Chapter 116 New Equilibrium
Lira POV
I froze on the stairs, every instinct screaming danger. Elias Thornfield stood in our packhouse like he owned it. His hair gleamed in the morning light, that predatory smile never reaching his cold eyes.
"Get out." Kael's voice was lethal as he descended the stairs slowly, each step deliberate. "You're not welcome here."
"Family isn't welcome?" Elias spread his hands innocently. "Cousin, I'm hurt. I came all this way to offer condolences for your recent... troubles."
Thomas appeared from the side corridor, hand on his weapon. "How did you get past the border guards?"
"I didn't sneak in, if that's what you're implying." Elias's smile widened. "Your men let me through. After I explained I was here on official pack business."
"What business?" Kael stopped three steps from the bottom, positioning himself between Elias and me. "Speak quickly before I remove you myself."
Elias's eyes finally found me as his gaze crawled over my skin. "Our infamous Lira Ashborne." He tilted his head, studying me. "You look different than the last time I saw you. Less... broken."
"Really, it’s such a pleasure hearing that I have changed for the better,." I descended the stairs, refusing to cower.
"Have you?" His tone was light, conversational. "Or are you still a bitch who uses her pussy to keep weak men under her control”
The temperature in the room dropped.
Kael moved so fast I barely saw it. One moment he was on the stairs. The next, his hand was around Elias's throat, slamming him against the wall. "Choose your next words carefully." Kael's eyes glowed with alpha power. "They might be your last."
Elias didn't struggle, didn’t even flinched. "Truth hurts, doesn't it?" He wheezed slightly. "Knowing that you are a man that runs after anything as long as it walks on skirt, that you are a weakling, an embarrassment to your fathers legacy”
"Kael, stop." I touched his shoulder. "He wants you to lose control. Don't give him the satisfaction."
Kael's hand tightened for a heartbeat. Then he released Elias, shoving him away.
Elias straightened his clothes, still smiling. "I came to deliver a message from the Regional Supernatural Council. They've heard about recent events. The curse breaking and the display of Moonblood power."
"And?" I stepped beside Kael, refusing to hide. "What do they want?"
"They want assurance." Elias pulled a sealed letter from his jacket. "That such power won't be used against other packs. That you're not planning to reclaim territories that haven't been yours for two decades."
"Silvermoon is mine by birthright." I snatched the letter. "They have no authority over that."
"Actually, they do." Elias's smile turned sharp. "When an alpha line dies, territory returns to council jurisdiction, they redistributed Silvermoon lands years ago. Legally."
"Based on lies." Kael growled. "Based on murder and conspiracy."
"Based on necessity." Elias countered. "Silvermoon was destroyed. Someone had to maintain order in that territory. Someone had to prevent chaos."
"Someone like you." I broke the seal on the letter, scanning the contents. "Someone who profited from my family's death."
The letter was worse than I expected. The council demanded I appear before them within three weeks, submit examination of my powers and prove wasn't a threat or be declared rogue and hunted accordingly.
"This is insane." I crumpled the paper. "They want me to submit to the same council that allowed the massacre to happen?"
"The council has changed leadership since then." Elias said smoothly. "New members and priorities. They simply want to ensure history doesn't repeat itself."
"Get out." Kael's command rolled through the packhouse. "Deliver your message and leave. Now."
"Of course." Elias headed toward the door, then paused. "Oh, and Lira? If you do decide to reclaim Silvermoon? You'll have to go through me. I'm the sitting alpha recognized by the council and backed by three allied packs."
He left before any of us could respond. Silence fell over the packhouse, every pack member who'd witnessed the exchange looked shaken.
"Aria." I found her in the crowd. "The sick wolves, how many are waiting?"
"Seventeen." She hurried over. "But Lira, you just woke up. You need rest"
"I need to prove I'm not a threat." I headed toward the healing ward. "Starting with healing every wolf who needs it."
Kael caught my arm. "You heard Elias, the council is watching. Everything you do now will be scrutinized."
"Good." I pulled free. "Let them watch, let them see what Moonblood power actually does."
The healing ward was chaos. Wolves in various stages of curse-sickness lined the walls. Some convulsing, others catatonic. A few actively violent, restrained by guards. I took a steady breath as Selwyn's absence echoed through me.
"Start with the worst cases." Aria guided me to a female wolf foaming at the mouth. "Her name is Sara, she has been like this for three days."
I knelt beside Sara, placing my hands on her chest. The healing came easier this time, flowing through my palms.
But it hurt. Without Selwyn's separate presence to share the burden, every ounce of dark magic I pulled felt like swallowing poison. Sara screamed, thrashed then went limp.
"She's breathing." Aria checked her pulse. "The madness is gone."
"Next one." I stood, swaying slightly. "Quickly."
"Lira" Kael started.
"I said the next one." I snapped.
The next wolf was a young male named Mane, the infection had reached his heart. I could feel it corrupting his core. The healing took longer and it required more power and concentration.
When I finished, I collapsed to my knees.
"That's enough." Kael lifted me despite my protests. "You're destroying yourself."
"Fifteen more." I pushed against his chest weakly. "Fifteen wolves who need healing."
"Who needs their Luna alive to lead them." He carried me to a cot Aria had prepared. "Rest before you heal more. But at the cost of your own life."
I wanted to argue, I wanted to prove I was strong enough. But my body had other ideas. Darkness crept into the edges of my vision.
"Two." I negotiated. "Two more wolves then I'll rest."
"One." Kael set me on the cot. "One more, then you sleep."
"Deal." I forced myself upright. "Bring me the next sickest."