BLESSING LUNA RISING

KNEEL TO YOUR QUEEN

CHAPTER 7:

The war horn shook snow from the highest peaks.

BRAAA — BRAAA — BRAAA.

Three blasts. Not truce. War.

Kael's face snapped towards the mountain path behind him. Horror dawning. "No. He promised— he promised he would wait at the border—"

Seraphine, still collapsed in the snow, started to wail. "Father! Father is here!"

Darius didn't move. He didn't have to. His warriors did.

From the black ice walls, from the towers, from the shadows themselves, Lycans poured out. Not hundreds now. Thousands. In full beast form, their paws silent on the snow, their silver eyes all fixed on the four pathetic werewolves in the center of the courtyard.

Kael's Beta, Jax, shifted instantly, his grey wolf baring its teeth. It was a pitiful sound against the silence of a Lycan army.

Darius finally let go of my waist, but only to step forward to the edge of the balcony. He kept one hand behind him, holding mine, keeping me anchored against his back. My wings beat nervously, scattering more silver dust.

"Alpha Magnus Vale," Darius said, his voice not loud, but every Lycan and every werewolf in a mile heard it. "You bring an army to my gate after you sent your daughter to lie to my Queen's pack? You break truce law?"

Far down the mountain, barely visible through the storm, a line of torches appeared. At least fifty wolves. Maybe a hundred. In alliance colors — white and gold. Seraphine's father's army. They had followed Kael, using his white flag as a shield.

Magnus Vale's voice boomed up, magically amplified. "Lycan King! You have stolen a pack member! You have taken a claimed woman! By ancient law, we demand her return! Return Elara Vance and we will leave in peace!"

Stolen. Claimed. Return.

The words hit me like stones. Like I was property. Like I was still the wolfless healer who could be traded.