Kieran
The convoy moved swiftly through the dense American forests, shadows stretching long beneath the silver glow of the moon. The scent of damp earth and pine filled the air, mixing with the distinct musk of wolves running alongside us. My pack was restless, their energy crackling through the bond, but they knew better than to voice their unease.
I wasn't in the mood for complaints.
Garrick's territory stretched far and wide, and every mile we crossed was a reminder of the way America had fallen into decay.
Burned villages. Deserted roads. The stench of starvation lingering in the wind.
America had once been the land of opportunity. Now, it was a graveyard waiting for its final burial.
We arrived at Garrick's estate before dawn. The fortress-like mansion sat at the edge of a cliff, overlooking the vast ruins of a city that had been destroyed long before my time. A reminder of the wars that had nearly wiped humans out.
The gates creaked open as we approached, the guards bowing deeply as I passed.
Damon rode up beside me, his wolfish grin sharp. "Looks like he rolled out the welcome mat."
I exhaled. "Let's get this over with."
A Meeting of Power
The great hall was filled with tension so thick it could have been cut with a blade.
Supernaturals from across the continent had gathered—wolves, vampires, witches, and even a handful of humans wearing the insignias of their respective councils. Each country had its own method of governing, but here in America, it was clear who held the power.
Garrick sat at the head of the grand table, his hulking form draped in black fur. His silver-streaked beard and scarred face made him look like a war god sitting upon his throne. His sharp golden eyes flickered with amusement as he gestured toward an empty seat near him.
"Kieran," he drawled. "You made good time."
I took my seat without a word. Damon stood at my back, arms crossed, eyes scanning the room for threats.
Garrick's smirk widened. "I trust the journey was uneventful?"
I met his gaze, cold and unreadable. "Let's not waste time with pleasantries. Why did you call this gathering?"
The amusement in his face didn't fade. If anything, it deepened.
"All in due time," he said. "But first, I have a matter to attend to."
He turned his head slightly, giving a subtle nod to one of his guards.
The doors to the hall creaked open, and I caught the faintest shift in the air—something different.
The scent hit me first.
Warm honey and fresh rain.
It cut through the stale air of the council hall, bypassing the tension, the murmurs, the watchful eyes of the gathered supernaturals. It was intoxicating, primal—a scent that spoke to something buried deep inside me.
And then I saw her.
The human girl.
She was pushed into the room, bound at the wrists, her eyes on the gound
Mine.
The word slammed into me like a physical force.
The world shifted, everything else fading into meaningless background noise. My wolf stirred violently, a growl rising in my chest as the realization settled like iron in my bones.
But she was human.
The impossibility of it sent a sharp pulse of rage and disbelief through me.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Supernaturals had mates among their own kind. Never humans. Never.
Yet, as her amber eyes met mine, as if also recognizing the pull, my wolf recognized her.
And that changed everything.
"She's here because of her connection to resistance, she's known to be seen with a slaveboy who we just found out is a very important person in the resistance, unfortunately he escaped," Garrick said, voice slow and measured.
"Maybe if you treated them better they wouldn't turn against you," Freya Langley- The heartbound of my country snapped at him.
I kept my eyes on the human girl in front of me who had lowered her eyes when she noticed I was starring.
"She's been seen speaking with him before he vanished," Garrick continued, sending a glare at Freya . "And we believe she might have valuable information."
I forced myself to breathe, to think.
"What does that have to do with us? you gathered the council members across the continent over a slaveboy?" I grit at him in annoyance.
"Well my spies tells me that the resistance are forming an alliance with the humans in Canada," he says smirking at Freya
"That's not true, I would know and would have told my moon warden," I could hear the fear in Freya's voice. it is not hidden that the werewolves were in charge. We had the numbers due to our high birthrate which was even higher than the humans, we had the strength because of the connection with each other through mating and pack link which no other supernatural had. The vampires could battle us in strength but that's if they are well fed which is difficult due to the population of humans and it is rare to find another supernatural willing to let a vampire drink from them.
