CHAPTER 9: THE ALPHA'S CHOICE
Damon's POV
The council chamber was exactly as I had left it hours ago—stone walls, heavy wooden table, five elders sitting in judgment like they had any real power over me.
They didn't.
But pack politics required I at least pretend to listen.
Elder Marlow stood as I entered, his weathered face twisted in disapproval.
"Alpha Damon. We've been waiting."
"I had more important matters to attend to."
I took my seat at the head of the table, deliberately casual.
"What's this about?"
"You know what this is about,"
Elder Thorne snapped. She was the oldest among them, sharp-tongued and stubborn.
"The Crescent girl. You brought her into your home after she was nearly killed in an explosion that destroyed pack property."
"An explosion set by Marcus," I corrected coldly.
"My former Beta, who apparently has been plotting against me for years. The same Marcus you all vouched for."
That shut them up for exactly three seconds.
"We had no knowledge of his betrayal—" Elder Marlow started.
"Just like you had no knowledge that someone in our pack has been trying to poison me?" I leaned forward.
"Or that they've already killed one of my guards? Tell me, which other threats are you conveniently ignorant about?"
Elder Thorne's eyes narrowed.
"Don't deflect, Alpha. This is about the girl. She's been here less than a week and already we've had two deaths, an assassination attempt, and now a building destroyed. The pattern is clear."
"The pattern," I said slowly, "is that someone wants her dead and is willing to kill anyone who gets in their way. Including me."
"Then send her back to Crescent territory," another elder—Marcus, ironically named—suggested.
"Let them deal with their own problems."
My wolf snarled inside my mind.
"No."
"Alpha Damon, be reasonable—"
"I am being reasonable." I stood, and they all instinctively leaned back.
"Selene stays. She's under my protection. That's final."
"On what grounds?" Elder Thorne demanded.
"What possible reason could you have for risking pack safety for one Crescent wolf?"
I could tell them. Could announce the mate bond right here and watch them scramble to backtrack their objections.
But something stopped me.
Maybe it was the memory of Selene's eyes when she'd asked me to let her go if she became a liability. Maybe it was knowing that announcing the bond would paint an even bigger target on her back.
Or maybe I just didn't want to share that truth with anyone yet.
"My reasons are my own," I said flatly.
"This discussion is over."
"The pack deserves answers!" Elder Marlow stood, his face red.
"You're making decisions that affect all of us based on... what? Sentiment? Attraction to a pretty face?"
The room went dead silent.
I moved so fast Elder Marlow didn't have time to flinch. One moment I was at the head of the table, the next I had him pinned against the wall, my hand wrapped around his throat.
Not squeezing. Just holding.
"Choose your next words very carefully," I said quietly.
His face had gone pale.
"Alpha... I didn't mean—"
"You questioned my judgment. You implied I'm making decisions with my cock instead of my brain."
I leaned closer.
"That sounds like a challenge to my authority. Should I treat it as one?"
"N-no, Alpha."
I released him, stepping back. He collapsed into his chair, gasping.
"Anyone else have concerns about my decision-making?" I looked around the table.
Silence.
"Good." I moved toward the door.
"Selene stays. She'll be living in my residence under constant guard. If any of you have a problem with that, you're welcome to challenge me for the Alpha position."
I paused at the door, glancing back.
"I'll be waiting."
No one moved. No one spoke.
I left them there, stewing in their impotent disapproval.
Ronan was waiting outside, his expression carefully neutral. "That went well."
"They'll get over it."
"Will they?" He fell into step beside me.
"Damon, they're right about one thing. The pack is talking. And what they're saying isn't good."
"What are they saying?"
"That you're compromised. That the Crescent girl has some kind of hold over you." He hesitated.
"There are rumors about... a bond."
I stopped walking.
"Who's spreading those rumors?"
"Does it matter? If it's true—"
"It's true." The words came out before I could stop them.
"She's my second chance mate."
Ronan's eyes widened. "Damon..."
"I know." I ran a hand through my hair, suddenly exhausted.
"Trust me, I know how insane this is. But it doesn't change anything. She stays."
"It changes everything." Ronan grabbed my arm.
"If the pack finds out you're bonded to a Crescent wolf—"
"They won't. Not yet." I pulled away.
"I need time to figure this out."
"Figure what out?"
"How to keep her alive without starting a war." Both with Crescent and within my own pack.
Ronan was quiet for a moment. Then he sighed. "What do you need from me?"
"Double the guards around my house.
I want security footage from every angle. And find out who else knew about Marcus's plan. He couldn't have planted those explosives alone."
"Already on it." He paused. "What about Lyra?"
"What about her?"
"She's not going to take this well. You moving Selene into your house, protecting her like this..." He trailed off meaningfully.
I knew what he was implying. Lyra had been my partner, my second, the one everyone assumed would be my Luna.
But she wasn't my mate.
And now that I'd found my actual mate, everything had changed.
"I'll handle Lyra," I said.
"You better handle her soon. Because if she finds out about the bond before you
tell her..." Ronan shook his head.
"That's a storm you don't want to face unprepared."
He was right.
But as I made my way back to the medical wing, back to Selene, all I could think about was the promise I'd made her.
I will never let you go.
I meant it.
Even if it cost me everything.