Chapter 148

It felt as if I had stepped into some kind of enchanted haze. With every stroke of Kenzo’s tongue against mine, I sank deeper into a blissful trance, losing myself in the moment. The world around me faded, the shouts and jubilant cheers of those surrounding us reduced to a distant hum. His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer with every ragged breath, his chest muscles flexing against my body.

But as the chanting grew louder, reality came rushing back. My surroundings sharpened, and a sudden wave of heat flushed my face, flooding me with embarrassment. A surge of strength shot through me, compelling me to push Kenzo away. The force of it broke our kiss, and he leaned back, amusement dancing in his eyes as he took in my flustered expression. A grin stretched across his lips.

“You only make me want you more,” he murmured against my lips before placing a lingering peck there, then finally letting me go.

I exhaled deeply, struggling to rein in my emotions. My mind was a storm, a chaotic blend of pain, guilt, and the intoxicating high of victory. I needed space—a moment alone to process everything. Two people who had meant the world to me were gone. They had died because they tried to save me. They died… because of me.

Calliope Drayton—the mother I barely remembered, the mother who had never been there but had loved me enough to send someone to watch over me. And Oberon… he had been more than a protector; he was my mentor, my guardian, the closest thing I had to a father. The moment I learned he had been tortured to death by Merrick, it felt like my soul had been ripped from my body. If only I had been stronger. If only I had gained power sooner. Maybe I could have saved him. Maybe he would still be alive…

But now wasn’t the time to mourn. I had to push the pain down, bury it deep, and pretend I was fine. Inhaling sharply, I forced a measured breath and painted a stiff, practiced smile on my face. My eyes found Kenzo, who, now fully dressed, had transformed before my eyes. Gone was the man who had just kissed me senseless—in his place stood the ruthless leader, a king in the making.

He strode toward Iskander’s unconscious, bloodied form, the defeated Alpha lying motionless on the ground. A cold smirk curled Kenzo’s lips as he gazed down at him, the weight of his dominance palpable. Around us, the Moon Valley Pack members tensed, fear flickering in their eyes. Their leader had fallen. And they knew what that meant.

Kenzo lifted his gaze to a broad-shouldered, dark-blonde man whose hair was tied back in a ponytail. His Beta.

“You’re Daxton, right?” Kenzo’s tone was cool, commanding.

Daxton hesitated before stepping forward, his movements rigid. His jaw clenched, hands fisting at his sides. I could see the fury simmering beneath his skin—not at Kenzo, but at Iskander for losing.

“I am Daxton Davis, former Beta to Alpha Iskander,” he ground out through gritted teeth.

Kenzo barely nodded. “Good. Call your elders and have them meet in the audience hall within the hour. The Moon Valley Pack will sign a pact to settle this conflict.”

Daxton dipped his head in acknowledgment before turning to leave, but Kenzo caught his shoulder.

“Take care of this trash first,” he said, gesturing toward Iskander’s body.

Daxton swallowed hard. “Take care of him… how?”

Kenzo’s smirk turned wicked. “You have dungeons, don’t you?”

Understanding darkened Daxton’s features. “Understood.” He waved over three pack members, and they immediately set to work dragging Iskander’s unconscious body toward imprisonment.

I nudged Leif’s elbow, leaning close to whisper, “Is Kenzo really just going to let them walk free after all this?”

Leif only shrugged. “Relax. They know they don’t stand a chance against us. They won’t risk their lives for someone like Iskander.”

“So, they’re just going to follow whatever orders Kenzo gives them?” I asked, still skeptical.

“They know the rules,” he said, smirking. “The moment their Alpha lost, they had no choice but to submit. That’s how it works.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “I’ll relax when they sign the pact and swear their loyalty to Kenzo.”

Leif led me to a nearby washroom, where I splashed cold water on my face, scrubbing away the remnants of blood. The reflection in the mirror was finally starting to resemble me again, but I still felt the weight of everything pressing down on me. Kenzo wasn’t by my side, but I couldn’t blame him.

He had responsibilities now—his Gammas were with him, laying the groundwork for the new order within the Moon Valley Pack. They had a mountain of work ahead before the elders would even see the pact, let alone sign it.

And as much as I craved his presence, I wasn’t sure I could handle it right now. Pretending to be okay in front of him was exhausting. I wasn’t ready for that yet.

