I stepped outside and summoned a territory runner to take us to my birth pack's holding.
Along the way, my message-stone kept vibrating with incoming summons.
Kael Stormhart's voice came through, laced with reproach.
"Where did you go? Come back now."
"Mother is only thinking of the whole pack. If you disagree, you could have discussed it properly."
"Are you deliberately trying to ruin the Moon Festival for everyone? Lyra, I truly underestimated you before. You really are that selfish!"
I didn't respond.
Kael sent summons after summons.
I silenced the stone completely.
I thought back to when I first received the Moonblessing payout. I had been so hopeful.
My mother had a growth pressing against her mind—a head-sickness that required healer intervention and long recovery, costing at least thirty thousand in resource shares.
And just last week, Kael's wellness assessment showed signs of a wasting sickness in his chest.
At the time, I had thought fate was showing mercy.
This blessing could solve our most urgent troubles.
But before I could even discuss it with Kael, that devoted son had already made promises to his matriarch.
So be it.
If only to protect my dignity, I had to guard what was mine.