The Great Council Hall was nothing like Kanah imagined.
It was not a grand building, nor a palace chamber.
It was a circle of stones built beneath a wide canopy of trees, open to sun and wind and sky.
Every seat represented a tribe.
Owain squeezed her hand gently as he guided her inside.
"Remember," he murmured, "you don't speak for all, only for yourself."
Kanah whispered back:
"And for you."
Owain's throat bobbed as he swallowed.
"Yes.
But only if you wish."
She smiled and leaned lightly against him.
"Always."
Owain's chest rose with quiet pride.
THE TRIBES GATHER
As she stepped into the circle, every leader rose from their seat.
Not bowing.
Standing.
A subtle, powerful show of respect.
Yllas—dragon lord—inclined his head.
Gerrin—elf healer—placed his hand over his heart.
Helion—leopard chief—grinned lazily from where he sprawled on his stone seat, tail flicking.
The wolf Beta bowed deeply from his place at Owain's right.
Kanah felt dozens of eyes on her.
Owain squeezed her fingers.
"You lead beside me," he murmured.
"You're not alone."
Kanah inhaled, steadying herself.
She stepped into the center.
The wind shifted gently, curling around her.
She wasn't just Kanah the human anymore.
She was Kanah, mate to the Beast King.
Queen of the pack.
A stabilizing force to beasts.
A survivor.
A healer.
A leader.
And the tribes saw it.
THE FIRST ISSUE
The wolf Beta spoke first.
"My king. My queen."
He paused.
"There is unrest at the northern border. A remnant of Veylor forces refuses to surrender."
A ripple moved through the council.
Kanah frowned.
"Remnant forces? Even after the Devourer King fell?"
Owain looked at her—
surprised, but impressed.
"Yes," he said, addressing her first before turning to the council.
"The ones who fed on Devourer hunger for too long… they've become unstable."
Gerrin added gently:
"They are not monsters, but they are not whole either."
Kanah felt a pang.
Like she could feel the echoes of that hunger.
She lifted her chin.
"Then we should not attack blindly," she said.
"We need to understand whether they can be saved."
The wolf Beta hesitated.
"My queen… they are unpredictable. Dangerous."
Kanah looked at him steadily.
"So was I."
Silence fell instantly.
Owain's hand on her lower back tightened—
protective, proud, emotional.
Yllas nodded slowly.
"She speaks truth.
If her resonance calmed Owain's Hunger in the Pit, she may be able to stabilize the remnants as well."
Owain growled softly.
"She will not go into danger alone."
Kanah touched his hand gently.
"I won't."
Gerrin stepped forward.
"I will go with her," he said.
Helion leaped off his seat with a smirk.
"And me.
Someone needs to keep her entertained on the way."
Owain glared at him.
Helion winked.
"Relax, wolf. I'll behave. Probably."
Kanah hid a smile behind her hand.
Owain exhaled heavily.
"She goes nowhere unless I come with her."
Kanah looked at him, warmth filling her chest.
"Then we'll all go."
The council murmured in agreement.
Kanah continued, voice steady:
"Those remnants followed a Devourer king who no longer rules this world.
We don't need to destroy them.
We need to give them a chance to choose new leadership—
or peace."
The Elders of every tribe nodded.
Even the wolf Beta bowed his head.
Owain's eyes shone with something fierce and tender.
"She's right," he said.
"Her instinct is correct."
And with that, the council concluded.
Kanah didn't breathe until they were outside the circle.
AFTER THE COUNCIL
Owain guided her toward the riverside, where the air was quiet and cool.
The moment they were alone, he pulled her into his chest—
not forcefully, but with relief.
"Kana," he murmured into her hair, "you were incredible."
Kanah blushed.
"I was… scared."
"I know."
He kissed her forehead.
"And you still spoke. Calm. Clear. Strong."
She rested her hands on his chest.
"Well… I learned from the best."
Owain stilled.
"Kana…"
Kanah smiled and rose onto her toes, kissing him softly.
Owain inhaled sharply and cupped the back of her head, deepening the kiss—
not wild like the chase,
not tender like the morning,
but something in-between:
proud
devoted
possessive
loving
He kissed her until she was breathless.
When they parted, their foreheads touched.
"I don't know how I survived without you," Owain whispered.
Kanah's voice softened.
"You didn't.
You endured.
Now we get to live."
Owain's throat tightened.
"Then let me live with you.
Every step.
Every choice."
Kanah leaned into him.
"Always."
Owain kissed her once more, slow and warm, before pulling her into his arms.
And the Wolf Queen's first day ended with the man she chose—
and the future they were starting to build.