22. Calder
Calder
My alarm was so soft that it didn’t wake Ethan, but to my wolf ears, it was loud enough to rouse me from my sleep.
However, I found it difficult to move just yet.
Ethan was pressed up against me, his warmth sending pleasant shivers through my body.
The wolf inside me wanted to pull him close and mark him again.
He was already covered in my scent from last night…
but I had to resist. I was meeting with the Elder Council in an hour and it was already going to take a lot of scrubbing and cologne to cover up the scent of what we’d done last night.
If the council knew what I’d done… Well, let’s just say they hadn’t been very forgiving to wolves in the past that had made the same mistake.
Getting attached to humans romantically wasn’t looked upon kindly, especially when I’d done it without the permission of the Secret Mate Society.
Not only that, but Ethan already knew I was keeping a secret.
He might not know what it was, but if he ever figured it out, the Society would snatch him up and make him disappear before I knew what was happening. And I couldn’t let that happen.
I carefully extracted myself from Ethan's sleeping form, pausing when he stirred slightly.
His blonde hair was tousled from sleep, fanning across my pillow in a way that made my chest tighten.
He looked so peaceful, so vulnerable. For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine waking up like this every morning, his scent mingled with mine, his warmth beside me.
The fantasy shattered as my phone buzzed again. Another reminder from Ageratum.
"Shit," I muttered, padding quietly to the bathroom.
Under the hot spray of the shower, I scrubbed my skin vigorously, trying to wash away every trace of Ethan's scent. The wolf in me howled in protest, fighting against erasing the evidence of our connection. It felt wrong, like I was denying something fundamental about myself.
I stepped out of the shower and examined myself in the mirror. My eyes flashed gold momentarily before I forced them back to brown. The mate bond was strengthening, making it harder to control my shifts. I'd have to be extremely careful around the Council today.
After dressing in my most formal clothes, dark jeans and a button-down shirt that wasn't stained with motor oil, I moved to the kitchen to start coffee. I scribbled a quick note for Ethan.
Had to step out. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. DO NOT leave the house. Not safe. Will explain everything when I get back. – C
I underlined "DO NOT leave" twice, hoping he'd listen. Knowing Ethan's curiosity, I wasn't confident.
Before leaving, I crept back to the bedroom for one last look at him. He'd rolled over into the warm spot I'd vacated, his face pressed into my pillow. Something possessive and primal surged through me at the sight.
"Mine," my wolf whispered.
I forced myself to turn away, grabbing my keys and heading for the door. The Council chambers were located beneath an old church downtown, accessible only through an entrance hidden from human eyes. As I climbed onto my motorcycle, I tried to organize my thoughts, to prepare my arguments.
The ride to downtown was a blur, my mind consumed with strategies and contingencies. How much could I reveal without exposing my true feelings? How could I convince them Ethan was valuable alive without admitting he was my mate?
I parked my bike two blocks from the church, walking the rest of the way to clear my head. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of rain and city pollution. I took deep, measured breaths, pushing down my wolf's anxiety.
The church looked abandoned from the outside, its stone facade weathered and uninviting. Perfect camouflage. I approached the side entrance, pressing my palm against the worn wooden door. A subtle shimmer of magic recognized me, and the door swung inward.
The interior was dark and musty, pews covered in dust. I moved directly to the confessional booth, stepping inside the cramped space.
The familiar scent of old wood and incense filled my nostrils as I pressed a specific sequence against the wall panels.
A section slid away silently, revealing a narrow stone staircase that descended into darkness.
My footsteps echoed hollowly as I made my way down, the temperature dropping with each step.
Ancient runes carved into the walls glowed faintly with otherworldly light, casting eerie shadows that danced across the stone.
The deeper I went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, thick with centuries of supernatural politics and barely contained power.
The staircase opened into a vast circular chamber carved from living rock.
Nine stone thrones arranged in a semicircle dominated the space, but only five were occupied by a member of the Elder Council.
Their eyes tracked my movement as I entered, predators assessing potential prey.
At least they hadn’t called the full council. That alone was a good sign.
Ageratum stood to the right of the central throne, his violet eyes unreadable. The demon looked perfectly composed, but I caught the subtle tension in his posture that suggested this meeting wouldn't go in my favor.
"Alpha Thorne," the voice came from the central throne, ancient and commanding.
Elder Morgana, the oldest werewolf in the Pacific Northwest, regarded me with eyes that had witnessed nearly a century of pack politics.
Her silver hair was braided with bone ornaments, and scars from countless battles marked her weathered hands.
"You stand before the Council to request guardianship of a human. This is... unprecedented."
I moved to the center of the chamber, forcing my shoulders back and my chin up. Showing weakness here would be fatal. "Elder Morgana. Honored Council. I come seeking permission to protect Ethan Murphy as part of my investigation into the rogue attacks."
"Protect," Elder Cassius spoke from the third throne, his voice dripping with disdain. The younger Elder's dark eyes glittered with malice. "An interesting choice of words, Alpha. Our reports suggest your interest in this human goes beyond professional necessity."
My jaw clenched, but I kept my voice steady. "The human has information that could help us locate the rogue. He's also become a target, making him valuable bait."
