Chapter 23

My fingers hovered over my phone, trembling slightly as I responded to the email from Lycanthrope Life magazine. The prestigious publication's request for an exclusive interview burned brightly on the screen, a beacon of opportunity... and risk.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "This is it," I murmured, hitting 'reply' and confirming the interview. As I typed out the details, I couldn’t ignore my conflicting emotions.

On one hand I was satisfied to be taking some power back, but on the other I knew what a huge risk this was. If I messed up here, then it would be immortalized on paper for the world to see—there would be no way to do damage control. Plus, a driving force behind this decision was my knowledge that it would get under Elroy's skin.

It seemed no matter how angry I got, some part of me still craved his attention. I was disgusted at myself for it.

The magazine responded immediately, jumping on the opportunity, and I told them I could be there whenever they wanted. I was sitting with Marla Thorne within the hour.

I settled into a plush armchair across from Ms. Thorne, the magazine's top reporter, struggling to keep my face pleasantly neutral. My gut was churning, my brain screaming that I’d made a mistake, that I needed more time to prepare, but I pushed it down. I had a job to do.

"Luna Olivia," Marla began, placing her voice recorder on the table between us, "let me first say congratulations on your many large life changes! You’ve made the news a few times in the last month. Can you walk us through what happened?"

My heart raced, but this was the easy part. I’d known they’d want to start with my very first scandal. "You mean my wedding day? It was certainly not the day I had imagined," I said with a wry smile.

As I recounted the events, my mind drifted. Was Elroy watching this? Would he care? The questions nagged at me, even though I really wished they didn’t.

“I know it’s taboo to break a Fated Mate bond, but I want people to know that I did, do, and will always seek guidance from the Moon Goddess,” I said. “I think that the Moon Goddess made my Fated Mate a bad man so that I would be forced to confront my idea of fate and stop accepting the setbacks life was throwing at me. She made me take action, and I’m so grateful.”

Marla nodded sympathetically. "Well it certainly wasn’t the wedding day any bride dreams of, but you did get to try again, and you made quite a splash!”

“My Luna ceremony!” I laughed. “I’ll admit, I did try to make an impression, but I didn’t think it would gain quite this much interest. I just felt like I needed to do something spectacular to prove to my pack that my stepsister was lying, and show them that I take my position as their Luna seriously.”

“Yes, your stepsister did have some rather scathing remarks about you, particularly in regards to your wolf. Is that why you agreed to add the ancient rite to the ceremony?”

“I didn’t agree, I demanded,” I said. “It was the most succinct way to prove her wrong, so I suggested it to Eclipse’s high council and thankfully both they and my Mate agreed.”

“Was it nervewracking, shifting in public?”

“Absolutely,” I answered, meaning it in ways they’d never know. “It was honestly kind of crazy baring my soul like that, but I just kept reminding myself that shifting used to be a more social activity anyway. I was more worried about the beautiful dress Jordan created for me!”

“Oh yes, that dress!” Marla said. “The video of you walking into the moonlight is one of the most replayed clips on social media right now, and we’re already seeing people incorporating more three-dimensional floral designs into their wardrobe. It’s really become a phenomenon.”

I smiled, full of pride for the beautiful creation that Jordan made me. Now she could get the recognition she deserved for it.

“It turned out so much better than I’d imagined,” I said honestly. “I had the idea, but the actual creation was done entirely by Jordan Hanna, my personal maid. Can you believe she’s not even a designer?”

“I can’t!” Marla said, stunned.

“Me neither! Eclipse has a much more formal social hierarchy than the pack I came from, and Omegas are discouraged from pursuing entrepreneurial careers like that.”

“ Let’s talk about Eclipse! As Luna, what are your plans for Eclipse Pack? There have been rumors of significant changes on the horizon."

I took a deep breath; this was the important part. This was what the council was going to focus on, so I needed to say everything perfectly. I leaned forward, eyes bright with purpose as I spoke.

"First of all, I want to be clear – I'm not here to turn Eclipse into a carbon copy of Moonshadow. That's not my goal at all." I paused, choosing my words carefully.

“Eclipse’s martial history and its large size have demanded a strong structure, and I think its organization and communication are incredible. That said, it’s an old system, and it could use a little tweaking to make it work better for the modern era. That way brilliant talent like Jordan’s, and many others, won’t be lost just because of their dynamic.

"I fully believe that we can help Eclipse move forward without sacrificing its proud history and culture. That would also help with inter-pack politics, which is for the benefit of all packs.”

"Can you elaborate on that?" Marla pressed.

I nodded, gaining speed. "Imagine a future where pack boundaries don't limit opportunities. Where we share resources, knowledge, and support each other's growth. What I envision is collaboration, a joining of strengths between packs to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

That's the Lunaris I want to see, and the Eclipse I want to help build."

As the words left my mouth, I felt a surge of conviction. This was more than just a ploy to get Elroy's attention, or even the council’s attention. This was my vision, my purpose as Luna.

And if it makes Elroy take notice, well... that's just a bonus, isn't it? The thought brought a small, secret smile to my lips as the interview continued.

I stepped into the manor's grand foyer, my heels clicking against the polished marble floor. The interview had left me feeling invigorated, if a little fatigued, a sense of purpose radiating from inside of me. It felt like a moment of triumph.

But my contentment evaporated in an instant as a booming voice shattered the silence.

"You!" The word cracked like a whip.

I turned to face the man, his face contorted with rage as he stormed towards me. I instinctively took a step back, my spine stiffening and my hand coming up to protect my stomach.

"How dare you manipulate our Alpha!" he snarled, jabbing a finger in my direction. "Alpha Elroy would never have been so cruel if it weren't for your meddling!"

My brows pinched in confusion and aggravation. Who the hell was this guy, and why was he charging at me like this? "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play innocent," he spat. "Rita's punishment. One month of house arrest? That's your doing, isn't it?"

My eyes widened, a cold dread settling in my stomach. "One month?" I repeated.

The man—Rita’s father, I finally realized—sneered at me. "Yes, one month. And we all know it's because you've got Elroy wrapped around your little finger."

My mind reeled. One month? That bitch had tried to frame me for murder, and all she got was being grounded for one month? Rage warred with hurt and disappointment, and I cursed at my Mate.

How could Elroy let her off so lightly after what she had done?