my king, is that the pack needs reassurance. Some gesture that shows your commitment to Moonwalk hasn't wavered."
Kael's gaze sharpened. "What kind of gesture?"
Marcellus smiled thinly. "Well, traditionally, when an Alpha takes a... companion... the Council is allowed to verify that she is suitable."
"Suitable," Kael repeated, his voice dropping dangerously low.
"A simple test," Marcellus said. "To ensure she isn't a threat. That she isn't hiding anything that could endanger the pack."
Kael's hands clenched on the table.
He knew what they were doing.
They wanted to interrogate her. Test her. Find a reason to remove her.
"No," he said flatly.
"My king"
"I said no."
"You cannot refuse Council tradition"
"Watch me."
Kael stood, his aura exploding through the room like a shockwave.
Every elder was forced to their knees.
"She is mine," he said, his voice echoing with Alpha command. "And you will not touch her. You will not test her. You will not even look at her without my permission."
His eyes glowed brightly now.
"If any of you defy me, I will do more than banish you."
Silence.
Then Elder Thorne spoke carefully, still on his knees.
"My king... we are only trying to protect you."
Kael's aura pulled back slightly.
"I don't need your protection," he said quietly. "I need your loyalty."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"If you can't give me that, then leave my Council."
No one moved.
"Meeting adjourned," Kael said.
He walked out without looking back.
--------
Later that night, Kael stood in his private chambers, staring at nothing.
His wolf was agitated, pacing restlessly.
They're planning something, it growled. They want to take her away.
"They won't," Kael said aloud.
You can't watch her every moment.
"Then I'll make sure she's strong enough to protect herself."
His wolf went quiet, considering.
Teach her?
"Yes."
She's an omega.
"She's more," Kael said firmly. "We both know it."
His wolf rumbled agreement.
Kael walked to his window, looking out at the moonlit grounds.
Tomorrow, he will start training Seraphine.
Not as a servant.
Not as a curiosity.
But as what she was becoming:
His mate.
His queen.
His.
And anyone who tried to take her would learn exactly why he was called the Ruthless Alpha King.