Chapter 14
Sylvia looked up and saw Kaelen holding a strawberry-flavored biscuit.
"You—" Her eyes widened in surprise.
"It fell out of your pocket the day you saved me," Kaelen said, handing it to her. "I've kept it ever since. It's expired, so you can't eat it, but—"
He paused, his ears flushing again. "I always thought, when I finally found you, I'd give it back."
Sylvia took the expired biscuit, her tears falling harder.
She choked out, "Kaelen, are you that dumb?"
"Yeah," he admitted without hesitation. "But only for you."
*****
Three days after the vampire attack, the Crescent Pack threw a grand coronation ceremony.
Sylvia stood atop the shrine's highest terrace, gazing down at the packed crowd below.
Werewolves flocked here from all corners of the territory, packing the square to the brim. They looked up at her with awe, curiosity, and doubt in their eyes.
After all, three days ago, she was a "wolfless trash", and now she was about to become the Luna. That kind of leap was hard for everyone to swallow.
'Nervous?' Kaelen's voice echoed in Sylvia's mind.
Her eyes automatically sought him out.
He was standing on the other side of the terrace, dressed in a black suit, broad-shouldered and tall, surrounded by several elders.
Still, half his attention was clearly on her. Through their mind link, Sylvia could feel the wave of comfort he sent her way.
It felt like a warm breeze gently brushing against her nerves.
'A little,' Sylvia replied to him in her mind. 'There are so many people down there.'
Kaelen shot back, 'Don't bother looking at them. Look at me.'
'You're so full of yourself.'
'I only act this way around you.'
Sylvia couldn't help but smile.
She had grown used to this mind talk over the past three days.
It was like Kaelen had moved into her thoughts, chatting with her anytime, anywhere. Sometimes they talked about serious stuff, and other times casual topics.
'Sweetheart, that dress you're wearing today shows too much of your back,' Kaelen complained.
Sylvia was lost for words.
She glanced down at her gown. It was a silver-white dress with a cutout in the back, showing off her shoulder blades and a part of her spine.
It was the "Luna's gown" the priests had picked out for her. She didn't get a say in it.
'Doesn't it look good?' she asked.
'It looks amazing.' Kaelen paused for a moment. 'But I don't want anyone else to see it.'
'Then what should I do?'
'As soon as the coronation's over, we're heading back to the Forbidden Sanctuary. I'll help you out of that dress myself.'
Sylvia's cheeks instantly flushed.
For the past three days, even though she'd been living in the Forbidden Sanctuary, Kaelen had always slept on the couch outside the stone chamber, never crossing the line.
But the way he was talking now was flirty.
She warned, 'Kaelen, today's the official ceremony.'
'I know.' His voice was full of teasing laughter. 'So I'm only saying it. I'll wait until the ceremony is over.'
'We'll talk about it later,' Sylvia replied.
Suddenly, a noise broke out below the terrace.
Sylvia turned her head and saw Vivian storming into the square with a group of werewolves, her snow wolf form shimmering behind her.
"I object!" Vivian's sharp voice cut through the crowd. "Her origins are unknown. Her awakening was suspicious. Who knows if she's a spy sent by the vampires?"
The crowd stirred. A few elders frowned, but no one spoke up to stop her. Clearly, they were waiting to see how things would play out.
Kaelen strode over from the other side of the terrace, his face dark with anger.
But in Sylvia's mind, his voice echoed clearly. 'Stay put. Let me handle this.'
'I can handle it myself,' Sylvia protested.
'Let me do it.' His tone was authoritative, but there was a hint of pleading in it.
Sylvia froze for a second, and then it clicked.
He wanted to protect her, not only physically, but also emotionally. He wanted everyone to know that anyone who messed with Sylvia would be regarded as messing with him.
Sylvia stayed quiet, letting him handle it.
Kaelen strode to the edge of the terrace, towering over Vivian. He didn't say a word, but unleashed his Alpha aura. It crashed down on the square.