Page 14 of Luna's New Reign
She speaks with authority, with the wisdom of someone who’s led before, but her vision feels small, rigid. I don’t need someone who will box me into a role I never asked for. I need someone who sees the bigger picture, who understands that strength isn’t just about sacrifice—it’s aboutbalance.
As Victoria’s speech winds down, I force a small smile, nodding as if I’ve been hanging on her every word. She sits back, looking pleased with herself, but I’ve already made up my mind.
I won’t let her—or anyone else—dictate my choices. Not when it comes to my pack. Not when it comes to my happiness. And certainly not when it comes to my brother.
Whatever it takes, I’ll bring Locke back. And I’ll do it on my terms.
9
MATEO
The packlands are quiet, save for the crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant rustle of the forest. Spring is peeking through the last frost, tangling with the magic pulsing through the area. The air is crisp, tinged with the faint scent of pine and damp earth but it does little to ease the restless energy coiled in my chest. Bo walks at my right while River flanks my left, ever the silent sentinel.
The others returned to the pack house and although I feel the absence of Remi on my other side, I know he’s happier doing what he loves. I’ll never take that from him—or any of my mates.
I glance back toward the heart, barely able to see the house that seats the council. Leaving the two Omegas has my nerves on edge—not because I don’t trust Nepheline but because there’s a strange energy that comes with the Sapphire wolves’ presence. It wasn’t here when we first met but now it’s all I can focus on. An almost visible blue aura with wisps of black tangled throughout.
It rubs me the wrong way but I have to trust that Nepheline can take care of herself. I just hope she’ll ask for help when she needs it. Gently, I tug on our bond, smiling as fierce determination and happiness flood my senses. It’s good enough for me now.
To keep myself occupied, I thought bringing Bo and River along to show Victoria’s Alpha and Beta—Kehlani and Lawrence—the lay of the land would keep me at ease. They walk ahead of us, their heads close as they murmur to each other. Kehlani moves with the sharp precision of someone used to command, while Lawrence’s calm demeanor balances his intensity.
I pick up my pace until I’m walking beside them. “We’ve always had a pretty good rapport with the nearby town,” I say, breaking the silence. “A few of our wolves work at the diner at the edge of the woods, so we make a point of maintaining strong ties. Keeps things… uncomplicated.”
Kehlani glances at me, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Uncomplicated how?”
I gesture toward one of the houses we’re passing, the windows glowing softly with warm light. “We make sure they know we’re not a threat. We help out when we can—repairs, supplies, whatever they need. In return, they don’t ask too many questions.”
Lawrence nods thoughtfully, his gaze flicking toward the house. “Smart. Keeps the balance intact.”
“Exactly. Most of the people in the town think we’re just a close-knit community that keeps to ourselves. The fewer questions, the better. Some know that we’re shifters but it’s never been an issue and if there’s ever a problem, the police let us handle it first.” I pride myself in my father’s rules and the way he’s taken care of the packlands and the nearby town. We’ve garnered a lot of respect because we in turn give it to the nonshifters.
We walk on, the path curving back toward the heart of the packlands. The houses become fewer and farther between, giving way to open fields and dense forest on the right. Asani used to live back there, away from all of this and I’m not sure how we would survive if it was still that way. If Calista had poisoned me against him, we wouldn’t be as strong as we are right now.
My lips curve up as I point to a few other spots, older buildings that we no longer use but that I want to bring back. After my father died, the community he had worked so hard to build was lost. Calista made sure of that and Kylan enforced it. But I want to see the happiness return to the old meeting hall and the abandoned training areas where new pups learn to be one with their wolves.
My attention drifts to Maverick and Ilara, the two Alphas standing off to the side near one of the larger trees. I for sure thought that Maverick had returned to the pack house with the others. Seeing him standing there without a coat tells me he had but for some reason left again. Ilara’s sharp gaze is fixed on Maverick like she’s dissecting him with her eyes. Maverick stands still, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable, but there’s a tension in his posture that sets me on edge.
I pause mid-step, my eyes narrowing as I watch them. Something about the way Ilara looks at him—like she’s trying to unravel a puzzle only she can see—makes my stomach twist.
“Everything okay?” Bo’s voice breaks through my thoughts, his hand clasping my shoulder. Kehlani mutters his disgust with Bo’s gesture as if touching the pack Alpha is only reserved for mates but I shrug it off. Bo is one of my newer confidants and a man I trust.
“Fine,” I mutter, though the word feels like a lie.
River steps closer, his silence more telling than any words. He’s my guard, my second set of eyes, and I know he’s pickedup on the same tension I have. His gaze flicks toward Ilara and Maverick, lingering for a moment before returning to me.
“We’ve got a lot to learn,” I say, my voice low enough that only Bo and River can hear. “But something feels… off.”
Bo doesn’t respond right away, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. Finally, he nods. “I’ve felt it too. There’s more to this seer than she’s letting on.”
I glance at him, my jaw tightening. “Keep an eye on her.”
Bo grins, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Always.”
We move on, but my attention keeps flickering back to Ilara and Maverick. The seer’s presence has been unsettling since she walked into the council room, but now it feels like a threat I can’t quite name. And Maverick…
I shake the thought away, forcing myself to focus. For now, the packlands need my attention and we need answers that only the Sapphire wolves can give. But in the back of my mind, a seed of doubt takes root, growing with every step.
By the time we reach the center of the pack, the uneasy feeling has become impossible to ignore. River remains silent at my side, his eyes scanning every shadow, every movement, his hand resting lightly on his side. It takes a few moments to realize that he’s digging his nails into his own skin to keep from unleashing his Alpha instincts.