The nightmare

 Killian Pov

The office air crackles with tension as I struggle to contain the rage burning through my veins. My fingers dig into the mahogany desk, leaving crescent-shaped marks in the polished wood. Elder Michael stands before me, his usually proud posture diminished by the weight of his treachery.

"You dare bring her here?" My voice emerges as a guttural growl, each word dripping with barely contained fury. The mere thought of Taylor's presence sets my wolf pacing restlessly beneath my skin.

Michael's response comes with a bow that seems more mockery than respect. "My king, she was to be your future Luna."

The title 'king' tastes like ash in my mouth coming from him. I surge forward, my control slipping as memories of River – my true mate – flash through my mind. The moon goddess herself blessed our bond, yet here stands one of my most trusted advisors, suggesting I cast aside divine will for political convenience.

"An omega," Michael continues, his voice taking on a condescending tone that makes my wolf howl for blood. "The council questions your judgment, my king. Taylor would make a more… suitable Luna."

Something inside me snaps at his next words. "You could always keep River on the side."

The sound that tears from my throat is primal, ancient – a sound that reminds everyone in the room why I am Alpha. Michael's knees buckle as the force of my dominance crashes over him. In one fluid motion, I have him pinned against the wall, my hand crushing his windpipe.

"Like you question my authority?" I snarl, watching fear dance in his eyes.

The revelation of the rogue attacks – or rather, the deliberate ignorance of them by Alphas Caden and Jacob – only confirms my suspicions. The corruption runs deeper than I imagined, threading through my council like poison.

As Carter and I storm out of the room, my decision crystallizes. The old guard's time is over. They forgot one crucial thing: I am not just their king – I am an Alpha who found his true mate, and heaven help anyone who stands between us.

Let them question my authority. Let them whisper about River's status. When I'm done cleaning house, they'll remember why the moon goddess chose me to lead.

And River? She'll be by my side, exactly where she belongs.

The fluorescent lights of the office corridor buzzed overhead as I made my way to the elevator, my hands clenched into tight fists. The familiar scent of designer perfume hit my nostrils before I saw her – Taylor, with her perfectly manicured nails and predatory smile, stepping directly into my path like she owned the ground beneath her feet.

"What's wrong, baby?" Her voice dripped with false concern, the kind that made my wolf bristle beneath my skin. The bond mark on my neck tingled, a reminder of my true mate, and my anger surged.

I tried to step around her, but Taylor moved closer, her expensive stilettos clicking against the marble floor. The space between us shrunk until her cloying perfume threatened to suffocate me. My wolf snarled internally, desperate to push her away.

"Leave me alone, Taylor," I growled, my voice dropping an octave. "I found my mate, and I won't be marrying you." The words felt like freedom on my tongue, even as her perfectly painted face contorted with disbelief.

The laugh that erupted from her throat wasn't human – it was a harsh, grating sound that echoed off the walls like breaking glass. My wolf recoiled at the sound, recognizing the threat beneath her polished exterior.

"You can't mean that Omega," she sneered, her mask of sophistication cracking to reveal the ugliness beneath. "She's not strong enough to be your luna."

White-hot rage coursed through my veins. How dare she speak about my mate like that? My eyes flashed golden, and I felt my canines lengthen slightly. "Strong enough?" I spat, taking a step forward. This time, Taylor retreated. "She has more strength in her little finger than you have in your entire body. She's genuine, compassionate, and everything you pretend to be."

The air crackled with tension as Taylor's face turned an ugly shade of red. "You'll regret this," she hissed, but I could smell the fear seeping through her expensive perfume.

The taste of Taylor's unwanted kiss burns like acid on my lips as I watch River disappear down the marble hallway, her sobs echoing off the walls like accusations. My wolf writhes beneath my skin, torn between the urge to chase our mate and the desire to tear Taylor to shreds for causing this chaos.

"River, please!" My voice bounces off the cold walls, desperate and raw. The clicking of her heels against the floor is like a countdown to disaster.

When she finally turns, the sight of her tears cuts deeper than any blade could. Her normally bright amber eyes are stormy with hurt and betrayal, mascara creating dark rivers down her flushed cheeks. "Why?" The single word carries the weight of a thousand questions.

"I want you, only you," I plead, reaching for her, but she recoils as if my touch would burn. "It's just complicated—"

The crack of her palm against my cheek resonates through the hallway. The sting is nothing compared to the pain in my chest as she spits out, "Don't follow me." Her command feels like chains wrapping around my wolf, forcing us to stay rooted in place as she walks away.

Amelia's death glare could freeze hell itself. "You are an idiot, Killian," she snarls, her own wolf energy crackling in the air between us before she turns to follow River.

Carter and I stand in the suffocating silence, the ghost of what just happened hanging heavy in the air. The ping of our phones feels like a mockery of the elevator chime that started this nightmare. The council meeting notification glows on my screen, but all I can see is River's shattered expression.

My wolf paces restlessly, clawing at my insides. We both know we've royally screwed up. Taylor's political game using Elder Charlie's influence was obvious, but our handling of it couldn't have been worse. Now, with a council meeting looming at 3 o'clock, the personal and political are about to collide spectacularly.

"Well," Carter finally breaks the silence, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "at least the council meeting will be less painful than what just happened." He's wrong, of course. With River's father on the council and Taylor's political maneuvering, this afternoon is going to be a special kind of hell.

I lean against the cold wall, closing my eyes as my wolf howls in misery. We've managed to hurt our mate and potentially damage pack politics in one spectacular moment. The council meeting countdown on my phone feels like a timer to my execution, and honestly, I probably deserve it.

The mind link between Amelia and me remains frustratingly quiet, like a dead radio channel.

"Carter!" I bark, and at my beta. "Mind link Amelia for me."

He closes his eyes briefly, and his smirk grows wider. "She says, and I quote, 'Tell his Royal Pain in the Behind to leave me alone. I don't like him right now.'" Carter's shoulders shake with barely contained laughter.

A growl rumbles through my chest. "Tell her to stay with River." At least I know she'll be safe with our pack healer. I run my fingers through my hair for the hundredth time today, probably looking more like a frazzled porcupine than the powerful Alpha King I'm supposed to be.

"Carter," I say, my voice smaller than I'd like to admit, "how do I make this right?"

My beta's eyes sparkle with mischief as he throws an arm around my shoulders. "Come on, My King. Time for 'Winning Hearts 101.'