Lyra's POV
The whispers spread across the festival grounds like wildfire. A marriage alliance between the strongest packs. People were already speculating; guessing, arguing, celebrating. Excited voices filled the air as everyone tried to figure out who the chosen wolves would be.
Kiera leaned closer to me, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Who do you think they'll pick?" I shook my head quickly. "I have no idea." But the uneasy feeling in my chest refused to fade. My wolf shifted again, restless beneath my skin. Something was wrong.
I could feel it. At the center of the clearing, the elders were still speaking quietly among themselves. Their expressions were serious, deliberate, as if they were carefully preparing the crowd for something bigger.
Around us, the tension continued to build. Some people looked thrilled. Others looked uneasy. Because everyone understood what this kind of alliance meant. It wasn't just a marriage.
It was power.
It was politics.
It was the future of the entire territory.
Kiera suddenly nudged my arm. "Look." I followed her gaze toward the front of the clearing. Several Alphas had stepped forward now. Including Kael. My stomach tightened instantly. He stood beside the other leaders, tall and composed as always. His posture was steady, his expression controlled, but something about the way his shoulders were set made him look tense.
Alert.
As if he didn't like where this announcement was heading either. For a moment, I wondered if he already knew something. Then his gaze lifted. And once again… He found me in the crowd. My breath caught.
There were hundreds of wolves gathered here. Yet somehow, his eyes landed on me like it was the most natural thing in the world. The memory of our earlier confrontation flashed through my mind.
"You heard it."
"You're lying."
"You might not believe in it… but your wolf does." I looked away quickly. My heart was beating far too fast. "Lyra," Kiera whispered suddenly. "What?" Her voice sounded tense now. "You're staring again."
"I was not." "You totally were." Despite everything, irritation flickered through me. Before I could respond, the elder's voice rose once more. "Silence." The crowd quieted instantly. Every head turned toward the center. My fingers curled slightly at my sides. Why did this suddenly feel so personal?
The elder stepped forward again. "As we have stated, this alliance will unite two of the strongest packs in our region." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over the crowd. "To ensure strength and stability, the leaders of both packs have agreed that their heirs will be the ones to form this bond." A ripple of excitement swept through the spectators.
Heirs.
That narrowed things down immediately. Kiera's eyes widened. "Oh wow," she whispered. "That means it's someone important." I forced a small laugh. "Obviously." But inside, my stomach twisted harder.
Heirs.
Powerful packs.
For some reason, my thoughts drifted back to Kael.
No.
That was ridiculous. There were many heirs among the surrounding packs. It didn't have to involve him. It couldn't. The elder continued. "The chosen pair will represent the future of our united territories." The tension in the air grew heavier.
Almost suffocating.
Everyone leaned forward slightly, waiting for the names. Even I found myself holding my breath. Beside me, Kiera squeezed my arm again. "This is so dramatic," she whispered. I barely heard her. Because at that exact moment… Kael's wolf stirred. I felt it.
Even from across the clearing. A strange pull tugged deep inside my chest, sharp and unmistakable. My wolf reacted instantly.
Restless.
Alert.
Awake.
No.
No, no, no.
I refused to look at him. But somehow… I already knew he was staring at me. The elder drew in a slow breath. "The heir of the Shadowfang Pack—" My heart skipped.
Shadowfang
Kael's pack.
Excited murmurs erupted across the crowd. Of course. Everyone knew Shadowfang was the strongest pack in the region. Which meant their heir was the obvious choice.
Kael.
I forced myself to glance toward him. He looked just as surprised as everyone else. His brow had furrowed slightly, and his attention was now fully fixed on the elder. Even he hadn't expected this. The elder raised his hand again.
"And the second heir—" Everything inside me suddenly tightened. The air felt thinner. Harder to breathe. Kiera held her breath beside me. The crowd fell completely silent. And for reasons I couldn't explain… My wolf went perfectly still. As if it was waiting. Waiting for something it already knew was coming.
The elder opened his mouth to speak. And suddenly… Kael took a step forward. My heart slammed violently against my ribs. Because the look on his face said one thing very clearly. He had just realized something. And whatever it was…
It had everything to do with me.