The Princess's Revenge Chapter 149

Valencia’s POV

"Right now, just tell me what's been happening with the pack."

I nodded, grateful for the change of subject. "After we returned, everyone saw me transform. They were terrified."

"I imagine they were."

"So I called a full pack meeting. I told them everything. About you. About Elton's lies. About what we're facing."

Logan listened carefully as I explained. The speech in the great hall. The war council. The reinforcements sent to Ironwatch Border.

"You did well," he said when I finished. His voice held pride.

"I was terrified the whole time."

"That's what leadership is. Being terrified and doing it anyway."

I smiled slightly at that.

"Oh, there's something else," I said. "When we returned from the border, we were ambushed by rogues. Kai got hurt protecting me."

Logan's expression sharpened. "Is he alright?"

"He has claw marks on his shoulder. Dr. Vance stitched them up. He'll be fine."

"And he protected you?"

"Yes. He threw himself between me and a rogue. Took the claws meant for me."

I felt warmth in my chest remembering it. "Afterward, he called me his sister for the first time. Not Valencia. Not Luna. Sister."

Logan looked surprised. "His attitude changed that quickly?"

"I think coming here helped. Being around me. Seeing I care about him." I squeezed Logan's hand. "He's been standing guard outside the stone house this whole time. He wouldn't leave even when people told him to rest."

"He's devoted to you."

"He's trying. In his own way." I smiled. "I'm just happy we're making progress."

Logan nodded slowly. "I'm glad. Family is important."

We talked for another hour. I told him about Soren's letter. About Aldermere's troop movements. About the preparations we'd made.

Eventually, Logan's eyes started to close. The conversation had exhausted him.

"You need to rest," I said.

"Stay with me?"

"Of course."

I carefully lay down beside him, being careful not to jostle his wounds. His arm came around me, holding me close.

"I missed this," Logan murmured. "Missed you."

"I missed you too. So much."

Within minutes, his breathing deepened. He fell asleep holding me.

I stayed awake a little longer, just watching him. Grateful beyond words that he was here. That he'd come back to me.

Whatever challenges we faced next, at least we'd face them together.

Two weeks had passed since Logan woke up.

I stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching Thomas drill a group of young warriors. The morning sun was bright and cold. Steam rose from the fighters' bodies as they practiced their sword forms.

"Again!" Thomas shouted. "Your stance is too wide, Marcus! You'll be knocked over in seconds!"

The young man adjusted his footing and tried the movement again.

"Luna." Ryan approached from my left. "The morning patrol reports are ready for your review."

"Any issues?"

"Nothing serious. A few deer tracks near the eastern boundary. No signs of rogues or enemy scouts."

"Good. Keep the patrols running every four hours."

"Yes, Luna."

Ryan left to relay the orders. I turned back to watch the training.

Everything had changed in these two weeks.

At first, I'd been terrified of making decisions. Every choice felt too important, too final. What if I was wrong? What if people got hurt because of my mistakes?

But there was no time for fear. The pack needed direction. They needed someone to tell them what to do, where to go, how to prepare.

So I'd forced myself to be confident even when I wasn't. To make decisions quickly and clearly. To stand tall when I wanted to hide.

And somehow, it had worked.

The pack members had started looking at me differently. Not with fear of the dragon, but with respect for their Luna. They followed my orders without hesitation. They trusted me.

I still didn't feel like a real leader. But I was learning.

"Luna Valencia!" Delphine waved from across the training grounds. She was with a group of women practicing archery. "Come see! Maya hit the bullseye three times in a row!"

I walked over. Maya stood by the targets, her face flushed with pride.

"That's excellent work," I said.

"Thank you, Luna." Maya beamed. "I never thought I could do this. But you said everyone should learn to fight, so I tried."

"And you're doing wonderfully."

I spent another thirty minutes observing the different training groups. Sword work. Archery. Hand-to-hand combat. Shield formations. Even the elderly pack members were learning basic defensive techniques.

Thomas had organized everything brilliantly. Every person had a role. Every group had a schedule. The whole pack moved like a well-oiled machine.

Finally, I headed back to the castle. I had a council meeting in an hour, then I needed to review supply reports, then check on the border reinforcements.

The work never stopped.

I climbed the stairs to my room. Logan would be awake by now. I opened the door. Logan sat at the desk by the window, reading through a stack of documents. He'd put on a loose shirt this morning. The bandages on his chest were visible through the fabric.

He looked up when I entered. "How's the training going?"

"Well. Thomas has everyone working hard." I closed the door and leaned against it. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. Stronger every day."

"You're supposed to be resting."

"I am resting. I'm sitting down, aren't I?" He gestured at the papers. "Just reading reports. Nothing strenuous."

I walked over and looked at what he was reading. Supply inventories. Troop movements. Border patrol schedules.

"You should be sleeping, not working," I said.

"I've been sleeping for two weeks. I'm tired of sleeping."

His frustration was clear through our bond. "Dr. Vance said you need another week of rest," I reminded him.

"Dr. Vance worries too much."

"He kept you alive. Maybe his worrying is justified."

Logan sighed and set down the papers. "You're right. I know you're right. I just hate sitting here while you handle everything alone."

I moved behind his chair and wrapped my arms around his shoulders carefully, avoiding his injuries. "I'm not alone. I have Elias. Ryan. Dr. Vance. Kai. Delphine. The whole pack."

"But you're the one making all the decisions."

"Because someone has to. And right now, that someone is me." I rested my chin on top of his head. "But you'll be back on your feet soon. Then you can take over all this boring work again."

That made him smile slightly. "Can't wait."

We stayed like that for a moment. Then Logan said, "There's a council meeting this morning, right?"

"Yes. In about an hour."

"What's on the agenda?"

"The usual. Border reports. Supply updates. Training progress." I paused. "And we received another raven from Soren yesterday evening."

Logan straightened. "What did it say?"

"His army has reached King's Fang. They're camped outside the city walls. Elton's forces are inside. Neither side has attacked yet."

"A standoff."

"Yes. But here's the interesting part." I moved to sit on the edge of the desk. "Alpha Kestrel hasn't sent any troops to support Elton."

Logan's eyes sharpened. "Kestrel is staying neutral?"

"It seems that way. Soren thinks Kestrel is waiting to see who wins before choosing a side."

"Smart. Cowardly, but smart."

"And while Valdoria tears itself apart, Aldermere is gathering strength on our border."

"Have there been any new movements from Aldermere?"

"Captain Carson sent a report three days ago. The ice on the Grey River is almost completely melted. Aldermere has over seven hundred troops now. They're building siege equipment."

Logan's jaw tightened. "They'll attack within the week."

"That's what Carson thinks too."

We sat in silence for a moment. The situation was bad from every angle.

"We should have gone to find the ruby ring right after we found Kai," Logan said. He traced a line on the map with his finger. "That was always the plan."

"You're right," I said. "But then everything happened with Elton and King's Fang."