Chapter 15.1 Wolves and Witnesses

“I bet you do.”
“Nuri…”
"Please, don’t feel like you have to respond to that. I’m not sure why I said it, but feel free to let it die the way it should have before it even left my mouth." Nuri laughed nervously, eyes flicking toward the window, anywhere but him. Her skin felt hot, tight. Every breath was shallow, her words a poor shield for the swirl of nerves and something else—something sharper and less easily named. "Are we almost there?"
“Yes, just a few more minutes,” Kalmin's voice was steady, but his gaze slid to her, lingering a beat too long. “Listen—don’t take this the wrong way, but I need you to stay close to me. I’ve been dealing with this lawsuit for months. I’m hoping we can finally settle it today. I need to focus, and I can’t do that if I’m worried about you.”
‘He said he’d be worried about you’ Tempest whispered, tone edged with surprise, then softened into confusion. ‘Is that a good thing or a bad thing?’
Nuri blinked, heart skipping. The way he said it—distracted by worry—felt like more than just concern. It buzzed in her chest, warm and dangerous. "Would you prefer I stay in the car?" she asked, forcing her tone neutral even as the mansion loomed into view—an imposing Greek Revival, elegant and cold. The cobblestone drive was crowded with sleek luxury cars.
This was no neutral ground. It was a show of power. Every instinct screamed danger. He expected her to walk into that?
“No, there’s no need for that.” Kalmin said as he opened her door, his hand brushing hers as she stepped out. A spark jumped up her spine. He jogged ahead toward the walkway, jaw tight. But before she could catch up, the front door slammed open—an explosion of voices spilling into the cool afternoon air.
“Damn it,” he muttered, not slowing. “Stay close.”
'This already feels like a mistake,' Nuri thought, trailing him into the chaos.
The inside of the house was a storm—shouting, stomping, arguing. The elders circled like vultures, voices overlapping in a discordant mess of ego and fury.
Kalmin’s arrival only fueled the frenzy. The crowd surged toward him, jostling for space, for attention—and Nuri was swept backward, ignored, her presence erased in an instant.
‘He should’ve let me stay in the car, she thought bitterly, stretching up on her toes to catch sight of him. ‘Now I’m just in the way.’
‘Don’t let them push you around,’ Tempest growled.
‘Tempest, they’re elders. If I push them, I’ll get torn apart.’
Her eyes scanned for an opening, anything to get back to Kalmin. She could speak up. Force her way forward. Or she could stay put—just another ghost in the background.
‘You are his mate. You deserve respect.’
'Tell them that,' she muttered inwardly, breath catching as the pressure of bodies shoved her again.
And then—
Pain. A sharp elbow to the ribs knocked the air from her lungs. She stumbled, falling hard. Her hands scraped against the polished floor, and Tempest roared in her skull.
‘Let me at him!’
Nuri looked up—straight into a face she hadn’t seen in years. Her stomach dropped.
Tyson.
The boy who had tried to drown her when she was five. The one who poisoned her food. Called her hybrid filth. The man who never grew out of his hatred—just grew stronger.
Tempest seethed, but Nuri locked her down. ‘Don’t. Not here. Not now. He’s too dangerous.’
She pushed up, fighting nausea and the fresh wave of dread. She tried to get past him, but his arm shot out, barring her path like a wall.
“What are you doing here?” he sneered.
“Leaving,” she said coldly, eyes fixed between his—imagining what it would feel like to bury a blade there.
“Move. Now.”
The room froze. Tyson’s grip tightened—just for a second—before Kalmin was there.
He stepped between them, towering and furious. His energy rippled like heat off stone.
“Remove your hand before I remove it for you.”
Tyson scoffed, but Kalmin didn’t wait. His hand shot out, slamming Tyson’s wrist into the marble end table. The crack echoed—sharp, visceral. Tyson’s scream followed, broken and wet.
Kalmin didn’t spare him a glance. He turned to Nuri instead, eyes burning and breathing hard. “I told you to stay beside me.”
She stared at him, stunned. Her side throbbed, but her pulse throbbed harder—somewhere deeper. There was something in his voice, in the way he spoke, that stirred heat low in her belly.
He took her arm, guiding her up the stairs like she was something precious. He kept her tucked behind him, body taut with warning as he faced the pack.
“The next person who touches my mate will die. Consider yourselves forewarned.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Some looked confused. Others disgusted. But most just froze, stunned into silence.
‘You called her your mate in front of every!’  Rian said, awestruck. ‘Apology accepted, by the way . I’m sorry too.’
‘Not everyone. Just the ones who matter,’ Kalmin answered, gaze flicking to Nuri.
She stiffened under the scrutiny. The pack was sizing her up—measuring, judging, doubting. But with Kalmin beside her, something unexpected stirred in her chest.
Safety.
Kalmin spoke again, tone cold and firm. “Are we ready to act like civilized people? No one leaves until this is resolved. Bruce and Orson’s dispute ends today—preferably in the next hour—without a trial.”
The room stilled, tension hanging in the air like a storm about to break, but no one dared argue.
∞∞∞