Page 16 of Rebel for Claws (Rebellious Mates #4)
ELEVEN
VIVIAN
T hat afternoon, Vivian stood beside Alaric in his grand living room, the opulent space feeling charged with anticipation.
Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over leather furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the December sunlight.
Her cream cashmere sweater felt luxurious against her skin, a reminder of how drastically her circumstances had changed in just four days.
This is it. The moment we reveal everything and change the course of this fight against Thorne.
Alaric commanded the room effortlessly in his khaki pants and black henley, every inch the Alpha despite the casual attire.
The mate bond hummed stronger after their electric kiss in his office earlier, making her hyperaware of his proximity and the way his eyes kept finding hers across the gathering crowd.
The prophecy players filed in with military precision—Lena's violet eyes bright with scholarly excitement, Maya and Kieran moving as the united front they'd become, Logan and Zoe radiating the deadly competence of seasoned warriors, Elena and Damon projecting tactical readiness, and Malcolm bringing up the rear with his diplomatic charm masking sharp intelligence.
These people are risking everything for a chance at freedom. For the hope that we can tear down three centuries of oppression.
"Thank you all for coming on short notice," Alaric began, his Alpha authority filling the space as he moved to stand before the massive stone fireplace. "Vivian and I have discovered something that changes our understanding of both the Lunar Prophecy and Thorne's motivations."
Vivian felt the weight of every gaze in the room, these warriors and rebels who had already proven their dedication to the cause. Her stomach fluttered with nervous energy, but she drew strength from Alaric's steady presence beside her.
"We already know about the mate bond," Logan said bluntly, his green eyes assessing them both with that unnerving perception of his. "It was obvious during your challenge yesterday."
Heat crept up Vivian's neck, but she lifted her chin defiantly. No shame in finding my fated mate, even if the timing is complicated.
"The mate bond is part of a larger picture," Alaric replied smoothly, seemingly unfazed by Logan's directness. "Vivian is not just the fourth part of the Lunar Prophecy—she's my fated mate, and our union triggers a secondary prophecy that Thorne has spent centuries trying to prevent."
Kieran leaned forward, his eyes sharp with interest. "What kind of secondary prophecy?"
Vivian stepped closer to Alaric, drawing courage from his warmth.
"According to the ancient texts we found in Alaric's family archives, 'the mating of a Silvercrest Alpha with the human magical lineage will create an Alpha of unprecedented power.
Abilities unknown to modern shifters will awaken in the Alpha due to his dormant genes, and the one who bears this power will possess the strength to reshape the very foundations of our shifter society. '"
The room erupted in stunned silence, broken only by the crackling of the fire behind them.
"Holy shit," Zoe breathed, her hazel eyes wide with amazement. "So when you complete the mate bond..."
"Alaric becomes something Thorne can no longer control or manipulate," Elena finished, her strategic mind clearly working through the implications quickly. "An Alpha powerful enough to bridge the human and shifter worlds permanently."
Lena practically vibrated with excitement, her petite frame bouncing slightly as she processed the revelation. "This is incredible! Do you understand what this means? We finally cracked the code—not just of the Lunar Prophecy, but of why the Severance happened in the first place!"
The healer's enthusiasm was infectious, but I can see the fear in some of their eyes too. Fear of what this means for Alaric and me. Fear of the responsibility we're carrying for our shifter world.
"There's more," Lena continued, pulling out a leather satchel filled with documents.
"Zoe and I have been studying the ancient texts Vivian recovered from Moon Hollow.
" Her violet eyes met Vivian's with profound respect.
"We've uncovered proof that the High Council's collaboration with human operatives to exterminate hybrids and ancient bloodlines isn't recent—it's been happening for centuries. "
Alaric's entire demeanor shifted, Alpha fury radiating from him in waves that made Vivian's wolf respond with protective instincts. His grey eyes flashed with gold, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
"How long exactly?" Alaric's voice was deadly quiet, the kind of tone that made even seasoned warriors step back.
God, he's magnificent when he's furious. Dangerous and protective and absolutely lethal.
