Chapter 32 Before the Storm
I didn’t sleep after Sienna left.
How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw hundreds of wolves staring at me. Judging. Finding me wanting.
Lycian’s breathing was steady beside me. Deep. Even. But through the bond, I felt his awareness. He wasn’t sleeping either. Just pretending. Trying to give me space to process.
“I know you’re awake,” I whispered.
His arm tightened around my waist. “I know you know.”
“What time is it?”
“Four thirty. We have fourteen hours.”
Fourteen hours until my entire life changed. Again.
“Tell me about pack meetings,” I said. “What should I expect?”
He shifted. Propped himself up on one elbow. His face was barely visible in the darkness. Just the outline of his jaw. The faint glow of his eyes.
“They’re formal. Everyone stands in a circle. The Alpha presides. Anyone can speak if recognized.” His thumb traced circles on my hip. Absent. Soothing. “Marcus will make his case first. Present his concerns. Ask for the vote.”
“Then what?”
“Then Sienna presents the evidence. Shows what he’s done. After that, the pack discusses. Debates. Eventually, my father calls for a decision.”
“And if they vote against me?”
“They won’t.” His voice was firm. Final. “But if they did, we’d have forty-eight hours to leave pack territory. After that, we’d be considered rogues. Unwelcome.”
My stomach twisted. “Your whole life is here. Your family. Your future as Alpha.”
“My whole life is you.” He leaned down. Kissed me soft and slow. “Stop thinking about worst cases. We’re going to win.”
I wanted to believe him. But fear sat heavy in my chest. Cold and insistent.
We got up at six. Neither of us could lie still anymore.
Lycian made coffee while I showered. The hot water helped. A little. But my hands still shook when I tried to button my jeans.
I heard Aunt Clara’s door open. Her footsteps in the hallway. Slow and careful with her cast.
“You’re up early,” she said. Finding me in the kitchen. “Couldn’t sleep?”
“Something like that.”
She studied my face. Saw too much. She always did. “What’s wrong, baby?”
I told her everything. About Marcus. The vote. What tonight meant.
She listened without interrupting. Her good hand wrapped around her coffee mug. When I finished, she was quiet for a long moment.
“Do you love him?” she asked finally.
“What?”
“Lycian. Do you love him? Not the penthouse. Not the pack. Him.”
“Yes. Completely.”
“And he loves you?”
“He says he’d give up everything for me.”
“Then nothing else matters.” She set down her mug. Reached for my hand. “People will always judge. Always find reasons you’re not enough. Too poor. Too human. Too different. But their opinions don’t define your worth.”
“What if the whole pack thinks I’m not good enough?”
“Then the whole pack is wrong.” Her grip tightened. “You’ve survived things that would break most people. You put yourself through college. You take care of me. You fight for what matters. That’s strength, Elowen. Real strength. Not the kind that comes from shifting or pack status.”
My eyes burned. “I’m scared.”
“I know. But you’re also brave. Braver than you think.” She squeezed my hand. “Now go get dressed. Show them who you really are.”
I kissed her cheek. Went to find something to wear.
Lycian was in his closet. Pulling on dark jeans. A black button-down. He looked devastating. Dangerous. Every inch the Alpha heir.
“What should I wear?” I asked.
He turned. Looked at me standing there in my towel. His eyes darkened. The bond hummed.
“Not that,” he said. Voice rough. “Unless you want me to forget about the pack meeting entirely.”
“Lycian.”
“Right. Focus.” He moved to my side of the closet. The section he’d insisted I fill when I moved in. “Something that shows confidence. But not like you’re trying too hard.”
He pulled out a deep green sweater. Soft. Simple. The color made my eyes bright. Paired it with dark jeans. My nicest boots.
“Perfect,” he said. “Beautiful but real. Exactly who you are.”
I got dressed. He watched. Not in a creepy way. In a way that made me feel seen. Valued.
