Forty-five minutes later, Anya stood near the back of the courtroom, her heart was pounding. She had just finished emailing Ms. Davies a file containing a piece of information.
The courtroom doors opened, and Kael entered. He was even more imposing in the formal setting. Tall, effortlessly powerful, his bespoke suit doing little to hide the coiled strength beneath. He caught Anya's eye, his glacial blue gaze momentarily connecting with hers. He didn't offer a nod of recognition or approval, just a cold, demanding stare that said "Don't fail me"
The judge took the bench, Kael took his seat at the plaintiff's table.
Anya looked across the aisle. At the defense table sat her father, Malik. He looked exactly as he had on television: calm, composed, the picture of a concerned, wronged citizen. He caught her eye and gave her a slight nod.
The sight of him, betraying the Pack reignited the cold fury that had been building since she woke up. Her father's betrayal was the reason she was Kael's secretary, the reason her mother was dead, and the reason the Pack was in danger.
The preliminary motion began. Malik's lawyer presented the case, detailing the heritage claim with practiced sincerity. Kael's lawyer, Ms. Davies, waited, her fingers hovering over the notes Anya had provided.
Anya held her breath. The fate of the Wolfbound Pack hung on the next few minutes.
A heavy silence fell over the small courtroom as Judge Reyes took his seat. Across the room, Malik leaned back in his chair, seemingly unconcerned. The plaintiff's attorney, a sleek, silver-haired man named Mr. Chen, rose.
"Your Honor," Chen began, "we are not here today to debate land deeds drawn up last century. We are here to protect a heritage that stretches back five hundred years. The petitioners represent a coalition of local historians who have finally recovered the true, protected status of this land. We have submitted expert reports, archival photographs, and even ethnographic studies confirming this area, currently owned by King's Corporation, is an ancient ground. To allow further development, or even to permit continued private ownership, would be a tragedy against the common wealth."
He submitted his stack of documents.
When it was her turn, Kael's lawyer, Ms. Davies. "King's Corporation holds a clean deed to the Hearthlands, acquired legally and held without dispute for almost a century. The argument of 'historical heritage' is a flimsy veil for a hostile property takeover, and we can prove it."
She paused, letting the statement sink in. Kael watched her, his piercing blue eyes fixed on Davies, his expression unreadable.
Davies then used the key information Anya had provided. "We ask the court to look past the historical reports which we believe are manufactured and instead follow the money. We have cross-referenced the funding for the plaintiff, Terra Antiqua Preservation Trust, and found a clear, direct connection to a known, private holding company: Onyx Holdings."
Davies clicked a button, and a financial flow chart appeared on a monitor, visually linking Terra Antiqua to Onyx Holdings, and then tracing a $50 million acquisition loan back to an organization notoriously associated with Malik.
"The petitioner is not a group of concerned citizens, Your Honor. It is a fraudulent front engineered by an interested party whose goal is to seize corporate assets," Davies concluded with a chilling finality. "Their motive is not preservation; it is clear, documented corporate theft. We ask that this frivolous motion be dismissed immediately, and the petitioners be investigated for fraud."
The courtroom buzzed. The judge leaned forward with a severe expression. He picked up the financial chart and looked pointedly at Mr. Chen.
"Mr. Chen," Judge Reyes stated, "this court is highly concerned by the evidence presented by King's Corporation regarding the dubious funding of your petition. I find their claim to be credible."
Mr. Chen opened his mouth to reply, but Malik stood up slowly at the defense table, overriding his lawyer. Kael visibly tensed, his hand balling into a fist beneath the table.
"With the court's indulgence," Malik said, his voice calm and authoritative, "I can address the motivation, the history, and the truth of the Hearthlands."
Judge Reyes hesitated, recognizing Malik's reputation in the corporate world. "Proceed, Mr. Malik, but you will be brief."
Malik walked forward, holding a single, brittle, antique-looking document encased in a clear folio.
