The absolute nature of Anya's whispered "Yes" hung heavy in the air, a silent contract forged not by love, but by cold, mutual necessity. Kaelan released her, the tension in his face easing infinitesimally, yet the weight of the confession remained. Anya felt a terrifying clarity: her survival was no longer a personal battle but a strategic allegiance. She wasn't just an Alpha's Mate; she was the political linchpin preventing civil war, a role she now owned completely. "The Council," she said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands, "they're the real threat. How do we prove Silas's treason without exposing the Succession Law loophole?"
Kaelan pulled out a map, his professional demeanor returning instantly. "That is the immediate problem. Silas still has allies on the Council. They won't accept our evidence unless it comes from an uncompromised source." He looked at her, his gaze sharp with calculation. "The confession changes everything. We are now a united front, but we must sell this alliance as love to the Council, or they will exploit the truth you just learned." Anya felt a spike of nausea at the idea of public performance, but she understood the gravity. Their lives depended on their deception. Just then, Rhys entered, his face grim. "Alpha, we have a problem. The Council didn't wait for your evidence. They've invoked the emergency 'Trial by Succession' clause. They're convening immediately. You must present the Mate at dawn." The immediate need for action overshadowed their personal revelation, forcing Kaelan and Anya into a terrifying realization: their true test was about to begin, and failure meant execution.