Chapter 7

The Royal Summon

Serena’s POV

"You're unusually not yourself this morning, too quiet," Ivy said, her soft voice smoothly pulling me out of the thoughts that crowded my head as she gently brushed my hair behind my shoulders.

“I've been thinking,” I murmured.

She scoffed like she wasn't surprised. “That’s very obvious. I've watched you stab the same strawberry absentmindedly with your fork for over ten minutes now, my Queen.”

I blinked down to see the unfortunate bruised fruit lying helplessly on my breakfast plate. Right, I hadn’t been able to eat anything.

“I had a horrible nightmare last night,” I replied quietly.

Ivy paused to look at me. “About Ravenfall, right?”

“No silly,” I whispered, a grin tugging at the corner of my lip as I finally lifted my eyes to meet hers. “About Kale. I dreamt where he left me.”

Her hand froze mid way to my shoulder. “He would never leave you and you know it.”

“That’s the problem here,” I sighed. “They always act and say they won’t, until they finally do.”

A firm knock came heavily on the chamber doors immediately, and interrupted our conversation.

On opening, Kale stepped in, but fully dressed in his ceremonial silver trimmed tunic, but as I held his gaze, it was unreadable. I needed not to be told something was wrong. He didn’t smile as usual. He didn’t attempt saying my name the way he usually did this few months, like a prayer only he had been given the right to whisper.

“What is it, please?” I asked, standing up slowly.

He said nothing, instead, he handed me the sealed scroll.

My hands shook slightly as I carefully broke the royal seal and read.

“A summon,” I whispered almost to my hearing alone. “It was from the High Lycan Council.”

“To judiciously discuss a petition,” Kale said grimly. “Humbly filed by none other than your beloved ex husband.”

I swallowed the invisible lump already forming on my throat. “Ronan.”

Kale nodded once, clearly not happy with the current development. “He made a formal request that you return and be reinstated as Luna of the Ravenfall Pack… and he gave his reason to be for the sake of ‘pack unity.’”

“Unity?” I laughed bitterly on hearing that. “I gave him my all, but he destroyed me and now wants unity?”

“He wants nothing but power,” Kale said sharply. “And my annoyance is the council is foolish enough not to see through him, but gladly entertained him.”

“He is not only heirless, he's also desperate,” I murmured, suddenly remembering Ivy’s hushed report not long ago. It was rumored that Ronan’s heir had died at birth. “They know very well he can’t be the Alpha without a Luna.”

“They’re now using you as their perfect bait to keep Ravenfall stable,” Kale snapped out of anger. “But I must tell you, you’re no more their pawn, Serena. Not anymore.”

Ivy didn't wait to be told to step back, as she sensed the storm building between us.

“You think it's best if I ignore the summons?” I asked.

“I think the right thing to do is to let them see that the Queen of the Lycans isn't one to bend to the wind and every summons just because an old Alpha howls her name,” he growled.

I turned away from him in deep thoughts, staring out the window. My reflection which I saw in the glass wasn't the same woman from months back that would bend at the slightest back, it showed a strong woman. A mother and a survivor. But sadly, I also saw… someone still haunted.

“What if I go and face them?” I asked softly. “What if I gather the courage to look the council directly in the eye and show them the strong woman Ronan tried to bury?”

Kale kept quiet, he didn’t speak at first. Then he took a few steps closer, his voice now lower, and softer. “If you go there, I’ll also go with you. But I want you to never mistake this for a peace talk. Ronan isn't one to want peace. He only wants control. And I can see he’s very much willing to bleed for it.”

I turned to fully face him. “I know.”

Our eyes locked that moment. We stared at each other with so much affection, the old fear fading, a new promise emerging.

“I’ll prepare for that immediately,” I said.

Kale nodded but very close to the door, he paused. “Serena… don’t try to underestimate his desperation as it is at its peak. Men like Ronan without shame don’t just come crawling back to their past without a bigger play.”

I didn’t reply to him. I needed not to.

Because I already knew all of that.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The court hall, as expected , was already filled with much energy by the time we finally arrived at the Lycan capital’s summit tower. It was a beautiful sight to behold, gold columns lined the inner chamber, and right inside, the council were already seated in their high thrones of obsidian and silver. I could feel every eye in the hall on me as I entered. The only difference in the way they gaze at me now, and how they did when I first came here is; I didn't enter as Serena the abandoned Luna. But this time, as Serena, Queen of the Lycans.

“Queen Serena,” Elder Halvor stood up and greeted formally. “Thank you immensely for honoring the summons.”

Kale stood with shoulders high beside me, towering and totally unreadable.

“I received your letter,” I replied calmly. “I am here for clarity. Not for closure.”

Elder Marna reading the room adjusted her veil. “You’re very much aware of the petition, right?”

“Yes, I am.”

“And what is your stance?”

“I am here to hear it directly from his mouth,” I replied. 

From the side doors, the one by the right, dressed in royal Ravenfall armor, Ronan majestically walked in, but like a blurred memory. His presence s

creamed of old betrayal, and ached in the bone.

He stopped exactly ten feet from me.