The next hour passed in a whirlwind of restless thoughts. Kenzo and his Gammas convened with the Moon Valley Pack’s elders, while the rest of us were instructed to gather at a hill just beyond the town’s borders. Nestled deep within the woods, it seemed like an ideal place for wolves to roam freely, far from prying human eyes. But tonight, the hill served a different purpose—it had become the sacred ground where the pack would swear loyalty to their new Alpha, Kenzo.

In truth, their pack was now a colony under the Blue Moon Kingdom. Though they would maintain their identity, their governance would shift. A figure of authority—something akin to a governor—would oversee the town and its people in Kenzo’s name. In return, they would receive the protection and support of the Blue Moon Pack. But that security came at a cost. A tribute had been imposed, a form of reparation for their past transgressions, ensuring that every pack once wronged by the Moon Valley Pack would be compensated.

The elders, keenly aware of their precarious position, wasted no time in accepting Kenzo’s terms. Without Iskander, they had no real means of defending themselves against an impending invasion from the Southern Moon Pack. Signing the treaty with the Blue Moon Pack was their only salvation. And they took it without hesitation.

Half an hour later, Gamma Alistair approached me.

“Alpha wants you at the top of the hill,” he informed me.

I blinked at him, confused. “Why?”

“He wants you by his side when the pack pledges to him.” His grip was firm as he took my hand, guiding me up the steep incline.

I would have preferred to stay below, watching from a safe distance, but exhaustion dulled my resistance. Without argument, I followed. When we finally reached the summit, I cast a glance downward—and my breath hitched.

The entire Moon Valley Pack was gathered at the base of the hill.

“There are so many of them,” I murmured in astonishment.

Alistair nodded solemnly. “Most of them were enslaved—forced to serve the wealthier members of their own pack, those who wielded power with cruelty.”

“Slaves…” I whispered, the word feeling heavy on my tongue.

It was written in their postures—the way their shoulders hunched, their heads bowed, their expressions hollowed by years of subjugation. The weight of oppression clung to them like a shadow. There were hundreds.

“Thalassa!” Kenzo’s voice called to me, snapping me from my thoughts. He gestured for me to stand beside him.

Uneasy, I approached with a hesitant smile, still uncertain why he wanted me there. As soon as I was within reach, he pulled me close, his arm wrapping securely around my waist. A knowing smirk curved his lips, instantly putting me on high alert.

Leaning toward him, I murmured under my breath, “Are you going to tell me why I’m here?”

His grip tightened slightly as he whispered back, “I need you, and you’ll understand soon enough.” Then his gaze shifted toward the assembled crowd.

Before I could question him further, he took my hand in his, lifting it for all to see. I narrowed my eyes at him, silently praying he wouldn’t do something that would leave me mortified in front of an entire pack.

“Hear me, Moon Valley Pack!” Kenzo’s voice rang out, commanding attention. “I know that many of you have suffered under Alpha Iskander’s rule, but that ends today! From this moment forward, you are part of the Blue Moon Pack! You will serve as our colony in the south!”

The crowd remained eerily quiet, their expressions guarded. I could sense their unease, their wariness. They had no reason to believe that their circumstances would change—that they wouldn’t simply trade one form of oppression for another.

Kenzo must have anticipated their doubt because his next words struck like lightning.

“There is someone standing beside me who played a crucial role in your liberation!” He raised our intertwined hands higher. “She may be human, but she is no ordinary human. Her name is Thalassa Drayton!”

A ripple of murmurs spread through the gathered wolves, their apprehension shifting into something else entirely—recognition. Kenzo wasn’t finished.

“She is the daughter of Alpha Calliope Drayton!” he declared.

A wave of noise crashed over the crowd, not in fear, but in exhilaration. The name ignited something within them. Suddenly, the despair that had dulled their eyes was replaced with something I hadn’t expected—hope. They began chanting, voices rising in unison, calling out both my mother’s name and mine.

I stood frozen, caught between disbelief and unease.

Jerking Kenzo’s hand, I hissed, “What the hell is happening? How do they even know who my mother and I are?”

His smirk deepened as he leaned in. “Most of these people were sold into slavery by Cassius Marwood.”

That only confused me further. “Then why would they revere my mother so much?”

Kenzo cupped my chin gently, tilting my face toward the sea of people below, their cheers growing louder, more fervent.

“They were once loyal to your mother,” he murmured, his voice threaded with certainty. “Because they were once part of the Blood Moon Pack. And now…” His thumb brushed against my jawline.

“…They will be loyal to you.”