Lucera's POV
I stood before my son after Varah left to convene the council.
I studied him in silence his flawless face, his white hair, the ancient mark of the Goddess etched upon his back, borne by every true heir of our house. He was perfection shaped by fate itself.
And fate had never been kind to me.
I lifted him gently and with heavy steps I carried him toward the Great Hall, where the council awaited and his fate would be decided.
"All hail Queen Lucera Aurora whitefang," Beta Senera announced through the mind link, her voice echoing through the minds of all in the great hall.
"Ruler of the Moon Realm. Descendant of the White wolf Throne. Defender and Protector of the Realm."
I entered with my son held in my jaws, my steps steady though my heart burned. The Great Hall had not known a true gathering since the Dance, this is the first of its kind, with all the great houses present.
This alone tells how grave this moment was.
Varah was already there. I noticed the basket placed beside him the same basket we used for our son. A small act that flattered and warmed my heart.
I laid my son within it and moved forward, standing before the throne as the wolves encircled the hall.
Chief Varah of House mooncat, you are welcome.
Roman of House Blackborn, you are welcome.
Chief Gavial of House Greystone, welcome.
Chief Ravi of House Golding you are welcome."
My gaze swept across them.
I thank you for answering this summons. I would not have called this council had the matter not been urgent. This is our first true gathering since the Dance and we all know why we stand here."
They nodded. Not one spoke at first.
At last, Ravi stepped forward and bowed his head.
"My queen, we know why we are here. Fear grips us all not only for the realm, but for the prince. There is a truth we must confront."
He hesitated.
"The prophecy," he whispered.
The word struck me like a blade, I have expected this day to come but I am not yet ready for what is to come.
"We were all present," he continued, "when the goddesses spoke as one and cursed the three realms, yet promised salvation."
His voice grew solemn as he recited the ancient words:
"When the earth grows quiet and hatred is forgotten,
I shall remember my promise.
From the ruler of one of the realms shall a son be born.
I shall touch him and bless him.
He shall be the savior, and the breaker of the curse.
It felt like yesterday." He said. "The sage has confirmed your son is the prince that was promised"
I looked at sage Gracee and she had her head bowed and it confirmed everything, they had indeed seemed out in my absence and she had confirmed their questions.
Then Ravi spoke again, his voice grave.
"We cannot keep him, my queen. They will come for him."
A growl tore from my chest involuntarily, He immediately stepped back and bared his neck in submission.
"My queen," he said quickly, "forgive me. I speak only the truth. When the other realms learn of his birth, chaos will follow. They will come for him."
I rose slowly, my white wolf towering over him. The thought of being apart from my son has brought out the protective side of me
Repeat that,I commanded.
He remained silent, trembling.
"I will not speak out of turn again," he said at last.
The thought of foreign hands touching my son sent fire through my blood. I had called this council for a reason, yet every word sharpened my fury.
Then Varah stepped forward.
"My queen," he said carefully, "as your mate and as the father of our son I must speak."
I allowed it.
"We cannot keep him," Varah said. "Not here. When the other kingdoms learn of him, war will follow.
We cannot raise him as he must be raised. He needs care, knowledge, he needs to learn how to speak, things we cannot provide in our current state."
Murmurs spread through the hall.
"Every realm has waited for the promised prince to be born among them," he continued. "The goddesses favored us. That favor will breed hatred."
Then Gavial spoke.
"We must send the prince to the human realm," he said quietly. "He will be safest there. Dragons have been sighted in the skies since last night. We all know what that means."
Silence followed.
Let them come, I snarled. We defeated them once. We will defeat them again.
"At what cost?" Gavial asked. "Our humanity? Your house resisted dragonfire and magic that was why we won but the curse binds us now. We would fight with fang and instinct alone."
He looked around the hall.
"The alliance between the Dragon Realm and the Witch Realm still stands. We may win a war but lose the prince. Is that what you want, your majesty?
My house pledges loyalty to your house and we will always be loyal to your house queen Lucera but the safety of the prince should be prioritized."
The words settled like ash.. .