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Maya felt a rush of pride watching him. Where was the conflicted man who'd captured her in the woods just a week ago? In his place stood a leader—commanding and resolute.

"You were banished by your father," another elder countered. "For treason."

"For love," Kieran corrected, his hand finding Maya's. "And for challenging outdated beliefs that will destroy us. The very beliefs that led to whatever has befallen my father."

"Bold accusation," a female elder with silver-streaked hair remarked. "What evidence connects your father's disappearance to his policies?"

"The timing," Lena stepped forward, her violet eyes unflinching despite addressing the Council uninvited. "Alpha Alaric vanished precisely when Kieran and Maya's mate bond completed. That's not coincidence."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the chamber.

"We've confirmed through multiple witnesses that none of the Silvercrest siblings could have been involved," Damon added, his voice cool and precise. "They were miles away when it happened."

The Council exchanged meaningful glances before the center elder nodded.

"Very well. Given these extraordinary circumstances, we hereby appoint Kieran Silvercrest as Acting Alpha until Alaric Silvercrest is found or confirmed deceased. The banishment is thereby lifted."

Maya felt a wave of relief and terror simultaneously wash over her. Their lives had just changed irrevocably—again.

"Your official coronation will occur tomorrow at dusk," the elder continued. "Until then, gather your lieutenants and secure your territory. These are uncertain times."

As they exited the chamber, Kieran pulled Maya against him, his mouth claiming hers in a kiss that left her breathless.

"My Alpha," she whispered against his lips, half-joking, half in awe.

"Acting Alpha," Kieran mused as they walked toward the waiting vehicles. "Not exactly how I pictured taking on the role."

"Nothing about us has followed the expected path," Maya reminded him, her fingers brushing the mark on her neck. "Why start now?"

At dusk the next day, Maya's heart hammered as she stood beside Kieran at the ceremonial stone dais. The ancient circular clearing was packed with hundreds of Silvercrest wolf shifters, their expressions ranging from open curiosity tobarely concealed hostility. Torches blazed around the perimeter, casting flickering shadows across the faces of the seven High Council elders who stood in a solemn arc behind them.

Kieran looked every inch the Alpha in his formal black attire, the silver embroidery catching the firelight as he squared his broad shoulders. His voice carried effortlessly across the clearing as he completed his acceptance speech.

"I stand before you not as a replacement for my father, but as a guardian of his legacy until his return. The Silvercrest pack has always been strongest when unified. That unity is what I pledge to restore."

His bright eyes blazed with fierce intensity as he surveyed the crowd, his expression both commanding and challenging. Maya felt a shiver run through her when those eyes found hers. Even now, the mate bond between them pulsed with raw energy.

"And now," Kieran's deep voice resonated, "I invite my mate, Dr. Maya Collins, to address you."

Maya's mouth went dry. Drawing a steadying breath, she stepped forward. The ceremonial dress Lena had provided—emerald silk that complemented her red hair and made her green eyes seem to glow—rustled softly against her skin.

"My journey to this moment began with scientific curiosity," she began, her voice finding unexpected strength. "I came seeking to understand wolves—not knowing I would find my own wolf within."

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Maya sensed both resistance and fascination.

"The disappearance of Alpha Alaric Silvercrest has left a wound in this community," she continued, her chin lifting. "But wounds can either fester or heal. The choice is ours."

She felt Kieran's pride radiating through their bond, along with a heat that made her skin flush.

"Division weakened us. Unity will strengthen us." Maya swept her gaze across the gathering, finding Malcolm's encouraging nod and Lena's subtle smile. "What good is tradition if it doesn't evolve to protect the pack? What good is change if it destroys what makes us who we are?"

The crowd had fallen completely silent, every eye fixed on her. For the first time since discovering her wolf shifter heritage, Maya felt her dual nature as an advantage rather than a conflict.

"I stand before you as living proof that worlds can merge—that science and magic, human and wolf, tradition and evolution can coexist. Not as enemies, but as partners." Her voice gained passion as she continued. "This is our opportunity to heal ancient rifts, to become something stronger than separate factions."

A few hesitant nods appeared among the traditionalists. One elderly woman near the front wiped a tear.

"I don't pretend to know all your traditions or history," Maya acknowledged, her hand unconsciously finding the mate mark on her neck. "But I know what I've seen since coming here—courage, loyalty, and love worth fighting for. Those values transcend any divide."