Dalton stepped closer to Elora as the laughter faded, his voice low but sincere. “You know… if you want to get married tonight, Elora, you can. There’s only two packs left on the tour, and honestly, I think the Moon Goddess planned it this way.”Elora turned to him, her lips parted in surprise. “You really think so?”He gave a soft chuckle. “You felt that bond. We all did. That wasn’t chance—it was fate pulling strings in the background. So if you feel ready, don’t wait.”She hesitated, emotion tightening her throat. “I want to… but I just wish my mum could be here. I want her to witness it.”Dalton’s face softened with understanding. “That’s not a problem.”Her brows lifted. “It’s not?”“I’ll call my father,” he said confidently. “Tell him what’s going on. He can send the chopper to bring her here. You won’t have to leave the Vault Pack, and she’ll be here in time.”Elora blinked, then smiled slowly. “I’d like that.”Dalton grinned. “Then it’s settled. No need to cancel anything. In
Dalton and the others watched as Elora and Lucien returned to the hall, and as Alpha, he couldn’t deny the bond radiating between them, it was potent, almost metallic in its pull—clear as day to his senses, especially with Elora bound to him by blood and pack.“Elora,” he said in a low voice that only she could hear, “walk with me for a moment?”Elora blinked, then gave Lucien a small, reassuring nod. “I’ll be right back,” she said, and though her hand was reluctant to leave his, she let it slip from his grasp.Dalton led her down a quieter corridor. Once they were alone, he turned to face her, arms crossed.“Elora,” he said, voice unusually serious. “Talk to me. About him. About this.”She stiffened for a heartbeat before letting out a breath. “You saw it.”“I did,” he said. “And I’ve never seen you like that.”Elora looked away, one hand brushing her loose hair behind her ear. “I didn’t expect it. Not here. Not with him. But I felt something, Alpha.”His eyes narrowed slightly. “Wha
Dalton stood and clapped Lucien on the shoulder. “Thank you for your hospitality. We’ll head out before dawn.”Lucien nodded. “You’ll have an escort until you reach neutral ground. We honor those who come in peace.”Daniella gathered her shawl, giving Elora a brief smile. “We should get some rest before the journey.”Elora was halfway to the door when it happened.Lucien, in mid-step beside Daniella, stopped. A tremor moved through him, as if his lungs had locked up mid-breath. His head whipped around sharply, his grey eyes scanning the hall with a sudden, wild alertness.He inhaled again—deep, slow, reverent.And then his eyes found Elora.Time froze.The room went utterly silent as Lucien’s breath left him in a ragged exhale. His pupils dilated, and his entire body stiffened like a struck chord. His voice, when it came, was raw. Disbelieving.“…Maye?”Elora turned at the sound. Confusion knitted her brow. “What?”But Lucien was already moving—fast, unhesitating, a predator drawn by
The road to Vault Pack wound through rugged terrain—jagged cliffs, towering pines, and stretches of silence broken only by the wind slicing through the mountain air. It was a land carved by time and forgotten storms, its narrow valleys and dark, iron-hued rock formations giving it an otherworldly feel. Daniella had read about Vault Pack in briefing scrolls, but nothing quite prepared her for the sheer gravity of the land itself. It was as if the mountains had closed around it, guarding secrets behind stone gates.They were halfway through the journey when the convoy came to a sputtering halt.Smoke hissed from beneath the hood of the lead vehicle, a sleek black SUV modified for high-altitude travel. Dalton, who’d been navigating, climbed out with a sigh. Beta Marcus was already at the front, sleeves rolled, eyes narrowed at the engine.“Looks like the radiator’s shot,” Marcus muttered. “Could’ve been a loose mount on the descent.”Dalton frowned. “Can we fix it here?”Elora, Gamma of
THE NEXT MORNING — THORNVALE PACKDaniella stirred first, blinking groggily as her senses adjusted to the new environment. She sat up slowly, her body still aching from the long day of diplomacy and travel.Dalton was already awake, seated at the small writing desk by the window, scribbling notes into a leather-bound journal. He glanced up at the sound of rustling sheets and offered her a soft smile.“Morning,” he said, voice low and warm. “Slept okay?”“Better than expected,” she admitted with a stretch. “But better than expected. My mind wouldn’t quiet down after yesterday.”Dalton turned to her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. “You were brilliant. Even Elinor saw it.”Before she could respond, a knock came at the door, brisk but not urgent.Dalton stood and opened it to find a young Thornvale warrior, a messenger waiting with a respectful bow.“Alpha Elinor requests a moment of your time, Alpha Dalton… and Luna Daniella, if she is available.”Daniella, now sitting upr
