37

37

Adrian's POV

The air in the council room was heavy and thick with the scent of burning sage and old wood. The pack elders sat around the long, polished table, their expressions as unreadable as ever. It was rare for me to be summoned here, rarer still for it to involve something personal.

I leaned back in my chair, attempting to appear calm even as a knot of unease twisted in my gut. The elders didn't summon anyone without reason, and I knew better than to think this was a casual chat.

Elder Bartholomew, the oldest and arguably the most traditional among them, finally broke the silence. His voice was like gravel, worn and rough from decades of living.

"Adrian," he began, his sharp gaze locking onto mine, "you've been careless."

I raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "Careless? I'm not sure I follow, Elder."

Bartholomew's eyes narrowed, his disdain practically radiating across the table. "Do not insult our intelligence. We are all aware of your… attachment to the Omega girl, Bethany."

A flicker of surprise shot through me, but I kept my face neutral. Bethany. Of course, this was about her.

"I wouldn't call it an attachment," I said smoothly. "She's someone I've had to keep close because of—"

"Do not lie," Elder Miriam interrupted, her voice calm but unyielding. "We've seen the way you look at her. The way your energy shifts when she's near."

I didn't respond immediately, my jaw tightening. These people didn't miss a damn thing.

Bartholomew leaned forward, his gnarled hands clasped on the table. "You've already crossed a line, Adrian. You know the laws. Our kind does not mix with omegas, not in that way."

"She's not just any omega ," I argued, my voice sharp. "She's connected to this family, to the curse—"

"She is a distraction," he cut in. "And a dangerous one at that."

My hands curled into fists under the table, but I forced myself to stay calm. "What exactly do you think I've done wrong, Elder?"

"Where should we start?" Bartholomew said, his tone mocking. "You've compromised yourself. Allowed emotions to cloud your judgment. Do you even realize the risk you're taking by being close to her?"

"She's under my protection," I said firmly. "And that's not going to change."

"Your protection?" Miriam echoed, her voice soft but cutting. "Or something more?"

I glanced between them, sensing the unspoken accusation in her words.

"This isn't about feelings," I said, trying to steer the conversation back to logic. "Bethany's involvement in the curse puts her in danger. I'm doing what's necessary to ensure—"

"Enough," Bartholomew snapped, his voice echoing through the room. "We've heard enough of your excuses. This isn't just about her safety, Adrian. It's about the law. The traditions that keep this pack intact. You are skirting dangerously close to breaking those laws."

"And what if I already have?" I shot back before I could stop myself.

The room fell silent. The elders exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of shock and anger.

Bartholomew's eyes narrowed into slits. "Then you are a bigger fool than I thought."

I leaned forward, my patience wearing thin. "With all due respect, Elder, you're clinging to rules that no longer make sense. Bethany is tied to us, whether we like it or not. Ignoring her doesn't make the problem go away. It makes it worse."

"You think you're the first to say that?" Miriam asked, her voice low. "There's a reason these laws exist, Adrian. A reason we don't get involved with Omegas."

"Because you're afraid of change," I snapped.

"Because it always ends in disaster," Bartholomew corrected, his tone icy. "Omegas are fragile. Temporary. They don't belong in our world. And when one of us tries to bring them in, it always comes at a cost."

I clenched my jaw, refusing to look away. "Bethany isn't like the others."

"That's what they all say," Miriam murmured.

Bartholomew's expression hardened. "This is your final warning, Adrian. Whatever bond you think you have with her, sever it. Now."

I stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. "And if I don't?"

The room grew tense, the air practically crackling with unspoken threats.

"Then you will face the consequences," Bartholomew said, his voice as cold as stone. "Not just from us, but from the pack itself. You will be stripped of your title, your position. Everything."

I stared at him, my chest tight with anger.

"She's not just some Omega," I said, my voice low but firm. "She's part of this family now, whether you want to admit it or not. And I won't turn my back on her."

Bartholomew's lips pressed into a thin line. "Then you leave us no choice."

Without another word, he stood, signaling the conversation was over. The other elders followed his lead, their chairs scraping back in unison. Their silence was heavier than their words, their disappointment feeling like a shadow hanging over the room.

I stood rooted in place, my fists clenched at my sides. They didn't understand. They didn't know Bethany the way I did.

"Adrian," Miriam said softly, lingering near the door. "You're playing with fire. We've seen what happens when someone thinks they're strong enough to defy the laws. It never ends well."

I met her gaze, my voice steady. "I'd rather face the flames than let her stand alone."

She sighed, her eyes filled with something that looked almost like pity. "You'll regret this. They all do."

With that, she turned and followed the others out, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence of the council room.

The walk back to the estate was a blur, my thoughts a storm of anger and determination. The elders didn't see the full picture, and maybe they never would. They only cared about preserving their precious traditions, no matter the cost to those involved.

When I finally reached the mansion, I found Bethany in the library, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a book spread open in front of her. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, and she absently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

For a moment, I just watched her. The way she bit her lip as she read, the subtle way her shoulders tensed when she turned a page. She looked so fragile, so Omega. And yet, there was a strength in her—something that had drawn me to her from the start, even when I hadn't realized it.

She glanced up and caught me staring. "Adrian," she said, closing the book. "You're back. Is everything okay?"

I hesitated, my mind still replaying the elders' words. Sever the bond. Walk away. Or else.

But how could I? How could I turn my back on her, knowing what she was going through?

I stepped closer, leaning against the doorframe. "What are you reading?"

She held up the book, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Something about ancient curses. Thought it might help, but honestly, it's just making my head hurt."

I chuckled, the sound surprising even me. "You should take a break. Rest a little."

Bethany raised an eyebrow. "Says the man who never rests."

I didn't respond. Instead, I crossed the room and sat on the floor beside her, the tension in my chest easing slightly as her scent surrounded me—warm, familiar, grounding.

"Adrian," she said after a moment, her tone hesitant. "What's wrong? You seem… off."

I glanced at her, debating how much to tell her. She deserved honesty, but I didn't want to burden her with the council's warnings.

"The elders aren't happy," I admitted. "They think I'm too close to you. That I'm putting the pack at risk."

Her eyes widened, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. "Because of me?"

"It's not your fault," I said quickly. "They're just stubborn. They don't like anything that challenges their way of thinking."

Bethany looked down at her hands, twisting her fingers together. "Maybe they're right. Maybe I am a distraction."

I reached out, placing a hand over hers. "Don't say that. You're not a distraction, Bethany. You're the reason I'm still fighting. For you. For all of this."

She looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with uncertainty. "But what if it's not worth it? What if I just make things worse?"

"You won't," I said firmly. "I won't let that happen."

Bethany exhaled shakily, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "What happens now?"

I hesitated, my jaw tightening. "Now, we figure out how to break this curse. Together. No matter what the elders say."

Her gaze softened, and she gave me a small, tentative smile. "Okay. Together."