Chapter 110: Him or Me

Lia

I woke to Kai's arms around me and the bond humming with strength I hadn't felt in weeks.

The Silvermane burnout was gone. My power flowed stable and controlled, anchored through our mate bond like it was supposed to be. Ruth had been right, I'd needed Kai. Needed this connection.

But admitting that felt like losing something I'd been fighting to keep.

"You're thinking too loud," Kai murmured against my hair. "I can feel it through the bond."

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry. Just tell me what's wrong." He shifted so he could see my face. "We just fixed the bond. You should be relieved."

"I am relieved. I'm also..." I struggled for words. "I spent three days trying to prove I didn't need you. Built an entire coalition, trained fifty wolves, became a symbol for dormant bloodlines. And then I almost died because I can't use my own power without you."

"That's not weakness…"

"It feels like weakness." I sat up, pulling away slightly. "It feels like everything I built, everything I am as a Luna, only works if you're there to anchor me. How is that being equals?"

Kai's expression darkened. "So you'd rather die independent than live connected to me?"

"That's not what I'm saying…"

"Isn't it?" He stood, pacing. "You're angry that you need me. Angry that the mate bond isn't just decorative but actually functional. What do you want, Lia? To be some lone wolf Luna who doesn't need anyone? Because that's not how Silvermane power works. It's not how any of this works."

"I want to not feel like I'm betraying myself every time I admit I need you!" The words burst out before I could stop them. "I want to be powerful without it being contingent on whether you're in the same room. I want…"

A knock interrupted. Theron's voice: "I'm coming in."

"The hell you are," Kai snarled.

The door opened anyway. Theron stood there, his silver eyes assessing the situation immediately. "I could hear you arguing from outside. And before you threaten to kill me, Kai, we have a bigger problem."

"What problem?" I asked.

"The coalition. They want to meet their Luna. All of them. Now." Theron's expression was grim. "Word spread about your burnout. They're scared you're too unstable to lead. Some are already talking about leaving."

"So I'll address them…"

"They don't want a speech," Theron cut me off. "They want a demonstration. Proof you can use your power safely. That you're strong enough to lead what we're building."

Kai moved between us immediately. "She just recovered. She's not demonstrating anything."

"She doesn't have a choice." Theron looked at me. "You wanted to build something for dormant bloodlines. Well, they're here. Hundreds of them. All waiting to see if you're worth following or if they should scatter back into hiding before the Circle finds them."

My stomach sank. He was right. I'd called these wolves together, given them hope, and then nearly died. They deserved proof I could actually lead.

"Fine," I said, standing despite Kai's protest. "I'll demonstrate."

"Absolutely not," Kai blocked my path. "You're still recovering. Pushing yourself right now could…"

"Could what? Show weakness? Prove I'm not fit to lead?" I met his eyes. "I don't have the luxury of recovery time, Kai. Not when hundreds of wolves are depending on me."

"Let them depend on someone else."

"There is no one else!" My voice rose. "I'm the last Silvermane Luna. I'm the only one who can unite dormant bloodlines because I'm the only one whose bloodline everyone recognizes. So either I prove I can do this, or everything we've built falls apart."

"Then let it fall apart." Kai's hands gripped my shoulders. "I don't care about coalitions or politics or symbolic leadership. I care about you surviving."

"And I care about making sure dozens of wolves didn't die for nothing!" I pulled away from him. "The Circle attacked because of me. Wolves died protecting me. I owe them more than hiding behind you while pretending to be powerful."

"You don't owe anyone your death."

"Maybe not. But I owe them my best effort." I looked at Theron. "How many wolves?"

"Two hundred. Maybe more. They're gathering in the main clearing." Theron's expression was carefully neutral. "You don't have to do this, Lia. I can address them. Buy you more time."

"No." I moved toward the door. "They need to see me. Need to know I'm stable."

"You're not stable," Kai said flatly. "You're barely twenty-four hours recovered from nearly dying. Going out there and using your power…"

"Will prove I'm anchored properly. That the mate bond works." I turned back to him. "Unless you don't trust our bond to handle it?"

The manipulation was blatant, and Kai's expression said he knew it. "Don't do that. Don't use our bond as leverage."

"Then come with me. Anchor me while I demonstrate. Show everyone that we're stronger together." I extended my hand. "Please."

For a long moment, Kai just stared at my offered hand. Then he took it.

"If you start bleeding," he said quietly, "I'm pulling you out. I don't care how it looks."

"Fair enough."

We walked to the clearing together, Theron trailing behind. I felt the weight of hundreds of eyes as we entered, wolves from packs I'd never heard of, bloodlines I didn't know existed, all gathered because I'd given them hope.

And now they wanted proof I deserved their faith.

Zara stood at the center, her amber eyes sharp. "Luna Lia. Alpha Kai. Thank you for coming." Her tone suggested they'd had no choice. "The coalition has concerns. We need to see that you're fit to lead."

"What do you need me to do?" I asked.

"Touch our bonds. All of us. Show us you can handle Silvermane power without an anchor." Zara's smile was cold. "Show us you're not just powerful because of your mate."

The challenge was clear. She wanted me to prove I could stand alone.

And I couldn't. Not without burning out again.

"That's not how Silvermane power works," Kai said before I could respond. "Luna Lia doesn't need to prove anything to you."

"Respectfully, Alpha Kai, she does." Another voice…a male Alpha I didn't recognize. "We left our packs to follow her. We risked Circle retaliation to fight beside her. We deserve to know she's not just another mate-dependent Luna who'll crumble without her Alpha holding her up."

"Watch your tone," Kai growled.

"Or what? You'll kill everyone who questions her?" The male Alpha stepped forward. "We're not your pack, Kai. We're a coalition. And coalitions need leaders who can stand on their own merit, not their mate bonds."

"Enough." My voice cut through the rising tension. "You want proof I can lead? Fine. I'll touch every bond in this clearing. Show you exactly what a Silvermane Luna can do."

"Lia…" Kai started.

"Trust me," I said through our bond.

His jaw clenched, but he nodded.

I stepped into the center of the clearing, feeling two hundred wolves' attention focus on me. Felt their doubt, their fear, their desperate hope that I was real and not just another false symbol.