Chapter 124 Return To Nightshade
Ryder POV
The roar of six motorcycles echoes through the mountain pass as we approach Nightshade territory.
Jolie rides behind me, her arms wrapped around my waist, silver light barely contained beneath her skin. I feel her tension through our bond—not fear exactly, but anticipation. Like a warrior preparing for battle.
Luna and Knox ride to our left, Cass and Phoenix to our right. We form a tight formation, pack colors visible on every jacket. Iron Fangs in bold silver lettering, wolf symbols stitched across our shoulders and backs.
We're not hiding who we are, not anymore.
"Territory line in two miles." Knox's voice comes through our comm units. "Security checkpoint ahead."
"Copy that." I feel Jolie's grip tighten slightly. "Everyone stays alert. This is their ground, their rules until we prove otherwise."
The Nightshade Estate comes into view as we round the final curve. It's exactly as pretentious as I expected—white marble columns, manicured gardens, crystal fountains. Every inch designed to scream wealth and power.
Jolie's breathing changes against my back.
"Are you okay?" I ask quietly.
"Yeah." Her voice is steady despite the spike of emotion through our bond. "Just remembering what it was like living here. Feeling small and worthless every single day."
"You're not that girl anymore." I remind her.
"No." Her arms tighten around me. "I'm definitely not."
We pull up to the security gate where two wolves in formal uniforms stand guard, their eyes widen when they see us.
The older guard steps forward, his expression carefully neutral. "Names and pack affiliation."
"Alpha Ryder Kane of Iron Fangs." I keep my voice level. "Luna Jolie Kane. We're on the guest list for Alpha Dominic's wedding."
He checks his tablet, and I see the moment he realizes exactly who Jolie is as his face goes pale.
"Miss Rys." He corrects quickly. "I mean, Luna Kane. Yes, you're expected. Please follow the main drive to the estate entrance."
"Thank you." Jolie's voice is cold, polite but with absolutely no warmth.
The gates swing open as we ride through, and I feel every eye on us as we pass guards and staff members. They stare at Jolie like they're seeing a ghost.
Maybe they are. The weak wolf they tormented is dead, the Luna riding behind me is something else entirely.
We park in front of the main entrance where a fountain depicts wolves in classical poses. I kill my engine and help Jolie dismount.
She stands for a moment, looking up at the massive building. Her silver hair catches the late afternoon sun, and even with her divine light dimmed, she's radiant.
Mara outdid herself. The black leather dress fits Jolie perfectly—elegant enough for formal events, dangerous enough to make a statement. Silver hardware catches the light, blessed silver worked into every piece. Her boots have concealed blades. Her hair is up, showing the mating mark on her neck clearly.
She looks like exactly what she is—a Luna who could attend any high society event or burn it all down.
"Ready?" I offer my arm.
"Ready." She takes it, and we walk up the marble steps together.
The doors open before we reach them as a butler in formal wear bows slightly.
"Luna Kane. Alpha Kane. Welcome to Nightshade Estate. Alpha Dominic is expecting you in the main hall."
"Of course he is." Jolie's smile doesn't reach her eyes.
We follow the butler through hallways I know are designed to intimidate. High ceilings, expensive art, everything calculated to make visitors feel small.
But Jolie doesn't shrink. She walks with her head high. The main hall is already filling with guests. Alphas in formal wear, Lunas dripping jewelry, the wealthy and powerful of pack society gathered to witness this wedding.
Conversation dies as we enter.
Every head turns while every eye locks on Jolie. I feel her moment of hesitation through our bond—the instinct to make herself smaller, less visible, the old patterns trying to reassert themselves.
Then she straightens her spine and walks forward like she owns the place.
My Luna. My impossible, brave Luna.
"Is that" Someone whispers.
"The Moonfire Luna." Another voice confirms. "The one who destroyed the Council."
"I heard she killed seven Elders with blessed silver."
"I heard she can force empathy on anyone she touches."
The whispers spread through the hall like wildfire. Fear, fascination, respect—I catch all of it in their voices.
"Jolie." The voice cuts through the murmurs.
Alpha Dominic Rys stands at the far end of the hall. He walks toward us with measured steps, his expression carefully arranged into paternal concern.
"My daughter." He opens his arms like he expects her to run into them. "How wonderful that you came."
Jolie doesn't move. "Alpha Dominic."
The formal address makes him pause as his arms drop.
"Surely you can call me Father." His voice carries just enough hurt to sound believable to anyone who doesn't know better.
"I can." Jolie's smile is sharp. "But I won't, you lost that privilege when you let your pack abuse me for years and then tried to trade me to Thorne Blackwater for mining rights."
Gasps ripple through the gathered guests. Alphas exchange shocked looks. Some faces show disgust, others carefully hidden approval.
"That's" Dominic starts.
"True." Gio appears from the crowd, moving to stand near us. Not quite beside Jolie, but not with our father either."Every word."
"Gio." Dominic's voice hardens. "This is hardly the time"
"It's exactly the time." A woman's voice interrupts.
I turn to see a stunning blonde approaching. She's wearing a wedding dress—simple, elegant, expensive. Her face is completely blank, no emotion visible anywhere.
Celeste Whitmore, the Council-made bride. She stops beside Dominic, studying Jolie with those empty eyes.
