Preparing for war

As the SUV rolled up to the Silver Claw pack house, Morgan’s heart tightened. The familiar sight of the tall trees surrounding the estate, the distant sound of the river, and the comforting scent of pine in the air should have calmed her, but the lingering thoughts of Alex gnawed at her mind. She needed to focus. Her pack needed her.

The moment the vehicle stopped, one of the gamma on watch caught sight of her through the open window. His eyes lit up with surprise and relief, and within seconds, the word had spread like wildfire. By the time Morgan stepped out of the car, a small crowd had gathered, their faces a mix of excitement and reverence.

The gammas immediately bowed deeply, their heads lowered in respect. “Luna Morgan, welcome home.” one of them greeted, his voice tinged with awe.

Morgan took a deep breath, a soft smile forming on her lips as she tried to push thoughts of Alex to the back of her mind. She had to be present for her people. “It’s good to be home,” she said, her voice warm as she approached them. “Thank you for keeping everything in order while I was away.”

The gammas straightened, their expressions proud as they nodded. “We’re just glad to have you back, Luna,” another added, his tone sincere. “The pack has missed you.”

“Missed you all too,” Morgan replied, her smile widening as she glanced around at the familiar faces. She could feel the tension in her chest ease slightly, replaced by a sense of belonging she hadn’t realized she’d been missing.

As she moved through the crowd, her pack members continued to bow as she passed, their respect and admiration clear in every gesture. Morgan greeted each of them, exchanging a few words here and there, doing her best to push Alex out of her thoughts and focus on the people who mattered most.

Sophie walked alongside her, a quiet presence at her side, offering support without needing to say anything. The young omega’s earlier enthusiasm had mellowed into a calm reassurance that Morgan found comforting.

By the time they reached the main entrance of the pack house, Morgan’s spirits had lifted, the warmth of her pack’s welcome beginning to dissolve the doubts and fears that had been plaguing her since leaving Alex.

As they stepped inside, the familiar scent of the pack house filled her senses, bringing with it a flood of memories. She paused for a moment, taking it all in, before turning to Sophie.

“Let’s check in with the elders,” Morgan said, her tone more confident than before. “They’ll want to know I’m back.”

Sophie nodded, and together they made their way to the council chamber. As they entered, the elders stood, their faces lighting up with relief at the sight of her.

“Luna Morgan,” Elder Thomas said, his voice filled with warmth. “It’s good to see you safe and sound.”

Morgan offered a small smile, her earlier worries about what the elders might have said to Alex fading slightly in the face of their genuine concern. “Thank you, Elder Thomas. It’s good to be back.”

She settled into the seat at the head of the table, the weight of leadership settling comfortably on her shoulders. “Let’s discuss the state of the pack. I want to make sure we’re all on the same page moving forward.”

Morgan barely had time to settle into her seat before Elder Thomas cleared his throat, his gaze shifting towards Sophie. "Luna," he began with a respectful nod, "if we may, we'd like to speak with you in private."

Morgan caught the subtle tension in his voice, and her heart sank slightly. She knew what was coming. Still, she kept her expression neutral as she turned to Sophie. "Thank you, Sophie. Please give us a moment."

Sophie hesitated, clearly sensing the gravity of the situation, but she didn’t argue. "Of course, Luna." With a quick bow, she left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

The moment the door clicked shut, the atmosphere in the chamber shifted. The warmth in the elders' expressions cooled, replaced by a seriousness that made Morgan's pulse quicken.

Elder Thomas was the first to speak, his voice steady but laced with a simmering frustration. "Luna Morgan, we’ve heard about what transpired between you and Alpha Alex."

Morgan stiffened, trying to keep her emotions in check. "What exactly have you heard?"

"That he challenged your authority," Elder Miriam cut in, her tone sharper than usual. The usually calm elder had a hard edge to her voice, her brows furrowed with concern. "That he disrespected you in front of your own pack members. As Luna, you are our leader, our Alpha. The way he treated you…it’s unacceptable."

The others murmured their agreement, and Morgan felt the weight of their words settle heavily on her shoulders. This was what she’d been dreading, the reason she’d pushed Alex to the back of her mind. But now, there was no avoiding it.

"It’s clear to us that Alex does not respect you as his equal," Elder Thomas continued, his gaze unwavering. "And by extension, he does not respect our pack."

Morgan swallowed, the pain of their words cutting deeper than she’d anticipated. "The Moon Goddess has decreed that Alex and I are to be together," she reminded them, though her voice wavered slightly.

"We understand that, Luna," Elder Miriam replied, her tone softening just a fraction. "But the Moon Goddess also made you Alpha for a reason. Your strength, your leadership—it’s what our pack needs. And if Alex cannot see that…"

"We cannot allow him to undermine you," Elder Thomas interjected firmly. "As much as we respect the will of the Goddess, we respect you more. If Alex continues to treat you this way, we will stand by you in whatever course of action you choose to take."

Morgan was silent, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected the elders to take such a strong stance. It was both comforting and terrifying. They were putting their full trust in her, ready to challenge the will of the Moon Goddess and the blood moon pack if it meant protecting her and the pack, and that meant they were preparing for war.

"You have our support, Luna," Elder Miriam added, her voice filled with conviction. "You do not have to face this alone. Just give the order and we are ready to act."
A baby contract with my enemy
Detail
Share
Font Size
40
Bgcolor