I Am His Wolfless Luna Chapter 179

Ethan's POV

The sun was beginning to set as Lucas and I made our way to Silver Moon territory. The sky blazed with streaks of crimson and gold, seeming to herald the momentous change that had occurred today. My son bounced in his seat, his excitement palpable as he bombarded me with questions about our destination.

"Is Mom really the boss of a whole pack now? Does that mean I'm a prince or something?" he asked, his eyes wide with childlike wonder.

I chuckled, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "Something like that, buddy. Your mom is an Alpha now—just like me. It's what she was always meant to be."

Lucas nodded solemnly, processing this information with surprising gravity for a six-year-old. "Is that good? Mom being an Alpha too?"

"It's very good," I assured him, my chest swelling with pride as I thought about what Aria had accomplished today. "Your mom is one of the strongest, smartest wolves I've ever known. The Silver Moon pack is lucky to have her."

What Lucas didn't fully understand yet—what Aria and I had discussed in whispered conversations after the twins had fallen asleep—was that this was just the first step. With Aria leading Silver Moon and me leading Shadow Fang, we were positioning ourselves for something unprecedented: the eventual unification of our packs. When Lucas came of age, he would inherit not one but two territories, becoming the most powerful Alpha the werewolf world had seen in generations.

The thought both exhilarated and terrified me. My son's shoulders would carry a tremendous burden someday, but watching him grow—seeing his courage, his compassion, his unwavering loyalty—I had no doubt he would rise to the challenge.

As we pulled through the gates of the Silver Moon compound, memories of my previous visits flooded back. I remembered the night Olivia—Aria's mother—sacrificed herself to save me from a rogue attack. Now it was Aria's territory. The thought brought a smile to my lips.

Guards nodded respectfully as we passed, word of our arrival clearly having preceded us. Lucas pressed his face against the window, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings with undisguised curiosity.

"It looks different from our home," he observed.

"Silver Moon territory has more open spaces," I explained. "More meadows and rolling hills instead of dense forest. Each pack territory has its own character—just like each pack has its own strengths."

We found Aria in what I assumed was the Alpha's office, deep in conversation with Marcus. My breath caught at the sight of her—standing tall and confident, chin raised, emanating an authority that seemed to fill the room. She wasn't just playing at being Alpha; she embodied it completely. Her amber eyes flashed with intelligence as she listened to Marcus explain something, nodding occasionally and asking pointed questions.

She'd always been beautiful to me, but seeing her like this—stepping fully into her power, reclaiming her birthright—she was magnificent.

Lucas didn't wait for formal introductions. The moment he spotted his mother, he broke free from my grip and launched himself across the room with a delighted cry. "Mom! You're an Alpha now!"

Aria's serious expression melted into a warm smile as she scooped him up into her arms, hugging him close. "That's right, little warrior. What do you think about that?"

"It's awesome!" Lucas declared, examining her face closely as if expecting to find some physical manifestation of her new status. "Do you get to boss everyone around now?"

Her laughter filled the room, bright and genuine. "Something like that, though being a good Alpha is about more than just giving orders." Her eyes met mine over Lucas's head, a silent acknowledgment passing between us.

Marcus, who had taken a step back when we entered, watched the interaction with a complicated mixture of emotions playing across his weathered face. Joy at seeing his grandson, regret at the years lost, and a deep weariness that seemed to have settled into the very lines of his face. When Lucas finally noticed him, turning those inquisitive eyes his way, Marcus seemed to straighten, some of the fatigue momentarily lifting.

"Hello there, little thing," he said, his voice gentler than I'd ever heard it.

Lucas nodded, suddenly uncharacteristically shy. Aria set Lucas down and turned to Marcus. "I think we've covered the essentials for today. You should get some rest."

He nodded, relief and exhaustion warring on his face. "The pack financial reports are in the bottom drawer. The territory maps need updating." He seemed to be mentally going through a checklist, reluctant to leave despite his obvious fatigue.

"I'll handle it," Aria assured him, her tone firm but not unkind. "Go rest, Father."

Marcus took a few steps toward the door, then paused, turning back to look at his daughter. His expression softened, pride momentarily overcoming the weariness. "You've grown so much, Aria. I'm only just now seeing it clearly."

Aria met his gaze unflinchingly, her posture straight and proud. "Yes, Father, I have grown. I had to. When you believed Bella's lies and cast me out of the pack, you forced me to grow up very quickly." Her voice was steady, neither accusatory nor forgiving—simply stating facts. "I hope neither of us forgets that."

The words hit their mark. Marcus visibly flinched, his face contorting with pain as though she'd physically struck him. He seemed to age a decade in that moment, shoulders slumping under the weight of his mistakes. Without another word, he nodded and left the room, his footsteps heavy in the corridor outside.

I crossed to Aria's side, wrapping my arm around her waist and pressing a kiss to her temple. "Our Alpha lady is absolutely captivating," I murmured against her skin, inhaling her familiar scent now mingled with the subtle notes of power that came with her new status.

She turned into my embrace, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Alpha."

Lucas, who had been exploring the office with typical childlike curiosity, looked up. "So Mom's an Alpha and you're an Alpha. Does that make me a double Alpha?"

We both laughed at his earnest question. "Not quite yet, buddy," I explained, crouching down to his level. "But someday, when you're all grown up, you might lead both packs. That's what your mom and I are working toward."

His eyes widened at this revelation. "Really? Both? That's a lot of wolves."

"It is," Aria agreed, ruffling his hair affectionately. "But we think you're going to be an amazing Alpha when the time comes."

While Lucas returned to his exploration, poking through drawers with the casual entitlement of a child who knows he's adored, I turned my attention back to Aria. "What happened with Bella and Aurora?" I asked quietly. "You said you were going to deal with them today."

Aria's expression hardened slightly, though satisfaction gleamed in her eyes. "I banished them both to Werebear Territory. They'll serve as slaves there for the rest of their lives."

I raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised by her mercy. "That's remarkably lenient of you. After everything they did, I would have sentenced them to death."

"Death would have been too quick," she replied, a steely edge entering her voice. "This way, they live with their humiliation every day, stripped of status and comfort forever. And don't worry about them escaping—I've made arrangements with the Werebear Alpha. They'll be closely monitored."

My admiration for her strategic thinking only increased. This punishment was indeed more fitting—a lifetime of servitude for women who had valued status above all else. "And Marcus? He surrendered his position willingly?"

She nodded, gazing out the window at the territory that was now hers to protect. "He did. I think seeing the evidence of Bella and Aurora's betrayal broke something in him." A complicated mixture of emotions crossed her face—lingering anger, but also a daughter's instinctive compassion for her father. "I can't forgive him completely for what he did—for believing the worst of me without question—but he's still my father. He can live out his days here, as an elder of the pack."

I pulled her closer, overwhelmed with pride at her strength, her wisdom, her capacity for measured justice. Even after everything she'd endured, she hadn't allowed bitterness to corrupt her. "You're going to be an extraordinary Alpha, Aria. You already are."

I scooped Lucas up with one arm and wrapped the other around Aria's waist. "Alright, Alpha, that's enough for today. Time to relax a bit."

"I've barely started—" she began to protest.

"The pack has survived this long; it can wait until tomorrow," I insisted gently. "Let's go celebrate. I know a great restaurant near the border that serves the best steak in both territories. Then we need to get home—Olivia and Cassie will be missing their mother."