The heavy doors to the throne room closed behind Eryk with a resounding thud that seemed to shake the very walls. His breath felt too loud in the silence that followed, and for a moment, he could do nothing but stand there, his gaze shifting between the cold, expectant faces of the council and the two thrones that loomed at the far end of the room.

His father sat at the right, his sharp features set in an expression of unwavering authority, his silver hair neatly combed back. King Aric had always been a man of principles, a ruler who valued order above all else. But there was something in his eyes now—something that Eryk couldn’t quite place. It was a mixture of concern and something else... fear, perhaps? The same kind of fear Eryk had seen in the eyes of the Alpha wolf.

Beside the king, Queen Alena’s gaze was just as piercing. Her usual warm, nurturing presence was absent. In its place, there was an edge of cold detachment that made Eryk feel more like an outsider than her son. She always had high expectations for him, but now he could feel that they had shifted, as if the very air around them had thickened with the weight of unsaid things.

As the heavy silence stretched on, Eryk felt Kael’s reassuring presence just behind him, a steadying force. The loyalty that Kael had shown him throughout their journey was a comfort, but in this room, it felt like a reminder of everything that was at stake.

“Prince Eryk,” the voice of the council’s head, Lord Balen, broke through the tension. His voice was gravelly, aged with years of diplomacy and power. “We have called you here today to address matters of grave importance.”

The councilors behind him murmured in agreement, their eyes fixed on Eryk with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

Eryk straightened his back, squaring his shoulders. He had been prepared for this moment, but the weight of it still felt like a crushing blow. He couldn’t help but notice the way some of the council’s members looked at him, as though he were a dangerous beast—one that had to be contained.

“I’m listening,” Eryk replied, his voice steady, though his insides twisted with unease.

Lord Balen’s piercing gaze never wavered. “There have been reports of unnatural occurrences in the surrounding lands. Strange weather patterns, sightings of beasts that should not be, and, most disturbingly, rumors of a pack of wolves... wolves led by a creature that is unlike any natural animal.”

Eryk’s stomach tightened, but he kept his face neutral. He had expected this. The wolves. But what they didn’t know was that the Alpha wasn’t the only creature that was unnatural in these woods. He himself had become something that didn’t belong.

“My magic is not the cause of these disturbances,” Eryk said quietly, choosing his words carefully. He wasn’t going to let them pin everything on him, though he knew it was only a matter of time before they tried.

Lord Balen didn’t flinch. “We are not so sure, Your Highness. The magic you wield—it is unlike any that has been seen before. Its power is dangerous, unpredictable. And the threat it poses grows with each passing day.”

The words hit Eryk like a physical blow. He could feel Kael’s hand resting lightly on his shoulder, as though offering silent support, but Eryk knew the truth. The council didn’t see him as a prince anymore. They saw him as a threat.

“The wolves have been spotted near the borders of the kingdom, attacking travelers and livestock,” Lord Balen continued, his voice growing more insistent. “This creature, this Alpha wolf—he is not acting alone. He is being commanded by something, someone. And we have reason to believe that this power is tied to you, Prince Eryk.”

Eryk’s pulse quickened, his heart pounding in his chest. His hand instinctively clenched, but he fought to keep his emotions in check. They were circling him, like predators waiting for the right moment to strike.

“I had no hand in the wolves’ attacks,” Eryk said, his voice low but unwavering. “And I don’t know who is leading them, but I can assure you—it’s not me.”

Lord Balen’s eyes narrowed. “Your magic is the only explanation we have, Your Highness. The Alpha wolf’s power is unlike any natural creature’s. And it is undeniable that your magic has been growing stronger. Too strong. We cannot allow such power to go unchecked.”

Eryk felt his chest tighten. He couldn’t deny it. The power inside him was growing, it was undeniable, and as much as he had tried to control it, there were times when it felt like it was slipping from his grasp.

“You fear my magic,” Eryk said, the words coming out colder than he had intended. “But you don’t understand it. You don’t understand me.”

“You are no longer just a prince, Eryk,” Lord Balen continued, his tone softening, but only slightly. “You are a weapon. A force that could tear this kingdom apart if left unchecked. You are a danger to us all.”

Eryk could feel the sting of those words, as though they were daggers piercing his heart. But it was his mother’s voice, soft but firm, that cut through the room like a blade.

“Enough,” Queen Alena’s voice rang out, commanding attention. “Lord Balen, we will not accuse my son of being a danger before we understand the full scope of what’s happening.”

Lord Balen bowed his head, but his eyes never left Eryk’s face. “Your Majesty, I speak only the truth.”

The queen’s gaze softened slightly, though there was still a weight to it. “Eryk, we’ve heard of the wolves. We’ve heard of the Alpha. But we need to understand—truly understand—what is happening with your magic. What have you done? What is it that you’ve uncovered?”

Eryk’s throat tightened, but he didn’t look away from his mother’s eyes. She was searching him, looking for answers, but how could he explain something so complex, something that had only begun to make sense to him in fragments? How could he make her understand that the magic wasn’t just his power—it was a part of him? A part of who he was, and something he was trying to control before it consumed him.

“I... I don’t have all the answers,” Eryk said, his voice quiet but steady. “I know what I can do with it, but I don’t know why it’s here. I didn’t ask for this power. It came to me after Velkor’s attack.”

Queen Alena’s eyes softened with a mixture of concern and fear. She had always been there for him, but now there was something new in her gaze—a fear of the unknown, of what he could become if this magic consumed him.

“We’ll need to find out more,” she said finally, her voice tight with a resolve that Eryk knew all too well. “We will find a way to stop the wolves, and we will understand your magic. But it’s clear that this is no longer something we can ignore.”

“Do you know what the consequences of ignoring it could be?” Eryk asked, his voice low. “I can feel it inside me. This magic, it’s not just a tool—it’s a force, and I don’t know if I can stop it.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, each of them absorbing his words.

Finally, his father spoke, his voice firm. “Then we will help you. But you must understand that this power—it could change everything. The kingdom’s future depends on whether we can control it, or whether it controls you.”

Eryk’s heart felt heavy. “I don’t want to be a danger to anyone. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

The council’s silence hung like a cloud in the room, but Queen Alena stood and gestured to the others. “This is not a time for judgment. We will work together. But we need your cooperation, Eryk. We need to know that you can control this power.”

Kael stepped forward, his voice steady. “We will not let him face this alone.”

Eryk met his gaze, finding the strength in Kael’s unwavering loyalty. They had faced the darkness together, and they would continue to do so.

But as the council continued to deliberate, Eryk knew one thing for sure: the road ahead would be fraught with danger, and there was no turning back