Allison
"We both back this alliance. We back these Alphas, and we recognize the strength in choosing transparency over control." His sharp eyes sweep the crowd over the feed. "We will not tolerate discrimination from any packs anymore, and today marks a new day where pack leaders and the Crown work closer together."
A murmur moves through the pack, not uniform, not simple, but real, and I let it wash over without tightening, keeping my posture open and my expression warm, because fear reads too easily as guilt and I won’t give it that shape.
Ezra steps in then, voice clear.
"We’re also making changes at ho," he says, and there’s a flicker of anticipation, because everyone knows change is coming even if they don’t know the details. "Effective imdiately, we’re reducing internal tech reliance and returning to mindlink as default for in-pack communication." That gets a reaction, heads tilting, brows lifting.
"For privacy," Elijah adds calmly, his gaze moving through the crowd without flinching. "For trust, and because we want to be closer to our pack, not filtered through screens." I feel the shift then, subtle but present, the way so wolves straighten, relieved, while others bristle, unsettled by the idea of less distance, less buffer.
"And one more thing," Ethan says, and his hand cos to rest lightly at my waist, not claiming, not hiding, just present, visible and deliberate. "Allison stands with us. Publicly and privately. She is part of this pack, and we will not pretend otherwise."
Ezra’s hand finds mine, squeezing once, while Elijah smiles at , soft and steady, and I return it, letting myself show warmth without restraint, because hiding now would undermine everything they’re trying to say.
I step forward, just half a pace, and the crowd stills again. Kiara and Maze are still behind on the holo screen, listening without interrupting. They are showing support with their quiet presence, and I feel it in my soul.
"I know not all of you want here," I say, voice even, carrying without force. "I’m not asking for blind trust, and I’m not asking anyone to change overnight. I’m asking for space to prove myself, and for honesty when I fall short." So nod, imdiate and open. So don’t. I et their gazes anyway, letting my expression stay warm, present and inviting, because composure isn’t weakness, it’s choice.
We stayed on the stage for a mont. Kiara and Maze remind the pack that they will be coming to visit, and they are fully supporting . Especially Kiara is adamant in reminding people if they hurt , they by default are hurting her.
The greetings begin then, applause from so corners, cautious approval from others, a few hard stares that promise this won’t be easy, and I accept all of it, because this is what going public really ans.
Alpha Jack’s fury cuts through it like a blade.
"This is reckless," Alpha Jack snaps, stepping forward from the edge of the gathering, his voice loud enough to jar the mont. "You’re parading alliance and affection like it’s proof, and you’re stripping safeguards at the sa ti." Ethan turns toward him, calm and immovable.
"We’re choosing our pack," he says simply.
"You’re undermining authority." Jack’s jaw tightens with each word.
"We’re redefining it," Ezra replies, not heated, just firm.
Before Alpha Jack can answer, before the tension can tip fully into confrontation, the alarms sound.
They don’t scream, not panic-level yet, but the low, rolling alert that ripples through the packlands, wards flaring as the system shifts to containnt mode, and every trained body reacts at once, heads snapping toward the periter, stances changing.
Daniel’s voice cuts in through the mindlink.
’Alert from the cellars. We’ve got a breach.’ My stomach drops, cold and imdiate.
’Say it,’ I link, even though I already know and there’s a pause, brief but heavy.
’Lizzy’s cell is empty,’ Daniel confirms. ’Locks disabled from inside. No blood, no struggle. She’s gone.’ The world doesn’t tilt, doesn’t blur, but sothing inside settles into place, a quiet, grim certainty locking down my spine.
She’ll co back. Not for the pack, not for chaos, but for .
I feel Ethan’s hand tighten slightly at my waist, Ezra’s fingers brushing my knuckles, Elijah’s presence flaring in the link.
’You okay?’ Ezra asks, protective without crowding.
’I am,’ I answer honestly, because fear doesn’t own , even now. ’And we don’t let this fracture what we just did.’
Ethan lifts his chin, voice steady despite the alarms.
"Pack," he calls, and attention snaps back to him. "We have a security breach. Ops will handle it. This doesn’t change what we’ve said, and it doesn’t change where we stand."
Alpha Jack looks like he might explode, fury warring with shock, but he’s drowned out by the movent of guards and ops teams deploying, by the quiet competence of a pack that knows its roles.
I step forward again, letting warmth roll out deliberately, not forced, but intentional, my posture open, my expression calm, because panic would spread faster than any escaped prisoner.
"We’re safe," I say, and I an right now, at this mont. "And we’ll stay that way together." So of them look at like they want reassurance, and I give it. So look at like they want gone, and I et those gazes too, because hate feeds on avoidance and I won’t give it that.
Inside, Ruby is alert, not afraid, her presence steady and watchful.
’She’ll co,’ Ruby murmurs.
’I know,’ I answer, and there’s no tremor in it.
The ugly truth didn’t end with the council chamber, and going public doesn’t make danger disappear, it just makes lines visible.
I stand there anyway, between the triplets, warm and present and unflinching, because whatever Lizzy thinks she’s coming back to claim, she’s going to find a pack that already chose its side.
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