Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 181 - Chapitre 190

A ripple moves through them. Relief in some. Tension in others.“We return disciplined.” Cameron continues. “Not divided. Not reactive.” His voice strengthens, settles deeper. “The council will be watching our movements. They will look for instability.” His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. “They will not find it.”A murmur of agreement builds low in the yard. “And Vale?” someone calls from the side.The question is sharper this time. Not hostile. - Strategic.Cameron glances back briefly toward the packhouse behind us. Toward the land that isn’t his.“Vale remains sovereign on their land.” he says calmly. “As we remain sovereign on ours.”He doesn’t reach for my hand. He doesn’t perform unity. But I feel it between us anyway.“We leave with respect.” he adds. “Not dependence.”That lands exactly where it needs to. The older wolf nods slowly.Cameron steps down one level closer to them. The movement costs him - I feel the flare of pain through the bond - but he hides it well.“I did

I don’t know how long we sleept.At some point, the light shifts from warm gold to muted gray. The room cools. Shadows stretch longer along the floor.Cameron’s breathing has deepened beneath me. Heavy. Real sleep. Not the guarded half-rest he usually allows himself.I don’t move. Not even when my arm goes slightly numb.Then someone knock at the door. Not loud. But firm. - Three sharp raps against the door.Cameron’s body reacts before his mind does. Muscle tightens. Breath shifts. His arm instinctively tightens around me, protective even in sleep.Another knock.“Clara.” My brother’s voice. Low. Controlled.Kieran.“It’s an hour before dusk.”Cameron’s eyes open immediately. Not groggy. - Alert. His gaze scans the room in half a second before settling on me.“You’re safe.” I whisper automatically.His jaw tightens slightly - annoyed at himself for reacting like that. “I know.”Another knock. “We need you downstairs.” Kieran calls through the door. “Both of you.”Cameron exhales slow

We don’t leave. Not yet. We can't. Now it was the time to tell the others. Cameron makes the call before anyone else can.“We stay the night.” he tells his Beta quietly. “Departure at first light.”No argument. No surprise. Even Blackridge seems to understand what this night is.Transition deserves space.So instead of engines and forest roads, I find myself walking back up the Vale Pack House steps under torchlight, Cameron’s hand steady at my lower back.The courtyard has thinned. Visiting Alphas are being shown to guest wings. The council members remain in their chambers - doors closed, guarded, unreadable.They leave tomorrow. How convenient. My wolf growled quietly in my mind.“You’re thinking too loudly.” Cameron murmurs beside me.“I’m allowed.”“You are.”We step inside the mansion. And suddenly I’m not Luna-to-be. I’m just… home.The polished floors. The old portraits. The faint scent of cedar and stone. I stop near the central staircase.“I'll need to go get my things.”He

The kiss isn’t gentle. It’s not chaotic either. It’s decision I made.I want him. His surprise lasts half a second before his hands are on my waist, steadying me, pulling me closer as if he expected this eventually - just not that I’d strike first.My fingers twist into his shirt. I kiss him like I’m done negotiating. Like tomorrow doesn’t exist.He exhales against my mouth - a low, restrained sound that vibrates straight through me.“Clara…” he murmurs, but there’s no warning in it this time. Only heat.I push him back a step. Then another. Until the back of his knees hit the bed.He looks at me differently now. Not amused. Not calculating.Focused.“You’re playing a dangerous game.” he says quietly.“I’m setting the board.” I answer.That does it.His hand slides into my hair, tilting my head back just enough for him to take control of the kiss this time - deeper, slower, claiming space without overwhelming me.His other hand settles at my hip. His restraint is the most intoxicatin

Slowly, carefully, I turn my head toward the window.It’s open. Not wide. Just enough. Two inches. The curtain lifts slightly in the dawn breeze.We closed it last night. I remember.I ease myself out from under Cameron’s arm inch by inch. He frowns faintly but doesn’t wake.My feet touch the floor. It's cold. Grounding.I don’t rush to a weapon. I scan. Door are closed. Boots by the wall. Chair untouched. Nothing overturned. Nothing broken.And then I see it. Centered perfectly on the wooden floor between the bed and the door. An envelope. Dark parchment. Thick. Placed with precision. There were no option to miss it. My stomach tightens.That was not there when we lay down. I would have noticed.I walk toward it slowly. No panic. Panic is reaction. I told myself."This feels like our favorite wolves doing ." My wolf said grmily.I kneel.The wax seal catches the dim light. Silver. Intricate. Not the public crest of the Council.This one is smaller. Older. More private.My breath slo