Luna. Chapter 28

(Lyra's POV)

I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Evangeline's face staring back at me from those photographs. Her face. My face. Whatever twisted fate had brought me here, I couldn't ignore the truth anymore.

Magnus had saved me because I looked like his dead wife.

I sat by the window in my room, watching the first hints of dawn creep over the mountain lake. My backpack still sat by the door where I'd dropped it after our confrontation. The escape plan I'd abandoned felt more urgent now than ever.

I needed to leave. Not just Mountain Cross, but the entire situation. Magnus deserved to grieve his wife properly without me as a constant reminder. And I deserved better than being someone's substitute.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Lyra? It's Magnus. May I come in?"

"The door's unlocked."

He entered carrying a steaming mug, looking as tired as I felt. "Couldn't sleep either?"

"How could I?" I accepted the tea gratefully. "Magnus, we need to talk about what happens next."

"I know." He sat in the chair across from me. "I've been thinking about what you said. About closing Evangeline's room."

"And?"

"I think you're right. It's time." His voice was quiet but firm. "I called some pack members to help me box everything up this morning. Her paintings will go to her sister. Her clothes to charity."

I studied his face, looking for signs that he was just saying what he thought I wanted to hear. Instead, I saw genuine resolution.

"What made you decide?"

"You did. Last night, watching you in that room, I realized something." Magnus met my eyes directly. "You're not Evangeline. You never were. And trying to make you into her isn't fair to either of you."

"So where does that leave us?"

"I don't know. But I'd like to find out, if you're willing to stay and give us a real chance."

I wanted to say yes. Part of me desperately wanted to believe we could build something genuine together. But the rational part of my brain wouldn't let me ignore the complications.

"What about when Kael comes back? What about when our child is born and he wants to be involved?"

"We'll deal with those things when they happen. Together."

"Magnus—"

My phone buzzed with another text. I glanced at it, expecting to see Kael's name again. Instead, it was from an unknown number: "Train station. One hour. Come alone or your precious pack members start having accidents."

The blood drained from my face.

"What is it?" Magnus was beside me instantly, reading the message over my shoulder. His expression turned dangerous.

"It's her. Seraphina."

"You're not going anywhere." Magnus was already moving toward the door. "I'm calling for increased security—"

"No." I stood up, decision made. "If she's threatening the pack, I need to handle this."

"Absolutely not. It's obviously a trap."

"Of course it's a trap. But what choice do I have?" I grabbed my backpack. "She's already proven she can manipulate medical records and bribe pack members. What's to stop her from poisoning someone? From causing an 'accident'?"

"Lyra, you're six months pregnant. You can't go face a dangerous woman alone."

"I can and I will." I moved toward the door. "This is my fault. My presence here is putting everyone at risk."

Magnus blocked my path. "It's not your fault that she's obsessed with destroying you."

"Maybe not. But it's my responsibility to protect the people who've protected me."

"Then we go together. Full security detail."

"She said come alone."

"I don't care what she said."

We stared at each other, two stubborn people with completely different ideas about how to handle the threat.

"Fine," I said finally. "But if anything happens to me, if something goes wrong, you let me face the consequences alone. You don't risk the pack trying to save me."

"That's not going to happen."

"Promise me, Magnus."

"No."

"Then I'm going alone anyway." I pushed past him toward the door. "With or without your blessing."

The drive to the train station felt like the longest thirty minutes of my life. Magnus drove while Lucian and two other security wolves followed in a second vehicle. The plan was for them to stay hidden while I met with Seraphina, ready to intervene if things went wrong.

I kept one hand on my belly, feeling the baby move restlessly. Maybe they could sense my anxiety.

"I don't like this," Magnus said for the fifth time.

"You've made that clear."

"There has to be another way."

"There isn't. She's escalating. First the threats, now direct confrontation. If we don't deal with her now, she'll just get more dangerous."

The train station was nearly empty at this early hour. A few commuters waited on benches, reading newspapers or checking their phones. Everything looked normal, peaceful.

Too peaceful.

"I don't see her," Magnus said, scanning the area.

"She's here. I can feel it."

I got out of the car before Magnus could stop me, walking toward the main platform. My backpack felt heavy on my shoulders, weighed down with the few belongings I'd thought to grab during my failed escape attempt.

"Lyra." The voice came from behind a support pillar.

I turned to see an elderly woman approaching me. She looked harmless enough – gray hair, wrinkled hands, the kind of grandmother you'd see feeding pigeons in a park.

But her eyes were wrong. Cold and calculating in a way that made my skin crawl.

"You're not Seraphina."

"No, dear. I'm someone who works for people interested in your... situation."

"What situation?"

The woman smiled, but it never reached her eyes. "You really don't know, do you? What you are. What that baby you're carrying might become."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Of course you don't. But others do. Others who have been waiting a very long time for someone like you to surface."

She reached into her coat and pulled out something that gleamed silver in the morning light. Not a gun – something smaller. A syringe.

"This won't hurt," she said conversationally. "Well, not much. Just a little something to make you more cooperative."

I took a step back, hand instinctively protecting my belly. "Stay away from me."

"Now, now. Don't make this difficult. My employers simply want to run a few tests. See what makes you so special."

"I'm not special. I'm just pregnant."

"Just pregnant?" The woman laughed, a sound like broken glass. "My dear, you're carrying the child of an Alpha. But more importantly, you're carrying the blood of something much more rare."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your mother's bloodline. The one she never told you about. The one that makes you so very valuable to certain parties."

My mother? What did my mother have to do with any of this?

The woman took another step closer, syringe raised. "Don't worry. Once we've confirmed what we suspect, you and the baby will be well cared for. Very well cared for indeed."

