When I first entered Silvercrest as a bride, the gates did not open for me. No ceremonial drums were present. No bows of respect. No greeting howls. The guards tensed up as if they were staring at a ghost when I approached the imposing iron gates next to Kael Draven this time. It was evident in their eyes. bewilderment. discomfort. guilt. When the sentence was announced, a few of them had restrained me. A few had observed without blinking.
They looked away from me now. Kael and I had a steady, tense bond that was neither warm nor gentle. alive. I walked through the enormous gates with a straight back and a raised chin as they slowly creaked open. I wouldn't back down. That was something I had done once. I would never do it once more.
In dry grass, word spreads more quickly than fire. Wolves were congregating by the time we arrived at the central courtyard. Warriors. Omegas. members of the council. The crowd was filled with whispers. "She has returned." "The betrayer." "Why would she be brought back by the Alpha?" The words weren't quiet enough.
I was supposed to hear them. intended to see if I would crumble. I didn't. I continued walking until Kael came to a stop at the stone platform where judgments used to be handed down. I was standing on the same platform when my title was taken away from me a few weeks prior. The memory made my chest constrict, but I kept it to myself.
Kael's steady, commanding voice echoed. The courtyard fell silent. "Lyra Vance has returned under my authority." "The prior ruling is being reviewed."
reviewing it. not withdrawn. Not fixed. reviewing it.
Before he could say anything more, I moved forward. I stated unequivocally, "There will be no review." My voice remained steady. "Because I never committed a crime."
All around us, murmurs erupted. With a hint of surprise in his eyes, Kael turned to face me, but he did not stop me. Excellent. Give me a chance to speak. Give them a reminder.
I turned to face the pack. "You referred to me as a traitor. You pulled me through the snow. Without a trial, you banished me. And yet, while the real traitor continues to roam freely among you, I stand here alive.
Gasping. rage. Confusion.
Calm as ever, Rowan emerged from the throng. His eyes were sharp, but his expression was flawlessly composed. measuring. He smoothly stated, "These are serious accusations." "If you have evidence, show it."
I felt nothing but icy clarity as I stared at him. "The blood seal used in that letter was forged by you. During the bonding ritual, you had access to my blood.
A flicker. Only a flicker. However, I witnessed it.
Rowan's mouth curved a little. "That isn't feasible. The Council was in charge of the ceremony.
"Yes," I said calmly. "And how convenient that it was conducted by a deceased Council Elder."
Whispers swept across the courtyard again as a result.
Kael clenched his jaw. The death of Elder Maelis had not yet been made public. I saw several faces take on a look of realization. Rowan didn't appear shocked. I learned everything from that.
Calmly remarked, "You are manipulating grief and fear." You were apprehended. The proof was unambiguous.
I yelled, "The evidence was constructed." "And Bloodfang was researching our defenses while you were busy persuading everyone of my betrayal."
At that moment, Kael moved forward and broke the tension with his voice. "Enough. We'll continue this conversation in private.
"No," I replied right away. Now my heart was racing, but not because I was afraid. from rage. "I was humiliated in public. It will now be accessible to the public.
His gaze met mine. We fought each other silently. He then faced the pack once more. Silvercrest is in danger. Near our eastern border, Bloodfang mobilizes. We will become even weaker due to internal division. Lyra Vance will continue to work next to me until this issue is thoroughly investigated.
A wave of shock spread outward.
Rowan's composed expression faded. "Alpha, that's careless."
Kael's eyes hardened. "That wasn't a recommendation."
There was a slight but noticeable change in power. I could see the anger in Rowan's eyes even though he bowed his head. This was not what he had anticipated. He hadn't anticipated my survival. Furthermore, he had not anticipated Kael's prompt restoration of my title.
Kael leaned closer to me as the crowd slowly dispersed, some still whispering, some glaring. He whispered, "You could have handled that more carefully."
"I handled it just the way it needed to be handled."
"You caused him to become defensive."
"He is already."
Together, we made our way to the Alpha residence. It felt electrifying to be apart. tense. complicated. The closer we got, the stronger the bond pulsed. Breathing became more difficult. It made thinking more difficult. Beneath all of that was the secret I had kept from him.
When we entered the house and the doors shut behind us, his composure wavered a little. "Before confronting him in public, you ought to have told me what you suspected."
I retorted, "You ought to have trusted me before you publicly banished me."
The room was silent. heavy. inevitable.
His frustration was evident as he took a step closer. "I'm attempting to resolve this."
"Humiliation cannot be fixed by authority."
For a brief moment, his eyes softened. "Lyra, what do you want from me?"
An apology. Regret. Responsibility. However, I stated, "I want control beside you." Not beneath you.
"You possess it."
"No intervention by the Council."
"They'll fight back."
"Then allow them."
He nodded slowly, but his jaw tightened once more. "All right."
We came to an agreement that was as tenuous as a truce. However, my body betrayed me even as we stood there. Suddenly, a wave of nausea struck. sharp. aggressive. I quickly turned away and steadied myself by holding onto the table's edge.
Kael saw right away. "You're not feeling well."
"I'm alright."
"You look pale."
"I made it through weeks of banishment. I am able to endure standing in a courtyard.
He stared at me for longer than was necessary. suspicion. worry. Something more profound. Once more, the bond pulsed, almost protectively this time. My stomach twisted more as a result.
He moved in closer. "Is there's something you're not telling me—"
"There isn't."
That was untrue.
I also detested lying. However, I wasn't prepared. Not until I was positive.
We were interrupted by a knock. One of the fighters hurried in and bowed. "Alpha. Bloodfang troops are reportedly getting closer than anticipated, according to scouts. They might attack in a matter of days.
Instantly, Kael's expression changed to one of command. rotations of two patrols. Protect the western flank.
With a nod, the warrior departed.
Kael turned to face me again. "I needed you here because of this."
"So don't discredit me once more."
He stared at me. "I refuse to."
I wanted to take him at his word. I really did. However, trust takes time to rebuild after it has been damaged.
I stood by myself on the balcony looking out over Silvercrest that night as night fell. The same land that had turned me down. I was now supposed to protect the same territory. Instinctively, my hand went to my lower abdomen.
A silent fear took hold of me.
The stakes went beyond politics if I became pregnant with Kael's child. They were private. Horribly intimate.
I felt him behind me before he said anything. "You're thinking too loudly."
I didn't turn. "War is on the horizon."
"Yes."
"And these walls contain the enemy."
A pause.
"Yes."
My throat constricted at the sincerity of that response.
"We'll get rid of him," he muttered.
At last, I turned to face him. "Silvercrest falls if we fail."
For a moment, his eyes fell to the spot where my hand was still covering my stomach in an almost instinctive protective manner. His eyes grew a little gloomy.
And for the first time since my banishment, I noticed something in him that wasn't dominance, control, or strategy.
Fear.
Not because of his title.
For me.
And the thing that scared me the most was that.
Because Rowan wouldn't hesitate if he found out about my weakness before we did.
And I was fighting for more than just my name.
I may be defending my child.