Chapter 15 - Cassius

The heavy oak doors of the council chamber loomed before Cassius, their intricate carvings a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the air. He squared his shoulders, steeling himself for the confrontation that awaited him.

With a deep breath, he pushed the doors open, the creak of ancient hinges announcing his arrival.

A sea of faces turned to greet him, some etched with disappointment, others burning with barely contained rage. The scent of anger and betrayal hung thick in the air, almost suffocating in its intensity.

Alphas from every corner of the Dark Side filled the circular chamber, and the rogue Alphas, in particular, radiated hostility. He saw Marcus’s face twisted with barely contained rage, his massive frame trembling as he glared daggers at Cassius.

At the far end of the chamber, seated behind a massive stone table, sat the council elders. Their weathered faces were impassive, but Cassius could sense the weight of their judgment.

Elder Greymane, his silver hair a stark contrast to his dark robes, sat at the center, his piercing gaze fixed on Cassius. But even his usual calming presence did little to quell the storm brewing in the room.

Cassius's footsteps echoed in the eerie silence as he approached the center, feeling like a condemned man walking to the gallows.

"Alpha White," Elder Greymane's gravelly voice cut through the tension. "You've been summoned to explain your actions regarding the recent… incident with Alpha Redwood. You stand before this council accused of a grave deception. How do you answer these charges?"

Cassius's hands curled into fists at his sides, nails biting into his palms.

Keep it together. One wrong move, and this whole thing goes up in flames.

Cassius swallowed hard, feeling the weight of every eye in the room upon him. He raised his chin, meeting the elder's gaze. "I admit to the deception," he began, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "But I ask the council to hear me out before passing judgment."

"Honorable council," he began, his voice steadier than his first attempt. "I understand how my actions may have appeared, but I assure you, they weren't born from discrimination."

A low murmur rippled through the assembled Alphas. Marcus stepped forward. "We don’t want to hear what you have to say. You lied, White. You manipulated us all for your own gain."

Cassius turned to face Marcus, his blue eyes flashing with determination. "It wasn't about gain, Redwood."

A low growl rumbled from the rogue Alphas' section. Cassius pressed on, his palms damp with sweat. "My claim on Alysa Volkov was not a political move. It was… personal."

Damn it, why is this so hard?

Cassius's jaw clenched as he forced the words out. "I care for Alysa. Deeply. The thought of her being traded like a commodity to anyone was unbearable. I wanted her for myself."

Erik Shadowbane’s hollow eyes bored into Cassius. "Pretty words," he sneered. "But actions speak louder. And your actions, White, reek of prejudice and deceit."

His gaze swept the room, meeting the skeptical stares of his fellow Alphas. "I reacted out of jealousy, not prejudice. Alysa means more to me than I'd realized, and the idea of her with another man… it blinded me."

Selena Nightshade, her dark eyes narrowed, leaned forward. "And you thought lying was the best way to show that care?"

Cassius's chest tightened as he spoke, the truth of his words hitting him like a physical blow. "I know I handled the situation poorly. But my intentions were not to slight the rogue Packs or perpetuate prejudices. I simply couldn't bear the thought of losing her."

"So you took that choice away from her?" Ragnar's booming voice filled the chamber. "That doesn't sound like care to me, White. It sounds like control."

Cassius flinched at the accusation, but he didn't back down. "You're right, it was wrong. But my intentions were never to control her. I wanted to protect her, to give us time to… to see if what I felt was real. If what we could have together was real."

Lyra, her ice-blue eyes unreadable, spoke up. "And now? Now that your lie has been exposed? What are your intentions now, Alpha White?"

Cassius turned to face her, his voice softening. "Now, I want to make things right. With Alysa, with all of you. I want to prove that my feelings are genuine, that this wasn't about politics or alliances."

The silence that followed was deafening. Cassius could practically hear the disbelief radiating from the assembled Alphas. Elder Greymane's bushy eyebrows furrowed as he leaned forward, his ancient eyes searching Cassius's face.

"Your words are passionate, Alpha White. But how can we trust them? How can we be sure this isn't simply another manipulation?"

Cassius felt a flicker of desperation. He looked around the room, seeking any sign of understanding. "I know I've given you reasons to doubt me. But I swear I'm telling you the truth now."

"A convenient explanation, Alpha White," Selena Nightshade's cool voice sliced through the quiet. Her dark eyes glittered with suspicion. "But how can we be certain you're not simply covering your tracks?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the chamber. Cassius's stomach churned as he saw the doubt etched on face after face. Even those who'd known him for years seemed to be questioning his integrity.

