CHAPTER 143: The Unavoidable Guest

CHAPTER 143: The Unavoidable Guest
Alora’s POV

Selene looked over to the Sage, her eyes indicating for him to take over. 

He cleared his throat, the sound grating on my already frayed nerves. 

“The matter before us is the Luna Games,” he began, his tone clipped and ceremonial. “As has been the way of our kind for centuries, the Luna of the pack must prove herself worthy, not only in spirit, but in strength, endurance, and unity with her mate.”

“The Games,” he continued, “are divided into three trials. The first is of the body, a contest of endurance, where the Luna-to-be must face challenges of strength, speed, and resilience before the eyes of her people. A trial by combat…not to kill, but to prove you can withstand challenge. Rivals are chosen, women who once sought the Luna’s place or were trained for it. You will fight until the elders are satisfied you do not break.”

My stomach turned. Fight. Of course, it would begin with blood.

“The second is of the mind, questions of tradition, history, and judgment, posed before the council to measure your wisdom. The third…” He paused, eyes flickering briefly toward me, “is of unity. The mate bond itself will be tested through sacred rites and combat joined which will be carried out during the mating ceremony. Only when all three are fulfilled may the title of Luna be consecrated.”

I kept my gaze forward, though my stomach knotted. Strength, wisdom, unity. They made it sound noble, but I heard what lay beneath: spectacle, scrutiny, the chance for anyone to see me falter.

Morgan shifted beside me, his voice low but firm. “These traditions were born in another age. Alora should not have to prove herself through archaic trials.”

The Sage’s brow furrowed. “It is not for us to discard what has bound our people for generations. The Luna stands as both partner and symbol. Without the Games, her place is untested.”

Selene spoke gently. “The law binds us, Morgan. Not our preference. Believe me when I say, I know what this demands of her.” Her eyes flicked to me, soft with sympathy. “But there are no exceptions.”

But Morgan insisted, standing up, seething with anger. “My mate is not on trial for marrying me. She was human even before she knew she was a moon born and a werewolf. You talk about the consequences of not following the mating rites and traditions, but rules and laws and archaic traditions were meant to be broken and abolished. Nobody is going to force my mate to go through any of that”.

Elder Thorne raised his hands and cleared his throat, a look of panic flashing in his features “Alpha Morgan, but these things are statutory and must be followed. A Luna is taught to prepare for these years before she ascends the Luna position.”

His words echoed, pulling me back to every doubt I had buried.

I wasn’t like the others.

I hadn’t been groomed since birth to wear a crown or shoulder the weight of tradition. Even though this position came on a silver platter, I wasn't ready for it and, as it stood, I was still learning to breathe under expectation.

Morgan turned to the sage “Sage, write this down in your book, from now henceforth, the Luna Games are canceled. They are not to be held in this pack or region”.

I touched his hand in panic, trying to stop him from going through with his words, but he refused to listen. 

“This is not just for my mate, but for every other wolf after her. A she-wolf goes through all of these for her mate. What does her mate do to test his own strength and faith and what not? Absolutely nothing. It is high time we change the narrative and allow women to breathe. Yes, other regions do it. They have been doing it for years. We have been doing it for years, but it ends here and now. My word is my bond.”

“Is that clear, Sage”?

“Yes Alpha King, that is clear” he replied, baring his neck.

“Good” he replied and sat down.

After his speech he sat down, and I felt relief cross my features. 

There was a loud silence that drowned the room until Selene cleared her throat softly. 

“There is one more matter.

"Which is"? Morgan asked a little bit impatiently.

Something in her tone made my chest tighten further.

Selene’s gaze didn’t falter.“The guest list for the mating ceremony has been finalized.”

Morgan leaned forward. “And?”

Her gaze flicked to him, then to me, “Violet and her father will be attending.”

My breath caught, my fingers numb in Morgan’s grip.

Violet.

Morgan’s chair scraped against the tiled floor as he shot to his feet. “Absolutely not,” he growled, he growled, startling me. “She’s not setting foot in this house.”

The Sage frowned. “You don’t have a say in this, Alpha, this isn't the Luna games.”

“The hell I don’t!” His fist slammed down on the table, rattling the bottled water lined up. “After everything she’s done, after the chaos she brought into this pack, you expect Alora to sit there with her in the same ceremony meant to bind us?”

Selene’s tone hardened. “This is bigger than her or you. The mating ceremony of the Alpha King isn’t just a private celebration. It’s a sacred tradition, bound by treaty and watched by every Alpha in the region. It is a law that all mated Alphas attend.”

“Then let Xavier drag himself here,” Morgan snapped. “He’s the one with the damn title.”

“He can’t,” Selene shot back. You know that. He’s still in a coma. Which means, by law, Alpha Carrick, Violet’s father, will escort Violet in his place, as well as come for himself. Their absence would be seen as an insult not only to you but to the entire Council of Alphas. Do you want to spark a rebellion during the very week we are meant to cement peace?”

Elder Thorne spoke up, his tone strained “Alpha king, not to undermine your authority, but if the Alpha of the Rogues, as I love to call him, because he forced his legitimacy on us, if he does not attend, it will be read as a deliberate slight. The treaties would be questioned, the legitimacy of this union put at risk.”

The sage added, “It would be seen as weakness, and weakness is something neither this pack nor this union can afford right now.”

Morgan’s jaw tightened until I thought it might crack. “So what? We just let her waltz back into our lives? Into Alora’s ceremony? Do you hear yourselves?”

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice before it slipped out. “I think we could manage Violet. This shouldn't cause a fight "I said, tugging at Morgan and turning his face to me. 

I could feel the tension going out of him as he listened to me.

The room went silent.

Selene’s voice rose over the table, “Then it’s decided. Violet and her father will attend because our pack can handle a traitor, and we will welcome her with open arms, but we will also be careful, watchful and cautious.”

Morgan sat down, and I reached for his hands, kissing his palms and leaning on his shoulders. “We can handle this,” I said in his ears.

He gritted his teeth and nodded, looking at me with a small smile on his face.