Chapter 160
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Astor was gone when I woke up. A sigh escaped me. It stung a little because we never got to finish our conversation last night because I was too tired and we both didn’t know how to react to what I
told him.
I brushed my teeth, then I stepped into the shower. The warm water was a soothing
And I let the steam fill the small bathroom, trying to clear my own head.
Once I was done, I was feeling fresh and much more awake, I pulled on some comfortable clothes. Today wasn’t about formal wear. Today was about my kids.
When I pushed open the door to their room, Marco, usually sprawled like a starfish under a his blankets and Isabella was tucked in cutely and peaceful.
“Wakey, wakey” I sing sang.
Their eyes blinked open, slowly at first, then widened when they saw me. “Mommy” Isabella squealed, sitting straight up, her hair was wild around her head.
Marco rubbed his eyes, a sleepy smile spreading across his face. “You’re here!”
I laughed, rushing to their beds and pulling them into a tight hug, inhaling their sweet smell. “I am.”
“Where were you yesterday?” Isabella asked, pulling back slightly.
Marco’s face, though still happy, hardened a little. “Yeah, where were you? You’re never here
anymore.”
My heart lurched. Guilt, sharp and sudden, pierced through me. He was right. So much had happened, so many responsibilities had pulled me away. My smile faltered. “Oh, sweetie,” I murmured, stroking his hair. “I had… something very important to take care of. But listen to me.
That’s all going to change. Everything. From now on, I’m going to be here. Every single day. We’re
going to play, and laugh, and do all the fun things you want to do. I promise.”
His eyes, those beautiful, honest eyes, searched mine. When he saw the seriousness in my gaze,
the promise reflecting back, a wide, genuine smile broke through. “Really?”
“Really,” I affirmed, hugging him tight again. “Now, who wants a bath?”
Their enthusiastic “Me!” was music to my ears. I bundled them into the bathroom, filling the tub with warm water and bubbles. They were full of laughter telling me stories about their day yesterday.
“grandma made us pancakes” Isabella announced, holding up a rubber ducky.
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“And Pa told us a really funny story about a grumpy old man” Marco added, splashing a little too
much water.
“That sounds like a lot of fun. I’m glad you had such a good time with Ma and Pa.” A small part of me felt a pang, wishing I’d been there, but mostly, I was just happy they’d been cared for and loved.
After their bath, I made them breakfast eggs, toast, and milk.
Just as Isabella was telling me about an imaginary friend of hers, I felt something on my mind.
‘Faith please come to the Pack House it’s urgent.‘ It was Astor. His tone was tight, demanding.
My shoulders slumped. Not now. Not when I was finally having this precious time with my children. “Astor,” I mind–linked back, trying to keep my voice even, “can it wait? I really want to spend time
with the kids today.”
‘No. It cannot wait. It’s really urgent. Come now.’
I sighed, a long, quiet breath. “Kiddos,” I said, forcing a cheerful tone. “Seems like Mommy has to go to the Pack House for a little while. But! You get to come with me! How about that?”
They looked up, surprised, but then their faces brightened. “Yay!” Going to the Pack House was always an adventure for them.
I quickly got them dressed, grabbed a few toys, and ushered them out the door. My mind was already buzzing with annoyance. Urgent? What could be so urgent? And why couldn’t Astor have just come here?
When we arrived at the Pack House, the grounds were bustling, I spotted a group of kids playing near the training field. “Alright, you two,” I said, bending down to their level. “You go play with the
other children, okay? Mommy will be inside, but I’ll come get you as soon as I can.” They hugged other children, okay? Mommy will be inside, but I’ll come
me goodbye and ran off, eager to join the fun.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the heavy oak door. The familiar scent of wolf and wood smoke filled the air. I walked with purpose, heading straight for Astor’s office. The door was
slightly ajar, and I could hear voices inside. As I approached, I realized it wasn’t just Astor.
I pushed the door open fully and stepped in. And then I stopped, my breath catching in my throat.