I looked around desperately. The few commuters seemed oblivious to what was happening. Magnus was too far away to help immediately.

I was on my own.

The woman lunged forward with the syringe, aiming for my arm. Instinct took over. I swung my backpack as hard as I could, catching her in the side of the head.

She stumbled but didn't go down. Instead, she smiled again, that same cold expression.

"Feisty. I like that. Makes the blood more potent."

She came at me again, faster this time. I dodged to the left, but not fast enough. The syringe grazed my arm, tearing through my sweater but not penetrating the skin.

"Hold still, dear. This will be over soon."

I grabbed a metal trash can and hurled it at her. She sidestepped easily, moving with grace that seemed impossible for someone her age.

"Who are you?" I gasped, backing toward the platform edge.

"Someone who knows what you really are. Even if you don't."

She raised the syringe again, but before she could strike, a low growl echoed across the platform.

Magnus appeared behind the woman in full Alpha mode, his presence radiating power and barely contained violence.

"Step away from her. Now."

The elderly woman turned, completely unruffled by the appearance of an angry Alpha.

"Ah, the protective mate. How touching."

"I won't ask again."

"You won't need to."

She threw something small and round at the ground between us. Smoke exploded upward, thick and acrid, filling the air with chemical-scented fog.

I couldn't see anything. Couldn't breathe properly. I heard Magnus shouting my name, heard footsteps running in different directions.

When the smoke finally cleared, the woman was gone.

Vanished completely, as if she'd never been there at all.

Magnus reached me within seconds, his hands checking for injuries. "Are you hurt? Did she inject you with anything?"

"No, I'm okay. She missed." I looked around the empty platform. "Where did she go?"

"I don't know. Lucian's checking the exits, but..." Magnus shook his head grimly. "It's like she disappeared into thin air."

"Who was she? What did she want?"

"I think that's a conversation for when we get home. Safely."

Chapter 0030 

(Kael's POV)

The shouting outside my office was loud enough to wake the dead. I looked up from the budget reports I'd been reviewing, frowning at the commotion that seemed to be growing by the minute.

"What the hell is going on out there?" I muttered, standing and moving toward the window.

The scene below made my blood pressure spike immediately. At least twenty pack members had gathered in front of the packhouse, many of them holding angry signs and shouting demands. I could see children among them—some crying, others looking confused and frightened.

A sharp knock interrupted my observation. "Come in."

Adrian entered, his expression grim. "Alpha, we have a situation. The pack members are demanding to speak with you about the new training policies."

"What new training policies?"

Adrian's eyebrows shot up. "You don't know? Seraphina announced them yesterday. Mandatory combat training for all children over five, including the omegas. Six hours a day, no exceptions."

My stomach dropped. "She announced what?"

"Alpha, she said the policies came directly from you. That you'd authorized the changes as part of strengthening pack defenses."

I was already moving toward the door. "I authorized no such thing."

The crowd outside was even angrier up close. Parents clutched their children protectively while shouting about unreasonable demands and dangerous training requirements. When they saw me emerge from the packhouse, the volume increased dramatically.

"Alpha Blackwood!" A woman I recognized as Elena, mother of twin six-year-olds, pushed to the front of the crowd. "You have to stop this madness!"

"Explain what's happening," I said, raising my voice to be heard over the chaos.

"Your Luna has mandated that all children, including the smallest ones, undergo six hours of combat training daily. My babies are exhausted and covered in bruises!" Elena's voice cracked with emotion. "They're too young for this intensity!"

"My daughter is only five," another parent called out. "She came home yesterday crying because she couldn't keep up with the older children. They're being trained like warriors instead of being allowed to be kids!"

More voices joined in, creating a cacophony of complaints and concerns. I listened with growing horror as parents described their children's experiences: punishments for failing to meet impossible standards, tears, injuries, and fear.

"Where is Luna Seraphina now?" I asked Adrian quietly.

"In the training grounds, overseeing the morning session."

"Get her. Immediately. And suspend all training activities until further notice."

As Adrian left to retrieve Seraphina, I turned back to the angry crowd. "I want everyone to know that these policies were implemented without my knowledge or authorization. All training is suspended immediately while I investigate this situation."

Relief washed over several faces, but Elena stepped closer, her expression still troubled. "Alpha, with respect, how does a Luna implement major policy changes without the Alpha's knowledge?"

It was a damn good question. One that made me look either incompetent or negligent. Neither was acceptable for an Alpha.

"That's what I intend to find out," I said firmly.

Twenty minutes later, Seraphina arrived at the packhouse looking flushed and slightly annoyed. She was wearing workout clothes and had the confident air of someone who'd been enjoying herself.

"Kael, darling, why did you suspend the training? The children were just starting to show real improvement."

"In my office. Now."

The crowd was still gathered outside, their voices carrying through the windows as we entered my study. Seraphina moved to close the blinds, but I stopped her.

"Leave them open. Let them see we're having this conversation."

"Kael, you're being dramatic. It's just some concerned parents who don't understand the importance of preparation."

"Preparation for what, exactly?"

"For the dangers our pack faces. With threats from other territories, rogue wolves, potential attacks—our children need to be ready to defend themselves."

"Our children need to be children," I said, my voice rising. "Not miniature soldiers trained to the point of exhaustion and injury."

Seraphina waved dismissively. "A few bruises are character-building. You can't coddle them forever."

"Who authorized you to implement these policies?"

"I'm the Luna. I don't need authorization to make decisions about pack welfare."

"Yes, you do." I moved closer, my Alpha presence pressing against her. "Major policy changes require Alpha approval. Always. That's been pack law for decades."

For just a moment, something flickered across Seraphina's face. Annoyance? Calculation? It was gone too quickly to identify.

"I thought you'd approve. You've always talked about the importance of strong pack defenses."

