Chapter 194

Violet’s POV

Preparing for today’s speech was a much bigger affair. The threat of the next hallucination was looming ever closer while the threat to my life had us all on edge. I was hopeful that changing the succession law yesterday would satisfy Owen’s fear of my child somehow stealing his crown, but Kincaid had been on full alert since Lucas and Nora’s wedding.

My Beta had organized extra security for today’s press conference in case of a real threat, and we had planted Lily in the crowd as a potential diversion in case I began to hallucinate on camera.

Needless to say, tensions were high.

Kincaid muttered into the microphone of his radio as I steadied my breath. Right on time, my mate’s voice filled my head, and I knew he was watching this on the news.

I am in awe of you every single day, alari.

I let his love for me spread to every cell in my body. Then on Kincaid’s go ahead, I walked up onto the temporary stage set up in Darkmoon’s Town Square, the same set up as my last press conference. Applause erupted for me as I walked up to the microphone, then faded so the audience could hear me speak.

Cameras flashed, and I began.

“My fellow Darkmoon pack members and honored press guests, thank you for your time today. At my last press conference a little over a week ago, I promised updates on our plans in development. I am here to deliver on that promise today.

“Last time, I announced our Town Square Project—” I had to stop here unexpectedly to allow for raucous applause. I smiled genuinely, pleased that my pack was happy about it.

It was a project I truly believed in, too.

“As you may have observed since then, crews have been hard at work reinforcing the original square as well as modernizing it with features such as waterproof speakers throughout. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to those working on our beloved town square as well as an apology for interrupting your construction schedule today.”

I waved over to a few groups of construction workers sitting off to the side, some of them mid-chew. I had intentionally scheduled this press conference during their regular lunch time to minimize the interruption to their day. They all waved or nodded back to me as the audience applauded their efforts.

“Thanks to the Iron Ore and Agricultural trade deal with Alpha Hayward of Dark Forest—” the crowd interrupted again with more applause at that, and I allowed a little smile to peek through, “road repairs will begin today.” The applause that followed that was even louder, echoing against the skyscrapers that surrounded us. Of course, I intentionally scheduled road repairs to begin on the north side of Darkmoon, but the reason for that hadn’t yet been announced.

I took the next few minutes to briefly thank the handful of Alphas from various territories with whom I had already managed to negotiate trade deals. None of them were quite as impactful as the one with Tyron, but added up, they were going to make a huge difference, the biggest of which was the loyalty of those Alphas.

“The third project, which will start next week, will be the maintenance and renovation of our libraries as well as the addition of several more libraries in Darkmoon, to increase free access to information.”

I paused then for the approving applause that followed. As it died down, I took an excited, grounding breath. This was the big one, my baby for several months now, since back when I was married to Lucas.

I’d successfully gotten rid of him but kept my dream.

“But that’s not the only way I am increasing access to information and knowledge in Darkmoon.” I took another breath to clear the emotion tightening my chest.

“We are so lucky to have an incredible educational institution such as my alma mater, the Academy, available in our country. But from Darkmoon, the Academy is a three-day journey, making it inaccessible for those without the funds to move there or with familial responsibilities here in Darkmoon. I believe everyone deserves access to an education.”

I made eye contact with a few women in the crowd, their eyes welling with emotion in anticipation of what I was about to say next. Because that’s who was most often impacted. It was the mothers and wives who stayed home so that the sons and husbands could attend the Academy.

“Which is why construction is already underway for our own university right here in Darkmoon.”

The cheering that erupted over the applause then was distinctly higher in pitch as the women made their excitement and gratitude known.

“It is an honor and a personal point of pride to announce that we plan to have Darkmoon University ready to begin its inaugural class next year.” The applause continued as women throughout the crowd wiped tears from their faces. Instead of rushing onward, I stepped back, allowing the applause to ring through Darkmoon, through the press’ microphones, for as long as they wanted to clap.

It lasted several minutes.

“In terms of updates to improvements in development here in Darkmoon, that’s all I have for you today, though I promise you will continue to receive regular updates. Before I let you all get back to your days though, I want to express a sentiment that stands at the core of what our pack believes in: that we are stronger together.

“But this isn’t restricted to Darkmoon. It applies to all werewolves everywhere. That’s why it’s important to open trade to other territories, why it’s important to help each other out.”

I looked out at the crowd and the cameras.

“Unity, love, and kindness are more important than petty differences, regardless of what has happened in the past. In that spirit, it is my great, personal pleasure to announce and invite every single werewolf in Darkmoon and in the country to the wedding of Beta Kincaid of Darkmoon and Beta Dahlia of Midnight.”

The applause in response to this particular announcement was heartfelt but hesitant. I had noticed the growing unease between pack members loyal to me and anything associated with Midnight because of the perception that Theo had left me for someone else, similarly to Lucas.

“Let this be a symbol of the continued allyship and political alignment between Darkmoon and Midnight because, as always, we are strongest together.”

In other words, be nicer to members of Midnight. They are not our enemy.

I had reworked that last sentence so many times. I needed to make it clear to my pack members that Theo was not like Lucas all while hinting to Owen that his breaking up of me and Theo might not have been quite as thorough as he had hoped without giving away that we were still very much together.

Hoping that my words had hit their various marks, I exited the stage behind Kincaid who was scouring the surrounding crowd for threats.

I hoped as many people as possible would come to Kincaid and Dahlia’s wedding, which was why I had delayed maintenance on the south side of Darkmoon.

I didn’t want to block the route to what Theo told me they were calling Mel Rimanea.