The summoning.

Kieran's doubts and fears don't falter as he waits in the clearing where he called for the elders.

His howl had been sharp and resolute, echoing across the vast expanse of his territory—a command no one would dare ignore.

What has drawn him to this point is the increased doubt of Ace especially because of what had just happened__ he paces there, his thoughts swirl in chaotic loops.

Ace's fire haunts him.

Why didn't it burn him? The power had consumed the witch in mere moments,

It burnt Lila and if it wasn't for him standing in it's way, it would have consumed Lila too., yet he had walked away without so much as a singe.

That singular fact has burrowed into his mind, turning over and over until the implications became undeniable.

Ace is hiding something.

And it's tied to Kieran—why else would his powers spare him? This isn't coincidence or luck; this is intent.

Kieran clenches his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

The bond he feels with Ace, the pull that makes his wolf restless and content in equal measure—it can't be trusted.

What if Ace has been manipulating him all along?

A chill crawls up his spine at the thought. He has to act, not just for himself but for the pack. If he doesn't, he could be risking their lives.

The sound of approaching footsteps pulls him from his thoughts.

One by one, the elders arrive, their faces grave and expectant.

There are five of them, each representing the wisdom and strength of the pack's lineage.

Elder Tovan, the eldest, speaks first, his voice roughened by years of command.

"Alpha Kieran," he says, his piercing gaze locking onto the Kieran. "Your summons was urgent. What troubles you?"

Kieran takes a deep breath, steeling himself. "I need your guidance," he begins, his voice firm despite the turmoil inside him.

"There's... a creature in our territory. One with power unlike anything I've ever seen. I thought I could handle it on my own, but now I realize I was wrong."

The elders exchange uneasy glances. Tovan's brows knit together. "What kind of creature?"

Kieran hesitates, weighing his words carefully. "A young man. I found him wandering near our borders. At first, I thought he was just a rogue, but... his power is beyond anything I've encountered."

"And this power?" Elder Malric, a sharp-eyed woman with a voice like steel, presses.

"It burns, a blue flame like__ that burns even a person to ashes, few minutes he attacked Lila." Kieran says simply.

The elders tense at that, the gravity of his words sinking in. "Is she okay?"

"Yes , I stepped in rescue in time, just her arm is the one hurt." He say. "And what troubles me more is that the flame didn't affect me in any way. It burned everything else in its path, but not me. And I can't explain why. That's why I called you here. I need answers. I need to know what I'm dealing with before it's too late. If any of you have heard anything like this in our history , then I need to know."

Tovan's expression darkens, his weathered face etched with concern. "This is dangerous, Alpha. If he's as powerful as you say, he could pose a threat not just to you, but to the entire pack. We should end him once and for all."

"I know that," Kieran says, his voice hard. "But I can't kill him—not yet. I need to understand what he is and why his powers spared me. And why he is here, in our territory."

The elders fall into a tense silence, their collective unease palpable.

Finally, Tovan speaks again. "We must act carefully. If this creature is as you say, there's more at stake than we realize. Bring him before us. We'll determine what needs to be done. Or rather, we can go over and examine him."

Kieran nods, though his wolf stirs uneasily at the thought.

It doesn't want to expose Ace to the elders' judgment, and Kieran can feel its protective instincts rising.

He pushes the feeling down. This isn't about what he wants; it's about what's best for the pack.

~He watches as the elders disperse, their decision made. Tomorrow, he'll bring Ace to them, and together, they'll uncover the truth.

But as he makes his way back to the mansion, a nagging doubt gnaws at him. What if he's wrong? What if Ace isn't the enemy?

He shakes his head, trying to banish the thought. He doesn't have the luxury of doubt—not when so much is at stake.

○

Meanwhile, in the dim confines of her chamber, Lila paces restlessly.

The burn on her arm throbs with a dull ache, but it's the fire in her mind that refuses to die down.

She grips the edge of her desk, glaring at the vial of shimmering black liquid sitting atop it.

A concentrated remnant of the witch's magic, harvested before the woman's untimely demise.

The dark essence hums faintly, a promise of power, if used wisely. Lila's lips curve into a calculating smirk. Ace's abilities are wild, uncontrollable… but they could be mine.

But before that, she needs to work on Kieran.

That moment.

That infuriating moment she barged in Ace's room with the intention of confronting him, not knowing that Kieran was inside, Kieran had looked at Ace—not with suspicion or rage, but with concern.

Lila stops pacing, her hands curling into fists. "He's starting to doubt me, he's starting to listen to Ace! And since Ace hates me to the core , when they team up it'll be against me!" she mutters under her breath.

The thought sends a wave of panic through her, but it quickly hardens into determination. I won't let him turn on me. Not now.

The plan is already forming in her mind, weaving itself into something sinister. She needs to keep Kieran and Ace apart, to ensure the alpha doesn't start siding with Ace in some way.

°

She also needs to figure out who Ace is, and why his power didn't affect Kieran.

Her gaze drifts back to the vial. The witch's essence might be the key. The magic inside it, though faint, has the potential to do a lot.

Pulling out a worn grimoire from a hidden compartment in the desk, Lila flips through the pages, searching for a ritual.

She needs to keep Ace and Kieran apart , and she can only do that if she makes Kieran keep seeing Ace as a danger, As she is still trying to find a way to possess his powers.

She could use the magic to make Ace loose control over his powers. Burning whoever and whatever so that Kieran doesn't work or go near him.

_

By now Lila has realized Ace's powers are out of control , and he is not burning people at will. It's against his will.

Which makes her think, Ace is not Kieran's enemy, he could really be Kieran's mate of which the goddess made in an extra ordinary way.

Her fingers trail over an incantation, her smile growing. "This will do," she whispers.

Perhaps she could use the witch's oil, laced with traces of the dark magic, to enhance Ace's volatile energy.

The more dangerous Ace seems, the more Kieran will view him as a threat. The more divided they are.

Lila's fingers tighten around the vial as she lifts it, her eyes glittering with ambition.

She sets the vial down with deliberate care and begins preparing the ingredients for the ritual. Each step feels like progress, a move closer to the power that will help her achieve her dreams.

Her confidence surges as she works, the scent of dark herbs and faint smoke filling the room.