"Strong defenses don't require traumatizing five-year-olds."

"They're not traumatized. They're learning valuable skills."

"They're crying themselves to sleep and coming home covered in bruises!" My voice carried clearly through the open windows. "How is that acceptable?"

"You're overreacting."

"Am I? Because twenty parents disagree with you. Twenty parents who trusted us to protect their children, not abuse them."

Seraphina's expression hardened. "I'm trying to strengthen this pack. To prepare our young ones for the realities of our world. If you can't see the value in that—"

"I can see the value in age-appropriate training. I can see the value in building confidence and skills gradually. What I can't see is the value in pushing children beyond their limits for no clear purpose."

"There is a clear purpose. We need strong wolves."

"We need healthy, happy wolves who grow into their strength naturally. Not broken children who associate training with pain and fear."

I moved to the window and looked down at the gathered parents. Their faces showed a mixture of anger, concern, and hope that their Alpha would fix this situation.

"The training policies are permanently suspended," I announced, loud enough for the crowd to hear. "We'll return to our previous age-appropriate programs immediately."

"Kael, you're making a mistake—"

"The only mistake I made was not paying closer attention to what policies were being implemented in my name."

Seraphina's composure finally cracked. "Fine. Coddle them. But when this pack falls because our young ones are too weak to defend themselves, remember that you chose their comfort over their survival."

"Their survival depends on them trusting their leadership to make good decisions. Decisions that balance preparation with protection." I turned away from the window to face her directly. "Decisions that an Alpha makes, not a Luna acting without authorization."

"I'm your Luna. I thought we were partners in this."

"Partners consult each other before making major changes. Partners discuss policy before implementing it. Partners don't present each other with faits accomplis and expect blind support."

The room fell silent except for the muffled sounds of the crowd beginning to disperse outside. Through the window, I could see parents leading their children home, looking relieved but still concerned.

"This won't happen again," I said firmly. "Any future policy changes will be discussed and approved before implementation. Clear?"

"Crystal."

But something in Seraphina's tone suggested this conversation was far from over. As she left my office, I found myself wondering what other decisions she'd been making without my knowledge.

More importantly, I wondered what else about Seraphina I'd been too blind to see.

An hour later, I stood in the empty training grounds, looking at the equipment that had been set up for children barely old enough to walk properly. Wooden swords sized for tiny hands. Obstacle courses designed for adults but scaled down just enough to be technically manageable for five-year-olds.

It was clearly designed to push children beyond their limits, not to build their confidence or skills.

"Alpha?" Dr. Williams approached from the medical center, carrying a tablet. "I wanted to discuss the training injuries from yesterday."

"Injuries?"

"Seven children required medical attention. Mostly minor—cuts, bruises, one sprained wrist. But concerning for a single day of training."

"Why wasn't I informed?"

"Luna Seraphina said you were aware and that minor injuries were expected as part of the learning process."

Another unauthorized decision made in my name. Another assumption that I'd approved something I'd never been told about.

"In the future, I want to be notified immediately of any training injuries involving children."

"Of course, Alpha."

As Dr. Williams left, I remained in the empty training grounds, thinking about the pattern of behavior I was finally starting to recognize. Unauthorized policy changes. Decisions made in my name without my knowledge. A gradual takeover of pack operations that I'd been too distracted to notice.

My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: "Enjoying your new Luna's leadership style? Wait until you see what she has planned next."

I stared at the message, my blood running cold. Someone else was watching Seraphina's behavior. Someone who knew more than they were saying.

But before I could respond or try to trace the number, the message disappeared from my phone entirely, as if it had never existed at all.

Chapter 0031 

(Kael's POV)

I was heading to the kitchen for my morning coffee when I caught a familiar scent in the hallway. For a moment, my heart jumped—it smelled like Lyra. Like the vanilla and warmth that had once made this house feel like home.

But that was impossible. Lyra had been gone for weeks now, living at Mountain Cross under Magnus's protection.

I followed the scent toward the dining room, where I found Seraphina setting the table for breakfast. She looked up as I entered, smiling brightly.

"Good morning, darling. I thought we could have breakfast together, just the two of us."

"Good morning." But something felt off. The scent was stronger here, definitely Lyra's perfume. "Seraphina, are you wearing perfume?"

"Do you like it? I found this lovely bottle in the guest bathroom." She moved closer, and the scent hit me fully. It was definitely Lyra's signature fragrance—the one I'd bought her for our six-month anniversary.

"That's not yours."

"Oh?" Seraphina's eyes widened innocently. "I assumed it was left for guests. It was just sitting there, and it smells so lovely."

I studied her more carefully. She was wearing a blue cardigan that looked familiar, paired with pearl earrings that made my chest tight. Those were Lyra's pearls. The ones her grandmother had given her.

"Where did you get those earrings?"

"These old things?" Seraphina touched them gently. "I found them in a jewelry box in the closet. They suit me, don't you think?"

"They're not yours to wear."

"Kael, darling, you're being awfully possessive about some abandoned belongings." Seraphina moved to pour coffee, her movements graceful but wrong somehow. "She left everything behind when she ran off with that other Alpha. Clearly, these things don't mean much to her anymore."

I watched her pour cream into my coffee—exactly the way Lyra used to do it. One sugar, a splash of cream, stirred counterclockwise three times. It was too precise to be coincidental.

"How do you know how I like my coffee?"

"I've been watching you, learning your preferences." She handed me the mug with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "A good Luna pays attention to her Alpha's needs."

But it wasn't just attention. It was mimicry. She was copying Lyra's gestures, her way of moving around the kitchen, even her habit of humming softly while she worked.

"Seraphina, we need to talk about boundaries."

"What kind of boundaries?"

