The air in the Council Chamber was heavy with centuries of Lycan law and Alpha Authority. Kaelan stood before the governing body, his posture radiating lethal control, with Anya standing slightly behind him, dressed in a conservatively tailored suit provided by Zara. She was his living proof, the ultimate asset.
Elder Torvin and his faction looked on, their faces cold with anticipation for Kaelan's downfall.
"I submit evidence of treason against Silas Vex," Kaelan stated, projecting the deciphered Hybrid code onto the central display. "Silas has been coordinating the Hybrid attacks against us, aiming to destabilize the Pack and seize the Alpha title."
Torvin immediately scoffed. "Impossible. Silas is a pure-blood Alpha. This is unsubstantiated human witchcraft!"
"The code is not witchcraft; it's a human cipher designed by my Mate, the Head of Ghost Security," Kaelan countered, his hand resting lightly on Anya's shoulder—a terrifying public assertion of his claim. "The encryption reveals Silas Vex carries the illegal Hybrid gene. He has used human technology to wage war on his own kind."
Kaelan pulled out a vial containing a fresh blood sample from the recent attack site. "Anya, use your scanner."
Anya projected her scanner's analysis onto the main screen. The results were undeniable: the blood sample carried the hidden Hybrid marker.
Torvin roared with outrage, but the evidence was overwhelming. The Council guards immediately moved to apprehend Silas, who tried to flee, confirming the treason.
As the chaos erupted, Kaelan turned to Anya, his eyes blazing with a potent mix of relief and gratitude that flowed directly into the Mate Bond. The sensation was intense, blurring her professional satisfaction with a private, possessive warmth.
She had saved him. And in saving him, she had inadvertently secured her own future—as the Alpha's Mate.