ONE

Chapter Six Break

"There's a council at the Elven Forest." HuntingScars informed Dread as he was walking down the road. "Thanks." He trotted back to the small, abandoned house Athena was in. "'Thena! I've got a council meeting!" He quietly locked the door, wincing. He still couldn't leave her unbound.

    "See you later!" He then took off towards the huge carriages wolves from the Fort were climbing into. They would take them to the Forest.

    Once at the treeline, the Fort wolves scrambled and clawed each other to get out, finally racing off into the evergreen depths.

    Sky was in the middle of the Hollow, surrounded by her pack. Dread took his seat.

    "Greetings, my pack. I welcome you to this outdoor council. As many of you know, ShadowBird and EveningSunset rule this forest and its inhabitants. Some nearby elves made tittering noises.

    "But as the season changes, so does my train of thought. I'm beginning to believe a new statement is in order."

    She gazed directly into DreadThunder's eyes.

    "Dread. Please step forward and take ShadowBird's place." Everyone gasped, there wasn't a single wolf who's mouth wasn't hanging wide open, including Dread.

    He raised himself on shaking legs and walked to the front of the small crowd, all staring, all whispering.

    Evening and Shadow stepped out of the royal tepee. Evening was crying silently, ShadowBird was holding his head high, clenching his teeth and looking at the sky. He walked back to his pack members, joining their ranks as now, another wolf instead of a king.

    Evening came to stand beside Dread, who's heart was still thundering, his breathing harsh and ragged. Athena was the last thing on his mind. What was happening?

    Then his mind turned to her. This was Sky's devious plan. This was his punishment for loving her, for loving Solar, for kissing DappleFlame. This was his punishment. Thrust into a kingdom where his forced mate hated him and his daughter was going to hate him and his people would hate him too.

    There was some unenthusiastic clapping, and then silence. Sky curtsied to Dread and Evening, and then trotted back to her private carriage. The rest of the pack, silent except for some mixed murmurs, left soon after.

*********

    "Hey Athena. I'm really sorry." Dread muttered through a closed door.

    "Yeah? Okay. I guess you really didn't love me after all." He heard through broken sobs.

    He strained extremely hard in efforts not to roll his eyes. Why were humans so dramatic?

    "No, 'Thena. I do. Really. This wasn't my choice. Nothing could have worked out anyway... You're my mortal enemy... I was supposed to kill you Athena... Its better this way."

    Silence.

    He snarled and stormed away, fuming.

    Dread shrieked in fury, a snarl of rage that sent birds careening through the treetops miles around.

    What was he thinking? Risk it all! True love, Dread! It'll be worth it in the end!

    Apparently it wasn't TRUE because if it was, he'd be sheltering Athena Pendragon as the war raged around them! He raged all the way down to the Hollow, where he was met with the familiar glances of hatred from the elves. "Nice to see you too!" He barked, anger pooling inside of him. He stormed into the temporary hut for the rulers to sit for meetings. A small castle would be erected soon.