"I understand your skepticism," Cassius said, fighting to keep his voice level. "But I give you my word as an Alpha that I'm speaking the truth.”

Erik, his pale face a mask of disdain, stepped forward. "Your word?" he scoffed. "The word of a man who lied about claiming a mate? Forgive us if we find that less than reassuring."

Aleksander, who had been silent until now, moved to stand beside Cassius. "My friend may have made a mistake," he said, his voice firm, "but he is not without honor. I've known Cassius for years. He's not the type to sell out his principles or his people for personal gain."

Marcus sneered. "No, he just lies to them instead. Tell me, Volkov, do you condone what he's done? Using your sister as a pawn in his little game?"

Aleksander's eyes flashed dangerously. "Watch your tone, Redwood. My sister is not a pawn."

The chamber erupted into a cacophony of angry voices. Accusations flew from all corners, the tension that had been simmering finally boiling over.

"You expect us to believe this farce?" Marcus roared, slamming his fist on the table. "You've always looked down on those of us who weren’t pure Alphas. This was just another way to keep us in our place!"

Cassius's wolf snarled beneath his skin, itching to defend itself. He clenched his fists, forcing back the shift. "That's not true," he ground out. "I've always advocated for cooperation between all Packs."

"Cooperation?" Erik’s eyes flashed with anger. "Is that what you call snatching away a she-wolf from an Alpha who first staked his claim?"

The pure-blooded Alphas bristled at the accusation. Lyra’s icy voice cut through the chaos. "Are you implying that we treat our women as bargaining chips? That's barbaric!"

"Barbaric?" Nadia hissed, her lithe form coiled with tension. "You dare call us barbaric when it's your precious pure-blood who tried to manipulate us?"

The room devolved into chaos, centuries of mistrust and prejudice bubbling to the surface. Cassius stood in the eye of the storm, his heart sinking as he watched years of progress crumble before his eyes.

This is my fault.

Guilt gnawed at his insides.

I've set us back decades with one stupid, impulsive decision.

Suddenly, Aleksander's voice rang out above the din. "Enough!" he roared, his commanding presence silencing the room. "We don't sell our women as part of business deals. That's not who we are, any of us."

For a moment, stunned silence reigned. Then, like a match to gasoline, the rogue Alphas exploded.

"Are you saying we do?" Darius bellowed, his scarred face contorted with rage. "You think we treat our women like cattle to be traded?"

Zara Moonsinger's usually serene features twisted with disgust. "How dare you imply such a thing? Our women are the heart of our Packs, not commodities! And you disappoint me as a Dark Side Alpha—here we have women Alphas."

Aleksander backpedaled, realizing his mistake too late. "That's not what I meant—”

But the damage was done. The divide between pure and rogue Alphas yawned wider than ever, a chasm of misunderstanding and hurt pride.

Cassius watched in horror as everything spiraled out of control.

The shouting match continued, insults and accusations flying back and forth. Elder Greymane's attempts to restore order fell on deaf ears. The alliance that had been built generations ago teetered on the brink of collapse.

Just as all hope seemed lost, a gravelly voice cut through the chaos. "Enough of this childish bickering."

Elder Greymane leaned forward, his weathered face etched with lines of disapproval. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to the respected elder.

"This bickering solves nothing," Greymane said, his voice carrying the weight of years. "We need a way to determine the truth of Cassius White's claims."

"I am the one who was wronged, and I think there's one way to settle this," Marcus said, his eyes locked on Cassius.

All eyes turned to Marcus. The rogue Alpha's face was set in grim lines as he stepped forward. The room fell silent, the weight of anticipation pressing down on them all.

Marcus's tone was surprisingly calm. All eyes turned to him as he stepped forward, his auburn hair gleaming in the torchlight. "A way to prove beyond any doubt whether White's words are true or false."

What is he planning?

Marcus's eyes locked with Cassius's, a challenge burning in their depths. "A witch oath," he said simply.

A collective gasp rippled through the chamber. Witch oaths were ancient magic, binding and potentially lethal. To break such an oath meant certain death.

Elder Greymane leaned forward, his aged eyes sharp. "A witch oath is not something to be proposed lightly, Alpha Redwood. The consequences…"

"Are exactly what we need," Marcus finished, his voice low and intense. "If White is telling the truth about his feelings for Alysa, about his intentions, then he has nothing to fear. But if he's lying…" He left the sentence unfinished, the implication clear to all.