"Bait," Elder Morgana repeated slowly. "You would use a human as bait to catch one of our own kind?"
"If it means protecting the pack and maintaining our secrecy, yes." The lie tasted bitter on my tongue, but I forced conviction into my voice.
Elder Lydia leaned forward from the fifth throne, her hawk-like features sharp with suspicion. "And what makes you believe this particular human possesses useful information?"
I'd prepared for this question, though the truth was more complicated than I could reveal.
"He's been investigating similar attacks for years. His father was killed in what appears to be a werewolf attack when he was fourteen. He has extensive research on supernatural incidents across multiple states. There’s a very real possibility that the werewolf that killed his father is the same one that is hunting him now. "
Murmurs rippled through the Council. Clearly, this was new information to some of them.
"Fascinating," Elder Morgana said, leaning forward in her throne. Her silver eyes narrowed as she studied me. "You believe this rogue has a personal connection to your... human."
"It's a theory," I replied carefully. "The pattern matches. The missing organs, the signature, the timing. And now a direct threat."
Elder Cassius snorted. "Or perhaps the human himself is the threat. Have you considered that, Alpha Thorne? That your journalist might be baiting you instead?"
My wolf bristled at the suggestion, but I kept my expression neutral. "I've considered all possibilities."
"Have you?" Elder Lydia's voice cut through the chamber like a blade. "Because our sources indicate you've been spending a considerable amount of time with this human. Time that exceeds what would be necessary for simple intelligence gathering."
I felt a cold sweat break out across my back. They had been watching me more closely than I'd realized.
"The human trusts me," I said, choosing my words with extreme care. "Building that trust requires time and consistency."
"Trust," Elder Cassius repeated with a smirk. "Is that what they're calling it these days?"
Before I could respond, Elder Morgana raised her hand, silencing the room. "What interests me more than Alpha Thorne's methods is the rogue's fixation on this particular human. If there is indeed a connection spanning decades, we must consider the implications."
The fifth Elder, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
Elder Thaddeus was ancient even by werewolf standards, his withered face a roadmap of wrinkles and scars.
"There is a possible connection," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “A werewolf killed a family back in the sixties and was outcast. Why the council didn’t put him down, I do not know. But there is a chance that this new rogue is his son. And that he shares the same hatred of humans that his father possessed.” He glanced around at the other elders slowly.
“It was his opinion that humans are below shifters, that they are nothing more than food for our young.” His gaze focused on each elder in turn.
“And the disdain for mankind coming from this council makes me question whether or not some of you agree with him.”
Cold silence filled the room. Elder Cassius bristled visibly, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the armrests of his throne. "You overstep, Thaddeus. None of us advocate for such barbarism."
"Don't I?" Elder Thaddeus's rheumy eyes held a surprising sharpness. "Yet here we sit, debating whether to eliminate a human who's done nothing but survive a tragedy this council allowed to happen."
I kept my expression carefully neutral despite the shock rippling through me. This wasn't just Council politics anymore, this was something deeper, older. A rift I hadn't known existed.
"The Murphy boy's father," I ventured carefully. "Was his death... sanctioned?"
Elder Morgana's silver eyes flashed dangerously. "Watch yourself, Alpha Thorne. You approach treasonous questions."
"I approach the truth," I countered, feeling reckless heat rise in my chest. "You want to kill Ethan, so how am I to know you didn’t kill his father too?”
Ageratum stepped forward, his violet eyes glowing faintly. "Perhaps we're straying from the matter at hand. Alpha Thorne requests temporary guardianship of the human. This is a simple administrative decision."
"Nothing about this is simple," Elder Lydia hissed. "If this human has been investigating our kind for years, he's already a liability. And now Alpha Thorne wants to keep him close? The risk of exposure is unacceptable."
"The risk of another dead human with missing organs is worse," I argued. "Portland police are already investigating. If Murphy disappears now, it draws more attention, not less."
Elder Morgana studied me for a long, uncomfortable moment. "You seem exceptionally concerned with this human's welfare, Alpha Thorne."
"I'm concerned with maintaining our secrecy," I replied evenly. "Dead bodies attract attention. Missing journalists even more so."
"And if we decide the human must be eliminated regardless?" Elder Cassius asked, a cruel smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
My wolf surged forward so violently I had to dig my nails into my palms to maintain control.
The pain helped center me, but I knew my eyes had flashed gold for a split second.
Elder Morgana's slight intake of breath confirmed it.
"I would expect the Council to make decisions based on logic, not fear," I managed, my voice steady despite the rage burning through me.
Elder Thaddeus let out a dry chuckle. "The boy's right. We've become reactionary in our old age." He fixed me with those ancient eyes and raised his hand. “I vote to release Mr. Murphy to Alpha Thorne’s care.”
The others stared at him for a long moment as if daring to oppose their most ancient member. Finally the other four slowly raised their hands, although some were extremely reticent.
“The motion passes,” Elder Morgana said. “Ethan Murphy is granted a temporary stay of judgement and is now in your care Alpha Thorne.” She leaned forward in her throne, her eyes flashing. “We’ll be watching.”