Bound by Fate: The Alpha's Luna

Chapter 27: The Journey to Judgment

The morning air was cold as it bit at Isabella's skin, her wrists bound tightly in iron shackles. The Silverclaw pack house loomed behind her as she was led toward the waiting convoy of black SUVs. The sun had barely risen, casting a pale light over the dense forest, but it did little to lift the weight on her heart. Each step toward the vehicles felt heavier than the last. The anxiety gnawing at her insides grew more urgent as the distance between her and Alaric widened.

Isabella scanned the area, searching desperately for a glimpse of him. Alaric was her only anchor, the one thing keeping her from drowning in the madness surrounding her. But all she saw were the steely faces of Kieran's warriors, their hands gripping her arms tightly as they marched her forward. When she finally saw him, standing near the lead vehicle, her breath hitched in her throat. His eyes met hers, filled with a fierce determination and a promise—one that gave her strength.

But before Alaric could move toward her, Kieran stepped in, blocking his path with that ever-present smugness. "She rides with me," Kieran declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Alaric's voice dropped dangerously low. "You have no right to separate us. She's my mate."

Kieran smirked, his eyes gleaming with twisted amusement. "Your mate," he echoed. "And the one who released a dangerous prisoner. Until the Council decides, she's in my custody. And I will ensure she arrives without further... disruptions."

Alaric's fists clenched, his knuckles white as he took a step closer to Kieran. But he knew this was a battle he couldn't win—not here, not now. The Council of Elders had the final say, and challenging them would only make things worse. Reluctantly, Alaric stepped back, though his intense gaze remained on Isabella.

"I'll see you there," he whispered, his voice a vow that settled in her heart like a lifeline.

With one last glance at Alaric, Isabella was roughly shoved into the back seat of the middle SUV, Kieran sliding in beside her. The door slammed shut, trapping her with the man whose twisted actions had brought her here.

The silence was unbearable. As the car rumbled to life and began its journey, Isabella's thoughts raced. She couldn't let Kieran get away with this—not after everything she'd uncovered. The truth of what had been done to the witch, what had been done to her and the others from her world, gnawed at her. She had to know why, even if confronting Kieran head-on was dangerous.

She shifted slightly, her heart hammering. "Why did you do it?" she asked, her voice breaking the suffocating silence. Her eyes locked on Kieran, filled with a determination that surprised even her. "Why did you force the witch to bring us here?"

Kieran didn't respond at first. He stared out the window, his face expressionless. But Isabella wasn't going to let him ignore her. She pressed on, her frustration bubbling over. "You tore people from their lives—ripped them away from everything they knew. For what? A twisted idea of power?"

Kieran's jaw tightened, his eyes still fixed on the road ahead. For a moment, she thought he might stay silent, but then he sighed, a bitter sound that held years of resentment. "You wouldn't understand," he said, his voice low.

"Then make me understand!" Isabella shot back, her voice rising. "You forced the witch to tear us from our world, brought us here to be pawns in your game—why? Was it just about power? Or was there more?"

Kieran's eyes flicked to her, his gaze hard. "It wasn't just about power. I needed something... something more. Without a mate, my pack was dying. Fewer mates were bonding, and without mates, there are no children—no future."

Isabella frowned. "So you thought you could force fate? Force us into your world, hoping one of us would be your mate?"

Kieran clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "I had no choice," he growled, his voice thick with frustration. "The old ways were failing. The witch was the only one who could open the barriers between worlds. She had the power to bring potential mates."

"But that's not how it works!" Isabella's voice trembled with anger. "You can't control who becomes your mate. It's a bond—a connection that happens naturally. You can't force it."

Kieran slammed his fist against the armrest, his composure cracking for a brief moment. "I know that!" he snapped. "But I was desperate! My pack was dying, and I was losing everything. The witch warned me, said it wouldn't work the way I thought, but I didn't listen. I thought I could control it—bend fate to my will."

Isabella shook her head, her frustration growing. "You brought people here—ripped them from their families, their homes—and now look at the mess you've created. You were so obsessed with saving your pack that you destroyed others in the process!"

Kieran's lips curled into a bitter smile. "You think I wanted this?" he spat. "You think I wanted to fail? I did everything I could to make this work, but the witch... she cursed me. She made sure that none of the people she brought would ever belong to my pack. It was her revenge."

Isabella's heart pounded. "She cursed you? That's why you couldn't find your mate?"

Kieran laughed bitterly. "Yes. She twisted the magic—ensured that none of your kind would be mine. And now I'm left with the consequences of my actions. But no one would believe you, Isabella. Not you, a human, and certainly not a rogue witch. I'll make sure the Council sees you as the one who endangered us all."

Isabella's blood ran cold at his words. He wasn't just desperate—he was ruthless. He would stop at nothing to protect himself, even if it meant destroying her in the process. She stared at him, her mind racing, knowing that she was facing more than just a trial. She was facing a man who had lost everything and would ensure that she would too.

The rest of the journey passed in suffocating silence, Kieran's confession weighing heavily on her. By the time they arrived at the Council chambers, Isabella's mind was spinning with the gravity of what lay ahead. As Kieran's guards pulled her from the car, she caught sight of Alaric waiting for her, his eyes blazing with protective fury.

"Stay strong," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the clamor of the massive stone doors creaking open.

Isabella nodded, drawing strength from the look in his eyes, but the weight of Kieran's words lingered in her mind. She had uncovered the truth, but Kieran was right—who would believe her?

As she was led into the Council chamber, the towering walls looming over her, Isabella knew one thing for sure: Kieran wasn't just fighting to protect his legacy—he was fighting to bury the truth. And now, it was up to her to survive long enough to tell it.