Chapter 195- Ashes and Choices
Lexy
The next morning, the tent was filled with light, pale gold spilling across the canvas walls. I stirred first, though CJ’s arm was draped heavily over my waist, anchoring me in place as though even in sleep he couldn’t let go. For once, I didn’t mind the weight. It had been so long since we’d had quiet—no horns, no alarms, no smoke rising into the night sky.
A day of rest had done little to erase the exhaustion that still lingered in my bones, but it dulled the sharp edges. My fire hummed gently under my skin again, no longer frayed and wild, but not yet whole. I could feel the triplets, their energy thrumming stronger than ever before, a reminder that time was no longer on our side.
I shifted carefully, turning toward CJ. His eyes opened almost instantly, golden flecks catching the light. For all his weariness, he was alert, protective.
“You’re awake,” he murmured.
“So are you.”
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. “You make it hard to rest, my queen.”
I rolled my eyes, though warmth spread through me at the words. “You say that like it’s my fault.”
“It usually is.”
For a brief moment, we simply breathed together, letting the world outside the tent remain distant. But duty was not one to wait, and soon the sounds of the tribe filtered in—voices preparing, warriors organizing, scouts returning. Adrian might be gone, but his shadow had not vanished. His followers were still out there, fractured but dangerous.
I pushed myself up, ignoring the tug of fatigue. “It’s time.”
CJ rose beside me, slower but steady, his hand brushing mine in a silent promise. Together, we left the room and made our way to the conference room where the alliance leaders had gathered.
The air inside was thick with anticipation. Leaders from each faction sat around a heavy wooden table, maps and reports scattered across its surface. Tarria leaned against one of the walls behind my seat, her arms crossed, the faint haze of her smoke power drifting lazily at her fingertips. She caught my eye, and I gave her a small nod.
As CJ and I entered, the room rose. It wasn’t formality—it was respect. Their queen and king, alive, standing, united. It mattered more than words.
“Please,” I said softly, lifting a hand. “Sit.”
We took our seats at the head of the table, CJ on my right, and the murmur of voices quieted.
General Rian, broad-shouldered and grizzled from years of battle, spoke first. “Adrian’s defeat shattered the core of his army. But not all his wolves surrendered. Some fled. Scouts report scattered pockets of resistance regrouping on the fringes.”
A woman from the northern packs added, “They’re desperate. Without leadership, they’ll turn to raiding, scavenging. But desperation makes them unpredictable. We can’t leave them unchecked.”
Her words rippled through the group, nods of agreement following. I laid my hand flat against the map, tracing the edges where reports marked potential camps.
“They believed in Adrian,” I said, voice low but steady. “They fought for him, even knowing his cruelty. Now, without him, they will cling to what’s left of his name. We must decide—are they enemies to crush, or people to reclaim?”
The question hung heavily.
“They betrayed the alliance,” one leader snapped. “There’s no reclaiming that.”
Another countered, “Not all of them had a choice. Fear drives loyalty as much as belief.”
CJ's voice cut through the rising debate, calm but firm. “Both are true. Some followed Adrian willingly. Others followed because they feared what would happen if they didn’t. We cannot treat them the same.”
The table quieted. All eyes turned to us.
I straightened, forcing the fatigue from my body. “Here is what I propose. The alliance will form three task groups. The first will push into the outlying camps and scatter any who resists. The second will secure prisoners—those who surrender without violence. The third will handle screening. Anyone found guilty of atrocities under Adrian’s command will face justice. Those who were coerced, or who show willingness to turn, will be given a chance to prove themselves under alliance watch.”
Murmurs erupted again. Some supportive, some doubtful.
“And one final thing to think about is his pack? I thought to claim it into we can come to an agreement how it would be handled”.
“And if we misjudge?” one man asked, voice sharp. “If we let them in and they betray us again?”
I met his eyes. “Then the burden falls on me. On us. I will not ask you to shoulder it alone.”
Tarria stepped forward, her presence quieting the room. “Queen Lexy is right. Fear kept some of them in chains just as strong as Adrian’s lies. If we cut them all down, we risk becoming no better than what we fight against.”
Her words carried weight—perhaps because she herself bore the scars of Adrian’s manipulations. The room shifted, the tide of resistance softening.
CJ tapped the map with one finger. “Then it’s settled. We drive out the stragglers. We reclaim those who can be saved. And those who cannot…” His eyes hardened. “They will answer for what they’ve done. We claim his territory until an agreement is set.”
Silence followed, heavy with agreement.
Plans were drawn, lines marked on maps, names assigned to each task group. The alliance leaders grew animated as details were discussed—supplies, timing, command structure. I listened, contributed where needed, but a part of me drifted. My hand rested unconsciously on my stomach, the faint hum of life within me a constant reminder.
They were growing faster. Time was slipping. The thought both terrified and strengthened me. Everything we built now, every choice we made, had to ensure their future.
CJ noticed, of course. His hand brushed mine beneath the table, unseen by the others. His warmth anchored me, pulled me back into the moment. I squeezed his fingers, grateful.
By the time the meeting ended, the sun was sinking low, casting the tent in amber light. The leaders dispersed, their voices carrying plans to their people, determination renewed.
When it was just CJ, Tarria, and I left in the quiet room, the weight of it settled again. Tarria studied me with sharp eyes, then tilted her head.
“You’re carrying more than you let on,” she said softly.
I held her gaze. “And you’ve carried more than most would survive. We all have our burdens.”
She smirked faintly, though her eyes were somber. “Then let’s make sure none of them are wasted.” With that, she turned and slipped out into the night, her smoke trailing behind her like a shadow.
CJ pulled me into his arms, his chin resting lightly on my head. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The weight of the meeting, of the decision, of the lives yet to be decided—it all pressed down. But wrapped in his embrace, it didn’t feel unbearable.
“We’ll do this,” he murmured. “We’ll finish what we started. And when the time comes…”
His hand shifted, resting gently on my stomach. “We’ll be ready.”
I closed my eyes, leaning into him. “We have to be.”
Outside, the people stirred with renewed purpose, warriors preparing for the next push. Inside, in CJ’s arms, I let myself breathe. Just for a moment. Tomorrow, the fight will continue. But tonight, I allowed hope to burn steady in my chest.
For our people. For our children. For the world we were still shaping out of the ashes of Adrian’s shadow.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