"Personal belongings. Lyra's things are not available for you to use. They belong to her, regardless of where she's living now."

"Of course. I didn't realize you were so attached to her things." She touched the pearls again, possessively. "Though I have to say, they look better on me. My neck has always been more elegant."

There was cruel in the way she said it, that suggested deliberate provocation.

"Remove the jewelry. Change the clothes. And don't use her perfume again."

"Kael, you're being ridiculous—"

"I'm being clear about expectations." My Alpha voice carried a warning edge. "Lyra's belongings are off-limits."

Seraphina stared at me for a long moment. Then she laughed.

"Fine. If it means that much to you." She began removing the earrings with exaggerated care. "Though I think you're holding onto the past in an unhealthy way."

"What's unhealthy is wearing another woman's clothes and jewelry like they're yours."

"She abandoned them. She abandoned you." Seraphina's voice turned sharp. "I'm here, Kael. I'm the one trying to build a life with you. Why can't you see that?"

"I see perfectly well. What I don't understand is why you need to wear Lyra's things to do it."

After Seraphina left to change clothes, I remained in the dining room feeling deeply unsettled. It wasn't just the borrowed items—it was the way she'd worn them. Like she was trying to become someone else.

I walked to the guest room where Seraphina had been staying and knocked on the door. "Seraphina? May I come in?"

"Of course, darling."

I opened the door and immediately felt sick. The room had been transformed into something that looked like a shrine to Lyra. Photographs I didn't remember taking were pinned to a bulletin board—pictures of Lyra from various pack events, candid shots that must have been taken without her knowledge.

Lyra's clothes were laid out on the bed like she was preparing to wear them. Her books were stacked on the nightstand. Even her coffee mug—the one with the chip from when she'd dropped it our first week of marriage—sat on the dresser.

"What is all this?"

"Just trying to understand her." Seraphina emerged from the bathroom wearing different clothes, but she'd kept the perfume on. "You were so devoted to her. I thought maybe if I understood what made her special..."

"This isn't understanding. This is obsession."

"Is it obsession to want to be a good Luna? To want to give you what you need?"

"What I need is for you to be yourself, not some twisted version of my ex-wife."

"Your ex-wife who you clearly still love." Seraphina's mask of sweetness finally slipped completely. "Do you think I don't notice? The way you say her name, the way you protect her things, the way you look at me like I'm a poor substitute?"

"Seraphina—"

"No, let me finish." She moved to the bulletin board, running her fingers over one of the photos. "She's not coming back, Kael. She's moved on, found a new Alpha, probably forgotten you already. But you're still here, clinging to her memory like it's going to bring her back."

"That doesn't explain this." I gestured at the room full of Lyra's belongings. "This is crossing a line."

"What line? The line between honoring the past and living in the present? The line between accepting reality and wallowing in fantasy?"

"It’s the difference between normal behavior and psychosis."

Seraphina's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You think I need help? I'm not the one keeping shrines to people who've moved on."

"Neither am I. But this—" I picked up one of the photographs, a candid shot of Lyra laughing at some pack event "—this is worse with crazy."

"It's my study."

“Study into what?"

"Into how to make you happy. Into what you really want from a Luna, from a mate, from a life partner." Seraphina took the photo from my hands, studying it intently. "She must have been very special to inspire such loyalty."

"She was. But that doesn't mean—"

"What if I could be like her? Not replace her, but... complement what you loved about her?"

The way she said it made my skin crawl. "I don't want you to be like her. I want you to be you."

"Do you? Because everything about your behavior suggests otherwise."

I looked around the room again—at the clothes, the photos, the careful arrangement of Lyra's abandoned belongings. This wasn't normal grief or curiosity. This was something else entirely.

"Pack this up. All of it. Lyra's things go into storage boxes, the photos get taken down, and you stop wearing her clothes and perfume."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then you find somewhere else to stay."

Seraphina stared at me for a long moment, her expression cycling through hurt, anger.

"Fine," she said finally. "But don't blame me when you realize that pushing away the people who care about you won't bring her back."

As I left her room, I heard her moving around, presumably packing up her makeshift shrine to my ex-wife. But I couldn't shake the feeling that she was just hiding the evidence, not abandoning the obsession.

Later that evening, I found myself in my study thinking about Seraphina's behavior. The way she'd copied Lyra's coffee routine. The possessive way she'd worn the pearl earrings. The room full of photographs and personal items.

It wasn't love or even attraction. It was something else—something that made me wonder what I'd really invited into my home when I'd welcomed Seraphina back.

My phone buzzed with a text from the same unknown number as before: "Still think your Luna is just grieving? Check the security footage from last Tuesday night."

This time, when I tried to respond, the number showed as disconnected.

But the message had given me an idea. I pulled up the packhouse security system on my computer and began scrolling through footage from the past week.

What I found made my blood run cold.

There was Seraphina, at two in the morning, standing in front of Lyra's old closet. She was holding one of Lyra's dresses against herself, swaying back and forth like she was dancing with an invisible partner.

In another clip, she was in the kitchen, practicing Lyra's way of chopping vegetables. Over and over, until she got the motion exactly right.

And in the most disturbing footage of all, she was in our old bedroom, lying on Lyra's side of the bed, speaking to someone who wasn't there.

I couldn't make out the words, but her lips were moving, her hands gesturing like she was having a conversation with a ghost.

This wasn't grief or curiosity. This was obsession bordering on mental illness.

And I had no idea what to do about it.

(Kael's POV)

The shouting outside my office was loud enough to wake the dead. I looked up from the budget reports I'd been reviewing, frowning at the commotion that seemed to be growing by the minute.

"What the hell is going on out there?" I muttered, standing and moving toward the window.

