Chapter 36
# Elowen's POV
I followed Luna Ella through the massive hallways of the Pack house, my heart still racing from the confrontation with my mother and Alpha Austin. My fingers kept drifting to the double marks on my neck, the skin still tender and warm. Every step we took echoed against the polished wooden floors, making me feel even smaller in this grand space.
"You've been here before," Luna said, glancing back at me with those piercing eyes that somehow managed to be both intimidating and kind. "But this time, it's different. This is your home now."
Home. The word felt strange on my tongue. I'd never truly had one before.
Luna stopped in front of a large oak door and pushed it open. "The boys prepared this for you. They've been... anticipating your arrival for some time."
My jaw dropped as I stepped inside. The room was fucking gorgeous - spacious and bright, painted in soft cream with touches of forest green that reminded me of Thornwood Pack colors. A massive king-sized bed dominated one wall, covered in plush pillows and a thick comforter that looked sinfully comfortable.
"Holy shit," I whispered, taking in the details. A reading nook by the window with a small bookshelf filled with titles I recognized as my favorites. A vanity with brand new makeup and skincare products. And the closet door was partially open, revealing clothes that looked exactly my size.
"The boys took care of everything," Luna said, a small smile playing on her lips. "Casper insisted on the reading nook. Cassian selected the skincare products."
I walked to the nightstand where a silver photo frame held a picture of me with both twins at Cindy's sixteenth birthday. Next to it sat a small jewelry box containing a delicate silver bracelet with the Thornwood crest.
"They thought of everything," I murmured, my throat tight with emotion.
Luna sat gracefully on the window seat, patting the space beside her. "Come, we should talk while they're with Austin."
My stomach knotted with anxiety as I perched next to her. "Are they in trouble because of me?"
"They made their choice," Luna said, her expression unreadable. "Now, I believe you have questions about this engagement contract your mother mentioned?"
I took a deep breath, pushing back the urge to pace. "Yeah. Who exactly was I supposed to marry? Mom never told me anything about it."
Luna's eyes narrowed slightly. "The engagement contract with Drake was signed by your mother when you were sixteen. On the surface, it's meant to ally us with Drake's family... but there's a hidden layer. Drake has deep, binding ties to another powerful pack—one that borders our territory and has been pulling strings from the shadows. I'm sorry, Elowen, I can't reveal which pack it is right now."
"What the fuck?" I blurted out, heat rushing to my face. "And nobody thought to tell me?"
Luna's voice remained carefully neutral. "It was all negotiated in secret to solidify peace after decades of territory disputes. Your mother believed this alliance would end the conflicts once and for all."
I felt sick. "So I was just... a pawn in some bigger game?"
Luna's eyes softened. "Politics among werewolves is complex, Elowen. Your mother, as Beta, saw an opportunity to elevate her position—and protect the pack—by arranging such a valuable, multilayered alliance. I'm sorry we haven't disclosed this to you until now. This agreement involves a dangerous faction we've been monitoring carefully. Revealing too much too soon could have put you at risk, but now that you bear my sons' marks, you need to know what we're facing."
"But it doesn't matter now, right?" I touched the marks on my neck. "Because I've been claimed."
"Yes," Luna nodded, her expression serious. "The mate bond, especially a double marking, supersedes any prior arrangement. But that won't stop that pack from feeling cheated. Your mother clearly wanted to salvage the agreement somehow."
"I'm sorry," I said, looking down at my hands. "I didn't mean to create problems for everyone. But I couldn't let Drake—"
"You have nothing to apologize for," Luna interrupted, reaching out to take my hand. Her touch was warm and surprisingly gentle. "The mate bond isn't something that can be forced or denied. What you share with my sons is rare and precious."
I bit my lip, fighting back tears. "Alpha Austin seemed really pissed off."
Luna laughed, the sound unexpectedly light. "Austin is always concerned about appearances and pack stability. He'll adjust. He was surprised, not angry. He's protective of his sons, just as they are of you."
"I felt like I disappointed him," I admitted, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at me.
"Austin can be... intimidating," Luna said diplomatically. "But I've known you since you were a child, Elowen. You were always special to my children, and to me. Austin will come around once he sees how happy you make Casper and Cassian."
I nodded, still uncertain. "Those photos Drake shared... everyone's seen them now. Won't that reflect badly on the pack? On your family?"
Luna's eyes gleamed dangerously. "Let me worry about Drake. Those photos only show that he's a desperate, pathetic little man who can't accept rejection."
Her confidence made me smile despite everything. But another worry pushed to the surface. "What about Casper and Cassian? Alpha Austin looked so angry with them."
Luna stood up, smoothing her dress. "My sons have survived their father's lectures before. They're big boys." Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "And they've never been so united as they are in their feelings for you."
She moved toward the door, then turned back. "Rest now. Your body needs to adjust to the double marking. I'll send the boys to you once Austin is finished with them."
At the doorway, she paused. "Elowen?"
I looked up. "Yes, Luna?"
Her expression softened into something almost maternal. "Welcome to the family. You're one of us now."