The gravity of the proposition settled over the room like a heavy blanket. Alphas exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of such a decision palpable in the air.

Cassius's mind reeled. A witch oath was no small thing. If he was lying, even unknowingly, it would mean his death. Aurora would be left an orphan. His Pack would be left without an Alpha.

But as he looked around the room, at the faces filled with doubt and suspicion, he knew he had no choice. The alliance hung by a thread, and only something this drastic could save it.

Before he could speak, several voices rose in protest. "This is madness!" Lyra exclaimed, her ice-blue eyes wide with shock. "We can't ask an Alpha to risk his life over a personal matter!"

Darius, despite his earlier anger, nodded in agreement. "It's too extreme. There must be another way to resolve this."

Even some of the rogue Alphas looked uncomfortable with the suggestion. Zara’s ethereal voice wavered as she spoke. "A witch oath is not something to be taken lightly. It's sacred, meant for the direst of circumstances."

"And what would you call this?" Marcus countered. "An Alpha lying to his peers, manipulating alliances, potentially destabilizing the fragile peace we've all worked so hard to maintain. I'd say that qualifies as dire."

Cassius closed his eyes, drowning out the voices around him. His mind raced, weighing the risks against the potential fallout if he refused.

If I don't do this, the alliance might never recover. But if I'm wrong

Cassius felt his heart pounding in his chest. If he agreed, there would be no going back. No room for half-truths or omissions. It would lay bare everything he felt, everything he believed.

Elder Greymane raised a hand, silencing the room. "Alpha White," he said, his voice grave. "What say you to this proposition? Will you submit to a witch oath to prove the truth of your words?"

Images flashed through his mind. Alysa's warm smile. The way her eyes lit up when she played with Aurora; the ache in his chest when he thought of her with another man.

His eyes snapped open, the decision made. "I'll do it," he said, his voice ringing clear through the chamber.

The room fell silent once more, all eyes on Cassius. He straightened his spine, meeting Marcus's gaze unflinchingly. "I'll take the witch oath. I have nothing to hide."

A ripple of shocked whispers spread through the gathered Alphas. Some Alphas nodded in approval, while others protested.

Elder Greymane leaned forward, his ancient eyes boring into Cassius. "Are you certain, Alpha White? This is not a decision to be made lightly."

Cassius nodded, his resolve firm despite the fear coiling in his gut. "I'm certain. If this is what it takes to prove my sincerity and save our alliance, then so be it."

The atmosphere in the room shifted, tension giving way to a mix of awe and apprehension. Even Marcus looked taken aback by Cassius's willingness to put everything on the line.

He barely registered the hand that clasped his shoulder until Aleksander's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. "Are you out of your mind?" his friend hissed, steel-gray eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and concern.

Cassius turned to face him, forcing a wan smile. "Probably," he admitted. "But what choice did I have, Aleks? You saw how it was in there."

Aleksander’s face was etched with concern. "Cass, think about this. There's no going back once you take that oath. Aurora—”

"Will be fine," Cassius cut him off, though his heart clenched at the thought of his daughter. "Because I'm not lying, Aleks. I care for Alysa more than I've ever admitted, even to myself."

Aleksander sighed heavily, running a hand through his dark hair. "You're a fool," he muttered. "A brave fool, but a fool nonetheless."

Despite everything, Cassius felt a smile tugging at his lips. "Isn't that why you keep me around?"

Elder Greymane's weathered voice cut through the murmurs. "Very well. If this is your decision, Alpha White, we will reconvene tomorrow to perform the oath. This gives you time to… put your affairs in order, should the worst come to pass."

The elder continued heavily. "We shall summon a witch to perform the oath. But know this, Cassius White—there is no turning back once the ritual begins."

The finality of those words settled over Cassius like a physical weight. As the council began to disperse, whispered conversations filling the air, he remained rooted to the spot.

What have I done?

The enormity of his decision crashed over him. In less than twenty-four hours, he would either prove his feelings for Alysa beyond a shadow of a doubt… or die trying.

His mind wandered to Alysa, probably still angry and hurt from his earlier actions.

As he left the council chamber, his steps heavy with the weight of what was to come, Cassius's resolve hardened. He had to see Alysa and he had to make things right between them, explain everything.

The cool night air hit him as he stepped outside, a stark contrast to the heated atmosphere of the council chamber. Cassius took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. For the first time since this whole mess began, he felt a glimmer of hope.

I'll make this right.