"Are you ready?" Lucien asked in a low voice beside her.
Erald glanced at him briefly as they walked side by side down the estate’s main steps, the morning sun barely warming the early chill in the air. Her hood was drawn low, shadows cast over her tired features. "Does it matter?"
Behind them, Talia stood tall, even though she was flanked by two guards and had wolfsbane chains around her wrists.
Her face was bruised, and her lip was split, but she held her head high. She looked defiant and proud, but there was sothing almost delusional about her strength.
Trailing her were a dozen others: elders, guards, forr allies... all guilty, all silent.
They made their way toward the town square, where a crowd was already gathered.
Hundreds of pack mbers, families, warriors, rchants, and even children sat perched on shoulders, stood waiting in tense silence. So looked afraid, others angry. All waited to hear what was going to happen.
Lucien stepped forward onto the platform. Erald took her place slightly behind him, beside two of the remaining loyal guards. She watched as Talia and the others were led up in front of the crowd.
Lucien’s voice rang out across the square. "These are the ones who betrayed you."
A hush fell...not even the wind stirred.
"They conspired to overthrow this pack’s leadership. They manipulated, threatened, and murdered their way into power. And they nearly succeeded."
Whispers rippled across the crowd.
"They are responsible for the rogue attacks, for the attempt on my life... and for the attempt on the life of Alpha Erald of the Western Shadow Fang Pack."
More murmurs and shocked gasps followed.
Lucien’s voice hardened. "But it doesn’t stop there."
He turned to face the people directly.
"For those who rember the ti of forced servitude... our darker history... you should know: many of the council mbers who claid ignorance were not only aware, they benefited from it."
Several people gasped aloud this ti, the murmurs rising.
Lucien gestured toward one of the elders, who shrank under the attention. "They kept the old ways alive, quietly. Behind closed doors. But they were always there, waiting for a mont to bring it back."
Erald kept her eyes on the crowd. She saw horror on so faces, disbelief on others. But the truth was there, like a wound reopened. The pack was bleeding again, but this ti, maybe it could heal.
Lucien looked back at the traitors. "Do you deny it?"
Talia raised her head slowly. There was blood on her lip, and her voice was raw. "No."
Gasps again.
One of the elders next to her growled, "Talia—"
"Shut up," she snapped. Her pride was cracked and crumbling. "He’s right. We thought he didn’t deserve the seat. We thought fear would bring the people back in line."
"And the slavery?" Lucien asked.
She looked away.
Lucien turned back to the crowd. "You heard her."
The square was no longer silent. People murmured, debated, and cried. Erald remained still, but her hands curled at her sides.
Talia had tried to erase her like she was a smudge on the wall. And now, after all that destruction, she stood there... quiet, head bowed. It didn’t feel like enough.
Lucien raised a hand, and the noise fell again. "According to our laws," he said, "cris of treason and conspiracy warrant execution."
A sharp collective breath filled the square.
Erald’s gaze snapped to him.
He let that silence hang for a long mont.
"But the old way is dead," Lucien continued. "Today... there will be no execution. We are not the pack we used to be."
The murmurs stopped again, this ti in shock.
Lucien stood tall. "We are not ruled by blood and vengeance. We do not return fire with fire. We rise above it."
He looked at the traitors one last ti.
"These traitors will be stripped of rank, pack status, and protection. They will be taken to the border and exiled. Should any of them return within one hundred feet of Midnight Fang territory, they are to be killed on sight."
The pack didn’t cheer or clap. But their quietness wasn’t from fear anymore; it was from relief.
Lucien had just proven sothing louder than violence... he had shown rcy.
He turned to the guards. "Escort them."
As the guards moved to escort the traitors away, Erald let out a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding.
—
They rode back toward the estate after the crowd dispersed. Lucien lingered behind to speak with the people, exchanging quiet nods and reassurances. Erald remained silent beside him as the gates shut behind them.
When they finally reached the inner hall, Lucien turned to her. "You’ve been quiet."
She shrugged. "Was just thinking... you surprised today."
"How so?"
"You could’ve killed them."
He nodded. "I know."
"Why didn’t you? Execution is the standard for treason. Especially for everything they did."
Lucien t her gaze. "Because I learned sothing."
She raised a brow.
He continued, "I learned that a ruler who leads only with punishnt will never be followed. They’ll only be feared."
She studied him for a beat.
"Learnt that from soone," he added. "Soone who told that rcy doesn’t make you weak."
Erald looked away, pretending the words didn’t hit harder than she expected.
"I didn’t do it for them," Lucien said. "I did it for the people watching. I had to show them that I wasn’t the monster they thought I was."
She nodded once. "It was the right call." She turned to leave, but he caught her wrist gently. "Erald..."
She stopped.
Lucien stepped closer. "I know you’re still mad at ."
"I’m not mad," she lied.
"You are."
She turned to go, but he caught her wrist gently again.
"I didn’t do it for ego," he said. "I knew she wouldn’t take to you. I knew if I bowed, she’d kill you anyway and make watch. But I could still feel you... through the bond. It was faint, yeah. distant... but there. I knew you weren’t dead."
Erald’s breath caught. "So you took a gamble on my life?"
"I took a chance on the connection between us," he corrected softly. "And deep down, I think you know I was right."
She went quiet, the tension loosening ever so slightly.
After a beat, Lucien offered a small smile. "Truce?"
She looked at his outstretched hand, then let out a sigh and a faint nod, "Truce."
They walked a few more steps in silence. "So... how did Ares find you?"
She exhaled. "He’s always around. Shows up when I least expect him to. Usually I hate it... But this ti?" She hesitated. "Not so much."
Lucien’s jaw flexed, but he said nothing.
They walked in silence for a few more steps.
"You should get so rest," he said at last.
She gave him a curious look, but nodded. "Maybe."
He lingered. "Are you still leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes."
He swallowed. "I... had sothing planned. Just for tonight."
Erald tilted her head. "Another assassination attempt?"
Lucien snorted softly. "No. Sothing a little less violent."
"Define ’less.’"
"You’ll see." He gave her a small smile. "Wear a dress."
She raised a brow. "You planning to charm back into staying?"
"Would it work?" he asked, smirking.
She didn’t answer.
"I’ll co to your room at eight."
And then he walked away.
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