Chapter 48: The Morning After

I woke up to sunlight. Warm. Real. Alive.

Cole was beside me. Still asleep. His arm over my waist. Protective even in sleep.

I watched him for a moment. His chest rising and falling. His face peaceful.

We'd made it. Both of us. Against everything.

I tried to sit up. Pain shot through my ribs. The broken ones from fighting Beleth.

"Ow," I whispered.

Cole's eyes opened immediately. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Just sore. Ribs still hurt."

"Let me see." He gently lifted my shirt. Bruises everywhere. Purple and yellow. "You need a healer."

"I'm fine. It'll heal."

"Lita."

"Okay, okay. Later. Right now I just want to lie here with you."

He pulled me close. Careful of my ribs. We stayed like that. Quiet. Just breathing.

"I thought I lost you," he said finally. "When your heart stopped. When you went cold. I thought you were gone."

"I was. For a bit. But I came back."

"How? The Elder said it was impossible. Once the prophecy takes you, there's no return."

"Someone took my place. Volunteered to die so I could live."

"Who?"

"Claire. She died in the in-between place. Ended the prophecy she created."

Cole was quiet. Processing. "She sacrificed herself?"

"Yeah. Said she was tired. That she'd lived long enough." I touched his face. "James was there too. In the in between. He's okay. Happy even."

"You saw your brother?"

"Yeah. He looked good. At peace. Said to tell you thanks for taking care of me."

Cole's throat got tight. I felt it through the bond.

"I'm glad he's at peace. He deserved that."

A knock on the door. "Lita? Cole? You awake?" The Elder's voice.

"Come in," I said.

The Elder walked in. Looked tired but relieved. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore. But alive."

"Good. Because we need to talk. About what happens now."

"Now?"

"You're Luna Alpha. The prophecy is done. The demons are sealed. But our problems aren't over." She sat in a chair. "The other packs are asking questions. About you. About how you survived. About what it means."

"What kind of questions?"

"Some think you're blessed. Chosen by the moon goddess herself." The Elder paused. "Others think you cheated. That you broke the prophecy rules and put everyone at risk."

"That's stupid. The demons are gone. We won."

"For now. But demons always come back. Maybe not in our lifetime but eventually." The Elder looked serious. "And when they do, there won't be a prophecy to guide us. You ended that."

I hadn't thought about that. About the future. About what ending the prophecy meant long term.

"So what do we do?"

"We prepare. We train. We make sure the next generation is ready." The Elder stood. "But first, we deal with today. The Council wants to meet. Every Alpha. They want answers."

"When?"

"This afternoon. Three o'clock." She walked to the door. "And Lita? Wear something nice. This is official. They're deciding your future as Luna."

She left.

I looked at Cole. "They're going to challenge me, aren't they?"

"Probably. Some Alphas didn't like you from the start. Now they have ammunition." He touched my hand. "But we'll handle it. Together."

"What if they try to remove me? Say I'm not fit to be Luna?"

"Then they'll have to go through me first." His eyes flashed. "You earned this title. You died for it. Literally. No one takes it away."

I wanted to believe him. But doubt crept in.

What if I wasn't good enough? What if they were right?

Stacey knocked and walked in. "Hey. Heard you're up. Brought breakfast." She carried a tray. "Eggs, bacon, toast. And coffee. Lots of coffee."

"You're a lifesaver."

"I know." She set the tray down. Looked at me closely. "You look like death warmed over."

"Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear."

"Just being honest." She sat on the bed. "So the Council meeting. You ready?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really. But you can at least look confident. Fake it till you make it." She smiled. "And for the record, I think you're the best Luna we've ever had. Even if you are only eighteen."

"Nineteen next month," I said.

"Oh wow. Big plans?"

"If I survive today? Sleep. Lots of sleep."

Stacey laughed. "Fair enough."

We ate breakfast. Talked about small things. Normal things. It felt good. Like maybe life could be normal again.

But then noon came. Time to get ready.

Stacey helped me pick clothes. Nothing too fancy but nice. Black pants. White shirt. My hair down. Clean. Professional.

"You look like a Luna," Stacey said. "Strong. In charge."

"I don't feel strong."

"Nobody does. We all fake it." She touched my shoulder. "You got this."

At three, we walked into the gym's conference room. Every Alpha in California was there. Fifty of them. All staring at me.

The Elder sat at the head of the table. "Everyone's here. Let's begin."

I sat beside Cole. Alex on my other side. My pack around me.

The Elder spoke. "We're here to discuss Lita Dillard's role as Luna Alpha. Some have raised concerns. Let's hear them."

Sienna stood first. Red hair. Cold eyes. "I think Lita is too young. Too inexperienced. She got lucky. That doesn't make her qualified to lead all packs."

"Lucky?" I said. "I fought a demon king. Died. Came back. Beat a demon general. United every pack here. That's not luck."

“Maybe. But you broke the prophecy and put us all at risk.” Sienna crossed her arms. “What happens in three hundred years when the demons return with no prophecy to guide us?”

“Then we fight, like yesterday.” I stood. “I’m not perfect but I’m learning. And I’ll keep fighting for this pack. For all packs. That’s what Luna means.”

Ragnar stood next. The big Alpha. "I have a question. Not a challenge. A real question."

"Go ahead."

"Can you have children? Luna children? To continue the bloodline?"

The room went quiet. Everyone staring.

"I don't know. Maybe. Why?"

"Because if the demons come back in three hundred years, we'll need another Luna. If you can't have kids, the bloodline dies with you." Ragnar looked around. "That's a problem."

"I'm nineteen. I haven't exactly thought about kids yet."

"But you should. It's your duty." Sienna said. "Luna's duty is to the bloodline. To the future. Not just the present."

Heat rose in my face. "So what? You want me to go have a baby right now? I just survived a demon war yesterday!"

"No. But eventually. Soon." Sienna's voice was cold. "Or step down and let someone who can have Luna children take over."

Cole stood. Eyes flashing. "Enough. Lita just saved all of you. Show some respect."

“We’re grateful. But gratitude doesn’t change facts.” Sienna looked at my eyes. “Can you promise Luna children? To continue the bloodline?”

I wanted to say yes. To make them happy. To keep my title.

But something stopped me.

"I can't promise that. Kids are a personal choice. Not a duty."

"Then you're not fit to be Luna." Sienna sat down. "I call for a vote. Remove Lita Dillard as Luna Alpha."

The room erupted.