Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
The courtyard of Stormclaw glittered under the full moon, its silver light spilling over the stone path like a blessing from the Goddess herself. Wolves filled every edge of the sacred space–warriors in uniform, elders in ceremonial robes, and the young standing wide–eyed with awe. I stood in the center with Ayla in my arms, my heart thudding in a rhythm older than memory.
Vivienne stood beside me, regal as always, but her eyes–those eyes that had seen my lowest–shone with fierce pride. Somewhere in the front, I could feel Garrick’s presence before I even saw him. My father. My Alpha. My blood.
The horns sounded once, low and deep, and the crowd fell into a reverent hush.
Garrick stepped forward, cloaked in Stormclaw black and silver, the Alpha’s mantle gleaming across his shoulders. His eyes locked on mine, and something in my chest cracked open. Not from pain this time. From recognition.
He lifted his hands, voice strong, and it carried to the farthest edge of the courtyard. “Tonight, we gather not just to witness a return, but to honor a truth too long buried.“}
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. I stood straighter.”
Garrick continued, his eyes scanning his people. “Many of you remember the day my daughter left Stormclaw. Some whispered she was reckless. Others claimed she was weak. But none knew the full truth.“>
His jaw clenched. I saw his hands tremble just slightly.
“Selene did not fall from grace. She was pushed–cast out by betrayal, swallowed by silence, abandoned by those who should have stood beside her.”
A growl bubbled from somewhere in the crowd, the scent of shame thickening.
“But she did not break,” Garrick said, voice rising with pride. “She survived. Raised her child in exile. Faced the Alpha who betrayed her, and emerged not only whole–but stronger.“}
He turned to me fully now.”
“Selene of Stormclaw. My daughter. My blood. Do you stand ready to reclaim your name?“}
I stepped forward, Ayla still in my arms, my voice steady. “I do.”
Garrick nodded once, then turned back to the crowd. “Let it be known. Damien of Nightfang, once bonded to my daughter by the sacred rites of the moon, is hereby stripped of all alliance and favor from the entire wolf region. His name will be burned from our scrolls. His line is no longer recognized.“}
The words landed like thunder. The crowd gasped. Some clapped. Others bowed their heads.
Garrick’s voice softened, but the weight of it remained. “And let it be known that Selene, rightful daughter of Stormclaw, is my heir. Not in secrecy. Not in shame. But in the light of the moon and the eyes of every wolf gathered.“}
The silence that followed was charged. I could feel every breath, every heartbeat.}
Then the first knee hit the ground.}
One by one, wolves bowed–not from duty, not from fear–but from pride. From belief.
Tears welled in my eyes, but I held them back.
Vivienne leaned in. “Look at them. This is your legend beginning.“}
Ayla cooed, squirming in my arms, her tiny hands reaching toward the sky. Garrick approached us slowly, and for the first time since that terrible day years ago, I saw his face unguarded–eyes glassy, shoulders soft.
He held out his arms. “May I?“♫
I nodded and passed Ayla to him. Garrick took her gently, his large hands cradling her as if she were the moon itself.
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Then he turned toward the crowd.}
“Behold, Ayla of Stormclaw,” he said. “Born of fire. Raised in shadow. The blood of warriors and Queens runs in her veins.“}
The crowd erupted–not with noise, but with a howl. A unified, thunderous cry that shook the stones beneath our feet. Wolves lifted their heads, voices carried to the stars. My knees buckled under the sheer power of it. Ayla squealed in delight.”
When the howls died down, Garrick lifted her higher, bathing her in the moonlight.
“May the Goddess bless her. May her enemies fear her. May she always know her worth.“}
He returned her to my arms and kissed my forehead.”
“Your strength is no longer whispered about behind closed doors,” he said softly. “It will be remembered. Immortalized.“}
I met his gaze, my voice low. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“I never stopped, he whispered back. “But now, the world sees you too.“>
I looked around–the sea of bowed heads, the torches flickering against fur and skin, the cold air rich with devotion. For the first time in years, I wasn’t surviving. I was rising.!
This was no longer about revenge.
It was about restoration.”
And I would carry this strength into everything that came next.
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