Chapter 226

ELORA’S POV The full moon hangs high above us…round, bright, and watching. It feels different tonight. Like it knows this moment matters. Silver light spills across the clearing, bathing the pack grounds in a soft glow that makes everything look unreal, almost sacred. Torches burn in a wide circle, their flames steady, respectful. The air smells of pine, earth, and something deeper…power and tradition. I stand beside Lucian. My mate. My husband. The word still feels new, still sends a tremor through my chest. His hand tightened around mine, grounding me when my knees threatened to give in. I can feel the bond between us humming…alive, warm, protective. Every heartbeat feels louder under the moon. Pack members surround us in a wide arc. Warriors, elders, and pups perched on their parent's shoulders. Faces I recognize, faces I don’t…but every single pair of eyes is on us. On me. I swallowed hard. This isn’t fear, not really. It’s the weight of being seen. Of being chosen. The head elder