And me? I was just glad that some of the jealousy and bitterness I’d felt toward her when she’d shown up had faded.She was a sweet girl, and I didn’t want animosity with any of my sisters.
We made it back to the castle as dusk began to settle over the countryside, a magnificent sunset painting everything in red, pinks, and golds.
I paused, taking a moment for myself to just breathe and soak it in. I tried to ignore the little voice in the back of my head that said we didn’t have many sunsets left.
Chapter 46
Valens
Istood at the side of the stage next to Lucien, staring out over the roiling mass of gathered werewolves. The outdoor amphitheater was lit with interspersed torches, so I could see more expectant faces than I expected. It was awe-inspiring. Our individual packs had melded into one greater whole, and this was only about half of those coming, according to Reed’s calculations.
Dirge stood on my other side, his own attention fixed on the front row, where our females sat surrounded by their three maiden guards.
“I should be down there with them,” he muttered under his breath.
Lucien reached over, slapping him supportively on the shoulder. “I know it’s weird. But the maidens will kick anyone’s ass who looks at them funny. Not to mention, either Shay or Fi could absolutely fry anyone who put a toe out of line.”
“Damn straight she could.” Dirge grinned at that, obviously proud of the fact that his mate was half greater fae, with all the massive power that came with it.
“Which is why we’ve got to be up here for Kane. The women can handle themselves.”
“Speak of the devil. It’s showtime.” Lucien elbowed me, nodding toward Kane as he walked up with Reed and Gael on either side.
Not thatheneeded bodyguards either. I’d heard the stories of how he flattened a whole battlefield the last time he shifted.
Raucous cheers rose from the crowd as he climbed to the dais.
Kane was gracious, surprisingly calm from the outside as he raised a hand in greeting to the hundreds of gathered wolves.
When he reached the center of the dais, a wave of dominance rolled out over us, an Alpha demand for quiet.
You could almostseeit ripple through the crowd in a wave. Many stumbled back, or mouths dropped open in shock at their first taste of their new high alpha’s true power.
Little did they know, he’d only let out a thread, a tease of what he could pull when needed. None of them would ever guess that his small, smiling mate could pull the same amount of dominance when push came to shove. Only those of us closest to him would know the truth until the battle began. He wanted to instill trust, not fear.
“Welcome, and thank you all for coming. Many of you have come a great distance, at great personal cost, to be here and fight alongside me. You have left your own families, pups, and elders to fight at my side. I owe you a personal debt of gratitude, and I want each and every one of you to hear it from me first. Thank you. Your sacrifices are humbling, and I appreciate your loyalty.”
There was an eardrum-splitting roar of approval from the crowd that had my wolf on edge and flattening his ears in annoyance.
But you couldn’t deny that the people were happy. They seemed to relish a leader who acknowledged them, even en masse.
Kane gestured for silence again, and this time, it took a few more moments to simmer down, but he kept his power tightly reined in.
“My mate and I have had the pleasure of meeting with many of you over the last few days.” His gaze strayed to the front row, where all the ladies sat. His focus was no doubt on Brielle, but I couldn’t peel my own away from Elodie if a bomb had exploded three feet to my left.
She was radiant and proud, so ferociously strong in that moment, it made my heart stutter in my chest. Her chin was high, her rich blue uniform tunic freshly pressed, and her butterfly sword was gleaming in the torchlight. And the look in her eyes when they met mine for a split second? Determination, of course, but there was heat, connection there too. I was a proud male, lucky to hopefully call her mine one day.
Lucien tensed at my side as Kane asked Brielle to join him on the stage.
My heart was in my throat as Elodie walked at her side, naked sword in her hand as they climbed the steps on our side of the dais.
Her scent washed over me softly as she passed, vanilla and hazelnut making my mouth water, while the soft floral undernotes wrapped around me like a caress as I dragged in a torturously perfect lungful.
“Be ready,” Lucien murmured to Dirge and me. “I don’t know what he’s got planned, but he wanted us to be ready if things went sideways.”
Fuck.
Elodie stood a bit behind Brielle to her right, keeping cover on her even with the high alpha immediately to her left.
