Chapter 325: Chapter 325: Callum Made His Choice

Eve sat up, suddenly alert. "And?"

"He’s staying. Accepted the probation terms. He’s going to make the formal acknowledgment to the pack tonight." Silas’s thumb traced circles on her palm. "Raphael said Rosie cried when Callum told her they weren’t leaving. Happy tears."

Something warm bloomed in Eve’s chest. "That’s good. That’s really good."

"It is." Silas studied her face. "But it also means we need to actually emerge from this room at some point. The pack is gathering tonight for a bonfire. Traditional pack gathering, happens once a month, more often if there’s something important to acknowledge."

"Like their Alpha’s second publicly accepting responsibility for betrayal?"

"Like that. And..." Silas paused, choosing his words carefully. "Like acknowledging that their Luna is also now a queen . Brynn’s been organizing it. She thinks it’s time."

Eve’s stomach flipped. "Time for what exactly?"

"Time for the packs to formally recognize you. Not because of politics or because you’re Queen of the Seraphim Court. Because you’re our mate. Because you’re one of them now, whether you were born into it or not."

"Silas, I don’t know if I’m ready to face the entire pack like this...."

"You are." His hand cupped her face. "You’ve been ready. You just don’t see it yet because you’re still thinking like an outsider. But you’re not an outsider anymore, Eve. You haven’t been for a long time."

Before Eve could respond, the bedroom door opened and Damian entered carrying a tray of food. His eyes immediately found her, tracking over her face with the careful attention of someone checking for problems.

"You’re awake," he said, setting the tray on the bedside table. "Good. You need to eat something that isn’t us feeding you in bed."

Despite everything, Eve felt herself blush. Damian’s grin was unrepentant.

"Silas told you about tonight?" Damian asked, settling into the chair near the window with his own cup of coffee.

Eve nodded. "He said something about the pack formally acknowledging me."

"They want to," Damian said simply. "Brynn says half the pack has been asking when we’re going to make it official. When you’re going to stop being ’the Alphas’ mate’ and start being their Luna."

"What’s the difference?"

"The difference," Damon said from the doorway, when had he arrived?....."is that one is about us. About our bond. About you being connected to the pack through your mates." He crossed to the bed, leaning against the post. "The other is about you. About them choosing to claim you as theirs, not because they have to but because they want to."

Eve absorbed that. "And if they don’t want to?"

All three of her mates made various sounds of disbelief.

"They want to," Silas said firmly. "Trust me on this."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I’ve been watching them watch you," Damian said. "The way they look at you has changed over the past few monthss. You’re not a stranger anymore. Not an outsider. You’re the woman who stood in front of the Conclave and changed the world. The Queen who fought for them even when they didn’t ask you to. The mate who makes their Alphas happy." He paused. "That matters to them, Eve. More than you know."

Eve looked between her three mates, seeing the absolute certainty in their faces. They believed this. Believed the pack would accept her.

She wanted to believe it too.

"Okay," she said quietly. "Tonight. I’ll be there."

"We’ll all be there," Damon corrected. "Together."

***

The bonfire was massive.

Eve stood at the edge of the gathering, watching flames climb toward the darkening sky, and tried to calm the nervous flutter in her stomach. The entire pack was here, together with other neighboring pack representatives....easily two hundred people, maybe more....scattered around the fire in loose groups, talking and laughing and passing around food and drink.

It looked... normal. Like a community gathering. Like family.

"Breathe," Silas murmured in her ear. His hand was warm on her lower back. "They’re not going to bite."

"Some of them might," Damon said cheerfully from her other side. "But only if you ask nicely."

Despite her nerves, Eve laughed.

Damian appeared in front of her, his eyes searching her face. "You don’t have to do this tonight if you’re not ready. We can wait. There’s no rush."

But there was. Eve could feel it...the weight of expectation, the pack waiting for confirmation of what they already knew. Waiting for her to stop hesitating and just... step forward.

"I’m ready," she said, and meant it.

Damian’s smile was slow and warm and full of pride. "Then let’s go."

He took her hand and led her toward the fire. The crowd parted automatically, people stepping aside to let them through, and Eve felt the weight of hundreds of eyes tracking her movement.

Then she saw Brynn, she stood near the fire, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp. When she caught sight of Eve, her expression shifted into something warm and welcoming.

"About time," Brynn called out. "We’ve been waiting for you."

"Sorry," Eve said, her voice carrying across the sudden quiet. "I’ve been... busy."

A ripple of knowing laughter moved through the crowd. Someone wolf-whistled. Someone else made a comment about "busy Alphas" that made several people snicker.

Eve felt her face heat, but Brynn just grinned. "I bet you have been." She stepped forward, and the crowd quieted again. "But you’re here now. That’s what matters."

Brynn turned to face the assembled pack, her voice carrying with the natural authority of someone used to commanding attention. "Most of you know why we’re here tonight. Callum has something to say. Eve has something to hear. And we, as a pack, have a choice to make."

She gestured to Callum, who stood off to the side with Rosie holding his hand. He looked nervous but determined as he stepped forward.

"I betrayed this pack," Callum said, his voice clear and steady despite the tremor Eve could see in his hands. "I gave information to Malachai’s people that was used to coordinate an attack on our Alphas’ mate. On our Queen. I did it because my daughter was threatened, because I was scared, because I thought I had no other choice." He paused. "I was wrong. I should have trusted my Alphas. Should have come to them instead of acting alone. And I take full responsibility for my actions and their consequences."