"Ms. Davies is correct that I am interested in seizing the land," Malik admitted, maintaining perfect eye contact with the judge. "I am interested in seizing it because King's Corporation, Your Honor, has been covering up a deep, dark secret for decades."
He placed the document on the clerk's desk. "This is not an expert report. This is a certified and authenticated Charter of Indigenous Land Use dating from 1845. It was hidden in the City Archives until I located it recently. It names the Hearthlands as a permanent, consecrated site for the Silent Keepers of the Hearth, a local community believed to be extinct."
Malik paused, letting the weight of the antiquity settle. "The document includes a clause stating that if any party holding the land attempts to use it for permanent domicile or population containment in contradiction to its original purpose, the land must be immediately seized by the public domain for inspection and re-consecration."
"King's Corporation, Your Honor, has been using the old industrial site on the Hearthlands to conceal a large, undocumented subterranean compound. It is a permanent domicile. It is, by definition, a contradiction of this Charter."
Judge Reyes slammed his gavel down. "I have heard enough. The Charter is a legally binding historical document. Based on the documented history of the land, and the uncontested claim that a substantial, unauthorized subterranean structure exists on the property, regardless of the petitioner's questionable funding, the court cannot dismiss this motion."
He took a deep breath. "The motion is granted. The Hearthlands land will be subject to a full and immediate inspection and evacuation order to verify compliance with the 1845 Charter. King's Corporation has 24 hours to cease all operations on site."
Anya's hands flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp of pure dread.
Kael rose slowly from his chair. His face masked with cold, controlled fury. His eyes, fixed on Malik, were no longer glacial blue.
He walked up to Anya's seat and pulled her up. He gripped her shoulder, shot Malik a killer glare, and led her out of the courtroom.
He pulled Anya into his Black Mercedes-Maybach S 580, "to the packhouse" he ordered the driver
Kael was buried in crisis, his phone kept buzzing with messages and calls but he answered none of them.
The Pack was frantic.
Kael stared out the window. Anya sat quietly beside him until he finally spoke."
"Handle my calls" he ordered "Inform all elders that to attend an impromptu by 12am"
"Yes Alpha" Anya replied and the ride continued in awkward silence.
…
10pm
Anya and Kael had been in the Packhouse since morning, Kael had ordered the available pack members to clear all trails that led from the abandoned industry to the packhouse.
Those were the last words heard from Kael. Since then, he's been quiet and forced Anya to be by his side.
Until…
"Alpha, a cop is here, say he's from the court and wants to see you" A werewolf approached and informed Kael
"You're dismissed" Kael ordered and approached the cop.
The cop, named Officer Davies, carried a heavy manila envelope stamped with the official seal of the City Council.
"Mr Kael Magnus," Davies stammered. "Official notice. Due to the judgment regarding commercial zoning, all inhabitants of the alleged industrial zone are to cease operation and evacuate immediately. Government survey teams will arrive before sunrise."
The word "evacuate" detonated inside Kael. That industrial zone was the cover for the Packhouse entrance. A government survey meant one thing: the total, irrefutable exposure of the Wolfbound Pack, and all the secrets it contained.
Kael's control snapped. A deep, growling sound tore from his throat, His piercing blue eyes flared violently to gold
Officer Davies froze, terrified by the sound.
"Sir?" he squeaked, taking a frightened step back.
Kael fought the shift. He couldn't kill a human here; he couldn't break the greatest Code of the pack
He panted heavily. He folded his palm to a ball and grinned
"Get. Out," Kael forced, the words torn from his throat.
Davies practically fled the scene. Kael stood rigid, breathing hard, his wolf still snarling beneath his skin. Then, a cool, quiet hand settled lightly on his rigid forearm.
It was Anya. She had been by his side all along. She met the blazing gold of his eyes with her own.
"It's over, Alpha," she whispered, her voice calming the rage in him "He's gone. You're safe."
Her touch was so light, so calm, it was like a shock of cold water. His wolf, still roaring with suppressed violence, instantly changed its focus. The fury was replaced by a terrifying, possessive roar.
MATE!!!.