We try to keep the council unified and put equality above anything else but it's not the same in other countries. some treat their humans lesser but not as bad as in America.
"Are you sure about that? what if you're aware and kept it from the other council members?" Garrick asks her with his smirk becoming bigger.
"Do not accuse me of such!!." Freya yelled at him.
"you will speak to me with respect human." he snarles baring his fangs at her.
"Enough!!" I growled, hitting my fist on the table causing my mate to flinch which made me feel sad that she was afraid of me.
of course she was. I am Kieran Duskbane.
Damon shifted beside me, his gaze flickering between me and the girl. He knew something was wrong. He could probably feel the tension rolling off me in waves, and through our pack link but he didn't speak.
I turned my attention to my other council members who were glaring at Garrick for his accusations at Freya. We all knew Freya would never do such a thing. she was smarter than that.
"Has anyone of you heard such a rumor?"
"No, moon warden." Orion Draeven, the blood keeper in my country replies still glaring at Garrick.
"I would have known if such a thing was happening in our country. I have channels everywhere for information. I assure you such a thing hasn't come to our notice. Even if there is, I'm sure Freya would let us know immediately." my Arcane sage-Alaric Vaughn- replies sending a soft look towards Freya.
"You heard my council. The humans in my country have no reason to be part of any uprising. if you have any issues with the humans in your country you deal with it yourself." I say shifting my attention back to my mate meeting her eyes which surprised her because she immediately sends her eyes to the ground causing me to smile.
I caught her staring.
"Humans in MY country? what do you mean by that?" Garrick snarls at me causing Damon to place his hand on his knife.
"I see no reason why you gathered us. you know how to solve this issue, you have a council for a reason," I say turning my eyes from my mate to the council of America.
"Give them what they want and let peace reign, are you guys puppets or what?"
I knew they were, no one dare speak up against Garrick. He was smart, cunning and very powerful. America has the highest number of werewolves -after Canada-and they all answered to him so the other supernaturals were overpowered and we couldn't intervene. It was against the rules.
"I didn't invite you to my house to insult my council Kieran." he snaps at me.
"It's Alpha Kieran to you. You will speak to my alpha with respect." Damon seethes at Garrick which makes him more angry.
"Who do you think you're speaking to boy?" Garrick lunges at Damon which causes me to stand up immediately placing myself in-between them.
"I have had enough, take a sit Garrick." I Grit out in rage. I made sure Garrick was seated before turning to Damon.
"You will answer for speaking out of place and disrespecting me when we get back home."
"Yes alpha." he says with a bow and I could swear he has a smirk on his face.
of course he did, he knew I wouldn't do shit to him.
I took my sit and look at my mate again.
Could this be Garrick's plan? does he know she's my mate?
No. He wouldn't be able to tell unless I confirmed it.
Did he maybe have his witch do something to make me attracted to her?
No, no witch has such power.
She's my mate. A mere human. I waited years for a mere human. The moon goddess was punishing me but why?
"Where is your friend?" I Thundered at her causing everyone to turn to her.
"Alpha....." Freya started but I cut her off with a raise of my hand.
I stood slowly, the chair scraping against the stone floor as I did.
"Unbind her," I said.
Garrick raised a brow. "She's a human. She doesn't need—"
"I said unbind her."
A pause. Then a flick of his fingers. The guards hesitated before cutting the ropes, and causing her to exhale sharply, rubbing her wrists.
I stepped forward, each movement deliberate, controlled. My instincts screamed at me to pull her close, to claim her, to shield her from every threat in this room.
But I couldn't.
Not here.
Not now.
Instead, I studied her. "Do you know where your friend is?
Her gaze flickered with something unreadable. "No."
Lie.
The room held its breath.
Garrick smirked, clearly waiting for me to rip the truth from her.
But I wouldn't.
I couldn't.