Lyanna's POV
"Welcome home?" I whispered, staring at the kneeling Alpha King. "What do you mean?"
Caelan Stormweaver rose to his feet in one smooth motion, his ice-blue eyes never leaving mine. "The Moon Judge has always had a place here, in the seat of power where justice can be properly served."
Around the room, the other Alphas slowly stood, but they kept their distance. I could feel their fear and curiosity rolling off them in waves. My new Judgment Sight activated without warning, and suddenly I could see truths about each of them.
The Alpha on the left—he'd stolen pack funds. The female Alpha near the window—she'd covered up her Beta's crimes. The older Alpha in the corner—he'd forced wolves into unwanted matings.
So many secrets. So much corruption.
My head started pounding, and I swayed on my feet.
Caelan was beside me instantly, his hand on my elbow steadying me. "Your Sight is overwhelming you. You need to learn to control when it activates." His touch was surprisingly gentle for someone so intimidating. "Reed, clear the council chamber. The Moon Judge needs space."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Captain Reed immediately started ushering the other Alphas out.
They filed past me, some bowing respectfully, others glaring with barely hidden anger. The corrupt ones, I realized. They knew I could see their crimes.
When the last Alpha left, Caelan guided me to a chair. "Sit before you fall."
I wanted to argue that I was fine, but my legs gave out and I collapsed into the seat. "This is too much. The Goddess said I'd have powers, but she didn't say they'd hurt."
"All power has a price." Caelan pulled up a chair across from me, sitting so we were at eye level instead of him looming over me. "But you'll learn control. The previous Moon Judge took months to master her Sight."
"Months?" I groaned. "I don't have months. You said three Alphas are accused of murder. They need judgment now."
Something flickered in Caelan's expression—respect, maybe? "The accused Alphas have been held for two weeks already. They can wait a few more days while you adjust."
"Why are you being so nice to me?" The question burst out before I could stop it. "Every Alpha I've ever known has treated me like dirt because I was omega. But you're treating me like..."
"Like you're the Moon Judge," he finished. "Which you are. Your omega status was an illusion. Now I see what you truly are." His eyes glowed briefly with Alpha power. "And what you truly are commands my respect."
I searched his face for lies, but my Judgment Sight showed me only truth. He meant every word.
"You said 'welcome home,'" I said quietly. "Why?"
Caelan was silent for a moment. Then he said, "Five years ago, my younger sister disappeared. Before she vanished, she had prophetic dreams. She told me a Moon Judge would awaken soon, and when she did, I needed to protect her." His jaw tightened. "She said finding the Judge would lead me to finding her."
My breath caught. "Your sister is still alive?"
"I believe so. I've searched everywhere, but it's like she vanished into thin air." He leaned forward, intensity radiating from him. "But if she was right about you awakening, maybe she was right about the rest. Will you help me find her?"
I thought about my own family—parents dead, grandmother dead, no one left who cared if I lived or died. This powerful Alpha King was asking for my help, not demanding it. Treating me like an equal.
"Yes," I said. "I'll help."
Relief flashed across his face before he masked it. "Thank you. But first, you need rest and training. Reed will show you to your chambers—"
A commotion outside made us both turn. Shouting. Running footsteps.
The doors burst open, and a bloodied warrior stumbled in. "Your Majesty! The accused Alphas—they've escaped!"
Caelan was on his feet instantly. "How?"
"Someone helped them from the inside. They killed three guards and fled into the city." The warrior gasped for breath. "They're heading for the eastern gate."
"Seal all exits. Send warriors—"
"No," I interrupted, standing up. Both men turned to stare at me. "I'll find them."
"You just awakened," Caelan said. "You don't know how to use your powers yet—"
"Then I'll learn by doing." My wolf growled inside me, eager for the hunt. "The Goddess gave me these powers for a reason. Three murderers are running free. That's exactly what I'm supposed to stop."
Caelan studied me for a long moment. Then he nodded. "I'm coming with you."
