Page 133 of Moonlit Fate

“Okay,” I relented. “Let’s go back.”

We trudged back through the forest, the drizzle clinging to my skin until I finally broke the silence that had settled between us. “I can’t just lie low. I called a pack meeting at the pack village.”

“Is that wise?” he asked.

“Better than keeping them in the dark,” I said. “My father might have thrived on that, but it’s not how I choose to lead. I’msure there are questions. I want to be as honest with the pack as I can.”

He nodded and something like pride flickered in his eyes. “You’re doing right by them. Your parents... they’d be proud.”

“Thanks,” I said, though doubt gnawed at me. I pushed the feeling aside. Damn it, I needed a distraction, something to take my mind off the expanding power.

Remembering the glances he’d shared with Mia in the clearing after our failed meeting with the seer, I asked. “So, tell me about Mia?”

He smiled hesitantly. “Mia’s... she’s special. Really special.”

“She’s reliable and genuine. I like her.” It was disheartening to acknowledge that I had failed to notice the blossoming romance between them. “Not much of an alpha, am I? I’ve been too wrapped up in myself to even notice.”

Ilaric grabbed my arm and stopped me. “Do you think your father was aware of every detail about every member of the pack when he was alive?”

Frowning, I desperately tried to decipher his expression, contemplating every word he’d just said. “Of course he knew what was happening. He was alpha.”

Ilaric’s laughter boomed out of him, reverberating along the path. His amusement left him more breathless than our run. “Child, you have so much to learn. Your father was a good alpha. He had his own methods and ideologies that I didn’t always agree with, but he was fair. However, one thing is certain: he did not know everything about the pack. His advisors were there to keep him updated, because he couldn’t be everywhere at once.”

I experienced a crushing disappointment in my chest. “You mean the old farts who keepadvising meabout what a failure I am? How Larkin should be leading the pack? Those advisors?”

All traces of merriment left his face, “You listen here, and you listen good, Aria Lysandra Winters. Do not allow those relicsto pull you down. Their out-of-touch attitudes and judgmental snobbery stems from their own lack of relevance and modernity. The forest is in a flux. Prophecies? Rituals? You’ve already accomplished so much in your short life. We’re witnessing events beyond anything I’ve ever known. You are going to be a formidable force. You won’t be just a good alpha, Aria, you’re destined to be an exceptional alpha. You have your own advisors now.”

The relief his words brought was almost tangible, a welcome contrast to the fear that had so suddenly clutched me. Despite knowing Ilaric didn’t share the old advisors’ ideals, sometimes emotions had a way of overriding reason.

“I have one advisor,” I said. “You.”

“What do you call Eldan and Seren, then? Teapots? Aren’t they your council?”

Smiling, I acknowledged his truth. I had barely given any thought to creating my own council, yet I’d achieved it without realizing it. I had surrounded myself with people who understood why we were following the path I’d set us on, and that was important.

The revelation that my father had flaws added depth to my understanding of him as a man. His sudden, gruesome death had left a lasting impact on me. I’d not only lost my father but also countless years of wisdom and practical know-how that would have been invaluable in my position as the pack leader. Then again, if his council’s reaction to the way I was moving the pack forward was any indication, my father wouldn’t have approved. As I mulled that over, his last words came to my mind.Choose the heart’s path.Perhaps his advisors weren’t as attuned to my father’s wants as I thought.

Deciding to shift the focus, I changed the subject. “So, you were telling me how special Mia is?”

Ilaric studied me for a minute before he spoke. “Mia and I have been taking our time getting to know each other. We have been even before your father’s death. You and Atticus were dealing with so much that we decided it was best to keep it to ourselves at first, not wanting to divert your attention. Then, finding the right time to share it with you became increasingly difficult. Selfishly, I must admit, it was nice to have Mia all to myself.” A small smile tugged at his lips.

“Is it serious?” I asked.

“You’ve heard all you need to, Aria. I don’t need to tell you every detail about my life.”

And he was right, he didn’t have to tell me anything.

The brief interlude had been enough to take the edge off the buzzing, though it was on its way to building right back up again. The village center loomed ahead, a hive of early morning activity despite the persistent drizzle. I wasn’t ready to answer their questions just yet, not before the pack meeting this afternoon, so I pulled my hood closer around my face, an attempt at anonymity, which really was futile. Ilaric stayed beside me, his presence a silent support.

“Let’s take the side path,” I muttered, hoping to slip by unnoticed.

“Too late,” Ilaric said quietly. “They’ve seen you.”

Heads turned in my direction, and whispers cut through the rain like knives. There was no escaping it. As alpha, I was the flame to their moth. I pushed forward, trying to weave through the clusters of wet bodies and murmuring voices.

“Good morning, Alpha Aria,” someone called out.

“Good morning,” I replied without stopping, the flat note of my voice lost in the patter of rain.

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