Chapter 299: Moon Cycle Ravik made sure the crowd was quiet. The werewolves obeyed him easily after all, he was the attendant of their new lord, the one who had personally brought that strange yet benevolent man from the surface world down to them. If not for Ravik’s courage, who knew what would’ve happened to Lycas? He looked over the square proudly. Several dozens of werewolves... in human, half, and full forms filled the space. And somewhere near the back, Vargan sat by himself. The former leader’s body was completely healed, and though his face was unreadable, everyone gave him a wide berth. Nobody dared sit too close to him... even beaten, he was terrifying. To his right, Selene sat surrounded by her little entourage. Some of her admirers were fanning her with cloths and others offering her drinks. Yet even she, the proud silver-haired beauty of Lycas, couldn’t hide her impatience. Everyone... her included was waiting for him. Their new Lord. And soon, he arrived. Azel emerged from the path leading from the mansion, slightly panting, strands of silver hair sticking to his forehead. He hadn’t even caught his breath before the entire crowd erupted into howls that shook the square. Ravik waved proudly at him from the stage. Azel resisted the urge to punch the idiot in the face. He climbed up onto the raised wooden platform, squinting at the several howling wolves before him. "Thank you," he said after a moment, forcing a wide grin. "I hope you’re all enjoying the new place." The crowd answered with a unified roar of approval. "Good to hear," Azel continued. "The forests are back, the air is clean again... just... try not to hunt everything into extinction this time, alright?" That got a ripple of laughter. He scratched the back of his neck. "Honestly, I didn’t come here with a grand speech in mind. I’m not the kind of guy who enjoys talking in front of large groups." "But I will say this," he continued, his expression turning serious. "Lycas is a beautiful land. It’s full of strong people, proud warriors, and more history than you realize. You’ve survived hardships most wouldn’t even believe... starvation and disease yet here you stand, still howling at the moon. That’s strength." A few heads nodded, tails wagging. "But strength alone isn’t enough," Azel said, raising a hand slightly. "The old Lycas fell because it didn’t take care of itself. Your homes rotted. Your forests died. Your people starved. I fixed some of that, but I’m not the one who’ll keep it alive." He pointed toward the crowd. "That’s you. The hunters, the craftsmen, the mothers and fathers, the cubs growing up here... this is your home. So protect it. Maintain it. Don’t let it fall back into ruin. A Lord can give orders, but it’s the people who give a place meaning." The square fell silent for a moment then came the howls. Even Azel couldn’t help smiling. "Alright," he said when they calmed down again. "Now that I sound properly wise and important..." Some laughter followed. "...I have one last announcement." He turned slightly, raising a hand toward the edge of the crowd. "Selene." The silver-haired werewolf woman straightened immediately, her tail betraying her excitement even though she tried to remain calm. She rose and walked gracefully to the stage, her fan folded neatly in one hand. Azel waited until she joined him, then faced the crowd again. "I won’t be here forever," he said. "There are other matters I need to handle on the surface. But Lycas needs a leader who can keep it stable in my absence." He paused for a heartbeat. "That leader will be Selene." There were gasps, murmurs, low whispers. Some wolves looked confused, others skeptical, but none dared interrupt. "She’s proven herself strong, capable, and loyal," Azel continued. "She’ll ensure order, progress, and peace while I’m gone." He rested a hand lightly on Selene’s shoulder. "From this day forward, Selene will serve as my wife and stand as Lady of Lycas." That sentence hit like a bomb. The murmuring stopped. Then a few howls started and then dozens. Selene’s face went red instantly. ’They believed him?’ she thought, half relieved but also... half disappointed. But before she could speak, Azel’s smile widened. "And who knows," he added casually, "maybe by the time I return, she’ll be carrying my child." The square exploded. ... Night came quietly. Azel entered the master room, tugging off his cloak and unbuttoning his shirt. His muscles ached from talking and he had just woken up from sleep sometime ago. Leading people was way more exhausting than killing monsters. "You’re still standing there?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder. Selene stood by the wall, her silver hair falling down her back. She’d changed into a black kimono that glowed under the light. The outfit was elegant but simple... a traditional garment used for rest. "Y-yes, my lord," she said. Azel sighed and pulled off his shirt completely. "It’s late. Try to get some sleep." She nodded quickly... a little too quickly. "Of course, my lord." But her eyes betrayed her thoughts. The sight of the human lord’s bare chest was... oddly distracting. Humans didn’t have fur, and yet the way his muscles shifted under his skin was somehow mesmerizing. ’Focus, Selene,’ she scolded herself, gripping her fan tightly. Azel stretched once, then yawned, collapsing onto the large bed that dominated the center of the room. He placed his black bone crown on the desk beside him and closed his eyes. "Finally..." he muttered, "peace." The silence lasted all of ten seconds. "My lord..." Selene’s voice came again softly. Azel cracked an eye open. "Yes?" She hesitated, fidgeting with her fan. Her tail twitched once behind her, betraying her nervousness. "When will you..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "...put your child in me?" Azel’s eyes opened completely. "What?" Selene’s face turned bright red. "I-I mean— since you declared me your wife before the entire town, it’s only natural that we... that we..." He sat up slowly, staring at her in disbelief. ’Of course,’ he thought grimly. ’It always ends up like this.’ "Selene," he said, his voice flat, "we are pretending to be married. Pretending doesn’t involve actually—" "But, my lord," she interrupted quickly, her hands trembling, "if we don’t... they’ll doubt you! The people expect an heir—" "No one’s expecting anything," Azel cut her off, dragging a hand down his face. "If anyone asks, tell them we’re... waiting for the right moon cycle or something." She blinked in confusion. "The moon cycle?" "Exactly," he said dryly. "It sounds spiritual and complicated... they’ll buy it." He had always wondered why movies with fake marriages sounded so cringe... and now here he was, using the plot of one.