Kael's POV
The festival was still roaring with excitement.
Music played.
Voices carried across the clearing.
Laughter echoed beneath the lantern lights.
But I had already lost interest in the celebration.
The moment the elders announced the alliance, everything shifted.
The crowd had erupted , cheering, speculating, celebrating what they believed was a brilliant political move.
But all I could think about was one thing.
Lyra Valen.
The moment her name had been spoken beside mine, something inside my chest had tightened.
Not surprise.
Not exactly.
Something deeper.
Because the truth was… part of me had always suspected this would happen.
Our packs had been circling each other politically for years.
An alliance was inevitable.
But I hadn't expected her.
Or maybe…. I had.
My wolf stirred restlessly.
Mine.
I rubbed a hand across my face in frustration.
"Kael."
I turned.
My younger sister, Sienna, stood a few steps away, studying me with open curiosity.
"You disappeared pretty quickly after the announcement," she said.
"I needed air."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Right."
She didn't sound convinced.
Sienna crossed her arms.
"You know the entire festival is talking about you now, right?"
"That's not surprising."
"No," she said dryly.
"But what is surprising… is the girl."
My attention sharpened immediately.
"What about her?"
She tilted her head.
"You've been acting strange all day."
"I always act the same."
"Wrong."
She stepped closer, lowering her voice slightly.
"I saw you during the competition."
I stayed silent.
"You weren't focused," she continued.
"You were watching her."
Damn.
"And?" I asked.
"And that's not something you normally do."
I shrugged lightly.
"It was nothing."
Sienna stared at me for another second.
Then she sighed dramatically.
"You're terrible at lying."
Before I could respond, another voice cut through the conversation.
"Kael."
I turned again.
My father stood near the entrance to the Alpha tents.
Alpha Darius Draven.
Leader of Shadowfang Pack.
His presence alone was enough to make nearby wolves step aside.
He studied me quietly.
"Walk with me."
Of course.
I followed him into the larger tent where private meetings between pack leaders were usually held.
Maps covered the central table.
Documents lay scattered across its surface.
This wasn't a family conversation.
It was strategy.
My mother stood near the far side of the tent, her posture composed, her expression thoughtful.
Luna Elara Draven.
She looked between us calmly as we entered.
My father spoke first.
"The announcement has been made."
"Yes."
"And the response has been positive."
That didn't surprise me.
Political alliances always looked impressive from the outside.
My father stepped closer.
"This marriage will stabilize the region."
There it was.
Not romance.
Not family.
Power.
Security.
Control.
I crossed my arms.
"And what exactly do you expect from me?"
His gaze held mine steadily.
"Discipline."
A pause.
"Leadership."
Another pause.
"And cooperation."
I let out a quiet breath.
"In other words… obedience."
His expression didn't change.
"In other words," he corrected calmly,
"responsibility."
The same word Lyra's father had likely used on her.
Responsibility.
Duty.
Sacrifice.
My mother stepped forward slightly.
"Darius," she said gently,
"Kael understands his role."
My father didn't argue.
Instead, he continued.
"The council will begin preparations immediately."
My jaw tightened.
Of course they would.
Everything had already been decided.
Everything except whether either of us wanted it.
My mother studied my face carefully.
Not accusing.
Not suspicious.
Observing.
"You seem restless," she said quietly.
I didn't deny it.
"This alliance came sooner than expected."
"That is true," she replied.
Her voice softened slightly.
"But sometimes the unexpected brings clarity."
I frowned faintly.
"What kind of clarity?"
She held my gaze.
"The kind that reveals what truly matters."
That sounded less like politics.
And more like instinct.
My father, however, had already moved on.
"You will meet with Mooncrest leadership tomorrow morning," he said.
Not suggested.
Scheduled.
"Formal negotiations will begin."
I nodded once.
Understood.
Handled.
Controlled.
That was how these things worked.
The conversation ended as abruptly as it began.
My father turned back toward the table, already focused on strategy.
My mother lingered for a moment longer.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Kael."
I paused near the tent entrance.
Her voice had changed.
Softer.
More personal.
"Be patient."
I glanced back.
"With what?"
She offered a small, knowing smile.
"With her."
That was all she said.
But it was enough.
I stepped outside into the cool night air.
The sounds of the festival had softened now, fading into the distance.
But my thoughts were anything but quiet.
Lyra Vale.
My future wife.
The girl who insisted nothing existed between us.
The girl who looked at me like I was a threat.
My wolf stirred again.
Restless.
Persistent.
Certain.
Mine.
I stared toward the dark forest surrounding the festival grounds.
Something told me she had gone that way earlier.
Alone.
My instincts sharpened immediately.
Without thinking, I started walking in that direction.
Because there was still one thing I needed to understand.
If she truly didn't feel the bond. Then why did her wolf react every time I came close?
And more importantly…
Why did it look like she was trying so hard to hide it?