The room holds its breath. For a terrifying moment, I think Lucian might actually kill him, right here in front of everyone. My heart pounds, torn between fear and a strange, feral satisfaction at seeing Cade humbled.
Finally, Cade’s defiance falters, and fear flashes in his eyes. His hand lifts weakly, a gesture of surrender. "Alpha… please…" His voice is hoarse, barely audible. "I was wrong… I was out of line… Mercy…"
Lucian glares down at him, the weight of his fury still heavy in the air. He leans in closer, his voice a deadly whisper. "You don’t deserve mercy."
Cade flinches, his breath hitching, but he forces the words out. "I’ll… step down," he gasps. "As Primary Beta… I’ll step down."
The room erupts into hushed whispers, the tension shifting like a storm breaking. Lucian finally loosens his grip, shoving Cade back onto the ground with a force that sends him sprawling. Cade coughs and scrambles to his knees, his posture a shadow of submission, his head lowered as he avoids Lucian’s burning gaze.
"You’ll step down," Lucian says, his voice icy and commanding. "And you’ll serve the Darkguard as a foot soldier.” Cade’s eyes darken, and I see him barely suppress a growl of rage as he bows his head in submission.
“Consider this mercy, Cade, because if you ever utter a word against Talia again, I won’t hesitate to strangle you."
Cade nods quickly, his body trembling, the bravado completely stripped away. "Yes, Alpha," he croaks. "I understand. Thank you for your mercy."
Lucian straightens, his gaze still locked on Cade, as if daring him to try anything else. The rest of the Darkguard shifts uneasily, their respect for Lucian palpable, though the unease lingers in the room like a shadow.
Cade stumbles to his feet, avoiding the stares of those around him as he backs away, his shoulders hunched. For a brief moment, his gaze flicks to mine, and I catch a glint of something dark in his eyes—something that sends a shiver crawling up my spine.
Lucian turns back to the gathered wolves, his voice calm but unyielding. "Let this be a warning," he says, his tone cutting through the silence. "We are united, or we are nothing. Betrayal will not be tolerated. Not by anyone."
As murmurs of agreement ripple through the room, Cade steps back, his expression docile, but I see the bitterness lurking behind his eyes.
A Darkguard warrior steps into the room, his face flushed with excitement. "Alpha," he says, his voice bright. "The other packs are arriving to pledge their allegiance. They await your first command as Ruling Alpha."
A wave of pride sweeps through the room. We've done it. The packs are truly uniting under Lucian's leadership. My heart swells with both triumph and trepidation, knowing what secrets still lie beneath this victory.
Lucian steps forward, his hand clasping the warrior's shoulder. "You've all helped make this possible," he says, his voice filled with quiet pride that warms the room. "Tonight marks the beginning of a new era for all wolves."
The warrior nods, confidence radiating from him. "Thank you, Alpha." He gives a respectful bow, then leaves the room, and with him, the rest of the Darkguard warriors file out to join the celebrations. Cade, lingering a moment, casts me a quick, inscrutable look before he disappears into the shadows.
Once we're alone, the silence fills the room, heavy and intimate. I turn to Lucian, my body still tense with worry, my secrets still pressing against my chest. "What if Kael has something planned?" I murmur, the question a whisper of fear. "Cade may be right about one thing—Kael seemed too calm about losing. I think... I think there's something you should know—"
Lucian steps closer, his hand reaching for mine, his thumb tracing soft, soothing circles over my knuckles. "We'll be ready," he says, his voice firm but gentle, a bedrock of strength, cutting off my confession before I can voice it. "You've proven yourself as Luna beyond my wildest dreams, Talia. With you by my side, I can face any threat, withstand any storm. No pack, no Alpha—not even Kael—can stand against us."
The certainty in his voice makes my heart ache with the weight of what I can't tell him. He squeezes my hand, pulling me gently toward the door. "Come," he says, pride radiating from him. "It's time to present ourselves to the united packs—their Ruling Alpha and Luna."
I follow him, the secret of the Celestial Flame burning unspoken in my throat.
"You were magnificent tonight," Lucian murmurs as he leads me through the mansion's corridors toward our chambers. "The way you commanded the room, how every Alpha fell silent when you spoke..." His eyes gleam with pride in the dim light. "Your power has grown so strong, Talia. They could all feel it—the mark of a true Luna. Ruling Luna of the United Packs."
I think of how the other Alphas bowed before us, how their wolves submitted to my energy without hesitation. Even Kael had to avert his gaze when I stood beside Lucian at the height of the ceremony.
"The way you moved through the hall," Lucian continues, his voice dropping lower as he pulls me closer, "like you were born to rule. So much grace, so much raw power." His fingers trace along my jaw, and I shiver at his touch. "You've become more than I ever dreamed possible."
He opens the door to our bedroom, drawing me inside. The tenderness in his voice unravels me, a sudden wave of emotion crashing over me. I blink back tears, feeling his warmth, his quiet strength holding me together. "Lucian..." My voice falters, and he lifts my hand, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles.
The world fades away as we step into the quiet sanctuary of our room, the soft light casting shadows that dance across his face. He turns to me, his eyes dark with an emotion that makes my heart flutter. Slowly, he reaches out, brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my cheek. "Talia," he whispers, his voice barely more than a breath. "You're my Luna... my everything."
