Elena’s POV

“Leon…”

I gasped and pushed him away, my lips still burning from the sudden kiss. My heart pounded.

Before I could even speak, a loud voice cut through the air.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Kael was already there. His eyes were blazing. He grabbed Leon by the collar and slammed him backward.

Leon didn’t flinch. He smirked. “What does it look like?”

Kael growled. His fist flew and crashed into Leon’s jaw.

Leon staggered but came right back with a punch to Kael’s face.

“Stop it!” I shouted. “Please stop!”

Neither of them listened.

Kael threw another punch. Leon blocked it and shoved him hard against the wall. The sound of the impact made me flinch.

“Don’t you ever touch her again!” Kael roared.

“She’s mine!” Leon roared back, slamming his fist into Kael’s stomach.

Kael doubled over, but only for a second. He came back with a brutal uppercut that snapped Leon’s head back.

Blood sprayed from Leon’s lip. He wiped it and grinned. “Is that all you’ve got?”

They charged at each other again. Fists collided with bone. Their growls echoed.

“Stop! Please, stop fighting!” I screamed, pulling at Kael’s arm, then Leon’s, but they shook me off like I wasn’t even there.

Kael’s knuckles split open as he hit Leon again and again. Leon caught his fist and twisted it, shoving Kael back into the floor.

Kael rolled, stood, and lunged again.

I cried out. “You’re going to kill each other!”

They didn’t stop. Their eyes were glowing gold, claws threatening to break through their skin.

“Shift and I’ll rip your throat out,” Leon hissed.

“Try me,” Kael snapped.

“ENOUGH!”

The hall doors slammed open. Council members and Betas rushed in.

Beta Zane grabbed Kael from behind, locking his arms. Another Beta held Leon back. Elders pushed between them, shouting commands.

“Control yourselves!” Elder Rowan barked.

“They’re seconds away from shifting,” someone warned.

“They’ll tear this place apart,” another shouted.

“Let me go!” Kael struggled against Zane’s hold. His chest was heaving, blood dripping from his mouth.

“Calm down!” Zane snapped, holding him tighter.

Leon fought against the Beta restraining him, his eyes still glowing. “Release me. I’m not finished with him.”

“You’re both injured already. Enough!” an Elder shouted.

I stood frozen, trembling. My whole body shook. I had never seen two Alphas fight like that. The power, the rage—it was terrifying.

Kael’s lip was split. Leon’s jaw was swelling. Both of them looked like they would kill if given another chance.

“Inside. Now,” Elder Rowan ordered.

They were dragged into the hall, still glaring at each other, blood on their hands and faces.

“Elena.”

I turned. Zane was there, his expression softer. He pulled a blanket around my shoulders and lowered his voice. “You’re shaking. Sit down.”

I nodded numbly. “I… I didn’t know it would be like that.”

“Two Alphas fighting is never good,” Zane said. “You’re safe now.”

I looked up at him gratefully. He stayed close, steady and calm.

But when I glanced across the room, Ethan was watching. His eyes narrowed at Zane’s arm around me. His jaw clenched.

The Elders began scolding Leon and Kael. Their voices filled the room.

“Do you two have no sense at all?” Elder Rowan thundered.

“We have a crisis on our hands and you fight like children,” another said.

“Cassian is killing wolves out there, and you want to kill each other instead?” Elder Mira snapped.

Kael spat blood on the floor. “I don’t care. He tried to take her.”

Leon smirked, wiping his mouth. “I didn’t try. I did.”

“You arrogant…” Kael lunged again, but Zane shoved him back.

“Sit down, Kael!” Zane barked.

Kael shook with rage but stopped, glaring daggers at Leon.

Leon leaned back in his chair, smiling lazily. “I told you. I just want to take back what’s mine.”

“She’s not yours!” Kael shot back immediately.

“She never was yours either,” Leon growled.

The council erupted in angry shouts.

“Enough! Both of you!”

“Stop this madness!”

“You’re wasting time!”

Finally, Elder Rowan raised his voice louder than everyone else. “Cassian is the threat, not each other. We cannot afford this division.”

Another elder stepped forward. “An alliance would solve this. If all the packs unite, if we gather in one place, we’ll have enough power to defeat him.”

The room went quiet.

For a moment, I thought it was the answer. It sounded right. It sounded like hope.

But Kael shook his head violently. “No. Never.”

Leon spoke at the same time. “That will never happen.”

Their voices overlapped.

The Elders were stunned. “You refuse an alliance?”

“Yes.” Kael’s voice was cold.

“Yes.” Leon’s was just as sharp.

“This is madness!” Elder Mira shouted.

“Do you want Cassian to keep killing your wolves?” Elder Rowan demanded.

“Better that than bowing to him,” Kael said.

“I’ll fight my own battles,” Leon added.

The council fell into chaos. Elders argued with each other. Betas looked frustrated. No one could calm them.

I sat silently, clutching the blanket tighter. My chest hurts. None of this made sense.

Just then, the doors burst open.

Everyone turned.

An injured guard staggered in, his body covered in blood. His leg was bent unnaturally, and his hand shook as he clutched something.

“Speak!” Kael demanded.

The guard opened his mouth but no words came. Blood dripped down his chin. He dropped to his knees and fell forward, a folded letter slipping from his hand.

Gasps filled the hall.

Kael bent down, picked up the bloodstained letter, and unfolded it slowly.

Everyone watched in silence.

The writing was in blood. Fangs were attached to the parchment.

Kael’s face hardened as he read the words. His hand trembled, crushing the paper. For the first time, he actually looked panicked.

I swallowed. “What does it say?”

He looked up, his eyes dark.

“It says…” Kael’s voice was low, dangerous.

“She’ll be dead soon.”