The war council table had been repurposed again.

Not for wedding plans this time. For battle. The battle over transformation. It was surely inevitable. Not everyone had fully supported the transformation agenda. Surprisingly one of the princes had decided to stand against it.

Seren sat at one end; the ancient manuscript spread before her. Bryn stood at her shoulder, ready to present the research. Aeron and Theron flanked the table. Lady Sera had come from the east. Elowen had remained, her arms crossed, watching.

Kael stood at the opposite end. Alone.

"I oppose the Pack Magic Program," he said.

The room went silent.

Seren had known this was coming. She had felt it through the bond—the tension building, the arguments circling in his head. But hearing him say it aloud was different.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because creating more transformed wolves will destabilize the kingdom." Kael’s voice was hard. "Wolves will fear being replaced. Humans will demand transformation as a right. The current balance—imperfect as it is—is better than chaos."

"The current balance leaves humans powerless."

"The current balance has kept the peace for a year."

"A year." Seren stood. "A single year. After centuries of oppression. And you call that balance?"

Kael’s jaw tightened. "I call it progress. Slow progress. Sustainable progress."

"Slow progress that leaves desperate people dying in back-alley rituals."

"Those rituals existed before the program. Before you became queen. Before the charter." He stepped closer. "You are not responsible for every human who wants to transform."

"I am responsible for the ones who come to my gates asking for help."

The argument escalated.

Bryn tried to present research. Kael waved her off. Aeron attempted to mediate. Kael ignored him. Theron made a joke. Kael gave a glare that could have melted stone.

"You’re letting your emotions guide you," Kael said. "You see yourself in every desperate human who arrives at the palace. You want to save them the way you were saved."

"And you’re letting fear guide *you*." Seren met his glare. "You’re afraid of change. Afraid of what transformed wolves might mean for the kingdom. Afraid of losing control."

"I’m afraid of *chaos*."

"I’m afraid of standing still while people die."

Kael slammed his hand on the table. The wood cracked.

"Enough."

The room froze.

"You want to help them? Fine. Help them. But not like this." He pointed at the manuscript. "Not with half-understood rituals and dangerous magic. Not with wolves who don’t understand what they’re offering."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"I suggest we wait. Study. Research. Take the time to do this *right*."

"People are dying *now*."

"And more will die if we rush."

The argument continued for hours.

Bryn left. Then Lady Sera. Then Elowen, shaking her head. Only the four of them remained; Seren, Kael, Aeron, Theron—arguing in circles.

Finally, Seren sat down.

"I’m not changing my mind," she said.

"Neither am I."

Aeron spoke. "Then we have a problem."

"We have a disagreement," Theron said. "Not a problem. Disagreements can be resolved."

"Not this one." Kael crossed his arms. "This one is fundamental. She believes in helping everyone. I believe in protecting the kingdom."

"I believe in both."

"You can’t have both. Not yet. Not until we understand the risks."

Seren looked at him. "I understand the risks. I understand that people might die. But I also understand that doing nothing is a choice. A choice with consequences."

Kael stared at her.

"This is the first real fight we’ve had," he said. "Since the wedding."

"I know."

"I hate it."

"I know that too."

They didn’t resolve anything that night.

Kael slept in the armoury. Seren slept alone in their chamber. It was hard getting real sleep. Aeron and Theron moved between them, trying to mediate, trying to heal the crack that had opened in their bond.

The next morning, Seren found Kael in the training yard.

He was sparring with a practice dummy, his strikes brutal, relentless. Sweat soaked his shirt. His breath came in harsh gasps.

She waited until he stopped.

"You’re angry," she said.

"I’m frustrated."

"Same thing, with you."

He turned. His eyes were red-rimmed, exhausted.

"I’m not trying to be your enemy."

"I know."

"I’m trying to protect the kingdom. Protect *you*. If the transformation program fails, if people die, they’ll blame you. The conservatives. The humans who didn’t transform. Everyone."

Seren stepped closer. "And if we do nothing, people will die anyway. In back alleys. In secret rituals. With no one to help them, no one to guide them, no one to even record their names."

Kael closed his eyes.

"I can’t lose you," he said. "Not to politics. Not to a failed experiment. Not to some desperate human who decides you’re to blame for their death."

"You won’t lose me."

"You don’t know that."

"I know that we’ve survived worse. The battle and many more. We’ll survive this too."

He pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers.

"I still oppose the program."

"I know."

"I still think we’re moving too fast."

"I know."

"But I won’t stand in your way."

Seren’s breath caught. "Kael—"

"I love you. More than I’m afraid. More than I’m angry. More than I hate this fight." His voice cracked. "So, I’ll support you. Even when I think you’re wrong. Even when I’m scared. Because that’s what mates do."

She kissed him. The bond flared—not with anger, but with relief.

"We’ll figure this out," she said. "Together."

"Together," he agreed.

They walked back to the palace hand in hand.

Aeron met them at the door, his expression cautious. Theron lurked behind him, trying to look unconcerned.

"Everything all right?" Aeron asked.

"We disagree," Seren said. "But we’re not broken."

Kael nodded. "We’ll keep talking. Keep fighting. Keep figuring it out."

Theron grinned. "That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard."

"Shut up."

"I’m serious. ’Keep fighting’? That’s your love language."

"I will punch you."

"You will not."

Kael punched him. Lightly. Theron laughed.

The bond hummed.

Cracked, but not broken.

Healing.

The work continued.