Chapter 46 CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN SECOND PART
ALEX
The medical examination takes two hours. They test my reflexes, my cognitive function, and my ability to shift and maintain control. They ask questions designed to probe for paranoia or irrational thinking. They even have me perform complex strategic exercises to test my judgment.
Through it all, Alora waits outside, and I feel her anxiety through our bond. I send reassurance, love, and certainty that I'll pass every test.
Because I will. She healed me. Made the bond sustainable instead of destructive.
Finally, the head doctor, an older wolf named Stevens, looks up from his notes.
"Your vital signs are normal. Cognitive function is excellent. No signs of the typical bonding madness symptoms." He frowns at his clipboard. "In fact, you seem... calmer than usual. More centered."
"That's what a good mate does," I say simply.
He makes another note. "The council will want to review these results. But preliminarily, I see no cause for concern."
Relief floods through me, and I feel Alora's matching emotion through the bond.
"There's one more thing," Stevens says as I stand to leave. "The blood-wolf. We'll need to examine her as well. Document her abilities. Understand the mechanism of her healing."
Every protective instinct I have roars to life. "No."
"Alpha Stone—"
"She's not a specimen to be studied." My voice goes hard. "She's my mate. My Luna. And she will not be poked and prodded like some curiosity."
Stevens raises his hands. "I understand your protectiveness. But if we're to convince the other packs that blood-wolves aren't threats, we need documentation. Evidence that can be shared."
He's not wrong. But the thought of them examining her, testing her abilities, makes my wolf snarl.
"I'll discuss it with her," I say finally. "But it's her choice. Not yours. Not the council's. Hers."
I leave before he can argue, finding Alora pacing in the hallway. She spins when she hears me, and I catch her as she throws herself into my arms.
"Well?" she asks against my chest.
"I passed. No signs of madness." I kiss the top of her head. "Told you."
Through the bond, I feel her relief. But also her remaining fear.
"They want to examine me next," she says quietly. "Don't they?"
I pull back to look at her. "How did you know?"
"I could feel your anger through the bond. It wasn't hard to guess." She takes a breath. "I'll do it."
"No—"
"Alex." Her hand covers my mouth. "If it helps convince them I'm not a threat, if it keeps the pack safe, I'll do it."
"You don't have to prove anything to them."
"Yes, I do." Her eyes meet mine, determined. "I'm asking them to accept me despite everything they've been taught. The least I can do is help them understand what I am."
Through the bond, I feel her resolve. She's made up her mind.
"Fine," I say, even though every instinct screams to protect her from this. "But I'm there for every test. Every examination. And if they cross a line—"
"I know." She smiles slightly. "You'll tear them apart. I can feel it through the bond."
The ceremony itself is brief but significant. Elder Margaret performs the traditional Luna blessing, marking Alora's forehead with sacred oils. The pack watches in silence as I place my family's Luna pendant around her neck—a silver crescent moon that's been passed down through generations.
"By the power vested in me as head of this council," Elder Margaret says, her voice carrying through the chamber, "I recognize Alora Stone as Luna of Silver Creek Pack. May she guide and protect, heal and strengthen, as all good Lunas do."
The formal words hang in the air. Then, slowly, pack members begin to kneel. One by one, they acknowledge their new Luna, even if fear still shadows their faces.
Alora stands tall beside me, the Luna pendant gleaming against her throat. Through our bond, I feel her mixture of pride and terror.
"You're doing great," I send to her.
"They're still scared of me."
"Give them time. They'll learn what I already know, that you're the best thing that's ever happened to this pack."
When the last pack member has knelt, Elder Margaret speaks again.
"The ceremony is complete. But before we adjourn, there's one more matter to address." She looks directly at me. "The Northern Pack has requested an audience. They wish to... negotiate."
My jaw tightens. "I've already told them—"
"They claim to have new information. Information about threats to our territory beyond their own alliance." Elder Margaret's expression is troubled. "They've requested a formal parley under the old laws. We cannot refuse without declaring war."
Through the bond, I feel Alora's fear spike.
"When?" I ask through gritted teeth.
"Tomorrow at dawn. Neutral territory, the old meeting grounds." Elder Margaret looks between us. "They've specifically requested that your mate be present."
"Absolutely not—"
"I'll go," Alora says quietly.
Every eye turns to her.
"It's me they want to discuss," she continues, her voice growing stronger. "I should be there. Hear what they have to say."
"It's too dangerous—"
"So is refusing a formal parley." She looks at me, and through the bond, I feel her certainty. "We need to know what they know. What they're planning. This might be our only chance to find out without going to war."
She's right. I hate it, but she's right.
"Fine," I say finally. "But we go with a full guard. Twenty warriors, Marcus as my Beta, and—" I look at Elder Margaret, "—a council representative. This needs to be witnessed."
"Agreed," Elder Margaret says. "I'll attend personally."
As the assembly breaks up, I pull Alora aside, away from listening ears.
"Are you sure about this?" I ask quietly. "Once they see you in person, confirm what you are..."
"They already know what I am." She touches the mate mark on her shoulder through her shirt. "But maybe if they see us together, see that you're not mad, they'll realize blood-wolves aren't the threat they think we are."
"Or it will make them want you more."
"Then we deal with that when it comes." She rises on her toes to kiss me. "Together. Like we promised."
Through the bond, I feel her love. Her trust. Her absolute faith that we'll find a way through this.
I just hope that faith isn't misplaced.
Because tomorrow, we're walking into a meeting with wolves who want to take her from me.
And I'm not sure I can control my wolf if they try.