Chapter 129 Inauguration
ARDEN
The day of the elections finally arrived.
Everything we worked for was going to be decided in just a few hours. The day came heavy with tension. I could feel it in the way Cade squeezed my hand that morning.
For weeks, we gave it everything we had. Cade visited territories, answered every question, stood in front of every elder and child with that same steady conviction that made me fall in love with him.
The South stayed silent throughout it all. We hadn’t heard a whisper since Winters was arrested. Their territory remained tight–lipped, and Rowan, despite being casual with us, also felt detached. Still, we knew they wouldn’t get in the way.
The East was a different story. Elias‘ parents came forward. They held press conferences and town meetings and even addressed the Academy directly. Their message was clear. The East was backing Cade.
And then the West. When leadership was handed to a distant Trevane–one no one really expected to rise -people were skeptical. Alpha Abel Trevane. He wasn’t like the rest of the Trevanes, not cut from that cold and polished cloth.
Abel was the black sheep of the family. A quiet Alpha in his early thirties who’d spent most of his life away from the central territories. People said he lived like a recluse. And then, out of nowhere, he emerged, took control, and the West surprisingly followed.
He endorsed Cade instantly.
The public then started to believe that this really was a new chapter.
Now, we were here, waiting.
The Northern Auditorium was packed. All eyes were on the wide screens above the stage. Faces I’d come to know–students, campaign staff, friends–were all holding their breath. Even Honey, dressed in a pale yellow dress, stood tall beside us, her hands clasped tight. Cade’s parents were there too. His mother was teary–eyed, his father stone–still but proud.
A long day of counting, confirming, and deliberating was finally coming to an end.
I held Cade’s hand tighter.
One minute.
Then a voice echoed from the stage, reading off the final tallies.
“With four of the four territories in agreement, and an uncontested lead in citizen and academic vote… we now formally declare the new Praetor of Fenra to be… Cade Callahan.”
For a split second, no one moved. It didn’t feel real. My heart slammed in my chest, and Cade just stared ahead, not breathing.
Cheers, claps, screams, hands flying in the air, wolves standing on chairs filled the room, Honey gasped
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Chapter 129 Inauguration
and clapped wildly, and Cade’s mother wept into his father’s shoulder.
But before anyone else could reach him, Cade turned to me.
His arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me off the ground and spun me in the air. I laughed and held onto him as tightly as I could.
He pressed his forehead to mine.
And just like that, it was official.
Cade was the Practor of Fen
I still couldn’t believe it.
Me. The First Lady of Fenra.
But here I was, standing tall beside Cade, the love of my life, as he was sworn in as the youngest Practor in our country’s history.
The Grand Hall of the United Factions was filled with wolves from all over the country, all gathered to witness a new beginning. The chairs were lined with embroidered symbols of every faction, flags hanging from the ceiling in their full colors. Cade’s crest was finally raised among them, woven in silver and navy.
Salvi, Bethany’s old assistant, bald and somewhere in his mid–forties, met us at the entrance of the hall. His eyes were glassy as he shook our hands.
“She would be proud,” he said quietly “So proud.”
I squeezed his hand back, feeling my throat tighten. “Thank you,
He stepped back, giving us space.
I whispered.
When I finally took my seat at the very front–next to Honey, who looked stunning in a soft blue dress- my legs trembled just a little.
This was really happening.
Cade stood on the raised stage, the flags of Fenra behind him. His uniform was formal but not traditional. He refused the gold regalia and instead wore black and silver.
The High Council Elder stepped forward with an ancient scroll, voice echoing through the silent hall.
“Cade Callahan. Do you accept the oath of office?”
Cade raised his right hand. “I do
“Do you swear to serve Fenra and its people, to guide without greed, to speak without fear, and to protect the lives of all under your watch?”
“I do,” Cade said firmly.
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Chapter 129 Inauguration
“Then by the will of Fenra, and the judgment of the people, you are now recognized as our Practor
Applause filled the chamber while Cade stepped forward to the podium.
He looked at all of us before he spoke.
“I want to thank everyone here,” Cade began. “And I want to thank those who are no longer with us. Because this victory… is as much theirs as it is mine.”
A pause.
“I know what a lot of you are thinking. That I’m young. That I still have much to learn. And you’re right. I do. But I also know what it’s like to fight for something without any assurance of winning. I know what it’s like to lose people you love. And I know what it’s like to be let down by those who were supposed to protect us.”
He looked at the flags behind him..
“I won’t make promises I can’t keep. What I offer instead are plans.”
The room fell into a deep silence.
“First, we will begin the process of identifying and removing those involved in the corruption tied to Mr. Winters and other past regimes. Not all corruption can be eradicated overnight–but we will not ignore it. We will not allow those who abused their power to keep pretending they served you.”
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the audience.
“Second,” Cade continued, “I propose the construction of a communal sanctuary–built right at the intersection of our borders. Not a hospital, but a home. A place of rest and healing for wolves with sick cores. For those who have been ignored, neglected, or misunderstood.”
I smiled.
That was for Honey.
And for the others like her–lost in between territories, born with cores too delicate to thrive in life.
Cade’s eyes found Honey in the front row. She smiled so wide she might as well be the sun.
“Third,” he said, “our factions must no longer operate as enemies under a flag of peace. We need cooperation, not competition. I am requiring a monthly summit of leaders from every territory–no exceptions. We may be separate. But we should never be divided.”
A wave of applause followed.
“Fourth,” Cade said, and his voice deepened, “we will rebuild Elite Order Academy.”
“I don’t need to tell you what’s wrong with the system. Some of you lived through it. You bled through it. Elite will no longer be a place for just the ‘elite. It will be for the brightest. The most capable. And it will be free. No caps. No territory limits. If you make it, you belong.”
More applause followed.
Chapter 129 Inauguration
“We will improve the facilities. We will remove segregation. And most importantly, we will appoint a new headmaster.”
He paused–and then smiled.
I already knew what was coming.
We talked about this decision all night, thinking who could be the best candidate. After a two–hour–long
talk, we finally came to one finale.
His eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on her.
“And that would be Miss Lovely Loveson.”
There was a gasp.
Miss Loveson looked stunned, her hand over her mouth as she turned to me from her row. I nodded slowly, holding back tears.
She deserved it.
“She fostered growth, protected her students, and taught with heart,” Cade said. “And that’s what the new Elite will be built on.”
The applause was thunderous now.
But Cade raised a hand, quieting the room one last time.
“These are only a few of the changes,” he said. “But I promise you this–while I stand here, I will carry the spirit of Bethany Spirit,” he said, turning to me.
My breath hitched because I wasn’t expecting him to mention my mom. I read his speech yesterday and even proofread it, but he added this line only now.
I smiled at him.
“She was once our hope,” he continued.
“And I won’t let that hope die… ever.”
