The morning broke cold and heavy. Clouds hung low over Seoul Moon Park, shrouding the silver towers in mist. The Council's insignia glimmered faintly from the flags that lined Mixtape Plaza, the city's heart still unsettled after the prophecy.
Inside Mixtape Corporation's main hall, the alphas and betas of every major family gathered under the vaulted glass dome. Whispers rippled through the air like electric currents, disbelief, excitement, fear.
At the front stood Chan and Minho, side by side.
The Council sat elevated on a marble dais. Elder Rheon presided again, flanked by the Seer and the other members. Their expressions were grave, ceremonial robes catching the morning light.
Rheon's voice filled the chamber.
"By decree of the Lycan Council, Alpha Bang Chan and Omega Lee Minho shall undergo the Trial of the Moon, a test of unity, instinct, and dominance. The prophecy declares balance, but we must ensure this bond is not corruption disguised as fate."
A murmur surged through the crowd.
Changbin, Hyunjin, and Felix exchanged dark glances from their seats at the front, their instincts prickling. They had felt the Council's hostility brewing since the meeting. This "trial" wasn't justice, it was a trap.
Chan's jaw tightened, but he kept his tone even.
"You want proof of the bond's strength. Fine. You'll have it."
Minho turned his head slightly toward him. "Chan…"
His voice was low, hesitant.
"They're baiting you."
Chan's gaze softened for a fraction of a second. "Then I'll bite back."
---
~~~The Trial~~~
The arena was conjured through old Council magic, a circle of shimmering moonlight etched into the marble floor, encased by runic symbols. The Seer's staff anchored its center, glowing softly.
Elder Rheon raised a hand.
"The bond shall be tested through the merging of aura and instinct. If your connection falters, the moonlight will reject you. Should it hold, the Council will recognize your union as sanctioned."
Minho swallowed hard. The weight of a hundred eyes pressed against his skin. His wolf stirred uneasily, proud yet uncertain.
Chan stepped forward, offering his hand.
"Trust me."
Minho hesitated only a heartbeat before placing his palm in Chan's. The instant their hands met, the runes flared white.
The ground trembled. Power surged through them, not gentle, not kind. It tore through barriers, dragging every buried emotion into light: Minho's fear of losing control, Chan's terror of being unworthy, their anger, their need.
Flashes of memory struck like lightning.
Their first meeting at the café.
The pull that neither could resist.
The night they nearly broke.
The promise whispered in the dark.
The light grew unbearable. Minho gasped, his knees giving way, but Chan caught him before he hit the ground.
"Look at me," Chan commanded, voice rough, desperate. "You're not alone. You never were."
The moonlight roared in response and then, abruptly, it calmed.
The symbols dimmed to a steady glow. The Seer's staff ceased trembling. The arena was silent.
When the radiance faded, Chan and Minho stood still entwined, their bond visible even to mortal eyes, a faint silver thread connecting their chests, pulsing with the rhythm of one heartbeat.
The Seer smiled faintly behind her veil.
"The bond holds true."
The crowd erupted into stunned murmurs. Elder Rheon's expression twisted, caught between awe and irritation.
"So be it," he forced out. "The Council acknowledges the authenticity of your pairing. For now."
---
~~~The Hidden Plan~~~
As the trial dissolved into tense applause, Changbin slipped into the corridor, Hyunjin and Felix close behind.
"For now," Hyunjin muttered darkly. "He's not done."
Felix nodded grimly. "They'll move again, but not in public. They'll try to separate them quietly."
Changbin's fists clenched. "Then we make sure that never happens."
They gathered in Mixtape's private control room, a sleek chamber lined with security monitors and digital maps of Seoul Moon Park. Seungmin, Jisung, and Jeongin joined them moments later, their nervous scents mixing with determination.
"Okay," Seungmin began, adjusting his glasses. "If the Council plans to interfere, they'll use proxies, investigators, enforcers. I'll track communications through the internal Mixtape network."
Jisung leaned forward, excitement buzzing in his tone. "Hyunjin and I can tail their guards. If they try anything shady, we'll intercept before it reaches Chan or Minho."
Jeongin added softly, "And Felix and I can work from the archives. We'll dig into the Seer's old prophecies maybe there's a pattern in how the Council manipulates them."
Felix smiled at him. "Smart, love."
Changbin folded his arms, pride flickering in his eyes. "Then it's settled. If the Council wants a game of power, they'll find out who they're dealing with."
---
~~~That Night~~~
The moon was high again when Chan and Minho found themselves alone on the rooftop terrace, the city glittering below. The wind was cool against their heated skin, the adrenaline of the trial still humming in their veins.
Minho exhaled shakily. "You could've died if that bond failed".
Chan's eyes softened. "But it didn't. Because I believe in you. In us."
Minho looked away, voice barely above a whisper. "The prophecy still scares me."
Chan stepped closer until their foreheads touched. "Good. That means we take it seriously."
They stood there for a long time, just breathing in sync, hearts steady, souls bound. Far below, their friends worked in quiet secrecy, watching, protecting, believing.
And high above, hidden behind clouds, the moon glowed faintly warmer, as if approving.