Chapter 35 Isn’t That Interesting?
Lia
"He knows about Lyanna's killer."
"I know." Kai rolled onto his side, pulling me against him. "And we'll find out the truth. But on our terms. Not his."
"What if he's right? About my bloodline, about dormant wolves, about.."
"Then we'll deal with it together." He tilted my chin up. "You're not leaving, Lia. Not now. Not ever. Whatever happens, we face it as mates. As partners."
I nodded, letting myself relax into his arms.
But even as I did, unease prickled at the back of my mind.
Because Theron had been so confident when he left. Like he knew something we didn't.
Like he knew I wouldn't have a choice about leaving.
Dawn came too quickly.
Kai and I dressed in silence, both hyperaware of the guards waiting outside, of the pack that would know what we'd done the moment they saw us.
The completed bond was obvious, in the way we moved together, the way our scents had mingled, the way the mark on my neck had changed from scarred and angry to silver and beautiful.
I was Luna now. Truly.
And that made me a target more than ever before.
We made our way to the courtyard together, Kai's hand possessive on my lower back. The entire pack had gathered, along with Theron and his wolves, ready to depart.
Theron's eyes went immediately to my neck, to the completed mark, and his smile turned sharp.
"Well," he said. "Isn't that interesting? Change your mind, didn't you?"
"The bond is complete," Kai announced, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "Lia is my mate. My Luna. And under pack law, she's now bound to this pack permanently."
"Congratulations," Theron said, but there was no warmth in it. "Though I have to say, the timing is convenient. Almost like you waited until you had competition to finally commit."
"Watch yourself," Kai growled.
"Oh, I will." Theron's gaze fixed on me. "Shame, though. I was really looking forward to training you. Helping you awaken that sleeping wolf."
"She doesn't need…" Kai started.
But I cut him off, stepping forward. "You said you knew who killed Lyanna. Tell me. Tell us. The bond is complete, so I'm not leaving. But that doesn't mean we don't want answers."
Theron studied me for a long moment. Then he shrugged. "Fair enough. The killer is someone in Kai's inner circle. Someone who wanted to be Luna and saw Lyanna as an obstacle. Someone who's been systematically eliminating anyone who might threaten their position ever since."
"Seraphina," Kai said flatly.
"That would be the obvious answer," Theron agreed. "But my sources say otherwise. They say the real traitor is someone even closer to you. Someone you trust implicitly." His eyes gleamed. "Someone on your council."
The courtyard erupted.
Guards looked at each other suspiciously. The council members protested loudly. And Seraphina looked genuinely shocked, which made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, we'd been wrong about her.
"Proof," Elder Miriam demanded. "You make these accusations, but where's your proof?"
"Coming," Theron said. "My investigators will arrive within the week with documents, testimonies, everything you need. But I wanted to warn you first." His gaze returned to Kai. "Someone in your inner circle has been working against you for five years. Killing your mates, destabilizing your pack, positioning themselves to take over. And now that Lia is officially your Luna..." He paused. "They'll come for her next. Harder than before."
Kai pulled me closer, his arm tight around my waist. "Let them try."
"They will," Theron promised. "But at least now you know. At least now you can be ready." He turned to leave, then stopped. "Oh, and Lia? When your wolf starts awakening, and it will, bond or no bond—come find me. Because what's inside you is older and more dangerous than anything in this pack. And you're going to need someone who understands that."
He shifted mid-stride, his massive silver wolf form bounding toward the tree line. His pack followed, and within moments, they were gone.
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Then everyone started talking at once, accusations flying, denials shouted, the entire pack fragmenting into suspicious factions.
But I barely heard any of it.
Because as Theron disappeared into the forest, I felt something inside me shift.
Not painfully. Not dramatically.
Just a quiet unfurling, like something that had been sleeping was starting to wake up.
And for the first time in months, I wasn't afraid.
I was ready.