When I was ready, he pulled me close. Rested his forehead against mine.
“I need you to know something,” he said quietly. “No matter what happens tonight, you’re mine. My mate. My choice. My forever. Nothing changes that.”
“Even if your pack rejects me?”
“Especially then. Because it’ll prove they’re idiots.” He kissed me. Deep and claiming. “I love you, Elowen. Don’t ever doubt that.”
“I love you too.”
We spent the day trying to act normal. Failed.
I attempted the homework. Couldn’t focus. The words swam on the page.
Lycian worked on his laptop. But I felt his distraction through the bond. His mind kept circling back to tonight. To strategies. To what-ifs.
Around noon, Elena texted me.
Heard about tonight. You’ve got this. The pack isn’t stupid. They’ll see the truth.
Then Garrett. Marcus is a bastard. Everyone knows it. Don’t let him get in your head.
Maggie sent a GIF of a cat knocking things off a table. This is what I want to do to Marcus’s face.
Their support helped. Made the fear a little less crushing.
At five, Lycian’s phone rang. His father.
“We need to talk,” Thaddeus said. Loud enough I could hear. “Both of you. My office. Now.”
We drove to the Valor estate in silence. The bond vibrated with tension. Anticipation.
Thaddeus’s office was exactly what I expected. Dark wood. Leather furniture. Books lining the walls. The desk was massive. Intimidating.
He stood when we entered. Gestured to the chairs. “Sit.”
We sat.
He studied me for a long moment. His expression was unreadable. Finally, he spoke.
“I’ve known Marcus for more than thirty years. He’s ambitious. Ruthless. But I never thought he’d stoop this low.” He slid a folder across the desk. “Sienna shared the evidence with me. All of it.”
I opened the folder. Saw messages. Photos. Documentation of every threat. Every setup. Everything Marcus had done.
“This is damning,” Thaddeus continued. “When the pack sees this, they’ll turn on him. But I need to know something first.” He looked directly at me. “Why do you want to stay? Truthfully. Is it for my son? Or for the status? The protection?”
“For Lycian,” I said immediately. “Only for Lycian.”
“You could have both without the pack. He’d leave with you.”
“I know. But this is his home. His family. His future.” I met his eyes. Refused to look away. “I won’t be the reason he loses that.”
Something shifted in Thaddeus’s expression. Respect, maybe. Or understanding.
“The pack can be cruel,” he said. “Judgmental. Resistant to change. Even after tonight, even if you win, some will never fully accept you.”
“I know.”
“And you’re still willing to fight for a place here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I love your son. And because I’m tired of running. Tired of letting other people decide where I belong.” My voice steadied. Grew stronger. “I belong with Lycian. If that means fighting for acceptance, then I’ll fight.”
Thaddeus was quiet. Then he nodded. Once. Sharp.
“Good answer.” He stood. “The meeting starts in ninety minutes. Be ready.”
We left his office. Walked to the car. My hands were shaking again.
“That went well,” Lycian said. Trying for lightness.
“Did it?”
“He respects you. I could tell.” He opened my door. “He never would have asked those questions if he thought you’d fail.”
We drove home. Changed into fresh clothes. Lycian held my hand the entire drive back.
At six forty-five, we parked at the pack house. Cars filled the lot. Wolves streamed toward the entrance. All are heading to the main hall.
They stared as we got out. Some curious. Some hostile. Some carefully blank.
“Ready?” Lycian asked.
“No. But let’s go anyway.”
We walked in together. His hand is on my lower back. Protective. Possessive.
The hall was packed. Hundreds of wolves. All turned to look when we entered.
I felt their eyes like a physical weight. Assessing. Judging.
Marcus stood near the front. Smirking. Confident.
Then I saw Madison. Standing with her mother. She looked miserable. Broken.
Our eyes met across the room.
She mouthed two words.
I’m sorry.
Before I could process that, Thaddeus’s voice rang out.
“The pack is assembled. We begin.”