"You can't possibly mean that." He asked, with his eyes round with astonishment.

"Your Luna will be crowned on the night of the full moon, which is two nights away," Elder Walter added.

"That will not happen!" Killian was up on his feet, his fists pounding on the table, meeting the eyes of the elders. "You cannot do this!"

"As the supreme Elder wolves of the Council courts, we've made our decision, and there's nothing you can do," Elder Nell said firmly, and the Elders were up on their feet.

"We will see," was all Killian could mutter before they finally left the room. Allen and Mason rushed to his side, looking as worried as he was.

"What do we do now?" Allen was the first to speak up. "The Elders meant every word they said. This full moon, she will be crowned instead."

"We can't let that happen." Mason voiced. "Remember the curse," At the mention of the last word, Killian's eyes pulled open instantly. A lot was at stake—his future and the future of his pack. He couldn't risk it all now, not after how long they'd searched for an answer for Thea. "Killian, you have no choice now; you must reject her once and for all," Mason insisted.

"No. Rejection isn't something that should be taken lightly. First, we should think of a way to change the elders' minds." Allen suggested.

That was the thing. Killian knew there was no way that would be possible. Nothing can persuade those elders to change their minds. They'd done well for years keeping their curse hidden so that the Crescent North Pack wouldn't be perceived as weak. Their reputation had significantly helped, but time was slowly running out, and Killian could feel it. He shouldn't think selfishly and risk the future of his pack. He had to do what had to be done.

He stood still, his eyes ruthlessly cold, showing absolutely no emotion. "Mason is right; we can't afford any mistakes now. We can't risk my future and everyone else's future in the pack." He looked them in the eyes. "I have to put an end to this." He had to reject her. Without saying much, Killian left the office, roving to the castle's west wing and Sheila's quarters.

Killian barged into her chamber without much of a courtesy knock on the door.

His eyes fell on Brielle and Riannon, whom he had stationed by her side.

Brielle and Riannon lowered their heads instantly, but Killian's eyes were on the flawless, pristine figure that stared at him with her round, perfect eyes.

"Leave us!" Brielle and Riannon scampered out of the chamber at his command, leaving just Killian and his mate, Sheila.

"Get up!"

Sheila flinched visibly at his loud tone, standing up from the bed.

She didn't say anything, staring back at him with her crystal blue eyes that had managed to haunt his thoughts for the last hours.

She parted her lips to say something but was instead greeted with Killian's large hand on her neck again.

She was quickly against the wall, his hand on her throat and the other on her waist, thanks to his superhuman speed. She felt the tingles, which were relatively quick to erupt. Killian leaned in closer, so close that their noses briefly collided, and she could taste his breath on her lips. She felt hot, or perhaps the room was still steamy from her shower; she couldn't tell because she couldn't think straight.

Killian's lips brushed past her cheeks to her ears. "Sheila Callaso." He called her name like it was venomous poison on his lips. His eyes met hers again. Killian felt his wolf, Ryker, retreat to the back of his mind. He couldn't take what was about to be said. Killian looked coldly at her, his lips hovering over hers as the words left his lips.

"I, Killian Reid, Alpha of the Crescent North Pack, reject you, Sheila Calla—" The words instantly stuck in his throat, and his eyes widened profusely in shock and confusion, meeting her crystal blue eyes. There was something in them.

This is not possible.