Chapter 21: The Weight of Loyalty
The metallic scent of blood hung thick in the air, mingling with the acrid stench of fear and sweat. Rowan's heart pounded as he surveyed the aftermath of the battle. Warriors tended to their wounds, some limping, others helping the injured. But his eyes were fixed on one figure.
Giselle stood amidst the carnage, her wolf form smeared with blood—not all of it her own. Her eyes met his, a mixture of relief and apprehension flickering within them.
What are you doing here? The unspoken question screamed in his mind.
Fear clenched his gut. He knew how this would look to the Elders. Giselle, already under suspicion, found at the scene of a rogue attack right on their borders, bloodied and unbound.
He approached her cautiously, hand outstretched. “You saved them,” he said quietly. “You saved *me.*”
She couldn’t speak, but her wolf gave a soft, mournful howl as she turned and slowly padded toward the tree line.
Without needing to say a word, one of the warriors that was uninjured turned and walked with her back to the packhouse. Rowan watched her wolf form walk away until he couldn’t see her behind the trees.
Fear consumed him the longer he stood out in the forest, cleaning up the mess of the attack that was nearly inside their borders. He knew how this would look to the Elders and he was unprepared for the fight that lies ahead of him.
What felt like hours had passed before Rowan was finally able to make his way back to the packhouse and seek out the Elder’s counsel.
The packhouse loomed ominously as he and the warriors returned. Rowan's steps quickened, urgency propelling him forward. He needed to reach the Elders before they heard distorted tales of what happened out in the forest that night.
But as he entered the council chamber, his worst fears materialized right before his eyes.
Giselle stood in the center of the chamber, flanked by guards, with her wrists bound. The Elders surrounded her, their expressions a blend of disdain and suspicion as they looked at her.
"Release her!" Rowan's voice thundered, echoing off the stone walls. He rushed further into the chamber, placing himself in front of her.
Elder Marcus raised an eyebrow. "She was found at the scene, covered in blood. What were we to think when the attack was so close to our borders? We warned you this would happen if she was allowed to stay."
"She fought to protect us!" Rowan retorted. "She took down a rogue that was attempting to flee, preventing them from reporting our location to the other rogues."
Elder Livia's eyes narrowed. "Convenient. Or perhaps a calculated move to divert suspicion when she realized she was about to be caught."
Rowan stepped forward, fists clenched. "She acted with courage. She saved lives."
Elder Thorne interjected, "Then why was she there? She was supposed to be under confinement, yet found at the border during an attack?"
Giselle lifted her chin, her voice steady. "I needed to run. My wolf was restless. I was returning when I heard the cries. I couldn't ignore them when it sounded like they needed help. I was the closest to them."
The chamber fell silent.
The stone walls of the council chamber had never felt more suffocating. Rowan stood near the Elders' circle, every muscle in his body coiled with tension.
The low scrape of the heavy chamber doors drew his attention. A guard stepped inside and gave a respectful nod toward the council. “Alpha Rowan, Elders… there is a family requesting audience. They say it’s urgent. Concerning the battle.”
Rowan frowned. Elder Marcus opened his mouth to object, but Rowan stepped forward. “Let them in.”
Moments later, a couple entered the room. Both bore the tired eyes of lifelong warriors, though their shoulders slumped with the weight of recent fear. Between them stood a younger boy, barely past shifting age, bandages wrapped around his neck and upper chest. The bruising across his jaw was still dark, but the gratitude in his eyes was clear.
The woman stepped forward and bowed her head. “Alpha. Elders. My name is Marla Trell. My son, Cade, was on the ridge during the attack.”
The woman stepped forward and bowed her head. “Alpha. Elders. My name is Marla Trell. My son, Cade, was on the ridge during the attack.”
Rowan watched closely as she took a shaky breath, her voice thick with restrained emotion. “He would have died… if not for her.”
The silence in the chamber sharpened.
“My son told us everything,” Marla continued, her chin trembling as she gestured to Cade. “That he was down, that the rogue had him. And that Giselle—yes, the rogue-turned-packmate—ripped the wolf off of him and saved his life.”
Elder Thorne scoffed, “A convenient story. Perhaps the boy was confused in the chaos—”
“I wasn’t,” Cade said, stepping forward, voice hoarse. “She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t wait. She threw herself between me and that wolf and killed it. I owe her my life.”
“I wasn’t,” Cade said, stepping forward, voice hoarse. “She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t wait. She threw herself between me and that wolf and killed it. I owe her my life.”
The room remained still. Rowan’s chest swelled with a mix of pride and anguish.
Marla’s voice softened, but her gaze was steel. “You speak of Giselle as if she’s the disease, but she fought like she was the cure. She didn’t have to get involved. She was alone, no orders, no one watching. But she chose us.”
Rowan turned slowly to face the Elders, barely containing the fury simmering beneath his skin. “You hear them. The ones who were there. The ones who would’ve mourned their son this night if not for her.”
Elder Livia’s expression twitched, but she said nothing.
Elder Marcus spoke up at last, voice taut. “We understand the sentiment. But emotion doesn’t negate caution. If she is truly loyal, she must prove it over time. One act of valor does not erase the danger of her origin.”
“That one act,” Rowan growled, “is worth more than a thousand empty oaths spoken in this room.”
Marla’s husband finally spoke, stepping beside his wife. “We’re not saying to ignore what she is. But acknowledge what she did. My son’s alive because of her. That matters.”
The room lingered in tense silence. Rowan locked eyes with each Elder, daring them to counter what had just been laid bare.
Elder Marcus exchanged glances with his peers. "Regardless of intent, this breach cannot be overlooked. Until we ascertain the truth, Giselle will remain imprisoned."
Rowan's eyes blazed. "This is unjust."
Elder Livia's gaze was cold. "It's precaution."
“I won’t allow her to rot in confinement while you spin paranoia into law,” Rowan said, his voice calm but deadly. “She saved one of our own. That demands recognition.”
The Elders murmured among themselves, unsettled but not yet swayed.
Rowan looked to the family again. “Thank you. Your words won’t be ignored.”
Marla gave him a tired nod. “We only spoke the truth, Alpha.”
They turned and left in silence, leaving the chamber echoing with the weight of their testimony.
As guards led Giselle away, Rowan's heart ached. He vowed silently, I will prove your innocence, no matter the cost.
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