+25 BONUS
Chapter 168
KLENA
The medallion caught the light again as Logan turned it slowly in his hand, making sure everyone could see Whispers had already started rippling through the crowd before he even spoke again, but when he did, his voice was sharp and commanding meant for everyone.
“A Silverclaw crest,” he said, just loud enough to be casual Just loud enough to spark fire.
Gasps cut through the courtyard.
Someone near me muttered, “But I thought it was rogues.
Another voice: “Does this mean Silverclaw broke the treaty?”
Logan let the silence stretch just long enough before continuing. “I wonder,” he said, cocking his head slightly, if that’s why Derek was so quick to offer his help. So eager to run off and ‘defend‘ us.”
I blinked, stunned.
“What the hell are you implying?” I asked sharply.
Logan didn’t even glance at me. He looked only at Derek, who had taken one slow step forward. His face was calm. His eyes were not.
“Did you want to go out there to help us, Derek,” Logan asked, voice rising, “or to make sure they got away?”
The entire crowd tensed like a bowstring
The air was thick with confusion and blooming suspicion. could see the subtle shifts–shoulders squaring, jaws tightening. This wasn’t some reckless offhand comment. Logan was seeding doubt. Out loud. In public.
Derek’s lips parted like he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. And then, with a breath, he spoke.
“I volunteered to help because there was a threat on your territory,” he said, voice low but steady. “And my son was here. I would never stand by when there’s danger near him.”
More murmurs from the crowd. Some people nodding their heads, seeing the sense in this.
Derek took another step, lifting his chin.
“And if you’re really asking me if Silverclaw violated the Alliance Summit treaty-” his voice hardened “-then I’ll answer you clearly. No. We have not. We would not.”
Logan opened his mouth, but Derek cut him off.
“I swear on Aiden’s life.”
A beat of silence.
“I swear on my son’s life that Silverclaw has honored the treaty. That we have not armed rogues, that we did not send them here, and that we are not the enemy.”
Every head in the courtyard turned to the Moonstone Alpha,
Even Logan shut his mouth.
Chapter 168,
+25 BONUS
The silence felt holy.
The Alpha studied Derek for a long moment. The only sound was the crackling of torches and the faint rustle of wind
Then he spoke.
“Any man who swears on his son’s life,” he said slowly, “particularly when that life is my grandson well. That’s good enough for me.”
The air shifted.
Relief rushed through me, so fast and dizzying that I had to link twice,
My father continued, turning his voice toward the guests as well. “It was a rogue attack. Probably designed to provoke a response like this. To turn us agalust each other, but we will not fall prey to it. Moonstone does not break at the first snap of fear. Nor do we make enemies out of allies.”
E
He gave Logan a pointed look
Then raised his arms.
*Enough of this nonsense. Let the festivities recommence!
The crowd erupted–not in celebration, not yet–but in motion. Movement. Voices. Laughter beginning to return. Just like that, the night began to breathe again.
Logan stayed still for a moment longer, then slipped away.
Derek let out a slow breath beside me.
I didn’t know what I was feeling. Anger. Relief. Gratitude.
he had when he swore o
But I knew one
e thing for certain: I’d never seen him look more like Aiden’s father
ather than he had
their bond.
The crowd gradually shifted back toward the main lawn. The Bondfires–large ceremonial flames at the center of every Moonbinding Festival–were being stacked and prepped now, and the children’s version, a smaller setup on the east end of the estate, was already surrounded by excited, bouncing young wolves holding sticks, stones, and trinkets.
