A New Proposal

Diana's POV 

Zack’s face twisted from a mask of fury into a cold calm. He stepped away from the altar, his heavy boots echoing against the floor.

"Silver Crest has insulted Bloodmoon twice," Zack declared, his gaze sweeping over the council of Silver Crest elders who were already sweating through their robes. 

"First, Princess Melissa rejects the union after the engagement was publicly announced. Then, her substitute sister rejects me at the very altar, crawling into the arms of a barbarian." Zack's Alpha aura flared, "Do you think Bloodmoon exists for your daughters to toy with?" he roared.

The nobles went silent. Warriors shifted their weight, their hands resting on the hilts of their blades. Zack wasn't just throwing tantrums, he was establishing a legal foundation for war.

"Silver Crest has three choices," he sneered, his chest heaving as he stared directly at Alpha Leen, "One, honor the marriage immediately. Two, pay an enormous fine that will bleed your treasuries dry for a century. Three, prepare for war."

Panic swept through the congregation. Melissa's face lost every trace of color. This wasn't part of her carefully crafted script. She had orchestrated this wedding to ruin me, not to invite the wrath of the Bloodmoon Pack upon Silver Crest.

She hurried toward the altar, tears already glistening in her eyes. "Alpha Zack... please..." she pleaded, her voice trembling. "My sister is frightened… She's confused. She isn't thinking clearly."

She turned to me. "Diana... please... don't destroy everything." Beside her, Evelyn stepped forward with the perfect image of a worried mother. "Diana, think carefully. One reckless decision can condemn thousands of innocent wolves. Return to the altar before this goes any further."

Without a word, Aldric moved half a step forward, placing his broad frame subtly between Zack and me. For reasons I couldn't explain, a strange warmth settled inside my chest. But I gently stepped around him, I wouldn't hide behind him. Not this time.

"Alpha Zack is correct," I said calmly. I wasn't denying the charge. I was walking right into it.

The congregation rippled in shock. Even Aldric turned toward me, surprise flickering across his usually unreadable features.

"Silver Crest has indeed broken its promise, therefore, I propose an equivalent alliance."

Zack scoffed, watching me coldly.

"In place of marriage, Silver Crest will offer Bloodmoon a treaty.” I looked directly at the Bloodmoon elders instead of Zack. "We shall provide military cooperation, shared border defense against rogue, open trade routes, and allow equal access to our mining resources."

The Bloodmoon elder's expression changed. Calculations flashed behind their eyes as they glanced at each other. The whispers throughout the cathedral changed, and the outrage gradually gave way.

"I don't want your trade." Zack’s voice broke the silence.

Murmurs erupted down the hall. It was obvious that Zack didn't care about his pack's prosperity anymore, his pride was completely battered and he wanted to see me bend.

Slowly he lifted his hand, ordering his warriors to strike. Several Bloodmoon warriors tightened their grips on their weapons, but Aldric's voice thundered before Zack could speak another word.

"If Bloodmoon seeks war then Raven Pack shall stand with Silver Crest.” Aldric stepped fully into the aisle. The aura radiating from his body crashed across the cathedral with such force that several warriors instinctively staggered backward.

There came absolute silence as Aldric’s declaration struck hard. Zack mentioned war because he believed they stood above Silver Crest. But now, they would have to face Raven as well.

From my side view, I saw Alpha Leen rose from his seat. His commanding presence immediately reclaimed the room. Before speaking, his eyes settled on me. For the briefest moment, something like pride flashed across his face then it disappeared beneath the mask of an Alpha.

"The substitute marriage is cancelled." His voice echoed throughout the cathedral. "The engagement between the Bloodmoon Pack and the Silver Crest Pack is hereby dissolved."

Zack opened his mouth to object, but Leen raised a single hand, silencing him.

"...However, as the Alpha of Silver Crest, I formally accept Lady Diana's proposal." He turned toward Bloodmoon's council. "Silver Crest shall honor military cooperation, trade agreements, border defense, and political friendship with Bloodmoon…The compensation offered is fair. The debt between our packs is settled."

Silence fell over the hall. With those few sentences, Alpha Leen had dismantled Zack's justification for war. If Bloodmoon attacked now, Zack won't be seen as an aggrieved groom but as a bloodthirsty aggressor.

Zack clenched his fists. The veins along his neck pulsated. He knew he had been outplayed.  

After a long silence, he let out a cold laugh. "So be it." His crimson eyes settled on me throwing daggers. 

"Silver Crest has chosen Raven over Bloodmoon." His voice was eerily calm. "Pray your new allies never falter." He took one deliberate step closer. "And you, Lady Diana..." The hatred in his eyes sent a chill through the cathedral. "Today's humiliation will be remembered." Then he turned sharply. "Bloodmoon warriors, we leave."

One after another, the Bloodmoon delegation followed Zack with the promise of vengeance written all over them.

Behind them, Melissa stood frozen with a twisted look on her face which was instantly replaced with hypothetical sadness.

Beside me, Aldric finally looked down. His expression remained unreadable as he extended his arm toward me. "Shall we leave, Lady Diana?"

I looked up at him. He wasn't merely powerful, he was dependable. For the first time in two lifetimes I wasn't walking into battle alone. A faint smile spread over my lips as I slipped my hand through his arm. Together, we walked toward the cathedral doors, and one dared stand in our way.