Chapter 63 — The Calm Before the Moonlight
Rowan slammed the office door open so hard it hit the wall with a loud crack, making Kalen and Charlie jump to their feet where they’d been seated by his desk, concern written all over their faces.
Behind him, Rhea’s light footsteps followed, then hesitated at the threshold when she realized they weren’t alone.
“Rowan,” Kalen greeted, concern darkening his gaze.
Charlie’s brow furrowed. “What happened?”
Rowan took a steadying breath, glancing back at Rhea before stepping aside. “This is Rhea,” he said, his voice clipped but resolute. “She’s on our side, Charlie. I trust her.”
That was all it took for the tension in the room to ease just enough. Rhea stepped in quietly and nodded at his sister, choosing a chair in the corner without saying much more.
Rowan dragged a hand through his hair, prowling back toward his desk. “The Elders are pushing harder than ever,” he began. “They want me to take Rhea as Luna tonight.”
Kalen let out a quiet curse under his breath, and Charlie’s hands clenched.
“What are you going to do?” Charlie asked.
Rowan’s eyes gleamed with a dark, stubborn light. “I told them I’ll do what I must for this pack. And tonight, I’ll go to the celebration. Stand before the pack. And make it clear that I will not take a Luna unless it is my true mate. Let them hate me for it if they must.”
A breath of silence followed his words as the three of them exchanged looks.
Rhea rose gracefully, her expression serious. “I’ll check on preparations,” she offered, hands smoothing her skirts. “And make sure everything is in order for tonight.”
Rowan gave a sharp nod of gratitude as she slipped past him and disappeared into the hallway.
Once the door clicked shut behind her, Rowan’s tense shoulders finally eased a fraction.
That was when Charlie’s gaze softened. “Rowan,” she began carefully, “Luther reached out through the mindlink a few minutes ago.”
Rowan’s chest tightened. “And?”
“He says Giselle is up,” Charlie answered, voice laced with relief. “Walking on her own. Getting stronger every hour. Avella’s magic is working, and Giselle’s wolf, Aeris, even spoke to her today.”
Rowan felt his heart lurch in his chest, and a breath rushed from his lungs like a prayer. “Thank the Goddess,” he murmured, hands trembling as they raked back through his hair.
“She’s safe,” Charlie assured him gently. “And she’s going to be okay.”
Rowan gazed out the window, his voice a quiet vow. “Then tonight,” he said, “I make sure this entire pack knows who my Luna is — and that I won’t stop until she’s back where she belongs.”
Kalen stepped closer to the desk, lowering his voice as he pulled a folded list from his pocket. “Rowan, I spoke to the warriors you can trust,” he began. “Jace, Devon, Niko, and Silas will be in the courtyard tonight. They’ll keep eyes on the crowd and make sure nobody suspicious slips past them.”
Rowan nodded thoughtfully. “And at the gate?”
“Brenner and Theo,” Kalen replied without hesitation. “Both solid, both loyal to you. They’ll rotate so one is at the gate at all times. I put Reece and Martin in the hall outside the council chambers, too — just in case one of the Elders tries to do something behind our backs.”
Rowan’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Good. What about near the ballroom? If Elder Malric or any of his followers make a move during the announcement, I want backup.”
Kalen smirked faintly. “That’s covered too. Malik and Seth will stay close — just outside the east exit. You won’t see them unless you need them.”
Rowan let out a breath, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. “And you? Where will you be?”
“Beside you,” Kalen answered simply. “Where I belong.”
Rowan gave a short nod of approval. “That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear.”
Before either could say more, Charlie spoke up from where she was leaning against the far wall.
“I’ve also been looking into Elia,” she said, drawing their attention. Her brows were drawn together, lips tight with concern. “Rowan, there’s something off about this.”
Rowan turned to face her fully. “What is it?”
“I’ve searched her quarters top to bottom,” Charlie explained. “Checked every floorboard, every crevice, everything. And I couldn’t find a single trace of magic.”
Rowan frowned. “Nothing? Not even a charm, herbs, anything?”
“Nothing,” Charlie confirmed, her hands curling into fists. “Not even the faintest hint. It’s like someone scrubbed her quarters clean. Almost like they knew we’d look there.”
Rowan’s eyes darkened as he considered this. “Or someone powerful is helping her hide it,” he murmured.
A tense silence settled over the room as Rowan’s last words hung in the air.
Kalen shifted his weight, arms crossed over his broad chest, his brow furrowed thoughtfully. “Rowan,” he said carefully, “what if Elia isn’t the one we’re looking for?”
Rowan’s gaze snapped to him. “You think someone else is behind this?”
Kalen nodded slowly. “Think about it. Charlie can’t find a trace of magic in her quarters. Nothing. That’s too clean. Too perfect. Whoever did this — whoever helped hide that trail — they might be even craftier than we thought.”
Rowan exhaled sharply, hands curling into fists on the desk.
“You’re saying,” he growled, “that someone’s using Elia as a decoy.”
“That,” Kalen agreed, his voice steady, “or she’s scared into going along. Either way, we can’t assume we have the full picture yet.”
Rowan’s wolf rumbled in his chest, agitated at the thought. “Then tonight, we keep eyes open,” he murmured. “And we don’t overlook anyone — not even those we thought we could trust.”
Kalen gave him a solemn nod. “Exactly. Whoever this is, they’re going to slip up eventually.”
Rowan’s gaze hardened as he straightened. “And when they do,” he said, a dark promise in his tone, “I’ll be waiting.”
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