The Next Day:

The council chamber felt too large for her.

Her small fragile body felt intimidated by the sheer size of it. Also, she could still remember how she was almost killed in here.

Aire paused just before stepping fully inside. Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the door before she let go.

The doors shut behind her with a heavy thud.

Every sound in the room seemed to be quiet. Not completely, but enough for her to notice the shift.

Aire lowered her gaze for half a second, steadying herself, before lifting it again. She still doesn’t understand why she didn’t choose the easier path with Damien when she had it.

Letting out an exhale, she walked forward.

The chamber stretched wide, carved from old stone that carried history in every crack. Tall windows allowed thin strips of pale daylight to fall across the floor, but none of it warmed the room.

She hadn’t seen the council room during the day, so she took her time to look around.

A long curved table dominated the center.

Alphas sat around it. They weren’t just any Alphas, but the eldest Alphas in every park with a handful of knowledge of everything.

"Do you choose to be late to everything on purpose or you have other duties more important than your current duty?"

Alpha Elijah’s voice wasn’t raised, but it cut through everything.

Aire stopped walking. She swallowed, then continued. "I wasn’t told when to come," she said softly. "I came immediately, I was called upon."

Her voice didn’t tremble, but it didn’t challenge him either.

A few glances were exchanged across the table. Some were amused. Some were dismissive and some already were bored.

Elijah watched her for a moment longer than necessary. "Next time, you will not need to be told."

Aire nodded. "Yes, Alpha."

"Sit." He ordered, nodding towards an empty seat.

She moved to the empty seat. The seat wasn’t close enough to be included, neither was it far enough to be ignored.

The moment she sat down, a dull ache settled behind her eyes. The ache was so sudden, it almost made her flinch.

Her fingers curled lightly against her lap instead. She inhaled quietly, and ignored it.

"King Elijah, we should begin," one of the older Alphas said. He sounded impatient.

"We will."

Elijah’s gaze flicked to Aire once more before he finally looked away.

"Reports have come in from the northern borders... and the edges of the Blackwood."

The room stilled. "Humans have been sighted multiple times."

That got their full attention. They had been summoned, with no idea why. Never in their wildest dream had any of them seated on the table expect this to be the news they’d get.

"In numbers?" someone asked.

"More than usual," King Elijah answered. "My son has been on it for weeks now, and we aren’t mistaken."

"And the veil?" another asked thoughtfully.

The werewolves had always had a veil protecting their world from the eyes of humans for hundreds of centuries after the war.

Their world no longer exists to humans, and the humans no longer exist to them. The Moon Goddess had long ago given power to the seer to perform the ritual.

"They wouldn’t survive it if the veil still existed." someone at the table said.

"They are surviving," Elijah said calmly. "That is the problem."

Aire blinked slowly.

The ache in her head pressed again. It was a little stronger. It felt like something was knocking from her inside.

"They’ve been seen near the North Woods," a broad-shouldered Alpha added. "Too close."

"That land is not theirs."

Murmurs rose immediately, low, sharp, and controlled.

Aire shifted slightly in her seat.

Her fingers pressed gently into her skirt.

The voices were clear, but something about them felt distant.

She was slightly... removed from the conversation. Not that she wanted to be involved.

"What do you think?"

The question came suddenly.

And it took her a second to realize it was directed at her.

Aire looked up.

Her heart skipped. "Me?" she asked, quieter than she intended.

A few expressions changed. Some were amused. Some were skeptical. They exchanged judgemental looks within themselves.

"Yes," Elijah said. "You."

Her throat tightened.

She swallowed. The pressure in her head pulsed again.

"I... don’t know much about human movement," she admitted.

"That much is obvious," someone muttered.

Aire heard it.

"They might not understand where they are going," she continued, choosing her words slowly. "Or... they could be searching for something."

"What would humans be searching for in wolf territory?" another Alpha asked.

Aire hesitated.

The pain pressed again, sharper this time. It wouldn’t stop.

"I’m not sure," she said softly.

Someone scoffed. "They are not known for courage." He said. "They are known for foolishness."

A few quiet chuckles followed.

Aire lowered her gaze slightly, to think.

"They wouldn’t move like this without reason," Elijah said. "Not in groups."

"Then something is drawing them." Aire said. "Or pushing them."

The conversation picked up again.

Aire tried to follow. She really did, but the ache in her head was growing, and spreading from behind her eyes... to her temples.

She inhaled slowly. Her fingers tightened.

"King Elijah," one Alpha said, "should we increase patrols along the North Woods?"

"Yes."

"And if they cross deeper?"

"They won’t," another Alpha cut in confidently. "They know better."

"They didn’t know better before." King Elijah pointed out. "Also, we’d perform the ritual again, if the moon goddess agrees."

Silence fell upon the table. The silence was brief, as Aire shifted again, breaking the silence.

This time, she brought her hand lightly to her temple, then dropped it quickly before anyone could notice.

Her vision blurred.

She blinked, trying to stay focused again.

"Elijah." an older Alpha that hasn’t spoken up since the meeting started finally spoke up. "What is her role here?"

Aire stilled.

All eyes turned, questioning. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Elijah didn’t answer immediately. "She is here to listen," he said finally.

"Then she should listen," the Alpha replied. "Not speak."

A few nods followed.

Aire’s fingers curled tighter in her lap.

"I asked her to speak," Elijah said calmly.

"And why?" another pressed.

Elijah’s gaze flicked briefly to Aire. Something unreadable passed through his eyes. "Because she sees things differently." He said simply.

Aire swallowed. Her throat felt dry. "I’m sorry," she said softly, almost without thinking.

A few brows lifted. "For what?" someone asked.

"I didn’t mean to interrupt."

That earned her a few looks. The looks were different this time, less guarded, and more dismissive.

"She’s harmless," one Alpha muttered. "She doesn’t even have a wolf. We don’t need to get so defensive."

Aire nodded at his words, as if agreeing. She’d rather let everyone think that, than ever suspect she has fae blood.

The pain in her head pulsed again. Her breath caught slightly, and the pain made her clear her throat.

Elijah’s gaze snapped to her.

She straightened immediately.

"I’m fine," she said quickly, even though no one asked.

That only made it more noticeable. However, no one said anything yet a few looks lingered.

The discussion resumed.

They made plans to have the borders reinforced, and the scouts doubled.

Aire sat through all of it.

"Elijah," someone said again, "if humans continue to gather, we may need to act before they do."

"And risk exposing ourselves?" another countered.

"They are already too close."

"And yet they have done nothing."

"Yet." King Elijah countered. "While we stay low, we shouldn’t downplay the prospect of a war."