#Chapter 56: Mountain Descent

Dawn broke over Silver Lake with muted gray light, the sun struggling to penetrate heavy clouds that promised rain. The mood in the main house matched the weather – tense and foreboding as we finalized preparations for our journey. "Everything's packed except your new ceremonial items," Luna Elena informed me as servants carried luggage to the waiting vehicles. "They'll require a separate container to protect them properly." She surveyed the growing pile of elegant boxes and bags – all the gifts she'd purchased over the past days. "These belong to our family's Luna," she stated firmly, her voice carrying deliberately to where Giana stood checking her own meager luggage. "They represent traditions that must be preserved." Elena's eyes held mine for a meaningful moment, and I understood the subtext beneath her words. These weren't merely gifts; they were a deliberate investment in my status, a clear indication of where the former Alpha family's loyalties lay despite Raymond's choic