Council Meeting

George looked at the four elders before him, his voice cold and menacing. "If he is what we suspect him to be," he paused, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light, "then I'm afraid the prophecy is coming to pass…'

"But it is too sudden," Rose argued, her voice trembling.

"We don't know for sure, but if what he is saying is true, then we should keep him in our fortress, it will be to our advantage." one of the elders said, his voice grave.

George didn't like where this was heading. He hated the entire idea of keeping Jack here. "At what cost!" he gritted his teeth. "His existence alone is putting everyone in this pack in danger…' 

"The prophecy says that he will bring balance between the…' Rose couldn't complete her statement.

Knowing what she was about to say, George cut her off coldly. "The same prophecy says that he will join forces with the Vampire King, giving him power and dominion over the two worlds."

The rest of the pack suddenly began to murmur, their voices a low growl of unease. "Let us eliminate him!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"I agree with the Alpha King," Bernard Proy, the Alpha and leader of the Blood Moon pack, stood up. "Keeping this kid here would only put our packs in danger. At what cost… if we eliminate him now, we prevent either prophecy from happening." He paused, then concluded, "At least we are safe."

"But the Vampire King has no idea about his existence! " Rose argued desperately, her voice rising.

The Elders sat quietly, listening to the heated debate. Suddenly, an idea popped into George's mind. "Maybe we can use him as bait to lure the Vampire King into a trap and eliminate him for good…' he said coldly, his voice carrying a dark aura. He clenched his hands into fists, his eyes darkening with a chilling intensity. He reminisced about the vampire attack, the destruction of his home, his father's death. Even though his father hadn't been the best, he was still his father. The desire for revenge burned within him, a consuming fire.

After a prolonged and heated argument, the council finally came to an agreement. They would keep Jack for a while, use him as a pawn in their game against the vampires. After all, he was still in the early stages of his transition and hadn't fully mastered his powers yet. He was harmless for now.

But not everyone was satisfied with the Council's decision.

…

In a dark, damp cell, a young man lay sprawled on the cold stone floor, heavy chains binding his limbs. He looked around the dimly lit chamber, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. He tried to move his limbs only to realize that they were heavily clamped with chains. "What is all this…? Where the hell am I…? Why am I locked up here? What happened?" All these questions and more were going through his mind. He couldn't quite figure out how he got to this state, all he knew was that he needed to get out of here. He struggled to break free, but all to no avail.

Suddenly the heavy oak door of the dungeon creaked open. The scent of blue orchids, rich and intoxicating, mingled with the faint aroma of dark chocolate, filling the air as the figure entered.

Although the dungeon was dimly lit, he could still see clearly, a fact that both surprised and unsettled him.

Startled by the opening sound from the door, he narrowed his eyes towards the entrance, a puzzled expression gracing his features. "Rose?" he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Rose moved quickly towards him, her movements fluid and graceful. Kneeling beside him, she gently unbound him from the shackles, her touch unexpectedly warm and soothing. She then helped him to his feet, supporting his weight as they made their way towards the infirmary.

In the infirmary, the maids tended to his wounds, their hands gentle and efficient. Rose watched from the doorway, a mixture of concern and a strange, unfamiliar longing stirring within her.

"Hey, is he awake?" she asked one of the maids, her voice soft.

"Not yet," the maid replied, "but he's going to be fine. He just needs some rest."

Rose exhaled in relief, but her gaze kept returning to the bed where Jack lay sleeping.

IN THE ROOM

Rose walked to the bed where Jack was lying and sat down beside him. Squinting in the dim light, she admired his features – the high cheekbones, the strong jawline, the unruly hair that fell across his forehead. Gently, she brushed a stray strand from his face, her touch feather-light. "I am so sorry that it had to be this way," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

She was about to leave when a strong arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. Startled, she gasped, her breath catching in her throat. She found herself lying on top of him, their bodies pressed together, his chest a wall of solid muscle beneath her. Their eyes met, a jolt of unexpected intensity passing between them.

Rose quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks burning. "How are you feeling today?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"I… I feel okay," he replied, his voice still rough with sleep.

A comfortable silence fell between them, broken only by the soft ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway. Rose, however, was far from calm. Her mind raced, trying to decipher the emotions swirling within her.

"What happened?" Jack suddenly broke the silence, his voice firm, a hint of urgency in his tone. A torrent of questions raced through his mind, but he simply blurted out, "What happened?"

She inhaled deeply, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. Then, she began to recount the events of the past few days, the vampire attack, her father's death, George's suspicions, and the Council meeting. "...so that's it," she finished, her voice trailing off.

Rose studied his expression, searching for any signs of fear or anger. He looked thoughtful, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"I'm sorry about your father," he said softly, his voice filled with genuine sympathy.

"It's okay," she replied, her voice a mere whisper. "Although he wasn't much of a father, I still miss him."

Walking towards the balcony, he said, "I'll go get some air."

Just as he was about to step out, a pair of slender arms snaked around his waist, holding him back. Jack turned, his eyes meeting hers.

She moved closer, her breath fanning his face. "I know it's a lot to take in, especially not now that things aren't going well," she whispered, her voice husky. "Just know I will be here for you. You wouldn't have to go through all this alone."

He stared at her, mesmerized by the intensity in her eyes, the vulnerability in her voice.

She leaned forward, her lips brushing against his cheek. "I'll leave you now to process all I've just said."