Chapter 78. Wanted
Lia
"Probably both," I admitted. "But we're out of safe choices. From here on, every decision is a risk."
"Speaking of risks…" She pulled out a message. "This arrived during the battle. From Theron. He's mobilized his full force. Sixty warriors instead of the forty he promised. And he's bringing something else. Something he says will 'change the equation.'"
"What?" Kai asked suspiciously.
"He didn't say. Just that we should 'prepare to be surprised.'" Seraphina's expression was wary. "I don't trust it. Theron doesn't do anything without an agenda."
"Right now, I'll take help from anyone willing to fight," Kai said. "Even if it comes with strings attached."
"Those strings might strangle us," I warned.
"Then we'll cut them when we need to." He looked at both of us. "Right now, our priority is survival. Everything else is secondary."
As we walked back to our quarters, both exhausted beyond measure, I couldn't shake the feeling that we'd just stepped off a cliff.
The Assembly would arrive tomorrow. The Circle would come soon after.
And somewhere out there, Theron was bringing his "surprise”….something that would either save us or damn us.
I leaned into Kai, drawing strength from the bond.
"Whatever comes," he murmured, "we face it together."
"Together," I agreed.
But in my heart, I wondered if together would be enough.
Or if we'd just united the pack in time to watch it burn.
The Assembly arrived at noon.
I'd barely slept, my body still aching from yesterday's battles, my mind racing with everything that had happened. Kai had held me through the night, both of us too wired to rest properly.
Now we stood in the formal receiving hall, dressed in ceremonial clothes despite our exhaustion. Presenting a united front.
Councilor Meredith entered first, flanked by Thomas and Yuki. Their expressions were carefully neutral, but I could see the tension in their postures.
They'd heard about yesterday. About the attack, the executions, the pack's decision.
"Alpha Kai, Luna Lia," Meredith greeted formally. "We've come for your answer regarding our recommendation."
"The answer is no," Kai said without preamble. "I will not take a second Luna. Not now, not ever. Lia is my mate, my only mate, and that will not change for political convenience."
Meredith's expression didn't change. "You understand what this means. The Assembly cannot support a pack that refuses reasonable compromise. When the Circle attacks, and they will attack, you'll face them alone."
"Not alone," Seraphina interjected from her position at the wall. "Silvercrest has pledged support. Northern Peaks. Eastern Pack defectors. We have allies."
"Rogue packs and defectors," Thomas said dismissively. "Not legitimate alliances recognized by the Assembly. If you lose this fight, those packs will be branded as traitors alongside you."
"Then we won't lose," I said firmly.
Yuki studied me with sharp eyes. "You're very confident for someone who barely survived yesterday's skirmish."
"That wasn't a skirmish," Kai corrected. "That was a coordinated assault designed to test our defenses and eliminate our Luna during a moment of internal division. And we repelled it. With casualties, yes, but we held our borders."
"Barely," Meredith said. "And that was a fraction of the Circle's forces. When they come with their full strength…"
"We'll be ready," I interrupted. "United. Determined. And fighting for our right to exist as we are, not as the Circle demands we be."
"Noble sentiments," Thomas said. "But nobility doesn't win wars. Strategy, numbers, resources…those win wars. And the Circle has all three."
"The Circle also has something we don't," Yuki added, pulling out a scroll. "This was delivered to us this morning. From an... anonymous benefactor." She unrolled it, and my blood turned to ice.
It was a bounty notice. With my face drawn in startling detail.
WANTED: ALIVE LIA KALDEN, THE SILVERMANE HYBRID REWARD: 100,000 GOLD PIECES
Terms: Must be delivered alive and unharmed. Subject required for research purposes. Successful capture will also grant territorial rights, trade agreements, and Assembly recognition.
I stared at the numbers, my mind struggling to process. One hundred thousand gold pieces. That was enough wealth to sustain a small pack for a decade. Enough to buy loyalty from desperate wolves.
"Who posted this?" Kai demanded, his voice lethal.
"As I said, anonymous," Yuki replied. "But the gold is real. We've verified it. Someone has deposited the full amount in secured accounts, payable upon your Luna's verified capture and delivery."
"This is insane," Seraphina said. "The Assembly can't possibly endorse…"
"We don't endorse it," Meredith said quickly. "But we also can't ignore it. This bounty was posted three days ago. Before yesterday's attack. Which means the Eastern Pack assault wasn't about destroying Feril. It was about capturing Luna Lia."
The pieces clicked together with sickening clarity. The coordinated timing with the Hunt. The way they'd herded me instead of trying to kill me outright. The fact that they'd retreated so quickly once reinforcements arrived.
They'd been trying to capture me, not kill me.
"Someone wants to study me," I said quietly. "Research my bloodline. Figure out how Silvermane powers work."