The final day of the Summit arrived under bright skies and the hum of excitent. The bloodshed of the duel died that night between five of them, and now, the estate’s sprawling grounds had transford into a fair.
Colourful tents lined the eastern fields, filled with rchants, food stalls, enchanted trinkets, and gas. It was open not just to the Alphas and their inner circles but to mbers of all the attending packs.
Music played, and laughter rang in the air; the scent of sweet spices and grilled at clung to the breeze.
Erald walked through the crowd alone, deliberately keeping to the edges.
She needed space.
After everything from Ares to Rick, Kieran, the fight, and the note, she couldn’t stomach another face-off with any of her mates. She had enough drama to fuel ten lifetis already, and she wasn’t about to invite more.
And gods help, Rick, if he ca within arm’s reach today.
Viola huffed in her mind. "You do know all of them are just looking for a way to corner you today, right?"
"I know," Erald muttered aloud as she passed a stand of leather-bound books. "That’s why I’m avoiding them."
"You can’t avoid the truth."
"I can try," she replied, sipping a honey-lemon drink from a tall crystal cup.
"You’re just pretending to enjoy this, but you’ve been scowling at the face-painting tent for five minutes."
"I’m fine."
"You’re lying."
Erald exhaled softly and kept walking. She paused at a stall selling crystal jewellery, pretending to study the pieces when a slight commotion caught her attention.
Loud voices filled the air, and one voice was particularly high-pitched and piercing.
She turned around instinctively, and her eyes landed on a child, no older than six, trembling, her eyes brimming with tears, while Alia towered over her in a glittering gown.
"I said, watch where you’re going!" Alia hissed, yanking the edge of her dress free from under the girl’s boot. "Do you know how much this costs?"
"I... I didn’t an to..." the girl whimpered.
"She’s just a kid," a passerby mumbled, but no one stepped in.
Erald’s blood boiled with anger, and without hesitation, she was already moving.
"Back off," Erald said sharply, stepping between them.
Alia blinked in surprise. "Excuse ?"
"She’s a child," Erald growled. "What’s wrong with you?"
"She stepped on my..."
"She’s a child, Alia. Try acting like a Luna instead of a tantrum-throwing debutante."
Alia’s face flushed deep red, eyes narrowing. "Always the protector," she sneered.
Erald ignored her, turned away, and crouched beside the little girl, offering a gentle smile. "Hey. It’s okay. Want to get so ice cream?"
The girl sniffled and nodded.
Erald pulled a few crisp bills from her pocket and handed them over. "Two scoops. And keep your head up, alright?"
The girl nodded quickly and scampered away, still sniffling.
Erald stood and turned slowly.
"You’re unbelievable," Alia said behind her. "Always swooping in. Still trying to prove you’re so noble martyr, like an Alpha"
"Funny, since I am one," Erald said, turning on her heel.
She didn’t get far before Alia’s voice slithered behind her. "I told you to stay away from him."
Erald paused and slowly turned. "What?"
"Rick," Alia said with a voice like poisoned honey. "I told you. But you didn’t listen."
Erald stared at her like she’d grown a second head. "You think I want him? Pffttt... If you’re so concerned, why don’t you go to him?"
Alia’s expression changed to sothing sharp and twisted, revealing not jealousy or rage, but sothing worse. "I warned you," she said. "Now you’ll see what happens when you cross ."
With that, she turned and vanished into the crowd.
Viola muttered. "I don’t like her tone."
"Neither do I," Erald agreed, unease crawling up her spine.
—
Later that evening, as the fair wound down and leaders prepared to return to their respective territories, Erald found a quiet corner by the main fountain, trying to soothe the dull ache behind her eyes.
Lucien appeared.
He always had a way of finding her when she least wanted to be found, and yet, she didn’t send him away.
"You still hiding from the rest of us?" he asked.
"I wasn’t hiding," she lied.
Lucien gave a quiet smile, then fell into step beside her. "Rember earlier? I said I had sothing I wanted to talk to you about."
Erald nodded slowly. "Yeah. I rember."
There was a pause. Then Lucien said quietly, "It’s about the cave."
Her chest tightened.
"I know it wasn’t planned," he continued. "I know you didn’t go there with bad intentions. But still... it hurt. I never took anyone there before, and you knew that."
Erald sighed. "I know. And I’m sorry."
Lucien didn’t look at her. He stared forward, hands in his pockets. "It wasn’t just the place, Erald. It was what it ant to ."
"I didn’t an for it to happen there," she said. "It just... did. And I’ve felt terrible about it ever since."
"I never brought it up," Lucien said, "because I didn’t want to guilt you. But that’s not why I pulled you aside tonight."
She turned her head slightly. "Then why?"
Lucien exhaled slowly. "Because it’s clear to everyone, Erald. You’ve developed a preference."
She blinked. "A preference?"
"Kieran."
She opened her mouth to deny it.
"I’m not angry," Lucien added. "But I’m also not blind."
Erald’s jaw clenched. "You’re wrong."
"Am I?" Lucien gave a tired smile. "You may not have spoken it, but your eyes already did."
Viola’s voice stirred. "He’s not wrong, you know."
"I’ve not chosen anyone," Erald thought back.
"No, but you always look for him first. You protect him differently. Even when he challenged Ares, you didn’t want him to go. Not like that."
"That doesn’t an anything."
"It does to them."
Erald rubbed her temples. "Even if I did... I didn’t an to; I didn’t plan it."
"I know," Lucien said gently. "And it’s okay. But the rest of us need clarity, too. Because this... this limbo, it ’s killing us."
"I didn’t ask for all of you," she whispered. "I didn’t ask to be claid by multiple mates. I didn’t ask for him." She paused. "Any of them."
"No one did, Em," he replied. "But the bonds are still there. And they hurt when they’re imbalanced."
Erald rubbed at her temple.
Lucien stepped closer. "So here’s what I propose."
She looked up.
"You spend ti with each of us at our packs, one week with each mate. No distractions, no politics, just... figuring it out."
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