"You must be my soon-to-be stepdaughter." Her voice is hollow. "Father has told me so much about you."
"Has he?" Jolie's light flickers. "Did he mention the years of abuse? The pack members who tormented me daily? The fact that I was called 'Little Ash' as a mockery?"
"He mentioned you were troubled." Celeste tilts her head. "That you ran away rather than accept help."
"Help." Jolie laughs, and it's not a pleasant sound. "Is that what we're calling attempted trafficking now?"
"This is inappropriate." Dominic's alpha authority bleeds into his voice. "We have guests, this discussion can wait."
"No." Jolie's light brightens, and I feel her power rising. "You invited me to your wedding. You wanted me here as a political statement, to show everyone you still have influence over the Moonfire Luna. So here I am. But on my terms, not yours."
The hall has gone completely silent. Even the servers have stopped moving.
"I came to bring you a wedding gift." Jolie continues. "And to meet your bride properly. To understand exactly what kind of woman marries a man who abused his own daughter."
"I did not" Dominic starts.
"You allowed it." I cut him off, my voice rising. "Which is the same thing. You're the alpha, you set the tone. If your pack tortured your daughter for years, that's on you."
"Who are you to speak to me that way?" Dominic rounds on me. "A rogue alpha from a biker gang? You have no standing here."
"I'm her mate." I step forward. "The wolf bonded to a divine vessel. I have exactly as much standing as she gives me, and right now, she's giving me permission to tell you that you're a pathetic excuse for a father and an alpha."
Knox and Cass move to flank us, a subtle show of force. Phoenix stays slightly back, watching everything with sharp eyes.
Luna has her tablet out, recording every word incase we need it.
"This is my wedding." Dominic's voice rises. "You will show respect"
"Respect is earned." Jolie's power pulses, and several nearby wolves actually step back. "You lost mine the first time you let pack members call me weak and worthless, you lost it permanently when you tried to sell me to a sadistic alpha for profit."
"That deal was for your own good"
"It was for mining rights." Gio interrupts again.
More gasps as Dominic's carefully constructed image is crumbling in real-time.
"You're turning my wedding into a spectacle." Celeste's flat voice cuts through the tension. "This is hardly appropriate."
"Neither is marrying a man who abuses his children." Jolie turns her full attention to the bride. "But here we are."
For just a moment, something flickers in Celeste's empty eyes. Surprise? Recognition? Then it's gone, smoothed back into blank neutrality.
"I don't understand emotion well." Celeste says carefully. "But even I can see this situation is complicated."
"Complicated." Jolie moves closer, and I feel her empathy gift stirring. "Is that what you call abuse and trafficking? Complicated?"
"I call it pack politics." Celeste doesn't back away. "Sometimes individual wolves must be sacrificed for the greater good."
"And who decides what's good?" Jolie asks softly. "Who decides which wolves are expendable?"
"The strongest." Celeste answers simply. "That's how pack hierarchy works."
"No." Jolie's light brightens. "That's how it worked when the Council was in power. That's how it worked when abuse was called discipline and trafficking was called politics. But I tore that system down. I broke their breeding program, i destroyed seven Elders who thought exactly like you do."
Celeste stares at her, and for the first time, I see genuine interest in those empty eyes.
"You're dangerous." She says it like an observation. "More dangerous than your Father indicated."
"Very." Jolie doesn't deny it. "And I'm standing right here in front of you, at your wedding, making it very clear that I'm not afraid of my father, his pack, or whatever plans you have involving me."
"Plans?" Celeste's head tilts again, that bird-like movement. "I'm simply marrying into a prestigious pack. What plans would I have?"
"That's what I intend to find out." Jolie reaches into the bag Luna carries and pulls out a small box. "But first, a gift. As is traditional."
She opens the box. Inside are two wedding bands made of blessed silver. They catch the light, gleaming with power that makes several wolves flinch.
"Blessed silver." Dominic's voice is tight. "You dare"
"I dare." Jolie's smile is all smug. "This is blessed silver that I absorbed during my fight with the Council. Silver that should have killed me but only made me stronger. I had it forged into wedding bands as a reminder."
"A reminder of what?" Celeste takes the box, studying the rings without fear.
"That some wolves survive what should destroy them." Jolie holds her gaze. "That divine power doesn't follow your rules. And that I'm not the weak little girl my father remembers."
"No." Celeste slides one ring onto her finger, and the blessed silver glows against her skin. "You're certainly not."
She hands the other ring to Dominic, who takes it like it might bite him.
The hall erupts in whispers. Pack alphas talking over each other, Luna's exchanging shocked glances, everyone processing what just happened.
Jolie turned a wedding gift into a power statement and a threat, all wrapped in traditional courtesy. I've never been more proud of her in my life.
"Thank you for the gift." Celeste's voice remains flat. "It's quite memorable."
"So am I." Jolie turns to the assembled guests. "To everyone here—I came to my father's wedding to make something clear. I'm not the weak wolf who ran away. I'm the Moonfire Luna and anyone who thinks they can manipulate, control, or hurt me will learn exactly what that means."
Then Jolie takes my arm. "Now, if someone could show us to our rooms, we'd like to freshen up before dinner."
The butler appears immediately, grateful for a reason to escape the tension. As we follow him out, I hear the explosion of conversation behind us. Every alpha in that room will be talking about this for weeks.