#Chapter 198: The Covenant

ELENA The ceremony was Mason's idea. "A blood covenant," he'd said when he called me two days after the lake, his voice carrying that particular blend of excitement and pragmatism that meant he'd already thought through the logistics. "Between Silverclaw and Moonstone. A formal alliance. It'll send a message to every pack in the region that we're unified." "And Caroline?" I'd asked carefully. Mason's voice had gone tight. "She'll be there. And she'll apologize. Publicly." Now, standing in the clearing between our territories with wolves from both packs gathered in a loose circle, the torches burning low and steady in the cold evening air, I watched Mason walk to the center of the stone platform. He faced Derek across it. "Alpha King," Mason said formally. "Alpha Hart," Derek replied. There was a beat—the two of them squared off like they were about to fight rather than sign a treaty—and then the corner of Mason's mouth twitched. "Let's get this done before one of us c