The scene below made my blood pressure spike immediately. At least twenty pack members had gathered in front of the packhouse, many of them holding angry signs and shouting demands. I could see children among them—some crying, others looking confused and frightened.

A sharp knock interrupted my observation. "Come in."

Adrian entered, his expression grim. "Alpha, we have a situation. The pack members are demanding to speak with you about the new training policies."

"What new training policies?"

Adrian's eyebrows shot up. "You don't know? Seraphina announced them yesterday. Mandatory combat training for all children over five, including the omegas. Six hours a day, no exceptions."

I can’t believe I heard something."She announced what?"

"Alpha, she said the policies came directly from you. That you'd authorized the changes as part of strengthening pack defenses."

I was already moving toward the door. "I authorized no such thing."

The crowd outside was even angrier up close. Parents clutched their children protectively while shouting about unreasonable demands and dangerous training requirements. When they saw me emerge from the packhouse, the volume increased dramatically.

"Alpha Blackwood!" A woman I recognized as Elena, mother of twin six-year-olds, pushed to the front of the crowd. "You have to stop this madness!"

"Explain what's happening," I said, raising my voice to be heard over the chaos.

"Your Luna has mandated that all children, including the smallest ones, undergo six hours of combat training daily. My babies are exhausted and covered in bruises!" Elena's voice cracked with emotion. "They're too young for this intensity!"

"My daughter is only five," another parent called out. "She came home yesterday crying because she couldn't keep up with the older children. They're being trained like warriors instead of being allowed to be kids!"

More voices joined in, creating a cacophony of complaints and concerns. I listened with growing horror as parents described their children's experiences: punishments for failing to meet impossible standards, tears, injuries, and fear.

"Where is Luna Seraphina now?" I asked Adrian quietly.

"In the training grounds, overseeing the morning session."

"Get her. Immediately. And suspend all training activities until further notice."

As Adrian left to retrieve Seraphina, I turned back to the angry crowd. "I want everyone to know that these policies were implemented without my knowledge or authorization. All training is suspended immediately while I investigate this situation."

Relief washed over several faces, but Elena stepped closer, her expression still troubled. "Alpha, with respect, how does a Luna implement major policy changes without the Alpha's knowledge?"

It was a damn good question. One that made me look either incompetent or negligent. Neither was acceptable for an Alpha.

"That's what I intend to find out," I said firmly.

Twenty minutes later, Seraphina arrived at the packhouse looking flushed and slightly annoyed. She was wearing workout clothes and had the confident air of someone who'd been enjoying herself.

"Kael, darling, why did you suspend the training? The children were just starting to show real improvement."

"In my office. Now."

The crowd was still gathered outside, their voices carrying through the windows as we entered my study. Seraphina moved to close the blinds, but I stopped her.

"Leave them open. Let them see we're having this conversation."

"Kael, you're being dramatic. It's just some concerned parents who don't understand the importance of preparation."

"Preparation for what, exactly?"

"For the dangers our pack faces. With threats from other territories, rogue wolves, potential attacks—our children need to be ready to defend themselves."

"Our children need to be children," I said, my voice rising. "Not miniature soldiers trained to the point of exhaustion and injury."

Seraphina waved dismissively. "A few bruises are character-building. You can't coddle them forever."

"Who authorized you to implement these policies?"

"I'm the Luna. I don't need authorization to make decisions about pack welfare."

"Yes, you do." I moved closer, my Alpha presence pressing against her. "Major policy changes require Alpha approval. Always. That's been pack law for decades."

Seraphina’s face turned red as if she hadn’t thought I’d refute her in public.

"I thought you'd approve. You've always talked about the importance of strong pack defenses."

"Strong defenses don't require traumatizing five-year-olds."

"They're not traumatized. They're learning valuable skills."

"They're crying themselves to sleep and coming home covered in bruises!" My voice carried clearly through the open windows. "How is that acceptable?"

"You're overreacting."

"Am I? Because twenty parents disagree with you. Twenty parents who trusted us to protect their children, not abuse them."

Seraphina's expression hardened. "I'm trying to strengthen this pack. To prepare our young ones for the realities of our world. If you can't see the value in that—"

"I can see the value in age-appropriate training. I can see the value in building confidence and skills gradually. What I can't see is the value in pushing children beyond their limits for no clear purpose."

"There is a clear purpose. We need strong wolves."

"We need healthy, happy wolves who grow into their strength naturally. Not broken children who associate training with pain and fear."

I moved to the window and looked down at the gathered parents. Their faces showed anger, concern, and hope that their Alpha would fix this situation.

"The training policies are permanently suspended," I announced, loud enough for the crowd to hear. "We'll return to our previous age-appropriate programs immediately."

"Kael, you're making a mistake—"

"The only mistake I made was not paying closer attention to what policies were being implemented in my name."

Seraphina's composure finally cracked. "Fine. Coddle them. But when this pack falls because our young ones are too weak to defend themselves, remember that you chose their comfort over their survival."

"Their survival depends on them trusting their leadership to make good decisions. Decisions that balance preparation with protection." I turned away from the window to face her directly. "Decisions that an Alpha makes, not a Luna acting without authorization."

"I'm your Luna. I thought we were partners in this."

"Partners don't present each other with faits accomplis and expect blind support."

The room fell silent except for the muffled sounds of the crowd beginning to disperse outside. Through the window, I could see parents leading their children home, looking relieved but still concerned.

"This won't happen again," I said firmly. "Any future policy changes will be discussed and approved before implementation. Clear?"

"Crystal."

But something in Seraphina's tone suggested this conversation was far from over. As she left my office, I found myself wondering what other decisions she'd been making without my knowledge.

More importantly, I wondered what else about Seraphina I'd been too blind to see.

