Chapter 19
604words
The council chamber erupted in shocked murmurs. Victor's face drained of color.
"Impossible," he hissed. "A silver wolf cannot—"
"Cannot what, Victor?" Eirina spoke up from the back of the room. "Cannot be a true Mate? Cannot form a bond so powerful it threatens your carefully constructed lies?" The old healer approached the council table. "The ancient texts speak of this—the union of Alpha strength and silver healing. It is the most sacred bond our kind can form."
The eldest council member, a white-haired woman named Thea, rose from her seat. "If what you claim is true, then the memory-sharing will reveal it. Are you both willing to submit to this?"
Derek looked at me, a question in his eyes. Through our bond, I felt his concern—this would expose not just Victor's crimes, but our most private thoughts and feelings to the council.
*I trust you,* I sent to him. *No more secrets.*
He nodded, then turned back to the council. "We are willing."
Thea gestured to the center of the room, where a circular pattern was inlaid in the stone floor. "Then let the ritual begin."
Derek and I stepped into the circle, facing each other. The council members formed a ring around us, with Thea leading the ritual. Victor was forced to join them, though his face was a mask of barely controlled fury.
"Join hands," Thea instructed. "Open your minds to each other and to the council."
As our hands clasped, the silver light of our bond expanded, filling the circle. I closed my eyes, feeling Derek's consciousness merge more completely with mine than ever before. Together, we focused on the memories—the tunnels, the evidence, Victor's attack, his confession to the murders.
The light grew brighter, and suddenly the memories were not just in our minds but projected around us—visible to everyone in the room. Victor in the tunnels, his cold voice admitting to killing our fathers. The evidence of his experiments. The silver dagger he'd thrown at Derek.
When the memories faded, there was absolute silence in the chamber. Then, as one, the council members turned to Victor.
"Victor Lane," Thea pronounced, her voice heavy with authority, "you stand accused of murder, treason, and forbidden blood magic. How do you answer these charges?"
Victor's composure finally shattered. With a feral snarl, he lunged across the table—not at Derek or the council members, but at me. "You should have died with your father!" he roared.
But Derek was faster. Through our bond, he had sensed Victor's intent the moment it formed. He intercepted the attack, throwing Victor back against the wall with Alpha strength.
Victor recovered quickly, pulling a hidden silver blade from his boot. "If I fall," he growled, "I'm taking the silver bitch with me."
He charged again, but this time I was ready. Drawing on our bond, I channeled Derek's strength into myself while sending him my speed. We moved in perfect synchronization, Derek deflecting the blade while I swept Victor's legs from under him.
The silver knife clattered to the floor. Before Victor could recover, Derek pinned him down, one hand at his throat.
"It's over, Victor," Derek said, his voice calm despite the rage I could feel through our bond. "You've lost."
Guards loyal to the council moved in, securing Victor with silver chains that would prevent him from shifting. As they dragged him away, he fixed me with a hateful stare.
