Chapter 27 027
Chapter 27 027
I woke up slow, Darius’s arm draped heavy and warm around my waist. His breath was steady on the back of my neck. For a few minutes, I just lay there, letting myself listen—wolves calling to each other somewhere out there, the low rumble and shouts of training near the pines, the distant clatter of pots from the kitchen.
The twins shifted, lazy and content inside me, like they were stretching after a good, long sleep. I placed my hand over my belly and smiled. We were safe. Actually safe.
Darius shifted behind me. He pressed a sleepy kiss to my shoulder before rolling away and running a hand through his messy hair. “You slept through the night,” he said, his voice rough from sleep. “That’s rare lately.”
“Guess the hearing wore me out more than I thought.” I pushed myself up, my borrowed shirt slipping off one shoulder. “Or maybe I just slept better knowing he can’t touch us right now.”
His face darkened just for a moment at the mention of my father, but he covered it fast. He leaned in again and kissed my forehead, letting it linger. “Stay in bed if you want. I’ll have breakfast brought over.”
I shook my head. “No. I need to get up, face the day. They’ll be watching. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m hiding.”
He held my gaze a long second, then nodded, respect flickering in his eyes. “Strong as always.”
We dressed quietly. I picked soft pants and a loose, deep green tunic that didn’t pinch at the growing curve of my belly. Darius stuck to his usual—simple dark shirt and pants. He didn’t need anything fancy to remind anyone he was in charge. Outside, the air tasted of wet earth and pine. Wolves nodded as we passed, some eyeing me with curiosity, others with something warmer than before.
Rhen met us by the path, holding a sealed envelope. The wax had the regional council’s mark—a stylized mountain with an arrow through it. My stomach tightened.
“It came at dawn,” Rhen said, handing it to Darius. “Courier rode through the night. It’s marked urgent, not hostile.”
Darius broke the seal right there. I leaned in, reading over his arm as he unfolded the thick paper. The words were stiff—legal and careful—but the meaning was clear as day.
The council had dismissed every charge against Darius. My own name was there too—listed now as Meira Vael, not just Silver Fang. Voluntary member. They’d told Nicholas—my father—a formal investigation would begin soon: espionage, false testimony, abuse of power. He had to preserve all evidence and stay away from Vael land unless the council was there.
There was a message for me, too. The council thanked me for my testimony, offered protection, and told me to reach out to Sera if I needed more help.
I read it twice. Tears blurred the words the second time.
“They’re really doing it,” I whispered. “Not just a warning. They’re actually investigating him.”
Darius folded the letter and slipped it inside his shirt. “This is just the start. His old allies will turn on him now. Lawyers, witnesses—they’ll all line up once he looks weak.” He found my hand and squeezed it. “How are you feeling?”
I let out a shaky breath, watching the trees sway. “Relieved. Angry. And honestly… sad. He’s still my father. Even when he treated me like a bargaining chip, part of me hoped he cared, that he thought he was doing the right thing for the pack. Now I see—it was always just power for him.”
Rhen cleared his throat, quiet but present. “The whole pack already heard the basics. News traveled fast last night. Some are celebrating quietly—might be a bit more ale tonight, if you allow it. Others, especially those who lost someone in the Ironwood mess… they’re waiting, watching. They want real justice this time.”
Darius nodded. “Call everyone to the clearing at midday. Short meeting. Meira can speak, if she wants. No pressure—just let them see her strength.”
I was grateful for that. No orders, just a choice. “I’ll speak,” I said. “And keep it brief. They should hear it from me, not thirdhand.”
We headed toward the main hall for a simple breakfast—bread, smoked meat, herbal tea. Inside, voices quieted when we walked in. Eyes followed me—not hostile, just measuring. A young she-wolf I’d sparred with a few weeks ago offered a nervous smile. I smiled back. For a second, I almost felt I belonged.
After breakfast, Darius pulled me aside near the back. “You don’t have to do this all alone,” he said softly. “The investigation’s going to dig up old wounds—about your father, about mine. If it gets too heavy—”
“I know.” I reached up, smoothed my hand along his jaw. The stubble was rough under my fingers. “But I’m not the scared girl who ran from that ceremony anymore. These babies—” I took his hand and pressed it to my belly. One of the twins kicked, strong. “They’re going to grow up knowing the truth. Not lies, not control.”
His eyes softened with something rare and raw. “I’ve been