Page 68 of Luna's New Reign
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I keep my face steady, my voice soft. “You were one of the Emerald wolves?”
She nods, her tears slipping freely now. “I don’t even remember much about them anymore. Just flashes. Green forests. Laughter. A pack that felt likehome.And then they were gone. Killed. All of them.” She shudders, drawing in a shaky breath. “Silas took me in, told me I was his now. I don’t know how long I spent there… years, maybe. Time doesn’t make sense when you’re in the dark like that.”
My stomach twists at her words, my hands curling into fists on my knees. I can’t imagine what it must’ve been like, growing up withhim, being pulled into that darkness so young. But I don’t interrupt her. I just let her speak.
“I did terrible things,” she says quietly, her voice breaking. “I didn’t want to, but I feltcompelledto. Like I didn’t have a choice. Like I couldn’t say no.” She swipes at her face angrily, her tears falling faster now. “And now that I’m here, it’s all coming back—all of it.The memories. The things I did. I don’t know how to live with it.”
The silence that follows is thick and suffocating. I watch her crumble, her body shaking as she tries to hold herself together and my heart aches for her. I’ve seen so many wolves hurting since the fall of the pack of the Forbidden—so many struggling to rebuild their lives. But this? This is different.
I let out a slow breath, my voice steady as I speak. “I can’t imagine how hard it must be to carry all of that,” I say softly. “The things you’ve been through, the things you’ve seen… it’s more than anyone should have to bear. But you don’t have to carry it alone.”
Her tear-filled gaze snaps up to mine, wary and broken. “I don’t?”
I shake my head, leaning closer just slightly. “You’re safe here. I know it doesn’t feel like it yet, but you are. That crest on your chest—the Nightshades’ crest—means you’re one of us now. You’re not part of the pack of the Forbidden anymore. You’re nothisanymore. That darkness doesn’t own you.”
She swallows hard, her lower lip trembling as she stares at me, my words sinking in slowly.
“It won’t happen overnight,” I continue, my voice calm and steady. “It’s going to be one day at a time. Maybe onehourat a time some days. But you’re not alone here. If you ever feel like it’s too much, you come to me, or Asani, or Mateo. Hell, come to any of us.” I pause, softening my voice. “But don’t hide yourself away. Don’t let him win like that.”
Her face crumples then, her sobs breaking free as she finally lets herselffeel. I don’t say anything else. I just sit there with her,letting her cry, letting her get it out in a way I don’t think she’s been able to for years. When she finally wipes at her face, her breathing uneven, she whispers, “Thank you.”
Before I can respond, a shadow fills the doorway leading to outside and I glance up to see another wolf step into the room. An Alpha from the pack of the Forbidden. He pauses when he sees her, his face softening as recognition floods his expression.
The Beta lets out a small, broken sound as she stares at him. “Liam,” she breathes, her voice shaky.
The Alpha—Liam—doesn’t hesitate. He crosses the room in two long strides and she’s already flinging herself into his arms before he can say a word. He wraps her up tightly, his hand cradling the back of her head as she sobs into his chest. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t ask. He justholds her.
I watch them quietly, my chest aching as I sit back in my chair. They disappear through the door a few minutes later, her face buried in Liam’s shoulder as he murmurs something soft to her.
And then I’m alone.
I sit there for a moment, the silence pressing in around me as I replay the conversation in my head. I feelgoodabout what I did—about helping her, even if it’s just one step toward healing. But it’s also clear now that there’s a bigger problem here.
The wolves from the pack of the Forbidden are hurting—badly. And some of them are still too afraid to come forward, to trust the safety of the packlands.
I let out a long breath, leaning back in my chair as I run a hand through my hair. This is only the beginning, but it’s something.
Asani is in the kitchen, looking at me like he’s damn proud of what I just did. “Come here, Remi,” he purrs and I fall into his arms, telling him what I just learned. “See? I told you that you’d be perfect. Having someone to talk to, to lean on is something all of us so desperately need, especially in a time like this. You up for something like that?”
“Yeah, I think I am.”
32
NEPHELINE
I stretch lazily in the living room nest, warmth cocooning me from every angle. It’s soft and peaceful—one of those rare mornings where everything feelsquietfor once. The chaos of the world outside can’t touch me here, not with Remi sitting at my side, practicallyglowingwith pride as he insists on feeding me bites of breakfast.
"One more," he coaxes, holding out a fork with a perfectly cut piece of pancake. His smile is infectious, boyish and beaming in a way that makes my heart flutter.
“I can feed myself, you know,” I grumble softly, though I part my lips anyway, letting him guide the fork to my mouth. The pancake is sweet, drenched in maple syrup and I hum with satisfaction as I chew.
“Of course youcan,” Remi teases, his dimple showing as he grins. “But why should you when I’m here to spoil you?”
His hand rests gently on my belly, his thumb making slow, soothing circles over the small bump. I swear the moment hefigured out how much I love the attention, he decided to double down on it. And honestly? I don’t hate it.
“You’re ridiculous,” I mutter around another bite, but the smile pulling at my lips gives me away.
“You love it,” he counters, brushing a kiss to my temple.