Richard set down his fork and reached across the table, taking her hands in his. The contact sent a steady pulse of warmth through their mate bond. "This carries great risk. Every action must be flawless. One mistake, and we could lose far more than the six cities. We could lose the pack itself, or our children. We have to thread carefully handling this matter."
Luna's grip tightened, reassurance and shared determination flowing between them through the bond. "I know," she said, her voice steady and quiet. "But we must do this. For Silver Ridge. For our family. And for Maya. She trusts us. We cannot break that trust. We will guide her, protect her as best we can, and ensure the choices remain hers. The strategy, the alliances, the long conflict with Nightshade, that weight belongs to us."