"Since the Severance was enacted," Lena replied, her voice calm despite the palpable menace emanating from Alaric.
"Thorne has been systematically eliminating anyone who posed a threat to his power structure.
The experiments, the human operatives, the arranged matings—it's all been part of a centuries-long campaign to maintain control of his precious High Council. "
Vivian watched Alaric's hands clench into fists, his jaw tightening with barely contained rage. The mate bond pulsed with his emotions, and she felt his fury as if it were her own.
"That manipulative bastard," Alaric snarled, his Alpha presence filling the room like a storm front. "Thirty years. Thirty years he controlled me and made me believe I was protecting my pack while he orchestrated murders and experiments."
He's blaming himself. I can feel his guilt and self-recrimination through the bond. He needs to know this isn't his fault.
"You couldn't have known," Vivian said softly, placing her hand on his arm.
The contact sent sparks racing between them, and some of the tension left his shoulders.
"He's been playing this game for centuries.
You were fighting against an ancient wolf shifter with four hundred years of practice in manipulation. "
Malcolm shifted uncomfortably, his blue eyes reflecting the shock they were all feeling. "So, what's our next move? We can't let him continue this."
"We need a comprehensive game plan," Kieran said, echoing Vivian's words from the previous night. "As much as we want to just storm in and tear Thorne apart, we need strategy."
Smart. Kieran has learned from his father's measured approach, but without the burden of deception.
Vivian felt the familiar thrill of tactical planning, her mind already working through possibilities. "I have an idea. The High Council meets in two days for their quarterly gathering at Moon Hollow. It's the perfect opportunity to expose everything."
"Moon Hollow is heavily guarded," Logan pointed out, his tactical mind clearly assessing the challenge. "Getting in undetected would require?—"
"Not undetected," Vivian interrupted, her violet eyes bright with strategy. "I infiltrate the meeting openly. I let them think they've caught me."
The shocked silence tells me they think I'm insane. Maybe I am, but it's the best way to get close to Thorne when his guard is down.
"Absolutely not," Alaric said immediately, his Alpha authority brooking no argument. "I won't let you walk into a trap."
Vivian turned to face him fully, letting him see the determination in her eyes. "It's not a trap if we control it. You'll be there as one of the Alpha representatives—maintain your traditional facade and act as if you're unaware of my plan. Meanwhile, you can discreetly aid my infiltration."
"With backup," Damon added thoughtfully, his strategic mind clearly working alongside hers. "Kieran, Malcolm, Logan, and I could position ourselves around the perimeter. Close enough to intervene if needed."
Elena leaned forward, her blue eyes intense. "It's risky, but it could work. Especially if we coordinate the timing perfectly."
They're actually considering it. These brilliant, dangerous people are willing to trust my plan.
Alaric's grey eyes searched her face, and she could feel his internal struggle through the mate bond—his protective instincts warring with his recognition of the plan's merits.
"If we do this," he said finally, his voice rough with emotion, "we do it right. Full coordination, multiple contingencies, and the moment it goes sideways, you get out."
"Agreed," Vivian replied, though they both knew that if it came down to it, she'd sacrifice herself to ensure Thorne's downfall.
Two days to prepare. Two days to finalize our strategy and potentially end three centuries of oppression. No pressure at all.
Maya stepped forward, her scientific mind clearly processing the implications. "The timing is actually perfect. If the secondary prophecy requires your completed mate bond to unlock Alaric's dormant abilities, you'll need that power for what's coming."
The mate bond pulsed between them at Maya's words, and Vivian felt her cheeks warm as she realized what the hybrid was suggesting. Complete the mate bond. With Alaric. Soon.
"We have two days to plan," Kieran said, breaking the charged moment. "Let's use them wisely."
As the group began discussing logistics and contingencies, Vivian caught Alaric's intense stare. The heat in his eyes promised that their conversation about completing their mate bond was far from over.
Two days to prepare for the most dangerous mission of our lives. And two days to decide if I'm ready to become something more than just a rebellion leader—to become an Alpha's mate and help reshape our shifter world forever.