Chapter 83

I pulled myself back in, allowing my aura to recede just enough to give them room to breathe. I was fucking furious, and it felt like there was lava in my veins, but it wasn’t time to erupt. Not yet.

The tension in the chamber was palpable, the air thick with the scent of unease as the council members gasped for air. I stood my ground, my gaze steely and unflinching as it swept over them, daring them to challenge the authority that thrummed through my veins.

Then, as if sensing how much I needed an anchor, a subtle pressure wrapped around my hand—a silent reassurance amidst the storm of discord. Elroy’s hand wove itself into mine with the ease of puzzle pieces snapping together, and I breathed.

That’s right, I was not alone.

My Mate was beside me, letting me take the lead because he knew how much this meant to me, encouraging me with a silent pact. He’d said it outside the chambers, and he’d said it a thousand times before: I picked the right Luna. He would support me with everything he had.

I glanced at my Mate briefly, just enough to acknowledge the contact, and felt my lips curve into a half-smile. His fingers were warm and firm against mine, and I squeezed them gratefully. When he smiled back it was full of trust and pride.

With Elroy's encouragement invisibly inked onto my skin, I turned my attention back to the councilors.

"Let us be clear—this is not a debate," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. "We are not asking for your permission; we are informing you of our decision."

“You can’t just bypass our authority this way!” someone protested. That was cut off by a low growl rippling through Elroy’s chest—a warning. His power as Alpha was palpable, a force they all instinctively recognized.

My heart soared at the primal display. We wolves were very connected to our more instinctive, wild selves, and sometimes animalistic displays like this were more effective than reason and rationale. It showed that, down to the very depths of himself, Elroy was with me.

I squeezed his hand again. I couldn’t help it.

"Look at your phones again," I said, “look at the live comments. Look how people are talking about us.”

“About you,” Elroy corrected, holding his phone up and reading off the screen. “’The Alpha and Luna are so involved, the problem must be the high council.’ ‘I feel so bad for Eclipse’s leaders, having to fight their own council all the time.’”

I almost snorted. Good to know our struggle was at least being recognized.

“Here’s one from one of your own pack members. ‘I live in Eclipse, and this kind of thing happens all the time. The police and the council ignore us.’”

My heart clenched at those words. Something about hearing someone say they were overlooked ‘all the time’ by the very people who had sworn to protect them just hurt.

The good news was that public perception was a weapon I wielded deftly. "See how the people view your resistance?” I asked. “You can join us and help shape the future, or you can be left behind clinging to scraps of authority."

There were murmurs, some indignant, others resigned. A few heads bowed, acknowledging the need for the change we were ushering in. Most, though, were still trying to fight it.

I couldn’t blame them. Admitting everything you’ve done in your life was flawed wasn’t an easy thing to do, but it had to be done. For the sake of the pack, its people, its children—my child.

"Luna Olivia, this isn't honorable," one council member dared to say, his voice a mix of anger and something akin to betrayal.

"Isn't it?" I challenged softly, though my words resonated with conviction. "What honor is there in ignoring the voices of those we vow to protect? We adapt, or we fail them."

Something about my tone must have spoken to a few people, because I could feel the tide starting to shift. "Effective immediately," I declared, "we are establishing the White Paw Initiative as a new office—an ear to the ground and a voice for the unheard. Fay will oversee this initiative, ensuring transparency and accountability."

Several people just tiredly nodded their heads. Whether it was because they believed this was for the best, or if they just didn’t want to lose their heads for continuing to fight, I didn’t know or care.

"I can't believe we're bending to blackmail," a council member grumbled, supposedly to himself, even though it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Call it what you will," Elroy interjected, his voice a low rumble, "but know that we act in the interest of our pack. We’d rather do it with than without you, but that’s up to you.”

As we adjourned the meeting, the weight of victory pressed upon me, heavy and demanding. I’d held myself together through the whole meeting, and as always, it left me exhausted and tense. I couldn’t even enjoy the win like this.