"You don't have to—"
"Ancient law requires the Alpha King to serve as the Moon Judge's protector." He moved toward the door. "Besides, you might be divine, but you don't know this city. You'll get lost in five minutes without me."
He had a point.
We ran through the fortress hallways, warriors joining us as we went. Caelan barked orders, organizing search parties. But when we burst out into the city streets, I stopped.
"Wait." I closed my eyes, reaching for my Judgment Sight. "Let me try something."
I focused on the escaped Alphas, picturing them in my mind. Where would murderers run? Where would they hide?
My Sight exploded outward like a wave, showing me the entire city in flashes of truth and lies. Thousands of wolves going about their lives. But three blazed like dark stars—three Alphas radiating guilt and fear.
"East market," I gasped, my eyes snapping open. "They're hiding in a warehouse near the docks."
Caelan didn't question how I knew. He just ran, and I ran with him.
We reached the warehouse within minutes. Caelan's warriors surrounded the building. But before anyone could move, the doors exploded outward in a blast of Alpha power.
Three huge wolves burst out—the escaped prisoners. But they weren't running away.
They were running straight at me.
"Kill the Judge!" one roared. "Kill her before she judges us all!"
Silver light flared around my hands automatically. But before I could attack, Caelan shifted into his wolf form—a massive black beast twice the size of normal Alphas—and slammed into the first attacker.
The fight was brutal and fast. The three murderers were strong, but Caelan was stronger. He fought like a force of nature, protecting me while his warriors engaged the other two.
Then I saw it—the third Alpha circling around, using the fight as a distraction. He was headed for a group of civilians watching from nearby. A mother with two small children.
He was going to take hostages.
"No!" I ran forward, power surging through me.
The Alpha grabbed the mother, claws at her throat. "Back off or she dies!"
Time seemed to slow down. I raised my hand, not knowing what would happen but trusting my instincts. Silver chains shot from my palm, wrapping around the Alpha and yanking him away from the woman. He crashed to the ground, bound tight.
"You're under judgment," I said, my voice echoing with divine authority. "For murder, for escape, and for threatening innocents."
The other two Alphas froze, staring at me with terror. Even Caelan's wolf stopped mid-fight, watching.
My Judgment Sight showed me their crimes in vivid detail. Pack members killed. Evidence destroyed. Families torn apart.
"Guilty," I pronounced, and my power flared. "I strip you of your Alpha status and bind your wolves until you've served justice."
The three Alphas screamed as silver light engulfed them. When it faded, they were just normal wolves—powerless, weak, broken.
The watching crowd burst into cheers.
I stood there shaking, barely believing what I'd just done. I'd actually judged three Alphas. Just like the Goddess said I could.
Caelan shifted back to human form, and someone handed him clothes. He walked over to me, his expression unreadable.
"That," he said quietly, "was impressive."
Before I could respond, a woman's scream cut through the celebration.
"He's dead! Someone help! The Alpha is dead!"
Everyone turned toward the warehouse. Warriors ran inside, then came back out looking pale.
Captain Reed approached us, his face grim. "Your Majesty, Moon Judge... there's a fourth body inside. Another Alpha. He's been dead for hours."
"A fourth?" Caelan's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"Alpha Marcus Greystone's son."
The name hit me like a punch. Marcus Greystone—Elder Marcus from the Alpha Council. One of the most powerful wolves in the kingdom.
And his son was dead.
Reed continued, "There's a message carved into the wall above him. It says..." He swallowed hard. "It says, 'The Moon Judge will pay for her crimes against Alphas.'"
Everyone turned to stare at me.
My blood ran cold. Someone had murdered an Alpha's son and blamed me for it.
"It's a setup," Caelan growled. "Someone's trying to frame her—"
"She arrived today, and my son dies?" A voice boomed across the square.
Elder Marcus Greystone pushed through the crowd, his eyes blazing with grief and rage. When he saw me, his expression twisted with hatred.
"You," he snarled. "You killed my boy!"
"I didn't—" I started.
"Liar!" He pointed at me with a shaking hand. "You're no Moon Judge. You're a murderer!"