Astor was there, standing stiffly by his desk. Beside him, looking grim, was Ove. then my mother and father, seated with worried expressions. But the person who commanded the room, who made my blood run cold, was seated at the head of the large conference table. The Alpha King.
My eyes darted between them all, a knot forming in my stomach. The Alpha King was here? What
was going on?
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Astor motioned to the empty chair beside him, on his right. I walked over, my movements stiff, and sat down. The silence in the room was heavy, thick with unspoken tension.
“Is there… something wrong?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, looking at Astor first, then at the Alpha King.
The Alpha King’s gaze, sharp and assessing, landed on me. He was an imposing figure, even seated. “Faith,” he began, his voice deep and resonant. “I will forever be indebted to you for getting rid of the problem.”
My brow furrowed. The “problem“? Kyle. He meant Kyle.
“You don’t have to worry about the Crescent Pack,” he continued, his tone authoritative. “I am going to take care of it.”
“Take care of it?” I asked, suddenly wary. “How are you going to take care of it?”
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “Almost everyone in that pack is just as guilty as Kyle was. They blindly followed him, aided his actions, or stood by while he plotted. So, some of them will be banished, made rogues. Some will be stripped of their ranks and made omegas. Others will face lesser, but still severe, punishments.” He laid out their fates, one by one, with absolute certainty.
My head snapped up, my voice rising. “Punishment? For what? For blindly following their leader?”
The injustice of it hit me like a physical blow.
The Alpha King sighed, a dismissive sound. “Luna Faith, do not be emotional about this. It is the
right thing to do. They have to pay for what they allowed to happen.”
“Nobody has to pay for anything!” I retorted, rising slightly in my seat, my hands gripping the edge of the table. My voice, which had been quiet, now rang with sudden steel. “The only guilty person died. And that was Kyle. He was the Alpha. And since I am the one who killed Kyle, I am now their Alpha. And I will decide what to do with my pack. Nobody,” I emphasized, looking directly at the Alpha King, “can tell me what to do.”
“Faith, stop it” Astor’s voice was sharp, laced with alarm. He reached out, grabbing my arm. “There is no way you will be able to be the Alpha of the Crescent Pack.”
I yanked my arm free, turning to face him, my eyes blazing. “And why not, Astor? Am I too weak to be an Alpha?”
He flinched, shaking his head. “It’s not about weakness, Faith. It’s the fact that you are the Luna of the Eternal Pack. You can’t be an Alpha to another pack. It’s against tradition”
“If that is a decision, then it’s a decision only I have the right to make!” I shot back. “The fact that
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all had a whole meeting, discussing the fate of my Pack without even asking me, without my
input, is an insult!”
The Alpha King’s patience seemed to wear thin. “Someone has to pay for everything that
happened, Faith.” His voice was firm.
“Somebody already has” I countered, my voice cracking slightly with emotion. “But most importantly, who has paid for the m******e of the Fallen Pack? Because everybody knows what
happened there and you did nothing. To be honest, Kyle had every right to want revenge on men
like those who destroyed his pack. It’s a pity he decided to kill innocent people in the process, but his initial rage was justified”
A shocked gasp went through the room. My own parents looked like they wanted to disappear.
“I have respect for you, Alpha King,” I continued, my voice now low but clear, every word deliberate.
“And I hope that I will be able to get the Crescent Pack to a point where they are worthy to be part of your alliance. As Alpha. But you have no right to tell me what will happen to that pack. Because I am their rightful Alpha. And I will decide what to do.”
With that, I pushed my chair back and stormed out of the office. I could feel every eye on me.
I didn’t stop, didn’t look back. I just walked away.
“Faith! Faith!”
Finally, a hand clasped my arm, pulling me to a stop. “What are you doing? What was that in there?”
I turned to him, my eyes cold “I’m not ‘up to anything, Astor. Rather, I have decided. I will be the
Alpha of the Crescent Pack. And I dare anybody,” I said, my gaze hardening, my voice a low,
dangerous growl, “who tries to touch that pack or do anything to them.”
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