Chapter 88: The Sovereignty of Souls
The tension in the air was thick, like the gathering of a heavy summer storm. Alpha Kaelen stood tall, his gaze fixed on the Moon-Oak as if trying to find a weakness in its silver brilliance. Behind him, the Northern envoys held their breath, their loyalty torn between their traditional fears and the undeniable peace radiating from the Silver Moon valley.
"You speak of a New Dawn, Silas," Kaelen said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous rumble. "But a world without the Council's order is a world where anyone can claim power. How do you protect your borders when you have discarded the very chains that kept the rogues at bay?"
Silas didn't back down. He stepped closer to Kaelen, his eyes reflecting the soft glow of the tree. "We don't protect our borders with chains anymore, Kaelen. We protect them with choice. Every wolf here stays because they want to, not because they have to. That is a strength you will never understand until you let go of your fear."
Elara stepped forward, her silver mark pulsing with a rhythmic light. "The Moon-Oak isn't just a symbol. It's a living bond. If anyone approaches with malice, the tree knows. If they approach with a genuine heart, it welcomes them. The Sovereignty of Souls is our new law."
Kaelen scoffed, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He reached out a hand, hesitating for a moment before letting his fingertips touch the shimmering leaves of the sapling. Instead of a burn or a shock, he felt a wave of profound calm—a memory of his own pack before the Council's corruption.
"It... it remembers us," Kaelen whispered, his scarred face softening for a split second.
But the moment was broken by a sudden, piercing howl from the distant peaks. It wasn't a Northern howl, nor was it from the Silver Moon. It was a cry of pure, distorted rage—the 'True-Blood' factions had arrived, and they didn't come to talk.
"It seems the choice has been made for us," Kaelen said, shifting his stance and baring his teeth. "Let's see if your 'peace' can survive a war of blood."