KAEL

Dawn brought chaos.

I woke to Ryker pounding on my door. "We have a situation."

I was on my feet instantly, battle instincts kicking in. "What kind of situation?"

"The kind where half the council is demanding Aria be investigated for witchcraft, Bryson Cole has filed an official complaint, and someone tried to poison the breakfast meant for her chambers."

My beast surged forward. "Who?"

"Don't know yet. But Helena caught it before anything reached her." He paused. "Kael, the palace is turning on her already. They think she used magic to entrap you. That a wolf-less Omega couldn't possibly be your true mate."

"Then they're idiots." I grabbed my shirt. "Call an emergency council meeting. Now."

"Already done. They're waiting in the throne room."

I stopped at Aria's connecting door. She was still asleep, I could hear her soft breathing. Part of me wanted to wake her, to warn her about what was coming.

But she looked peaceful for the first time since I'd claimed her.

Let her have a few more minutes of peace. She'd need them.

The throne room was packed. Council members, Alpha families, pack representatives, everyone who thought they had a say in realm politics had shown up. The air crackled with tension and competing scents.

I took my throne, letting my power roll through the room. Wolves dropped their eyes automatically, instinct forcing submission.

All except Bryson Cole, who stood front and center looking murderous.

"Your Majesty," he said, managing to make it sound like an insult. "We need to discuss this... situation."

"There is no situation. I claimed my mate. End of discussion."

"But she's…"

"My mate," I cut him off, my voice dropping to a growl. "Given to me by the Moon Goddess herself. Anyone who questions that questions divine will."

Councilwoman Vera stepped forward. She was ancient, one of the few wolves who'd served my father before me. "Your Majesty, we all saw the display yesterday. The silver light, the power. We're not questioning that she's... special. But her background is concerning. A servant. No training. No proper bloodline. How can she possibly serve as Luna?"

"She'll learn."

"And in the meantime? The realm needs stability. Strong leadership. A Luna who understands politics and pack dynamics." Vera's voice was careful but firm. "Perhaps if you took time to court her properly, to ensure this is truly a mate bond and not just..."

"Not just what?" My beast was pushing at my control. "Say it."

She wisely remained silent.

Bryson wasn't as smart. "A trick. A silver wolf appearing conveniently at a Culling after hiding for years? Using suppressants to mask her scent? It reeks of manipulation. Of dark magic."

The room erupted in murmurs.

I stood, and silence fell immediately. "You want to talk about manipulation, Marcus? Let's discuss why a 'wolf-less' girl was forced to serve as a servant in your pack. Let's discuss the scars on her body. The fear in her eyes. The way she flinches when someone moves too fast."

His face went white.

"That's what I thought." I descended from the throne, my Lycan power making the air heavy. "My mate was hiding because someone made her believe showing her true self would get her killed. And I'm going to find out who. When I do, they'll wish they'd never been born."

I let the threat hang in the air.

"As for her qualifications to be Luna?" I looked around the room. "She survived twelve years of abuse without breaking. She hid a secret that could have gotten her killed every single day. She stood in that arena knowing I might destroy her, and she didn't run. That takes more strength than any of your perfect, trained Alphas could ever possess."

Ryker cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, perhaps we should…"

The throne room doors opened.

Aria walked in.

Every conversation stopped. Every eye turned to her.

She was wearing a dress Helena must have chosen, deep green that brought out her eyes, simple but elegant. Her black hair was braided in a crown around her head. She wore no jewelry except for the mate mark on her neck, which she'd made no attempt to hide.

She looked terrified. But she walked with her head high, moving through the crowd like she owned the room.

My beast purred with pride. Ours. Perfect. Strong.

She stopped before the throne and bowed slightly, not submissive, but respectful. Then she turned to face the crowd.

"I understand you have concerns about me," she said, her voice carrying through the room despite being soft. "I would too, in your position. A nobody becoming Luna overnight must seem impossible."

Several council members had the grace to look uncomfortable.

"But here's the truth," she continued. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't want this. I spent years making sure no one would ever notice me, because being noticed meant being used. And when the King claimed me yesterday, my first instinct was to run."

I felt a flash of pain through our incomplete bond. She was telling the truth, even though it hurt me to hear.

"But I'm not running. Because whether I wanted it or not, I'm mated to your King now. And I won't be the weakness that brings him down." She lifted her chin. "So you can accept me, or you can fight me. But either way, I'm not going anywhere."

The room was dead silent.

Then Councilwoman Vera smiled. "Well said, Your Majesty."

The formal address from a council member broke the tension. Others began bowing, murmuring acceptance.

Not all of them. Bryson looked like he wanted to murder someone. A few other Alphas exchanged dark looks.

But it was a start.

Aria returned to my side, and I couldn't help it, I pulled her close, my arm around her waist. She stiffened but didn't pull away.

"Brave little wolf," I murmured in her ear.

"Stupid, you mean. I just made myself a bigger target."

"But you did it standing up. That's what matters."

The council began filing out, the immediate crisis diffused. Ryker approached once the room had mostly cleared.

"Impressive," he told Aria. "Most new Luna take months to address the council. You did it on day two."

She flushed slightly. "I couldn't let them think I was weak."

"You're many things," I said, my hand tightening on her waist. "Weak isn't one of them."

Ryker's expression turned serious. "We still have the poison situation to deal with. Someone in the palace tried to kill her."

"Find them," I ordered. "Use whatever methods necessary."

"Kael," Aria said quietly. "Can I talk to you? Alone?"

I nodded, and Ryker left.

Once we were alone, she pulled away from me. "You can't just threaten to torture people on my behalf."

"I can and will."

"That's not…" She stopped, took a breath. "I don't want to be the reason people get hurt."

"You're not. They are. They tried to poison you."

"Because they're scared. Because I came out of nowhere and disrupted their entire world." She wrapped her arms around herself. "I understand what that's like. Being afraid of change."

The vulnerability in her voice made my chest ache. I crossed to her, giving her time to move away. When she didn't, I pulled her into my arms.

She resisted for a moment, then melted against me.

"I won't let anyone hurt you," I said against her hair. "Ever. That's not negotiable."

"Even if it starts a war?"

"Especially then."

She pulled back enough to look up at me. "You really are insane."

"Told you." I traced the mark on her neck, satisfaction flooding through me at the sight of it. "How are you feeling? The bond should be settling."

"It's... strange. I can feel you sometimes. Your emotions. They're overwhelming."

"It'll get easier once we complete the bond."

Her cheeks flushed. "About that..."

Every muscle in my body went taut. "Yes?"

"I'm not ready yet. I know that probably makes your beast angry, but I need time. This is all happening so fast."

Disappointment crashed through me, but I forced it down. "I told you I'd wait. I meant it."

"Really?"

"Really." Even though my beast was screaming. "But I have one condition."

She tensed. "What?"

"You sleep in my chambers. Not the connecting room, my room. In my bed."

"Kael…"

"Just sleep," I said quickly. "My beast needs to know you're safe. Needs to be close to you. If we're not going to complete the bond, this is the compromise. Otherwise, I'm going to lose my mind standing guard outside your door all night."

She bit her lip, considering. "Just sleeping?"

"Just sleeping. I'll even keep my hands to myself." Mostly. "Do we have a deal?"

After a long moment, she nodded. "Deal."

Relief and anticipation flooded through me in equal measure. It wasn't everything I wanted. But having her in my arms, in my bed, safe and close?

It would be enough.

For now.