It was almost 10:00 am when the convoy rolled through the forested edge of Cresthill’s borders. The territory was known for its pristine air and high trees with leaves that swayed in the breeze, casting scattered shadows on the well-maintained path.The inside of the car was comfortably silent, broken only by the occasional soft buzz of Elora’s earpiece or the low murmur of Marcus’s voice over the radio as he coordinated check-ins.Daniella sat with her hands clasped in her lap, the weight of the day slowly lifting with each passing mile. She glanced out the tinted windows, taking in the rolling hills and sun-dappled meadows, and allowed herself a breath of peace. In the seat beside her, Elora remained calm and focused, her presence reassuring in a quiet, fierce way.“You’ve been awfully quiet,” Elora said after a time, her voice gentle but unyielding.“Just…thinking,” Daniella replied. “Trying to prepare.”“For what?”“For being Luna in public. It still feels surreal sometimes.”Elor
Beta Marcus’s office always had a certain organized chaos to it—piles of paperwork, color-coded files, and a half-eaten protein bar perpetually sitting on the corner of his desk. He was hunched over the weekly report when Dalton entered, a cake box balanced casually in one hand.Marcus looked up and arched a brow. “You come bearing food? Should I be worried?”Dalton smirked and set the box down with a quiet thud. “Consider this a bribe.”Marcus snorted. “If it’s about the annual budget—”“It’s not,” Dalton cut in, pulling a chair and sitting with a tired exhale. “I need you to reshuffle the pack visit itinerary.”Marcus blinked, surprised. “Didn’t we just finalize that two nights ago? Emerald Pack first, then Silverpine, Vault, Thornvale, Cresthill—”“We’re flipping it,” Dalton said, his voice even but firm. “Cresthill first. Emerald last.”Marcus leaned back in his chair, expression shifting as he took in the gravity behind the change. “This is about Daniella?”Dalton nodded. “She ne
The mansion was hushed, its halls. As he made his way through the corridor toward their shared quarters, Dalton loosened his collar, his thoughts already turning to her, her voice, her warmth, the steady anchor she’d become in his world.Their bedroom was dimly lit. The gentle scent of lavender hung in the air, mingling with Daniella’s own. She was already beneath the covers, her hair loose across the pillow like dark silk. She turned slightly as he entered, her eyes heavy with sleep but still alert, as though she’d been waiting for him.“You’re late,” she murmured, her voice wrapped in concern.“I know,” Dalton said, stripping off his coat and draping it over the nearby armchair. “Council ran long. Then the paperwork. You know how it is.”He slipped into bed beside her, the warmth of her body welcoming him home in a way no place ever truly had. Daniella rested her head on his shoulder, one hand instinctively placed on his chest, right above his heart.He pressed a kiss to her hairlin
The Riverdale Pack Council MeetingAlpha Dalton sat at the dining table, a steaming cup of black coffee in one hand and a half-eaten croissant on the plate before him. Across from him sat his father, Alpha Reid, reading the day's security report with furrowed brows.Dalton cleared his throat lightly, setting his cup down. "Father, I’d like to speak with the council this afternoon."Reid looked up from the paper, arching a brow. “Council? What for?”Dalton leaned forward slightly, his tone steady but resolute. “It’s about the annual rounds. I want to begin preparations to visit the fealty packs under our banner—and those we’ve allied with. It’s time we reaffirm our ties.”Reid gave a thoughtful nod, folding the paper and setting it aside. “Good. Very good. That’s long overdue. Call the meeting for this afternoon, then. The council should hear it straight from you.”**************Alpha Dalton sat facing his father, flanked on either side by his Beta and Gamma. The elders, six of them,