Chapter 6 - The Council's Verdict
The council chambers were silent.
Ivy stood in the center of the room, surrounded by the most powerful werewolves in existence.
Damian, Malachi, and a dozen other Alphas sat in judgment above her, their expressions ranging from hostile to calculating.
"Unprecedented," Malachi declared. "The Lycan form hasn't been seen in centuries. The Sterling girl is dangerous."
"She's powerful," Damian countered. "There's a difference."
"Is there?" the Northern Alpha challenged. "She just demonstrated that she can shift into a form that even the old texts barely describe. What happens when she loses control? What happens when she decides we're all threats?"
"I'm standing right here," Ivy interjected. "You can talk to me, not about me."
Malachi's eyes narrowed. "You forget yourself, girl. You're standing before the most powerful wolves in existence. A little respect would be in order."
"Respect is earned, not demanded," Ivy replied. "And so far, none of you have done anything to earn mine."
Gasps rippled through the council chamber.
Damian hid a smile behind his hand.
"The Sterling heir has a point," he said. "We've been debating her fate as if she's a weapon to be controlled, not a person with her own will. Perhaps we should ask what she wants."
"I want revenge," Ivy stated bluntly. "I want the Order destroyed and everyone who betrayed me to pay for what they did."
"And then what?" Malachi pressed. "What happens after you get your revenge? Do you start a war against the humans? Take over the supernatural world?"
"I don't want to take over anything," Ivy replied. "I just want to live in peace. But that won't happen as long as the Order exists."
"Admirable," Malachi said dryly. "But naive. The Order has existed for centuries. They've survived every attempt to destroy them. What makes you think you can succeed where others have failed?"
"Because I'm not going to fight them the same way," Ivy answered. "They want my blood because they think it's the key to controlling everything. So I'm going to give them what they want."
The room went silent.
"I'm sorry?" Damian asked, clearly confused.
"I'm going to let them capture me," Ivy explained. "And when they think they have me at their mercy, I'm going to destroy them from the inside."
"That's suicide," Selene said, speaking for the first time.
"Maybe," Ivy agreed. "But it's also the only way to end this. The Order will never stop hunting me as long as they think they can use me. So I'll show them exactly what happens when they try."
The council erupted in debate.
Some called her plan brilliant.
Others called it madness.
But Ivy didn't care what they thought.
May you like
She'd already made her decision.
And nothing was going to stop her.
