Chapter 615 - My pack members know how to harvest the best
After pondering over the matter for a while, Vladimir made his decision. The secret of the crown weighed heavily on his conscience, and he knew he couldn’t carry it alone.
He would speak about it to Voren secretly, in private, when the moment was right. But for now, he forced a warm smile onto his weathered face and welcomed the couple properly.
"Co-Alpha and Co-Luna, you are welcome." His voice carried across the gathered crowd, strong and clear.
The pack members clapped, their hands coming together in polite applause, but their cheers weren’t as great as they had been for Seraphine.
It was clear that they were still confused about the new arrangement, still uncertain about what these newcomers meant for their pack structure.
Whispers rippled through the crowd like wind through wheat, curious and cautious.
Corvine could not stop admiring the Grimroot pack. His eyes swept across the crystalline structures, the floating lights still drifting lazily overhead, the plunge pools shimmering with golden reflections. His admiration and respect for Voren tripled with every passing moment.
He could not imagine how Voren had come up with such a concept for a pack of werewolves—the engineering, the vision, the sheer audacity of carving a home out of solid rock.
The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to remain under the umbrella of the man he now called his elder brother.
His expression was filled with warmth as he responded to Vladimir, his voice carrying genuine humility. "Uncle Vlad, please forget the pleasantries." He waved a dismissive hand. "I love to go by Corvine, and I’d like pack members to address me as such. No titles, no ceremony. Just Corvine."
"Same here." Liah added, her cheeks flushing with a becoming pink. "Just call me Liah. I’m honestly amazed. This pack is nothing I’ve ever seen." Her eyes sparkled with genuine wonder as she took in the breathtaking surroundings. "It’s like something out of a dream."
The pack members began to murmur among themselves, their voices a low hum of surprise. "The princess isn’t as arrogant as we thought."
Most of them had sensed trouble when they heard about the new arrangement, thinking that the princess would try to usurp their Luna’s powers.
They had prepared for drama, for conflict, for the kind of power struggle that had plagued other packs. But how wrong they were. The princess stood there, humble and gracious, her eyes full of admiration rather than ambition.
If only they knew what Liah and Corvine had in store for them, the surprises, the changes, the new beginning that would reshape everything.
"She’s co-Luna now, not princess." Another pack member corrected, her voice carrying a note of approval. "And she seems to understand that."
Though Liah heard it all, she could only smile. Pack gossips were always everywhere, a constant hum of chatter and speculation.
But she felt so at home at the Grimroot pack, even more than she did at the Silver Moon pack. There was something about this place, about these people, that made her feel welcome in a way she had never experienced before.
"Alright, thanks everyone." Voren’s voice finally raised, deep and commanding, cutting through the murmurs and whispers. He addressed the pack with authority, his gaze sweeping across the gathered faces. "We should go inside and celebrate. We are glad to be back."
He was happy that even without giving the order, a beautiful welcome had been prepared for his Luna. That was enough to tell him that he was indeed raising leaders—people who understood the importance of ceremony and celebration, who knew how to make others feel valued.
His voice was enough to send another round of cheers through the crowd. Alpha Voren was ruthless, everyone knew that. But his presence gave them the safety that no one else could give them, the protection that made their lives possible.
That was why they cheered, why they celebrated, why they had prepared such a welcome.
Everyone moved away for Voren to go in first, stepping aside to make a path for their Alpha. But what he did next was the reason they kept reminding themselves that their Alpha was different.
"You all go in." His deep voice bellowed across the clearing, carrying absolute authority. "I’ll make sure everywhere is safe before we lock up the pack."
No one could argue. For as long as Voren was around, safety measures were his major concern. He would always put the safety of the pack before his own comfort, always ensure that every corner was secure before he allowed himself to rest.
As everyone made their way inside, the music blasting from within told them that a party was waiting for them, a celebration that had been planned with care.
Corvine waited beside Voren naturally, his stance relaxed but alert. Liah stayed by his side, her presence a quiet comfort.
Seraphine embraced Voren, her face buried in his chest, her arms wrapped tightly around him. "You bring me so much joy." Her voice was muffled against his shirt, thick with emotion. "And now your pack makes me feel like the most important person alive."
She pulled back slightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I don’t know how to repay this."
Voren smiled, his heart swelling with love. He pulled away slightly and lifted her chin with his finger, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. His lips met hers in a deep, passionate kiss—a promise, a declaration, a thank you for everything she was.
When he pulled away, his voice was soft, intimate. "I guess I wasn’t the only one who foresaw what Ravyn did not see." He brushed a strand of hair from her face. "News about your dedication traveled around. My pack members know how to harvest the best, and they recognized greatness in you long before you arrived."
Seraphine smiled, her cheeks flushing with pleasure. "So, are you going to show us around?" She gestured at the stunning surroundings. "I want to see everything."
"Of course." Voren’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "I’ll show you how to lock up the pack from outside. We can do it inside too, from all the leaders’ rooms. There are controls everywhere."
Seraphine was amazed, her brow furrowing with confusion. "Isn’t closing the gate enough? What else is there?"
Voren shook his head, beckoning to Corvine. "You have to know it too." His voice carried a note of gravity. "In the time of a war, we lock the pack and no one can come in. The rocks are moveable, they swing and seal completely. It’s not just a gate; it’s a fortress."
Seraphine was still confused. She was a doctor, not an engineer, and the mechanics of it all escaped her. "How did you come up with all this? The design, the technology, everything?"
Voren smirked, a hint of pride flickering across his features. "I’m a black wolf, remember?" He winked at her. "But don’t worry. Most of the work was done by human engineers." He pointed to an empty space in the distance, a flat expanse of rock. "We were at the old pack there. But I destroyed it after this one was ready. There was no need for the old when the new was so much better."
"Humans aren’t supposed to be close to packs." Liah interjected, her voice full of genuine curiosity. "So how did you do it? How did you manage to keep them from discovering you?"
Voren smiled, his eyes taking on a distant look as he began to explain the extraordinary measures he had taken to build his dream pack.