Gideons POV
The noon sun was bright and crisp overhead, cutting through the autumn chill as we stepped out onto the courtyard balcony. Below us, the stone plaza was packed wall to wall. Warriors, pack elders, mothers with young children, and working families filled every square foot, their voices blending into a low, turbulent hum that vibrated through the air.
I kept my fingers laced tightly through Sera’s, her warmth anchoring me. Standing by my side, she looked every bit the Luna she was—head held high, copper hair catching the sunlight, her eyes calm and unwavering as she looked out over the crowd.
I raised my free hand, and the heavy command in my aura swept over the courtyard. Instantly, the loud chatter died down into a tense, expectant silence.
"People of Crimson Ridge," my vo
