87- The Alpha's Judgement
POV Lunara Grimwald:
“I highly doubt it,” Edric declared, arching an eyebrow. “With the number of guards I’ve posted around the territory, they wouldn’t risk it. They won’t even be able to get close enough.”
“And what if someone betrays you?” I asked an obvious question. He sighed in exasperation, seeming offended.
“ Nobody would betray me, I’m their alpha.” He bristled.
“But it could happen.”
“It could, but it won’t.”
“If someone betrays Edric, they will die in the worst possible way. I can’t imagine how anyone could be so stupid as to trade information with them,” Anton murmured.
“That’s because Edric wouldn’t be able to control himself. He would kill the traitor the moment he found out the truth. If it were me, I’d send them to the elders’ prison,” Andrei declared.
“Elders’ prison?” I asked, confused.
“ Where traitor wolves are kept. They never leave there, only when death finds them,” Celindra explained.
That made sense. There were five packs; keeping order in all of them must be... tiring. Although each had an alpha to lead.
“There’s nothing more satisfying than taking a life that’s good for nothing, especially traitors.” Edric laughed. “Sending them to the elders’ prison would rob me of that opportunity.”
“You’ve never sent anyone to their prison?” I asked. He shook his head.
“Not alive, at least.”
They moved on to a lighter topic, discussing where the fires would be lit. I picked up the knife and tried to carve a piece of wood, failing miserably at the task, before giving up and going to the kitchen to prepare lunch for everyone.
I watched them all for a second, and a smile spread across my face. Elowen would like them all; she would live happily in Eldoria, if things were always like this.
...
The silver light spilled over the tall pyres burning around the open clearing, and the early winter chill nipped at my skin as I watched the pack gathered around the dancing flames.
A lively melody played as five wolves performed on different instruments, blending together into the perfect tune for the frozen night. One of them played a cimbalom; another, a flute; the third, a violin; the fourth male held a drum. And to complete the band, an accordion.
Their voices echoed loudly, reverberating through the trees:
“Together we are strong, together we will sing. Beneath the ancient moonlight, we dance. Eldoria, our glory, until dawn. On Samhain, our souls will be reborn.”
“This is incredible,” I whispered, the vapor of my breath marking the air.
“Wait until Beltane,” Lyris replied beside me, rubbing her arms to drive away the cold. “When it’s warm, everything’s better.”
They danced around the bonfires, extending their palms to touch the flames as they spun in perfect circles, stirring up the fallen leaves that had covered the ground.
The snow hadn’t started falling yet, but I suspected it wouldn’t take long, with the temperature dropping lower and lower.
“Finally, a new year,” Celindra sighed, swallowing a bit of țuică to warm herself. “I thought this day would never come.”
Their festive dates were different, following traditions far too ancient for me to fully grasp. In Twilight and Eclipse, the alphas had chosen to align with human holidays, embracing modern times. But it wasn’t like that in Eldoria. Though they used technology, modernizing themselves over the years, they still preserved those small, ancient customs. And, in a way, I liked that—this sense of originality.
“Why?” I asked, pulling a shot of țuică from the small round wooden table in front of us. I took a deep breath and brought it to my lips, downing the entire drink. The warmth of the strong liquor was comforting, though it made me shiver.
Celindra shrugged.
“Last year was... chaotic.” She gave me a look. “I mean, no offense, I’m not talking about you coming into our lives,” she amended quickly, blushing with embarrassment. “I’m just talking about the deaths, all the chasing, and...”
“I understand, Celindra. Don’t worry,” I interrupted with a wave of my hand. “I’m not offended.”
“You showing up in our lives was the best thing that’s happened in years,” said Lyris. “Things had been far too boring.”
I blew out a laugh.
“I certainly made your lives less boring,” I teased.
A few people passed by me and lowered their heads in silent greeting. I gasped, startled by the small gesture I hadn’t expected. They usually ignored me at parties, avoided me as if I were a plague.
I grabbed Lyris’s arm and leaned toward her ear.
“What’s going on?” I whispered, glancing around in surprise.
She pursed her lips, thinking.
“I think everyone’s heard that Edric’s been ignoring Thalira.”
“And?” I pressed, unable to hold back.
“And for that to happen, it can only mean one thing: that he’s getting involved with you. As our alpha, they know you’ll soon become the Queen of Eldoria.”
I blinked, shaking my head in denial.
“They’re wrong.”
Celindra burst out laughing.
“Really? That bite mark on your neck, quite similar to the one he’s showing off on his own neck, is that a sign of this so-called ‘mistake’?” she asked mockingly, making air quotes with her fingers.
Heat rushed up my neck, concentrating in my face.
I hadn’t thought about how the bite would look to them, but with them bringing it up, everything suddenly became so obvious.
Heavens.
“So... they think Edric and I are... together?” I cleared my throat; my voice came out barely above a whisper.
Lyris lifted her mug of beer to her lips, hiding a smile.
“Well, Lunara, let me explain something to you, since you seem to have no idea how things work with mated pairs.” I fixed my eyes on her and nodded for her to continue. “When a couple shows up with fresh bite marks on their bodies and reeking of each other”—she flared her nostrils—“like you’ve been reeking of Edric these past few days, and he of you, it means that the couple”—she cleared her throat—“has, uh... kind of copulated.”