As Fiona's proposal settled in, the room fell into a heavy silence. Each participant absorbed the implications of her words, their expressions shifting between shock, surprise, and contemplation. Yet, despite their varied reactions, a faint, almost imperceptible smile lingered on their faces.
Fiona's sister, who was currently in Las Vegas managing their casino empire, finally broke the silence. "Big Sis, don't get our hopes up unless you're certain. You know we've been waiting for another Elizabeth for more than 400 years since you were born."
Fiona exhaled slowly. "You know me better than that. No one has suffered more than I have because of this. I've had to be cautious my entire life. There were so many things I couldn't do simply because there was no other Elizabeth after me." She paused, then continued, "I've already sent a blood sample for resonance testing. We should have the results within the week. But I am highly confident. The connection I felt with her was far stronger than with any of you."
She hesitated before adding, "However, there is another possibility. The girl was pregnant at the time of her transformation, and the fetus also turned in order to survive. The child could be the Elizabeth, and the mother may simply be resonating strongly because of that connection. Since the fetus is still developing, we may have to wait a few more months to get a definitive answer."
Xavier, his face unreadable, asked, "Then how long do you propose we keep Protocol Eclipse Veil in place?"
"Until the blood resonance results are in. Once we have them, we can reassess." Fiona answered instantly.
Fiona's niece, the renowned actress Talia Raynor, sighed. "We already understand the stakes. If there's nothing else urgent, let's vote and conclude the meeting. I had to pause filming for this meeting, and my crew is waiting."
Xavier nodded. "Alright. All in favor of enacting Eclipse Veil, raise your hand."
All twelve members of the council, each representing one of the twelve Raynor family branches, raised their hands without hesitation.
Fiona smiled in satisfaction. "Good. Xavier, from now on, we're relying on you."
Xavier inclined his head. "Rest assured. My shadow guards will be deployed tonight."
One by one, the council members disconnected, leaving only Fiona, Adrian, Tristan, and Evelyn in the room. Adrian, Fiona's eldest son, turned to her. "Mom, this is the first time an outsider has inherited our Elizabeth bloodline. Are you truly okay with that?"
Fiona's gaze hardened. "There are no outsiders among us. Once someone is turned, they are bound to us by blood. However, this situation is unique. Ethan has liked this girl for a long time, but now, technically, she is both his daughter and the mother of his child. I know Ethan won't see her as a daughter, even if she doesn't end up marrying him. We will have to overlook the complicated relationships within our pack. But make no mistake, she is one of us now. She will be loyal to the Raynor pack, whether she wants to be or not."
She took a deep breath. "My real concern is the Leroux family. They have been trying to dismantle our business empire since ancient times. If they catch wind that another Elizabeth has been born into our family, they will try to eliminate her before she matures. Their informants are likely already monitoring our movements. We must keep her existence a secret until she has completed her training. Make sure she doesn't step outside until she's ready. We can't afford any slip-ups."
Fiona stood and left the meeting room. The remaining three exchanged glances, then continued discussing various current affairs before parting ways. That night, dozens of shadow guards were deployed around the house, prepared to monitor and protect Eleanor from any potential threats.
Meanwhile, Eleanor remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around her. She spent her days in the underground library, reading for hours on end, occasionally yawning as exhaustion crept in. After each session, she would eat in the dining hall before retreating to the room Ethan had assigned her. Her routine was simple: eat, read, sleep, train. The cycle continued for a full week until Fiona returned to check on her progress.
By then, Fiona had received the results of the blood resonance test. Eleanor matched at an 89% compatibility… slightly lower than Fiona's own 91% when she was tested in her youth. Since the threshold was 75%, Eleanor would be officially recognized as an Elizabeth once she completed her training.
A council meeting was scheduled for that night to determine Eleanor's future. Though the Raynors were overjoyed by the news, they had to suppress their excitement. The Leroux family's spies were always watching. They could not afford to show any signs of celebration.
During her evaluation, Fiona was pleased to find that Eleanor had already read over half the books in the library. It was expected of her, given her eidetic memory, but Eleanor still felt ashamed for failing to complete the task entirely. Fiona smirked internally at Eleanor's embarrassed expression but maintained a strict demeanor to push her to perform even better.
After three grueling hours of etiquette training… both in werewolf customs and business protocols… Fiona led Eleanor to the lounge, where a distinguished man awaited them.
Fiona gestured toward him. "Eleanor, this is Xavier Raynor, the Police Commissioner of Greater Manchester. He is my brother's eldest son. You may address him as Uncle Xavier. He will instruct you in Raynor Pack laws, the Ancient Code of Conduct, and basic martial arts."
Recalling the etiquette Fiona had drilled into her, Eleanor pressed her right palm to her heart and bowed slightly. "Greetings, Uncle Xavier. It is an honor to meet you."
Xavier stood from the couch and returned the bow. "The honor is mine. Welcome to the family."
Fiona nodded in approval. "Xavier, I leave her in your hands. I have other matters to attend to. And don't be late for the meeting."
She turned to Eleanor. "Once you finish your session with Xavier, return to the library and continue reading. Finish all the books as soon as possible. More tasks await you." With that, she ascended the stairs and disappeared from view.
Xavier spent the next few hours discussing werewolf society's laws and customs with Eleanor. When it was time for the meeting, he handed her two thick ancient tomes detailing the laws in full before departing.
Eleanor dutifully returned to the library, oblivious to the life-altering decisions being made in her absence.
That night, the council unanimously decided to bestow the Elizabeth name upon her. She would henceforth be known as Eleanor Elizabeth Raynor. However, for the sake of secrecy, the title would remain known only to the council members until she was ready to face the supernatural world.
They also agreed on the next step in her training. She would be sent to the ancestral lands of the Raynor pack, where the elders would refine her abilities.
Unaware of her impending departure, Eleanor remained immersed in her books, eager to complete her task. She had no idea that her new family was preparing to send her into a grueling, hellish training regime that would determine whether she could truly carry the weight of her new name.