Lyra's POV
The sudden silence across the festival grounds felt unnatural. Only moments ago, the air had been filled with music, laughter, and celebration. Lanterns swayed gently overhead, and wolves from different packs had been dancing and cheering.
Now… Everyone stood still, Watching, waiting. I tightened my grip on Kiera's arm as we stopped walking. "What's going on?" she whispered. "I don't know," I replied. But something about the atmosphere made my stomach twist uneasily.
At the center of the clearing, several elders had gathered together. Their presence alone was enough to command attention. Elders rarely interrupted celebrations unless something serious had happened. Or something serious was about to happen. One of them stepped forward. His voice carried easily across the crowd. "Attention."
The murmuring faded instantly. I glanced around, noticing how everyone seemed unusually tense. Even the Alphas standing near the front had straightened, their expressions turning serious. Something about this didn't feel right.
The elder continued. "As you all know, the past few years have not been easy for our territories." A ripple of quiet agreement passed through the crowd. He wasn't wrong. Rogue attacks had increased. Smaller packs had struggled to defend their borders. Even powerful packs had begun strengthening alliances to survive.
Still, I didn't understand why this needed to be announced during a festival. The elder's expression remained grave. "That is why discussions have been held between the strongest packs in our region." My chest tightened slightly.
I didn't know why. But something about his words made my instincts uneasy. "The goal," he continued, "is to ensure peace, stability, and protection for all wolves under our territories." More murmurs spread through the crowd.
Beside me, Kiera shifted uncomfortably. "This sounds political," she muttered. I nodded faintly. And political announcements during festivals usually meant one thing. The decision had already been made. The elder lifted his hand again, silencing the whispers. "To strengthen unity between our packs—" He paused.
For some reason, my heartbeat quickened. "…an alliance has been agreed upon." The words echoed through the clearing. My gaze drifted across the crowd without meaning to. And somehow, it landed on him.
Kael.
He stood among the other Alphas near the front, his tall figure impossible to miss. Even from a distance, his presence felt commanding, steady, controlled, dangerous. As if sensing my stare, his head turned. And our eyes met.
My heart skipped. I quickly looked away. The elder continued speaking. "This alliance will not only unite our territories but also create a bond that will secure our future." Something about the way he said bond made my wolf stir uneasily. Beside me, Kiera frowned.
"Why does that sound like bad news?" she whispered. I was starting to wonder the same thing. The elder drew in a slow breath before delivering the next words. "To formalize this alliance… the leading families of the two strongest packs have agreed to unite their bloodlines." My stomach dropped.
No.
Surely not.
But the elder didn't hesitate. "A marriage will be arranged." Gasps spread through the crowd. Excited whispers followed immediately; curiosity, speculation, anticipation. But I barely heard any of it.
Because suddenly, my instincts were screaming. Something about this felt far too personal. Kiera grabbed my arm tightly. "Oh my goddess," she whispered. "Who do you think it is?" I swallowed slowly.
"I don't know." But deep down… A terrible feeling was forming in my chest. The elder raised his hand once more, bringing the crowd back to silence. "The names will be announced shortly," he declared. My wolf shifted restlessly inside me.
Uneasy.
Anxious.
As if it already knew something I didn't. And for some reason… I couldn't stop thinking about the way Kael had looked at me earlier. Or the word his wolf had spoken.
Mine.
A chill ran down my spine. Because suddenly, a frightening thought crossed my mind. What if this alliance… Was meant for me?