An hour later, I stood in the empty training grounds, looking at the equipment that had been set up for children barely old enough to walk properly. Wooden swords sized for tiny hands. Obstacle courses designed for adults but scaled down just enough to be technically manageable for five-year-olds.

It was clearly designed to push children beyond their limits, not to build their confidence or skills.

"Alpha?" Dr. Williams approached from the medical center, carrying a tablet. "I wanted to discuss the training injuries from yesterday."

"Injuries?"

"Seven children required medical attention. Mostly minor—cuts, bruises, one sprained wrist. But concerning for a single day of training."

"Why wasn't I informed?"

"Luna Seraphina said you were aware and that minor injuries were expected as part of the learning process."

Another unauthorized decision made in my name. Another assumption that I'd approved something I'd never been told about.

"In the future, I want to be notified immediately of any training injuries involving children."

"Of course, Alpha."

As Dr. Williams left, I remained in the empty training grounds.

I don’t understand why My Luna become that.

My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: "Enjoying your new Luna's leadership style? Wait until you see what she has planned next."

Chapter 0032 

(Kael's POV)

My phone rang at exactly 2:17 AM, jolting me from the light sleep I'd finally managed to fall into. The number was blocked, but something about the timing made my blood run cold.

"Kael Blackwood speaking."

"Hello, old friend." The voice was smooth, cultured, and absolutely the last one I wanted to hear. "I hope I didn't wake you."

"Damien." I sat up in bed, instantly alert. "What do you want?"

"Just calling to see how you're enjoying my second gift."

"Your second gift?"

"The first was removing that troublesome wife of yours. I thought you'd appreciate having a clear path back to your true mate." Damien's chuckle made my skin crawl. "The second should be arriving right about... now."

Before I could ask what he meant, screaming erupted from somewhere in the packhouse. High-pitched, agonized screaming that made my wolf pace anxiously.

"What did you do?" I was already moving, throwing on clothes as I spoke.

"Nothing permanent. Just a little reminder of what happens when people don't cooperate with my plans."

The screaming was getting louder, more desperate. I could hear running footsteps in the hallway, voices shouting for Dr. Williams.

"Kael?" Damien's voice was mockingly concerned. "You might want to hang up now. Your Luna seems to need your attention."

The line went dead.

I ran through the packhouse corridors, following the sounds of chaos to Seraphina's room. The door was open, and I could see her writhing on the floor, clutching her stomach and gasping for air.

"Get Dr. Williams!" I shouted to Adrian, who was already on his phone. "Now!"

Seraphina's face was flushed and sweaty, her eyes wide with pain and terror. Foam flecked the corners of her mouth, and her breathing was rapid and shallow.

"Seraphina, can you hear me?" I knelt beside her, trying to assess her condition without moving her too much.

"It hurts," she gasped. "Everything hurts. Can't... can't breathe..."

"Help is coming. Just hold on."

Dr. Williams arrived within minutes, her medical bag in hand and her expression grim. She took one look at Seraphina's symptoms and immediately began checking vital signs.

"When did this start?" she asked, pulling out a stethoscope.

"I don't know. I was sleeping when I heard her screaming."

"Seraphina, I need you to tell me what you ate or drank in the past few hours." Dr. Williams' voice was calm but urgent.

"Just... just dinner. Same as everyone else." Seraphina's words were slurred, her pupils dilated. "Then some tea before bed."

"What kind of tea?"

"Chamomile. From the kitchen. Sarah made it."

Dr. Williams and I exchanged glances. Sarah had been with the pack for fifteen years—loyal, trustworthy, completely beyond suspicion.

"I need to get her to the medical center immediately," Dr. Williams said. "This looks like poisoning."

As we carefully moved Seraphina onto a stretcher, my phone buzzed with a text from the same blocked number: "Beautiful work, isn't it? Don't worry—this one isn't fatal. I'm saving that for later."

I deleted the message before anyone could see it, but my hands were shaking with rage. Damien was behind this. He'd somehow gotten poison into our packhouse, past our security, and targeted Seraphina.

But why? What was his want to do?

At the medical center, Dr. Williams worked quickly to stabilize Seraphina while I paced the waiting area. Adrian found me there an hour later, his expression troubled.

"The kitchen has been secured. We're testing everything—the tea, the food, even the water supply."

"And Sarah?"

"Devastated. She swears she just made normal chamomile tea, same as always. But she's agreed to testing as well."

I ran my hands through my hair, trying to think clearly. "This isn't random. Someone specifically targeted Seraphina."

"Any idea who?"

"Damien Croop."

Adrian went very still. "The Alpha who's been trying to expand into our territory?"

"He called me right before this happened. Said it was his 'second gift'—the first being Lyra's exile."

"Jesus Christ." Adrian sank into a chair. "Kael, if Damien is targeting our pack members directly..."

"Then we're at war. Unofficially, but still at war."

Dr. Williams appeared in the doorway, looking exhausted but relieved. "She's stable. It was definitely poison—something plant-based that causes severe gastrointestinal distress and respiratory problems. Another hour and she might not have survived."

"Will she be okay?"

"She'll recover fully, but she needs rest and monitoring. I'll keep her here overnight at least."

As Dr. Williams returned to her patient, I found myself staring out the medical center windows at the packhouse in the distance. Somewhere out there, Damien Croop was probably celebrating his successful attack on my pack.

But he'd made one critical error. He'd just declared war on someone who had everything to lose and nothing left to fear.

"Adrian," I said quietly. "Call an emergency council meeting for first thing tomorrow. And put the pack on high alert—no one eats or drinks anything that hasn't been tested."

"What are you planning?"

"I'm planning to show Damien Croop what happens when someone threatens my family."

My phone buzzed again: "Sweet dreams, Kael. Tomorrow's gift will be even more special."

