LOGIN(POV: Sabriel) I stood near the edge of the grand banquet hall watching the musicians play lively tunes while pack members spun around the wooden dance floor, and I never expected to find myself participating in royal festivities instead of standing guard by the side doors with my arms crossed over my chest, and James suddenly appeared right beside me out of nowhere, and he grabbed my hand before I could even protest and pulled me straight out into the middle of the crowded dance floor, and everyone nearby turned to stare in shock because seeing the notoriously strict head trainer actually dancing at a royal banquet was a sight nobody anticipated, and I glared at James and told him he was out of his mind if he thought I was going to let him spin me around in front of the entire pack council, and James just grinned broadly and told me everyone needed to see their stern instructor loosen up for once in her life. "If you do not stop grinning like an idiot right now, I am going to step
(POV: Alexander) I stood near the center of the Great Hall with a goblet of wine raised in my hand while the musicians played lively tunes and pack members laughed and danced all around us, and I was celebrating my medal presentation alongside Mae, Kaelor, Zareth, James, and Sabriel after the morning awards ceremony concluded, and the noise level in the room was deafening, but hearing everyone talk and joke around made all the stress from the Crimson Moon crisis feel completely distant, and Mae nudged my arm gently and held her goblet up against mine with a proud smile, and she asked me if I was finally getting used to wearing that shiny new medal pinned to my uniform tunic, and I laughed and told her it felt a bit heavy on my chest, but I supposed I could get used to it if it meant I got to stand here drinking wine with her all afternoon. "You better get used to wearing it, because Zareth told me the pack elders are going to make you wear your full uniform to every official council
(POV: Zareth) I stood right beside Kaelor on the raised stone dais while the grand assembly cheered for Alexander, Sabriel, and James during the awards ceremony, and I wore my traditional council robes while watching our friends accept their medals from the king, and the loud applause echoed off the walls of the great hall, and I felt a deep sense of belonging settle into my chest as I looked out over the sea of smiling faces in the crowd, and Kaelor turned his head slightly to look at me while the crowd continued clapping, and he reached out to take my hand in his and squeezed my fingers gently, and he asked me in a quiet voice if I was holding up okay with all the attention focused on the dais, and I smiled back at him and told him I was doing great, and I added that watching our friends get recognized for their bravery made all the stress from the cult attacks completely worth it. "Everyone in this room knows you played just as big a part in stopping the cult as any of the guards
(POV: Kaelor) I stood at the front of the throne room on the raised dais while the grand assembly of pack members, elders, and guards filled the hall from wall to wall, and I cleared my throat before beginning the formal awards ceremony to honor the brave men and women who saved our capital during the Crimson Moon crisis, and Zareth stood right beside the throne wearing her traditional council robes, and she caught my eye and gave me a supportive nod that reminded me to keep my speech steady, and I looked out over the sea of faces waiting quietly for the proceedings to begin, and I knew that today was about recognizing the incredible sacrifices everyone made to keep Crescent Veil safe from destruction, and I called Alexander forward first to receive his medal for leading the palace guard through the amphitheater siege. "Step forward, Commander Alexander, and accept this token of gratitude on behalf of the entire pack council," I announced in a strong voice that echoed off the stone
(POV: James) I stood inside my quarters on the morning of the promotion ceremony, struggling to button up my formal tunic while trying to make sure every single piece of ceremonial armor was polished until it shone like glass, and I grabbed a cloth from the table and wiped down my chest plate for the third time because I wanted everything to look perfect for the king's inspection during the afternoon parade, and the knock at my door sounded just as I was wrestling with my belt buckle, and Sabriel pushed the door open without waiting for an answer, and she walked into the room with her arms crossed over her chest while looking me up and down with a critical eye, and she asked me if I needed her help dressing myself like a helpless toddler or if I was actually capable of getting my uniform on straight for once in my life. "I am perfectly capable of dressing myself, Sabriel, but my belt buckle is being unusually stubborn this morning," I explained, letting out an annoyed breath as I ga
(POV: Sabriel) I sat on the stone balcony attached to my quarters under the evening stars, cleaning my daggers with a small oil cloth while enjoying the cool night breeze against my face, and I wiped the steel blade carefully to remove any dust from the day's training drills, and the courtyard below was completely quiet now that the night watch had taken over their posts, and the distant twinkling of the city lights across the valley made the capital look peaceful and untouched by all the violence we had survived just weeks ago, and I heard the door to my room click open behind me, and footsteps padded softly across the floorboards before James stepped out onto the balcony carrying two glasses of spiced wine in his hands, and he walked straight over to where I was sitting and handed one of the glasses down to me, and he asked if I was going to spend my entire evening cleaning weapons or if I could spare a few minutes to talk to him. "I am just finishing up the last dagger, and then







