Ava took a step forward. "Every Northerner will return to their homes. Hug your children. Tell them the terror is over. That a new dawn has come. Until further notice, Alpha Lucas Raventhorn is now your Alpha King of the North."
The effect was instantaneous. Tension bled out of the air. Wolves began to shift back into human form with slow reverence.
But even amid the confusion, it was clear: they were glad. Truly glad. Not just that the Alpha King was gone, but that someone had finally stood up to him. Even if they weren't yet sure what kind of king Alpha Lucas would be.
Ava watched them leave the castle gates. It was going to take a lot of work to fix what Herod and his ancestors had broken but if anyone could do it, it was Lucas. She had never known him to shy away from any challenge. Not since the moment she first laid eyes on him. The Silver Pack Butcher. Her husband, her mate.
