Chapter 107 Chapter 107

Chapter 107 Chapter 107
"It doesn't matter what you would or wouldn't do," he said quietly. "What matters is what they believe you're capable of."
I slumped back against the pillows, exhaustion and frustration warring within me. "So what do we do?"
"For now, recover your strength," the Priestess advised. "Alpha Maxwell is handling the political fallout with the assistance of our allied packs. But soon, you and your brother will need to address the council directly."
"Speaking of Lucious," I said, suddenly remembering my brother. "How is he? Has he recovered from the ritual?"
A smile softened the Priestess's weathered face. "He has recovered remarkably well. Apollo's emergence has stabilised him in ways we couldn't have anticipated. He's been asking about you constantly."
Relief washed through me. "Can I see him?"
"Perhaps tomorrow, once you've rested more," Liam suggested gently. "You're still recovering from four days of heat."
I wanted to argue, but my body betrayed me with a jaw-cracking yawn. The brief burst of energy from eating was already fading, exhaustion pulling at my limbs.
"Rest now," the Priestess said, moving toward the door. "I'll return tomorrow with a full briefing on the political situation. And Luna?" She paused, her ancient eyes knowing. "Congratulations. The goddess's blessing shines brightly within you."
She was gone before I could ask what she meant, but from the way my mates' attention immediately focused on my stomach, I had a fairly good idea.
"She sensed it too," Fin murmured, wonder colouring his voice.
I placed my hand over my abdomen again, Diamond's protective presence confirming what I was beginning to believe. Somewhere deep within me, new life was taking root, the next generation of the Blackthorne-Maxwell line.
"We'll know for certain soon," I said softly. "But I think... I think she might be right."
Sleep claimed me before I could see their reactions, but through our bond, I felt their joy, bright and fierce and full of promise for the future we would build together.
I woke the next morning to find the mansion buzzing with activity. My mates had let me sleep through the night, but the sounds of raised voices and hurried footsteps from below made it clear that the world hadn't paused for my recovery.
After a quick bath and a substantial breakfast, my appetite remained ravenous, which Liam noted with meaningful glances at my midsection. I made my way downstairs to find Alpha Maxwell's study crowded with pack officials and visiting dignitaries.
"Luna Blackthorne-Maxwell," Alpha Maxwell greeted me formally as I entered, rising from behind his massive desk. "I'm glad to see you recovered. We have much to discuss."
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to me. I straightened my spine, drawing on Diamond's steady presence for confidence.
"I've been briefed on the basics," I said, taking the seat Kane pulled out for me. "The council wants to discuss the 'Blackthorne situation.'"
A middle-aged woman I didn't recognise snorted derisively. "That's putting it mildly. Half the packs on the eastern seaboard are in an uproar. The other half are demanding you come cleanse their territories of 'corruption' as well."
"This is Margaret Chen, Alpha of the Jade Mountain pack," Alpha Maxwell introduced. "One of our oldest allies."
"Luna Blackthorne-Maxwell," Margaret acknowledged with a respectful nod. "Your reputation precedes you. What you accomplished against the Northern Alliance was... impressive."
"And terrifying to those who benefited from Northern Alliance operations," added a stern-looking man seated near the window. "Richard Hawke, Alpha of the Coastal Winds pack. We've been fielding calls from human authorities as well. Someone needs to explain the thirty-odd people who wandered out of the Montana wilderness with no memory of how they got there."
I winced. I hadn't considered the human complications our cleansing might cause. "The Northern Alliance warriors, their wolves were freed, but what happened to their human memories?"
"Fragmented, mostly," Fin explained, having followed me into the study. "The corruption they experienced was so intertwined with their identities that removing it left gaps. Most remember nothing of their time with the Northern Alliance."
"Which presents its own problems," Margaret said grimly. "Some of those wolves had families who reported them missing years ago. Others were believed dead. The logistics of reintegrating them into normal pack life are staggering."
"Not to mention those who don't want to be reintegrated," Richard added. "We've had three former Northern Alliance members request asylum in neutral territories rather than return to their birth packs. They're afraid of what they might have done while corrupted."
The weight of unintended consequences pressed down on me. I had acted to save my brother and stop the Northern Alliance's ritual, but I hadn't fully considered the aftermath for those caught in the middle.
"What about the children?" I asked, thinking of Lily and Maya and the others we'd rescued. "Have they been placed with families yet?"
Alpha Maxwell nodded. "Most have been matched with adopting families, though the process is ongoing. The seer child, Lily, has been particularly requested. Several packs have offered substantial resources in exchange for hosting her."
"She's not a commodity," I said sharply, protective instincts flaring.
"No one's suggesting she is," Margaret assured me. "But a seer of her potential is incredibly rare. Packs want access to her gifts."
"What Lily needs is a family who will love her, not exploit her abilities," I insisted. "The same goes for all those children. They've been treated as tools their entire lives. I won't allow that to continue."
A heavy silence followed my declaration. I could see the political calculations running behind several pairs of eyes, weighing my power against their desires, assessing whether pushing back was worth the risk.
"The Luna speaks wisely," the Priestess's voice came from the doorway. I hadn't noticed her enter, but she moved now to stand beside my chair. "The children's welfare must come first. Those who would use them as the Northern Alliance did are no better than the enemies we just defeated."
That settled the matter, at least for the moment. The discussion shifted to other concerns, border security, communication protocols with allied packs, and preparations for the upcoming council meeting.
"When is the council convening?" I asked during a lull in the conversation.
"Three weeks," Alpha Maxwell replied. "At the neutral grounds in Colorado. All major packs have been invited, along with representatives from the smaller territories."
"Three weeks," I repeated, my hand unconsciously moving to my stomach. By then, I would likely know for certain whether I was carrying a new life. The thought of facing a hostile council while potentially pregnant was daunting. I'd only just turned eighteen, and already the weight of responsibility seemed overwhelming.
Kane noticed my gesture and moved closer, his presence a silent support. Through our bond, I felt his determination; he would let nothing threaten our family, no matter what political storms lay ahead.
"There's another matter," Richard said, his tone carefully neutral. "Your brother."
I stiffened. "What about Lucious?"