Third Person POV


    The signing hall went pin-drop silent.


    Lyra looked like someone had just pulled the rug out from under her. Her silver hair suddenly seemed dull under the harsh lights, and those famous purple eyes widened to the size of dinner tes. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. Fated mate? Luna? She nced at Sophia, whose jaw had practically hit the floor-clearly daddy''s little girl hadn''t expected him to drop this bomb during a formal treaty signing.


    Nobody moved. Nobody even seemed to breathe. The Alpha energy rolling off ke was so thick you could practically cut it with a knife.


    Lyra recovered first, stepping forward with a tight smile that didn''t reach her eyes. "So, ke,” she said, dropping his title deliberately, "have you marked her?"


    The whispers started immediately. People shifted ufortably, knowing exactly what that question meant. Marking wasn''t just some casual thing-it was sacred, permanent, blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.


    ke''s eyes shed gold, his wolf clearly close to the surface. "Yeah, I marked her."


    In the corner, Sophia made a strangled sound, grabbing the wall like her legs might give out. The color drained from her face so fast it was almostical. All her scheming, all her ns to pair her father with the perfect priestess-gone in an


    instant.


    An old werewolf with bushy eyebrows-the pack''s historian-shuffled forward, clutching his ceremonial scroll. "Excuse me, Alpha King," his voice quavered, "but who exactly is this woman? Why keep such important news secret? Your mate affects the entire werewolf world!"


    The corner of ke''s mouth quirked up. "I''m not keeping it secret. I''m telling you right now.” He paused, letting the tension build. "Her name is Ava."


    His eyes swept the room, lingering on faces, daring anyone to object. When he reached his daughter, his gaze softened just a fraction. "Today, I''m making it official-she''ll be Luna of Silverpeak. She''ll join me at formal events when she''s ready. Until then, back off and respect our privacy."


    The wolf reporters lost their minds. They fired questions like bullets: "Isn''t she from Shadow Creek?" "Daughter of that traitor William?" "Your kid''sbat teacher? Seriously?"


    ke held up his hand, and the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. His Alpha presence crashed down so hard that several reporters actually staggered backward. "We''re done here."


    He turned to James, his voice suddenly business-casual. "Northern Lights deal still stands. Don''t let this personal stuff mess with our packs'' rtionship."


    James nodded, relief evident on his face. "Absolutely, Alpha King. Business is business, personal is personal.”


    Across the room, Sophia slipped out a side door, moving like a ghost. Her world had just been turned upside down. She''d suspected her father was into Ava, sure, but marking her? Making her Luna? This wasn''t just some fling-this was forever. Moon Goddess, this was way beyond what she''d nned for.


    Chapter 180: Her Name Is Ava


    Meanwhile, Lyra stood ramrod straight, like she''d swallowed a broomstick. She might have been dying inside, but her face, I could''ve been carved from marble. Years of priestess training hadn''t been for nothing.


    She took a slow breath, lifting her chin. "We should finish the signing, she said, voice cool but not cold. "Trade matters more than... personal developments."


    ke gave her a look of genuine respect before striding out, trailing Alpha energy behind him like a cape.


    James sidled up to Lyra, concern etched on his face. "You hanging in there?"


    "I''m fine," she said, straightening papers that didn''t need straightening. "We came for a trade deal. Let''s get it done and go home."


    For the next few hours, the Northern Lights crew dotted i''s and crossed t''s on the agreement. Lyra went through the motions perfectly, but inside, she was already picturing herself back home, soaking in moon-blessed hot springs, washing off this whole embarrassing mess.


    Moonlight spilled into ckwood Manor''s hallways, turning the stone floors into rivers of silver. Lyra was heading to her room when a shadow peeled away from an alcove, blocking her path.


    "Hey," Sophia''s voice was tight, wound-up like a spring. "We need to talk."


    Lyra stopped, those purple eyes flickering with something dangerous. Her silver hair caught the moonlight, making her look almost otherworldly. "I think we''ve said all we need to say."


    "No way," Sophia stepped closer, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "Dad just had a moment of craziness. We can still fix this-"


    "Sophia," Lyra cut her off, voice sharp enough to slice, "let me make something crystal clear. This isn''t some high school crush we''re talking about. A werewolf marking isn''t like... like human marriage where you can just get divorced if things don''t work out. It''s soul-deep. Moon Goddess blessed. Forever."


    Sophia took a step back, blinking rapidly. "Wait-he actually marked her? For real? I thought maybe he was just saying that


    for dramatic effect!"


    "You didn''t know?" Lyra''s eyes narrowed to slits. "Then what exactly was your game here? You practically shoved me at your father, knowing full well he was involved with someone else."


    "I knew they were hooking up," Sophia admitted, cheeks flushing. "But marking? That''s... that''s permanent."


    "No kidding," Lyra''s voice dripped with sarcasm. "Do you have any idea who I am? I''m the High-freaking-Priestess of Northern Lights! Guardian of sacred bonds! And you used me like a pawn in your little family drama?"


    "You don''t get it," Sophia''s voice cracked slightly. "She''s all wrong for him. For us. For Silverpeak."


    Lyra studied Sophia''s face, seeing past the anger to something more vulnerable underneath. The girl''s hands were trembling slightly.


    "You''re scared," Lyra said, her voice softening despite herself. "You''re afraid she''ll hurt him."


    Sophia swallowed hard, nodding. "After Mom died, he was... broken. For years. I watched him sleepwalk through life. And now this woman shows up, supposedly just wanting to save her criminal foster dad, and suddenly Dad''s marking her? It happened so fast." She wrapped her arms around herself. "What if she''s just using him? What if this is all some game to


    Chapter 180: Her Name Is Ava


    her?"


    Lyra sighed, some of her anger deting. "It''s not just about your dad, is it? The


    Luna is like... the pack''s heart.


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