This time, I didn't delete the message. Instead, I forwarded it to Adrian.

"Make sure the council sees this. They need to understand what we're dealing with."

As I walked back to the packhouse through the pre-dawn darkness, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. Damien had made his intentions clear—he wanted to destroy everything I cared about, piece by piece.

But he'd forgotten something important. I might have lost Lyra, might have made catastrophic mistakes with my personal life, but I was still an Alpha. And Alphas protect their packs.

Whatever game Damien was playing, I was ready to play it right back.

Chapter 0033 

(Kael's POV)

Dr. Williams pulled me aside early the next morning, her expression grim. "I have the toxicology results."

"What kind of poison was it?"

"Liomine grass. Very rare, very specific in its effects." She handed me a printed report. "It's not something you'd find naturally around here—it has to be cultivated under specific conditions."

"How specific?"

"Greenhouse conditions. Controlled temperature, humidity, soil composition. This isn't something someone stumbled across in the wild."

I studied the report, noting the technical details that meant nothing to me but clearly meant something to Dr. Williams. "So whoever did this has access to specialized growing facilities."

"Or knows someone who does." Dr. Williams glanced around to make sure we weren't being overheard. "Kael, there's something else. The preparation method suggests professional knowledge. This wasn't some amateur trying to cause harm—this was precisely measured for maximum effect without causing death."

"A warning."

"A very sophisticated warning."

"How many people in the pack would have knowledge about plant-based poisons?"

"Just me and Sally, our herbalist. And honestly, Sally knows more about medicinal plants than I do. If anyone could identify Liomine grass on sight, it would be her."

I furrowed my brow. Sally had been the one to make Seraphina's tea. Sally had been in the kitchen with access to everything Seraphina consumed.

"Where is Sally now?"

"In the greenhouse behind the medical center, preparing morning medications."

I found Sally exactly where Dr. Williams had said she'd be, carefully measuring dried herbs into small paper packets. She looked up when I entered, her weathered face creasing with concern.

"Alpha. How is Luna Seraphina? I've been so worried since I heard what happened."

"She's stable. Sally, I need to ask you some questions about last night."

"Of course. Anything I can do to help find whoever did this terrible thing."

I studied her face, looking for any sign of deception. Sally had been with the pack for over a decade, had helped countless members through illnesses and injuries. The idea of her as a poisoner seemed impossible.

"Tell me exactly what happened when you made Seraphina's tea."

"She came to the kitchen around nine-thirty, said she was having trouble sleeping. I offered to make her chamomile tea—it's very soothing for anxiety."

"Did you leave the kitchen at any point while preparing it?"

"Only to get the honey from the pantry. She asked for honey to sweeten it."

"How long were you gone?"

"Maybe two minutes? The pantry is just down the hall."

Two minutes. Long enough for someone to add something to the tea without being seen.

"Who else was in the kitchen area around that time?"

Sally thought carefully. "Marcus was finishing the dinner cleanup. Sarah was preparing tomorrow's bread dough. I think I saw Felix walking through around ten, but he didn't stop."

"Anyone else?"

"Not that I noticed. But you know how busy the kitchen gets in the evenings."

I pulled out my phone and showed Sally the photo Dr. Williams had taken of the Liomine grass sample. "Have you ever seen this plant before?"

Sally's face went pale. "Liomine grass. Dear god, is that what poisoned her?"

"You recognize it?"

"Any herbalist worth their salt knows Liomine grass. It's extremely dangerous—a few grams can cause severe poisoning, and just slightly more can be fatal." Sally set down the herbs she'd been measuring. "Alpha, whoever used this knew exactly what they were doing."

"Could you have mistaken it for something else? Added it to the tea by accident?"

"Absolutely not. Liomine has a very distinctive appearance and smell. I would never confuse it with any of my medicinal herbs."

"Do you know where someone might get Liomine grass?"

"It doesn't grow wild in this climate. You'd need to either import it from tropical regions or grow it yourself in a controlled environment." Sally paused, her expression troubled. "Alpha, there's something else you should know."

"What?"

"I've been doing inventory of my supplies lately—some of my more dangerous plants have gone missing. I assumed I'd miscounted, but now..."

"Which plants?"

"Nightshade berries, foxglove leaves, and yes—a small sample of Liomine grass that I kept for research purposes."

I knew someone had been lurking around me for a long time and I didn’t know it. 

"When did you first notice things were missing?"

"About two weeks ago. But I didn't think much of it at first—sometimes Dr. Williams needs samples for testing, and I don't always keep perfect records."

"Has Dr. Williams asked for any samples recently?"

"Not that I can recall."

So either Dr. Williams was lying, or someone else with access to the medical center was stealing poisonous plants. Given that Dr. Williams had been the one to identify the poison and save Seraphina's life, she seemed an unlikely suspect.

"Sally, I need you to secure all your remaining dangerous plants immediately. Lock them up, limit access, keep detailed records of who handles what."

"Of course, Alpha."

"And I need you to make me a list of everyone who's had access to your workspace in the past month."

"That's... that's quite a few people. Medical staff, cleaning crew, pack members who come for treatment..."

"I know it's a lot, but I need that list."

As I left the greenhouse, I found myself wondering who in my pack had both the knowledge and opportunity to steal poisonous plants. Who would want to harm Seraphina? And more importantly, What’s his next step?

My phone buzzed with another message from Damien: "Enjoying the investigation? You might want to hurry—I will not be kind forever."

Chapter 0034 

(Kael's POV)

Sally arrived at my office within the hour, carrying a manila folder and looking deeply troubled. "I have that list you requested, Alpha. And there's something else—something I think you need to see."

She spread several photographs across my desk. They were clearly taken with a hidden camera, showing the medical center's back entrance at various times and dates.

