Chapter 171: The Trap

Marcelo recovered first, which I expected as much.A man like him hadn't risen to the position of Lord Valmere by crumbling beneath silence alone. The uncertainty I had seen moments ago disappeared almost as quickly as it came, tucked neatly back behind the practiced smile he had perfected over years of political gatherings and merchant councils.He drew in a slow breath and smiled. "I was under the impression," he said evenly, "that the royal palace had already taken charge of investigating that unfortunate incident." His voice remained calm and reasonable as if we were discussing delayed shipments instead of the day someone had tried to end my life. "I saw no reason to interfere with an ongoing royal investigation."Beside him, Seraphine nodded immediately. "Exactly." Her relief came far too quickly. "It would have been inappropriate for House of Valmere to involve itself while His Majesty's investigators were already handling the matter."I watched them quietly. I didn't interrupt

Chapter 172: We Did It

Nobody moved.For one long heartbeat, the negotiation chamber remained frozen beneath the weight of Lucretius' words. Then, everything happened at once.Marcelo moved first. The chair behind him crashed violently against the wooden floor as he shoved himself backward. Instead of turning toward Lucretius, his eyes darted toward the tall windows overlooking the rear courtyard.My breath caught.He wasn't going to fight. He was going to run."Marcelo—!" Seraphine gasped.He never looked back. He lunged toward the open window with surprising speed, his polished shoes skidding slightly across the wooden floor as one hand caught the windowsill.For the briefest moment, I genuinely thought he might make it. Then, a blur crossed my vision.It was Enoch who moved so quickly that I barely saw him leave his position. One second, he stood beside the negotiation table. The next... His hand seized the back of Marcelo's coat with enough force to jerk him violently backward.Marcelo stumbled. His bal

Chapter 173: My Idiot

The Caelthorn residence had never felt this peaceful.The afternoon had long since melted into evening, leaving the sky painted in shades of amber and violet beyond the gallery overlooking the estate gardens. Lanterns had already been lit throughout the courtyard below, their warm glow illuminating servants as they busied themselves preparing tonight's dinner.Father had insisted upon a small celebration. Nothing extravagant. Nothing befitting nobles.Just family.After everything that had happened, he claimed the household deserved at least one evening where nobody spoke of investigations, politics, or treason.For once, I intended to listen.A crystal wine glass rested comfortably between my fingers as I leaned back against the broad warmth of my husband's chest. His arms circled my waist lazily from behind, one hand resting possessively over my stomach while the other held his own glass of red wine.Neither of us had spoken for several minutes.We simply watched.Below us, servants

Chapter 174: Going Home to Another Place

The carriage ride from the capital to the Golden Eclipse Pack would take five hours.Five hours.Not days.Not weeks.Just five hours.And yet, from the way Enoch stood outside the Caelthorn residence that morning with his arms folded across his chest and the most dramatic expression I had ever seen on his face, anyone would have thought I was being sent across the continent.I stared at him. He stared back and sighed loudly.I narrowed my eyes. "Brother."He sighed again. Even louder this time.Beside me, Lucretius looked suspiciously entertained while pretending to inspect the carriage. Father stood a few steps away, watching the scene unfold with the quiet amusement of a man who had no intention of saving me.Traitors.All of them.Enoch finally looked away first, though he did it with the expression of someone who had been gravely wronged by fate itself. "So this is it," he muttered.I blinked. "What?""My little sister is finally leaving the Caelthorn residence."I stared at him

Chapter 175: Familiarity Bond

"Long live Alpha Lucretius!""Long live Luna Euphyllia!"The voices rose together until they became one.The cry echoed across the entirety of the Golden Eclipse Pack, rolling over the castle walls and spilling into the surrounding forests where even the birds startled into flight. It wasn't merely applause or celebration. It was a vow, spoken by hundreds of wolves who had gathered within the castle grounds to witness the completion of the Luna Ceremony.The ceremony itself had passed in a blur. The ceremonial vows. The blessing beneath the Moon Goddess' altar. The ancient rites that had welcomed every Luna before me.Then, the final blood pact.I had barely recovered from the warmth that spread through my chest when our blood touched the sacred stone before the entire merupted into celebration.Now, standing beside Lucretius upon the grand terrace overlooking the assembled pack, I found myself momentarily speechless.Below us stretched a sea of familiar faces where warriors wearing t

Chapter 176: Once Loved

The path leading toward the eastern detention grounds stretched quietly beneath the afternoon sun. Unlike the livelier sections of the Golden Eclipse Pack, this part of the territory remained almost unnaturally silent. The training fields had long since disappeared behind us, replaced instead by towering pines whose branches swayed gently whenever the wind wandered through them.The only sound accompanying us was the steady rhythm of our footsteps against the stone pathway.My fingers remained comfortably intertwined with Lucretius'. Or rather... he refused to let go. Not that I minded. His hand had always felt like home.For several minutes, neither of us spoke. The silence between us wasn't awkward. It rarely ever was. It simply existed, allowing each of us to become lost in our own thoughts without feeling the need to fill every quiet moment with conversation.Eventually, I glanced sideways. Lucretius hadn't looked away from the path ahead once. His expression remained calm. I smil