CHAPTER 300: _LIKE A PACK OF ANCIENT GODS

"Lucinda?" I furrowed my eyebrows, whispering to myself when I saw her. "What’s she doing here?"

The rising star of the Luminari coven who was also a delegate of the coven... Until she attacked me during the Charity Ball.

She wore a white robe, her hair arranged into a stylish chignon. But then two more people walked through the entrance and stood beside her, seeming more menacing.

One was a male witch and the other a female, both looking like they were over their fifties.

I knew them.

They were the coven’s disciplinary council, enacting judgment on behalf of the coven elders.

Suddenly, like a wave, it seemed as if every single wolf in the event hall caught a whiff of the witches stepping into the event hall. All heads swerved to the entrance of the hall, whispers and murmuring rippling as well as confusion.

"What are those witches doing here?" Thorian’s voice was clear and firm as he turned his gaze all the way to Kaelos and me, his eyes filled with suspicion.

Kaelos responded calmly. "They’re dropping in from the Luminari coven. High priestess Althea and I thought it would be smart to introduce witches in the ceremony. To get them... Integrated with our customs."

Alpha King Maddox of Australia scoffed from the extreme right just then. "You thought? Inviting witches to a global gathering of wolves is nothing but pure—"

"Brilliant." Janelle chimed in all of a sudden, and even though I didn’t bother stretching my neck to see his face, I could tell Maddox was livid as she continued. "It’s a good idea and a brilliant step. After all, the witches and wolves of North America are already at some level of peace."

She turned her gaze to her husband while I glanced at Kaelos. We both had the same look in our eyes, and I instantly knew it was time to speak through the mind link.

’What did Althea tell you about this?’ I asked. ’She told me there’s a possibility of emissaries visiting from the coven. But Lucinda?’

Kaelos responded swiftly. ’Perhaps she got her magic temporarily unsealed by the elders for the event.’

I dimmed my eyes, bringing my gaze back to the entrance of the hall as Layla cleared her throat, holding a mic this time.

"I’d like to acknowledge the presence of emissaries from the Luminari Coven. Birthplace of the North American Luna Queen."

As her words settled, people hesitated at first but slowly clapped, one by one.

Lucinda and I managed to exchange a look even from this distance as the clapping continued.

For once, I didn’t see judgment or disdain in her eyes. Just a silent acknowledgement.

Like an "I see you" spoken without words.

"Now that’s how you introduce witches into a werewolf gathering," Janelle muttered, joining the crowd to clap even though the other Alpha Kings and Luna Queens didn’t.

Her husband scowled beside her. "People in this gathering are from regions where witches still massacre our people in abundance."

"And we massacre theirs as well, husband," Janelle said with a shrug, parting aside strands of her lush silver hair as her purple ring glinted. "Let none of us pretend here. Yes, the attack by that male witch in Paris was... Unfortunate. But small moments like these could be our chance at walking toward peace."

Peace...

Actual world peace. An actual end to this century-old war between races.

At this point, with escalations from the Lord of the North and his propaganda, could that even be achieved?

"I sure hope Alpha King Kaelos knows what he’s doing." Alpha King Soren’s voice echoed just then. "A night like this isn’t the time to make bold steps."

Janelle’s gaze didn’t waver as she replied. "The Blood Moon is exactly the time to make bold steps. It’s when history listens."

There was a pause, probably uncomfortable for some and electrifying for others. The murmurs faded, but the atmosphere remained taut like a drawn bowstring.

Lucinda and the emissaries found seats near the edge of the hall, their movements poised but cautious, like they knew the stares wouldn’t stop anytime soon. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

The last time we stood in the same room, she tried to tear my heart out. Now she sat down like a guest of honour.

What the hell is going on?

Kaelos gave my hand a small squeeze again, as if grounding me back to the moment.

Layla, ever the master of event flow, took the mic once more. "Now that our honoured guests have been welcomed..." Her voice rang clear. "Let us continue our celebration beneath the sacred moon."

The drums began again, softer this time, like a heartbeat rising from the ground. A new rhythm, elegant and slower than the first performance. It wasn’t for the masses... it was for the royals.

Layla turned toward us, smiling. "Your Majesties... If you would please join the dance floor."

Cue the soft clinking of over the top jewelleries, creaking of thrones, and the hush that followed as the Alpha Kings and Luna Queens stood in unison. Regal and composed, like a pack of ancient gods returning to the earth to show the mortals how it’s done.

Kaelos offered me his hand, and I took it without hesitation.

"You still feel like sneaking away?" he whispered, lips brushing my ear as we descended the steps of the dais.

"Maybe after one dance," I whispered back, adjusting my gown. "We’ll give them a show first."

Janelle and her husband led the way, and the rest of us followed—wolf royalty stepping down from their thrones to dance under the eye of the blood moon. The glass dome above bathed us in a soft, ruby-tinted glow as if the moon was watching... And judging.

We arrived at the centre of the floor just as the music shifted again—louder, richer, full of magic. The crowd parted to make space. Then, as if on cue, Kaelos placed one hand on my waist, and I lifted my arm to his shoulder.

He bowed his head to mine.

And together, we began to dance.