She gestured, and the silver light expanded, surrounding every wolf in the chamber.
"Every artificial bond in this room, every manufactured connection, every corrupted tie, I now sever." Power pulsed outward. "And every wolf here will feel what true freedom means."
The chamber erupted in gasps and cries as bonds snapped. I watched Damien double over, finally feeling the loss of what had never been real. Watched several other wolves stagger as connections dissolved.
"Now," the Moon Goddess continued, "you will rebuild. Not with bonds forced on the unwilling, not with hierarchy that crushes the vulnerable, but with true partnership. True choice." She looked at me. "And this daughter will show you how."
"No." Aldric stood, defiant. "I won't accept this. The Council has maintained order fo
