The official Council summons arrived three days later.
Nora stood in Kael's office, staring at the formal letter written in gold ink on cream parchment. The Council seal—a wolf beneath a full moon—was pressed into black wax at the bottom.
"The Council of Elders hereby summons Nora Rivers and Alpha Damien Cross to appear before the tribunal to address the matter of contested mate bond rejection," she read aloud. "Failure to appear will result in immediate sanctions."
"Sanctions," Kael said from behind his desk. "That's Council code for 'we'll make your life hell until you comply.'"
"Can I just ignore it?" Nora asked.
"No," Kael said. "The Council governs all packs. If you don't show, they'll side with Damien by default. You'll be forced back to Silver Moon, and I won't be able to protect you."
Nora's hands shook slightly. She set the letter down. "So I have to go back there. Face him. Face everyone."
"You have to face the Council," Kael corrected. "There's a difference. Council hearings are held on neutral territory. Silver Moon can't touch you there."
"But they'll all be watching," Nora said quietly. "Everyone who saw him reject me will see me again. See if I've healed or if I'm still broken."
Kael stood and walked around the desk. He took her hands in his—warm, steady, strong.
"Then show them you're not broken," he said. "Show them you're better than you ever were with Damien. Show them what a real Luna looks like."
Nora met his eyes. "What if I'm not ready?"
"You're more ready than you think," Kael said. "But we still have eleven days. Let's make them count."
The training intensified.
Kael didn't hold back anymore. Every session was brutal. He taught her advanced combat techniques, pack politics, Council law. He made her shift dozens of times a day until she could do it in seconds. He had his best warriors attack her in groups so she'd learn to fight multiple opponents.
Nora failed. A lot.
But she also succeeded.
By day five, she could take down three full-grown warriors simultaneously.
By day seven, she was fast enough to land blows on Kael during sparring.
By day nine, her wolf was so powerful that when she shifted, the ground beneath her paws cracked from the force of her energy.
The Blackwood Pack watched her training with awe. Word spread to other territories. The rumors started: there's a Luna wolf in Blackwood. She's stronger than most Alphas. She's being trained by Kael Blackwood himself.
Nora tried not to let it go to her head.
On day ten, Kael called her to his office.
"We need to talk about tomorrow," he said.
Tomorrow. The Council hearing.
Nora sat down, nervous energy thrumming through her.
"The Council consists of seven Elders," Kael explained. "They're ancient wolves who've retired from active pack leadership. They're fair but strict. They don't care about emotions or excuses. Only facts."
"What facts do we have?"
"You accepted Damien's rejection willingly in front of hundreds of witnesses," Kael said. "The bond is legally broken. That should be enough."
"But?"
"But Damien's argument is that you were emotionally compromised," Kael said. "He'll claim you didn't understand what you were agreeing to. That you need to give him a second chance."
Nora laughed bitterly. "A second chance? After what he did?"
"The Council may see it differently," Kael warned. "Mate bonds are sacred. Breaking them is serious. They might rule that you both need to attempt reconciliation before the rejection is considered final."
"No," Nora said immediately. "No. I won't go back to him. I won't—"
"Breathe," Kael said gently. "That's worst case scenario. Best case? The Council takes one look at you, sees how powerful you've become, and rules that you clearly don't need Damien or anyone else."
"And middle case?"
"Middle case is they order a trial period," Kael said. "Thirty days where you and Damien try to reconcile. If it doesn't work, the rejection stands permanently."
Nora's stomach turned. "Thirty days with him?"
"Like I said—worst case," Kael reassured her. "I don't think it'll come to that. You're too obviously thriving here."
"But what if they order it anyway?" Nora asked. "What if I have to go back?"
Kael was quiet for a long moment. His jaw was tight.
"Then I'll fight it," he said finally. "I'll challenge the ruling. I'll go to war with the Council if I have to."
Nora blinked. "You can't do that. The Council rules all—"
"I don't care," Kael interrupted. His eyes burned with intensity. "You came to me broken, Nora. I've watched you rebuild yourself into something extraordinary. I'm not letting anyone, not Damien, not the Council, not anyone, take that away from you."
The way he looked at her made Nora's heart race.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why do you care so much?"
Kael opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked away.
"Get some rest," he said instead of answering. "Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
He was dismissing her. Nora knew she should leave. But something made her stay.
"Kael," she said softly. "I need to know. What am I to you?"
His hands gripped the edge of his desk. "Nora—"
"Am I just a project?" she pressed. "Someone you're helping to make up for your mistakes with Lyra? Or is this something else?"
"You should go," Kael said, not looking at her.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer I can give you right now."
Nora stood up, frustrated. "Fine. Keep your secrets. But tomorrow at that Council hearing, I need to know whose side you're really on."
"I'm on your side," Kael said fiercely. "I've always been on your side."
"Then prove it," Nora challenged. "Tomorrow. In front of everyone. Prove it."
She left before he could respond.
That night, Nora packed a bag for the Council hearing. Her phone buzzed constantly—texts from Emma, from old packmates, even from Damien.
She ignored all of them except one.
Emma's final message: Whatever happens tomorrow, know that some of us still love you. You deserve better than what he gave you.
Nora smiled and replied: Thank you. I love you too.
At midnight, she heard a knock on her door.
She opened it to find Kael standing there.
"Can't sleep either?" she asked.
"No," he admitted.
They stood there, looking at each other in the moonlight streaming through the window.
"Nora," Kael said finally. "Tomorrow, no matter what happens, I want you to remember something."
"What?"
"You're not that broken girl from three weeks ago anymore," he said. "You're a Luna wolf. You're powerful, strong, and worthy of respect. Don't let anyone, especially not Damien Cross, make you forget that."
Nora's eyes burned with unshed tears. "Thank you," she whispered.
Kael reached out and cupped her face gently. His thumb brushed her cheekbone.
"Get some sleep, Luna," he said softly.
Then he was gone, leaving Nora alone with her racing heart and too many questions.
Tomorrow she would face Damien.
Tomorrow she would face the Council.
Tomorrow she would prove once and for all that she didn't need saving.
She only hoped she was ready for whatever came next.