Chapter 22: The Pack Assembly Begins

"Let every wolf in Obsidian Fang witness that our Luna does not hold her title by favor, but by blood, strength, and unmatched mind."

Silas's powerful voice echoed across the grand courtyard as he stood on the raised obsidian balcony. Hundreds of wolves had gathered below, filling the courtyard with excited conversations and curious whispers.

The Alpha lifted one hand, and the courtyard gradually fell silent, beside him stood Elara.

"Today, we celebrate the strength of our pack, the loyalty of our people, and the future we are building together," Silas continued. "But before we begin, there is someone I want every wolf here to recognize."

He turned toward Elara and offered her his hand. She accepted it with a confident smile, stepping forward as the crowd watched. A few gasps escaped from the front rows, followed by whispers that spread quickly through the gathering.

"Is that really Elara Moon?"

"She looks nothing like the girl who arrived here."

"I heard she was rejected by Alpha Kade. How did she become so powerful?"

Elara heard the comments, but she refused to let them affect her. She remembered arriving at Obsidian Fang with a body everyone mocked, a poisoned past, and no wolf anyone could see. Now she stood beside an Alpha who proudly held her hand, and nobody could pretend she was insignificant.

A young warrior near the front leaned toward his companion. "Look at her skin. Even her presence feels different. I can barely believe she's the same woman."

"She carries herself like royalty," the other whispered. "And that silver streak in her hair looks almost magical."

Elara smiled faintly as she surveyed the crowd. She wasn't interested in proving that she had become beautiful enough to deserve respect. She wanted them to understand that her worth had never depended on her appearance.

Silas stepped closer, his hand settling comfortably at her waist. Unlike previous gatherings, he wore no iron mask. The healed side of his face was fully visible, with only faint marks remaining where the black veins had once spread. Several warriors stared openly, their expressions changing as they recognized how much his condition had improved.

"Alpha Silas removed his mask," someone whispered.

"His face is healed!"

"How is that possible? The poison was supposed to be incurable."

One of the older warriors bowed his head. "The Luna saved him. We all heard the reports, but seeing him like this is something else."

Silas heard the whispers but didn't bother correcting anyone. He wanted the pack to see the truth with their own eyes. The woman standing beside him had helped him survive a poison that had defeated every healer brought before her.

Elara glanced at him. "You're enjoying the attention."

"Not nearly as much as I'm enjoying watching them realize who my mate is."

She gave him a playful look. "Try not to sound too proud. They might think you've become sentimental."

"I have become sentimental," he replied, leaning closer. "Unfortunately, only where you're concerned."

Before Elara could answer, movement near the balcony stairs caught her attention. Milo approached in a formal black uniform decorated with silver buttons.

He stopped at Elara's right side and bowed respectfully. "Your Beta is ready, Luna," Milo announced.

Elara smiled at him. "You look like you've been practicing that serious expression all morning."

"I have to look important. I'm standing beside the Luna."

"Then you'd better remember to act important too."

Milo grinned before returning to his position. The crowd began whispering again, this time about the young boy whose silver aura carried an unmistakable ancestral strength.

"Is that the new Beta?"

"I heard he has the bloodline of the former Beta King."

"That explains the silver energy. I thought that family had been wiped out."

Milo heard them, but he kept his attention on Elara. He had promised to protect her, and he intended to take that responsibility seriously. For someone who had once been treated like a useless kitchen servant, standing openly beside the Luna was more than he had ever imagined.

Silas raised his hand again. "There are wolves here who once questioned whether Elara deserved to stand beside me. I will not pretend those doubts never existed. But I expect every wolf in this territory to recognize courage when they witness it."

A few elders exchanged uncomfortable glances. One of them, Elder Marcus, stepped forward from the front row. He had been among the loudest voices questioning Elara's authority when she first arrived, but today his expression carried genuine respect.

He stopped before the balcony and bowed deeply. "Luna Elara, I came here with doubts about your ability to lead. I judged you before giving you the chance to prove yourself, and for that, I offer my sincere apology."

The courtyard grew quieter as the elder continued. "You have demonstrated wisdom, strength, and loyalty to this pack. I pledge my service and respect to you as our rightful Luna."

Elara studied him for a moment before nodding. "Your pledge is accepted, Elder Marcus. But remember that respect must be earned every day, not offered only when someone becomes powerful."

"I understand, Luna."

Another elder stepped forward, followed by two senior warriors. Each bowed and offered their official pledge of fealty. Soon, several members of the traditional council had joined them, acknowledging Elara's position without the hesitation that had marked their earlier meetings.

Silas watched with quiet satisfaction. He had known Elara possessed the strength to win their respect, but seeing the pack acknowledge her openly pleased him more than he expected.

"Looks like your little speech wasn't necessary," Elara whispered.

"It was necessary. Some wolves need to hear the truth before they accept it."

"And what truth is that?"

Silas looked at her, his expression softening. "That you're exactly where you belong."

For a moment, Elara forgot the watching crowd. Then Milo stepped closer and quietly cleared his throat. "Luna, if you two are finished looking at each other, the elders are waiting."

Elara covered a smile while Silas gave the boy a warning glance. "You are becoming very bold for someone who used to hide whenever I entered the kitchen."

Milo straightened. "I'm your Beta now. I have responsibilities."

"Apparently, one of them is interrupting your Alpha."

The nearby warriors laughed. The atmosphere finally began to feel like a celebration rather than a gathering filled with old grudges.

Elara looked across the courtyard, pleased to see wolves from different corners of the territory standing together.

Then a distant horn sounded.

The music stopped almost immediately. A second warning horn followed, louder than the first, coming from the eastern perimeter walls. Warriors turned toward the entrance while guards hurried into formation.

Silas's expression changed. "What is happening?"

A captain rushed toward the balcony and bowed. "Alpha, an approaching royal carriage has been sighted beyond the eastern gates. It carries the royal seal."

Elara exchanged a glance with Silas. "A royal envoy? Nobody mentioned a visit."

"Nobody was expecting one," he replied, his eyes narrowing.

The courtyard fell silent as the distant gates began to open.

A herald stepped forward, carrying a long scroll sealed with the royal crest. His voice rang across the courtyard as the carriage doors burst open.

"Make way for the Royal Messenger of Queen Selene, who brings a royal decree for the Alpha and his new Luna!"