Chapter 37
The Crown I Refused
The crown hovered before me.
Its silver branches shimmered beneath the moonlight.
The moonstone at its center glowed with a soft, living light, as though it possessed a heartbeat of its own.
The entire valley was silent.
Every wolf watched.
Every breath seemed to pause.
I stared at the crown.
It was beautiful.
Ancient.
Powerful.
And unbearably heavy.
Not because of its weight.
Because of what it represented.
The Moon Goddess's words echoed inside me.
"Power is never the reward. It is the responsibility."
I slowly raised my hands.
The crown drifted a little closer.
The elders smiled hopefully.
Some warriors dropped to one knee.
Rylan lowered his head.
Even Kael and Draven waited without speaking.
Then...
I took one careful step backward