"Where did you get these?"

"I've been worried about the missing plants for weeks, so I set up a small camera near my workspace. I thought maybe I could catch whoever was taking things." Sally pointed to one of the photos. "This was taken three nights ago, around midnight."

The image showed a figure in dark clothes entering the medical center through the back door. The person was too far away and the lighting too poor to make out specific features, but their movements were confident—someone familiar with the building's layout.

"Any idea who this is?"

"That's just it—I thought it might be Dr. Williams at first. She sometimes works late, and she has keys to everything." Sally pulled out another photo. "But then I found this."

The second image was clearer, taken from a different angle. The figure was leaving the medical center, carrying what looked like a small bag or container. And while I still couldn't make out their face, something about their build and posture was familiar.

"Do you recognize anything about them?"

"The height, maybe? They're not as tall as most of our male pack members, but taller than most of the women."

I studied the photos more carefully, trying to place why the figure seemed familiar. "What about the time stamps? Are there any patterns?"

"Always between midnight and 3 AM. Always using the back entrance. And always on nights when the medical center was supposedly empty."

"Who has keys to the medical center?"

"Dr. Williams, myself, you, and the head of maintenance. That's it."

"What about access cards? Security badges?"

"Those are tracked by the main system. I can ask Adrian to pull the logs if you want."

Before I could respond, my phone rang. Adrian's name on the screen.

"Kael, you need to get to the packhouse immediately. We have a situation."

"What kind of situation?"

"Just found Petra in her apartment. She's dead."

The words hit me like cold water. Petra, our sweet young receptionist, was barely twenty-five years old. She'd been with us for three years, had never caused any trouble.

"How?"

"Looks like the same symptoms Seraphina had last night. But Petra didn't get medical attention in time."

I was already moving toward the door, Sally close behind me. "Secure everything in the medical center. Lock down all the plants, all the supplies. No one goes in without Dr. Williams or me present."

“Yes sir, Alpha."

Petra's small apartment above the packhouse was crowded with people when I arrived. Dr. Williams was there, confirming what Adrian had already told me. The young woman lay on her kitchen floor, her face contorted in the same agony Seraphina had experienced.

"Same poison?" I asked quietly.

"Identical symptoms, identical timeline. But she was alone—no one heard her call for help." Dr. Williams' voice was tight with grief and anger. "This is Liomine grass poisoning, no doubt about it."

"Any idea how she ingested it?"

"There's a cup of tea on her counter, still half full. I'll test it, but I'm betting we'll find the same compound."

I looked around Petra's neat little apartment, trying to understand why someone would target her. She was quiet, unassuming, had no enemies that I knew of.

"Adrian, what was Petra's role in the pack? Who did she interact with regularly?"

"She handled reception duties, appointment scheduling, some filing. Pretty routine administrative work." Adrian paused, his expression troubled. "But there is one thing—she had access to personnel files, medical records, administrative documents."

"What kind of access?"

"Full administrative privileges. She could view and modify most pack records."

The pieces suddenly clicked together. Petra hadn't been a random target—she'd been eliminated because she knew something or had access to something dangerous.

"I need to see her workstation. Everything she had access to, every file she worked with in the past month."

We went to the administrative office, where Petra's desk sat exactly as she'd left it the day before. Her computer was still logged in, her files organized with characteristic precision.

"Look at this," Sally said, pointing to a handwritten note tucked under Petra's keyboard. "Alpha—found discrepancies in medical records. Several files show unauthorized modifications. Will discuss tomorrow. —P"

"When was this written?"

Adrian checked Petra's calendar. "She had an appointment to see you this morning at ten AM."

So Petra had discovered something about the medical record tampering, planned to report it, and been killed before she could talk.

"Can we see what discrepancies she found?"

Adrian sat at Petra's computer and began pulling up files. What we found made my blood run cold.

Lyra's pregnancy records—the ones that had been mysteriously deleted and then restored—showed signs of recent modification. But not just deletion. Someone had been systematically altering medical records for multiple pack members over the past several months.

"Look at this," Adrian pointed to the screen. "Dr. Williams' access logs show she viewed these files, but the time stamps don't match her actual schedule. Someone was using her credentials."

"Who else knew her passwords?"

"That's what Petra was trying to figure out." Sally held up another handwritten note. "She'd been tracking unauthorized access patterns for weeks."

My phone buzzed: "Two down, how many more before you figure it out? P.S.—your Luna is next."

This time, the number wasn't blocked. And when I tried to call it back, it went straight to voicemail.

"Kael?" The voice was Seraphina's, weak but conscious. "I feel terrible, but I wanted to tell you something important."

She was calling from the medical center, where she was supposed to be resting.

"Seraphina, you should be sleeping—"

"No, listen. I remembered something about last night. When Sally went to get the honey, someone else came into the kitchen."

"Who?"

"I couldn't see them clearly—the lights were dimmed. But they said they were there to help finish the tea. I thought it was another kitchen worker."

"Can you describe them?"

"Medium height, wearing dark clothes. And they smelled like..." Seraphina paused, thinking. "Like disinfectant. Medical disinfectant."

Someone from the medical center had been in the kitchen when Seraphina's tea was prepared. Someone with access to stolen poisonous plants and knowledge of how to use them.

"Seraphina, I'm sending extra security to watch over you. Don't trust anyone except Dr. Williams and the guards I personally assign."

"Kael, I'm scared. What if they come back?"

"They won't get near you. I promise."

After I hung up, I looked at Adrian and Sally. "We have a poisoner loose in the pack. Someone with medical knowledge, access to restricted areas, and apparently a kill list."

"What do we do?"

"We find them before they strike again. And we pray they haven't already chosen their next target."