Chapter 8 Alaric
ALARIC
The Council Glade felt colder in daylight.
Alaric stood on the outside of the stone circle, watching the five Council members take their positions.
Though the situation wasn't ideal, it was still good to see Elder Varric had sat in his usual spot, silver braids draped over his shoulders, eyes the color of storm clouds.
He hadn't been in attendance for most meetings due to his health.
Then it hit Alaric. If Varric was here, things had already gotten too serious.
The elder's recommendation that Emmett take his place had been made weeks ago, but the formal vote kept getting delayed.
Some members wanted more time to consider.
Others, like Bram, wanted a traditional wolf elder, not a reformed exile.
But Varric's presence today meant he'd overruled the delays. At least for this.
Emmett stood to Varric's right, arms crossed.
His position there wasn't coincidental. Whether the Council had officially voted or not, Varric was already positioning his successor.
Miriam Caldwell occupied the seat opposite, her spectacles catching the weak afternoon light.
Two other elders completed the circle, and Elder Bram paced between them, his gray beard perfectly trimmed, his expression carved from granite.
"She's been here one day," Bram said without preamble. "One day, and she's already documenting protection wards, photographing charms, asking questions about our traditions."
"She's a journalist," Miriam said. "That's what they do."
"Which is precisely why she needs to be removed. Before she publishes something that brings attention we cannot afford." Bram stopped pacing, fixing his cold gaze on Alaric. "You were supposed to be watching her."
"I am watching her."
"Then why is she wandering freely through town, taking pictures, interrogating our people?"
"Because forcing her to leave immediately would raise more suspicion than letting her stay a few days." Alaric kept his voice level. "She thinks she's found a quaint mountain town. If we kick her out now, she'll know we're hiding something and come back with more questions. Or worse, bring others."
"He has a point," Emmett said. "We learned that with Sera Quinn. The harder we pushed, the more determined she became."
Bram's jaw tightened. "Sera Quinn was contained by Maddox. And only because she happened to be his mate. We don't have that luxury this time."
Alaric said nothing. His wolf yowled at the denial, but he kept his expression blank.
"What did Sonya's vision show?" Varric's voice cut through the tension. "When she warned us about the journalist."
"A woman with questions," Emmett said. "Driving toward Hollow Oak through a storm. The Veil parting to let her through. Sonya said she couldn't see the outcome clearly. Multiple paths, multiple possibilities."
"That's not helpful," Bram muttered.
"It means we have choices." Varric's gaze settled on Alaric. "What is your assessment?"
"She's smart. Persistent. She knows something is different about this place, but she doesn't know what yet. As long as we keep her away from things that are overtly supernatural, she'll write it off as eccentric locals protecting old traditions."
"And if she sees something she can't write off?" Bram demanded.
"Then I'll handle it."
"How, exactly?"
Alaric met his eyes. "However necessary."
Miriam shifted in her seat. "We're talking about a human woman who's done nothing wrong except be curious. I hope 'however necessary' doesn't mean what I think it means."
"It means we protect Hollow Oak," Bram said. "By any means required. That's always been our priority."
"Our priority is balance," Varric corrected. "Protection, yes. But not at the cost of innocent blood."
"She's not innocent if she exposes us."
"She hasn't exposed anything yet." Emmett rebuttled. "I've dealt with this before, Bram. Humans aren't automatically enemies. Some of them become allies. Some become family."
"Your mate was different. She had latent abilities. She belonged here, whether she knew it initially or not." Bram gestured toward the town below. "This woman is purely human. No magic, no gifts. She doesn't belong, and the longer she stays, the greater the risk."
"The Veil let her through," Miriam pointed out. "That means something."
"It means the Veil is weakening. Another problem we need to address."
Varric raised a hand, silencing further argument. "Alaric. You will continue to monitor Miss Jameston. Keep her occupied, keep her away from anything that would confirm her suspicions. Can you do this?"
"Yes."
"And if she becomes a direct threat to our secrecy?"
The question should have had a simple answer. And even though Alaric's wolf howled protest, his training held firm.
"I'll contain her. Keep her from leaving until we can determine the best course of action."
"That's not what I asked," Varric said quietly.
Alaric's hands flexed at his sides. "I'll do what needs to be done."
Bram nodded approval. "Good. That's what an enforcer should say."\
"But remember," Varric continued, his eyes never leaving Alaric's face, "there is often a difference between what we think needs to be done and what actually serves the greater good. Use your judgment, not just your duty."
"My judgment says she's a potential threat that needs watching."
"Then watch her. But also consider what Emmett said. Not all humans are enemies." Varric stood, signaling the meeting's end. "We reconvene in three days. By then, we'll have a clearer picture of Miss Jameston's intentions."
The Council members dispersed, heading back toward town. Emmett waited until they were alone before approaching Alaric.
"You felt it, didn't you," he said. Not a question.
Alaric turned away. "I don't know what you mean."
"Yes, you do. Callum told me about your conversation last night. About the mate bond."
"People really need to have other hobbies besides gossip here."
"Callum was concerned. So am I." Emmett moved to stand beside him. "I've been where you are. Orders from the Council, a mate who shouldn't exist, the weight of choosing between duty and instinct. It's hell."
"I'm handling it."
"Well, in my experience, you're about to make the same mistake I almost made with Katniss. Treating your mate like a problem."
"She is a problem. She's here to expose us."
"She's here because the Veil let her through. Have you asked yourself why?" Emmett's voice softened. "The Veil doesn't make mistakes. If it allowed her into Hollow Oak, there's a reason. Maybe instead of fighting that, you should figure out what it is."
"My job is to protect this town. Not puzzle out the Veil's motivations."
"Your job is to use your best judgment. Varric said so himself." Emmett started walking. "Just don't let duty make you do something you can't take back. Trust me on that."
Alaric stood alone in the Glade, surrounded by ancient stones and older magic. His wolf paced restlessly, demanding he return to her, demanding he stop treating her like prey and start treating her like what she was.
His mate.
But acknowledging that would mean questioning his orders. Would mean admitting that maybe, just maybe, the bond was more important than the duty he'd built his entire life around.
And Alaric didn't know how to be anything other than what the Council needed him to be.
So he pushed the wolf down, locked the bond away, and headed back toward town. Back to watching her. Back to pretending she was just another assignment.
Even though they both knew she was so much more than that.
The snow started falling again as he walked. Soft at first, then harder. By the time he reached the town square, the world had turned white, and he could barely see ten feet ahead.
But he could smell her cutting through the cold.
And he knew exactly where she was, like his wolf had a compass that always pointed toward home.
He just wished home wasn't something he'd been ordered to contain.