The night sky hung low over the black stone plain. The moon was not fully round, nor was it dim. It was as if it held its breath, waiting for an unspoken decision.
Aurelia stood in the center of the circle of Alphas.
There were no chains on her wrists. No blood on her gown. No one forced her to kneel.
Yet the entire wolf world waited to see if she would stand… or rule.
A gentle wind swirled past and touched her hair. It was no ordinary wind. It was resonance. The earth answered her. The forest answered her. Wolves at the edge of the territory felt its vibration and bowed their heads unconsciously.
Lucien stood at her right, straight-backed, shoulders firm, his gray eyes calm yet alert. He did not touch her. He did not draw close. He only stood close enough to protect, far enough to respect.
