Page 18 of Luna's New Reign
The temperature shifts, the air thickening around us. A strange, almost oppressive energy settles over the clearing, subtle but impossible to ignore. It’s like the land itself is holding its breath.
I glance at Nepheline, watching as she stiffens slightly in Darius’s arms. His grip tightens around her waist, his head snapping toward the shadows at the edge of the crowd. River doesn’t falter, however, addressing the wolves before him. “The veil surrounding the packlands is still intact,” he begins, his deep voice carrying easily. “It’s alive and it’s doing its job. It’s keeping out any wayward magic, ensuring that our lands remain protected.”
The crowd shifts slightly, a ripple of acknowledgment moving through the wolves. I stand just behind him, my body thrumming with an uneasy energy that I can’t quite place.
“And because of this protection,” River continues, “Mateo has agreed that any wolf who can pass through the veil will be welcomed into the pack. If they pledge their loyalty to our pack Alpha and Luna, they will be accepted as one of us.”
The murmurs grow louder, wolves exchanging glances and nodding in quiet agreement. It’s a bold move, one that signals strength and unity but also risk.
That’s when Victoria steps forward. Her presence hardens into something sharper, something colder. Her glare is icy as it cuts first to River and then to Mateo, who remains calm beside her. Before Victoria can speak, Kehlani, strides forward, his movements sharp and deliberate. The air shifts again, the tension ratcheting up as he turns his piercing gaze on River.
“I veto this decision,” Kehlani states, a growl on the edge of his voice.
A ripple of shock moves through the crowd, and my hands clench into fists at my sides. My wolf stirs, restless beneath myskin. We gave them an honorary space here to help us and now they’re standing against Mateo?
Kehlani takes another step forward, his posture radiating authority he hasn’t earned here. “There are still wolves from the pack of the Forbidden out there, roaming the lands. They are the enemy. Allowing anyone who can pass through the veil into this pack is reckless.”
River holds his ground, his jaw tightening as he fights back the growl that’s rising in his chest. His restraint is impressive, but I can see the fire in his eyes, the tension in his frame as he stares down Kehlani. “This isn’t your decision,” River says evenly, a deadly edge to his words.
Kehlani’s eyes narrow and before anyone can react, he lunges.
Everything happens too fast.
Nepheline gasps as Darius moves instinctively, pulling her out of the way just as Kehlani’s claws swipe at the air where River was standing. My wolf is already surging forward, the shift ripping through me like fire as I hit the ground on four legs, fur bristling, teeth bared.
I launch myself at Kehlani, the force of my leap knocking him off balance. We hit the ground hard, and I press him down with my weight, a low, guttural growl rumbling deep in my chest as I pin him to the earth.
Kehlani struggles beneath me, but I hold firm, my teeth snapping close to his face. The sharp scent of his anger fills the air, but it’s drowned out by the collective gasp from the crowd. The heart of the pack falls into a stunned silence, the only sound my growl reverberating in the stillness. Kehlani is flat on his back, his eyes wide as he stares up at me.
Then Mateo steps forward.
His presence is commanding, powerful,overwhelming. His voice, when he speaks, is calm but edged with steel. “Enough.”
The single word cuts through the tension like a blade and I immediately loosen my hold on Kehlani, stepping back but keeping my stance protective, my teeth still bared. Kehlani was two seconds away from ripping into River, my mate, my lover, and striking imbalance into a pack that is already rebuilding.
Mateo glares down at Kehlani, his dark eyes unreadable. “This is not how we handle disagreements in this pack,” he growls.
Kehlani flops onto his back but stays shifted, his body flat against the ground in submission. His gaze darts between Mateo and me as I stand above him, waiting for Kehlani to attack again. If he does, I’m ready.
“My mates speak on my behalf,” Mateo states, his voice filling the space. “If there’s a problem with a new rule, you come to me. You don’t attack my pack.” His words land like a blow, his tone leaving no room for argument. He doesn’t raise his voice, doesn’t need to. Every wolf here knows better than to challenge him when he’s like this.
Kehlani’s fur bristles in the evening air but he still doesn’t move.
Mateo’s gaze doesn’t waver as he continues. “Kehlani, your way of thinking is horrid. Asani came from the pack of the Forbidden and he is one of the most loyal Alphas I’ve ever known. He’s also my mate. If I can trust him, there is no reason to distrust any wolf who proves their loyalty by passing through that veil.”
My chest tightens at his words, the deep growl in my throat fading slightly. He’s been more vocal about his trust in me recently, but hearing it laid bare in front of the entire pack—especially the Sapphire wolves—hits differently.
Mateo’s attention shifts back to the crowd. “Let me remind you that many of the wolves in the Nightshades were once under Calista’s rule. And yet, I accepted them. I welcomed them into this pack because they showed they could change, that theycould be more than what they were forced to be.” He pauses, letting his words sink in before continuing. “If we blindly follow what fate allows, if we let old biases and outdated thinking guide us, we won’t grow. We won’t move forward.”
Kehlani bristles, his body stiffening at the pointed rebuke. I can see the effort it takes for him to hold his tongue, to lay there and take the weight of Mateo’s words without snapping back.
Finally, I move away from Kehlani with one last low growl, stepping back to give him space. I stay in my wolf form, though, keeping my gaze locked on him. The Alpha rises slowly, shifting to his human form, brushing the dirt from his body with sharp, jerky movements before retreating to stand next to Victoria and Lawrence.
The air is still tense, the crowd quiet but buzzing with what just happened. I can feel it, the brewing rift between us and the Sapphire wolves. It’s subtle now, but it’s there, growing like a storm cloud on the horizon.
This won’t be the last time.
The thought digs into me. As much as I want to believe that this is an isolated incident, I know better. The Sapphire wolves are here to help, yes, but they’re also here to push their own agenda. Whatever that is, it doesn’t seem to align with ours. And yet, we can’t push them out. Not now. We need their help. Their knowledge, their resources. Turning them away isn’t an option.