My fingers brushed the cool wall for balance as I navigated away from the council chamber, every muscle in my body crying out for release from tension's unyielding grip. Elroy stood close at my side, helping guide me. I could tell his protective instincts were flaring as he saw my tiredness setting in.

"Olivia," Elroy called softly, his voice a soothing balm against the cacophony of exhaustion. I paused, not turning just yet, allowing myself a moment to just grasp at the frayed edges of my energy. I didn’t need to hide my weakness from him, but he stood by me in there—he deserved all the attention I could muster.

When I finally faced him, I found his eyes swimming with an emotion that stirred the dormant embers within me. “Yes, Elroy?” I asked, surprisingly breathless.

"You were formidable in there," he said, grinning encouragingly as he wrapped his hand around my upper arm to offer stability. "The way you stood your ground, the fire in your eyes... You are the Luna our pack needs, the Luna I need."

His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket, igniting a flicker of pride in the midst of my weariness. He’d said several times that he thought I was good for the pack, but this was the first time he’d ever said I was good for him. My breath caught in my throat.

Still, a deeper yearning threaded its way through my veins. I couldn’t tell how much of his words were admiration and how much were the affection and connection I craved from him.

I forced a smile, pushing back the desire to plead for more, to bridge the chasm of restraint that kept us at arm's length from one another. Patience, I reminded myself, though it felt like a shackle rather than a virtue at that moment.

"Thank you, Elroy," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "That means so much, coming from you."

And it did. For all his flaws, and the rocky start of our marriage, he was an Alpha in the truest sense of the word—the one that denoted fierce devotion and protection to his pack, and their betterment. He was a good Alpha.

Then, in a gesture both tender and unexpected, Elroy stepped forward, his breath fanning gently across my face as he rested his forehead against mine. My heart jackrabbited in my ribcage as I looked up at him in wonder. His hands cupped my cheeks, fingertips grazing my skin with a touch that hinted at the depth of his care.

Growing up, I had dreamed of this kind of softness. I’d longed to do the things I saw my mother and father do, the little moments of trust and connection amidst the mundane, but I’d long since stopped expecting it. I wasn’t a little girl anymore, it was silly of me to hold on to some fairy tale image of love.

But here was the man I loved, giving me what I craved but never voiced.

The joy was overwhelming, but it couldn’t completely hide the confusion. His emotions seemed so straightforward in moments like this, but minutes later he’d have me second-guessing if I’d seen it right.

My wolf whined softly within me, echoing my longing. Elroy was a paradox, holding me with something so much like reverence but always retreating back into his walls without me. He wasn’t sparing with his affection anymore, and he was honest with his praise, but I could tell there was still some barrier keeping him from accepting the same from me.

A part of me wondered what I wasn’t doing, what else I could do to get him to let me in. Why couldn’t he trust me?

The warmth of his breath lingered on my skin as he stepped back, still so close but still so far. Despite the turmoil I felt, I locked my gaze with his, steady and unwavering.

"Elroy," I began, my voice steadier than I felt, "we won a huge victory today. Your support—it's invaluable."

"Olivia," he replied, his voice soft yet firm, "I will always stand by you. We are a team."

A team, yes, but still two halves yearning to be whole. My wolf stirred restlessly, craving the bond that would bring us together in every sense, not just in purpose but also in soul and flesh.

I pushed my selfishness back. Elroy deserved my patience, and after the life he’d lived, I couldn’t blame him for struggling to trust others. Yet he still fought alongside me, showing me tenderness even when his own instincts clamored for dominance.

I would give him that patience, I vowed silently, no matter how it stretched the sinews of my self-control.

The cool air of the midmorning brushed against my skin as we stepped outside, the sun above a glowing witness to my internal struggle. I liked the sun—it didn’t hold the same place in my heart as the moon, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t relax when I felt sunlight on my face. I breathed deeply, letting myself reset.

Patience.