Chapter 39
The formal invitation arrived mid-morning—elegant cream stationery embossed with Luna Elena's personal seal. "Your presence is requested for afternoon tea," it read, the carefully penned script unmistakably in Raymond's mother's hand rather than that of her secretary.
Such formality between us was unusual. Since my marriage to Raymond, Luna Elena had always maintained a warm, casual relationship with me, treating me more as daughter than political ally. The sudden reversion to protocol suggested something significant.
I arrived at her private sitting room precisely at the appointed time. A guard stood at attention outside her door—another unusual precaution that heightened my curiosity.
Inside, Luna Elena sat beside a beautifully arranged tea service. Though she greeted me with her customary warmth, I noticed immediately that the room had been prepared with unusual care—windows slightly open to prevent eavesdropping, soft music playing to obscure our voices, and specific chairs positioned away from the doors.
"Thank you for coming, dear," she said, gesturing for me to sit. "It's been too long since we've had a proper conversation."
Only when a servant had poured our tea and departed, closing the door firmly behind him, did Luna Elena's expression shift to one of grave concern.
"We don't have much time," she said quietly, her voice barely audible above the music. "Marcus and I have been watching developments with growing alarm."
"Giana," I said, not a question but a confirmation.
Luna Elena nodded, reaching beneath a cushion to extract a small leather-bound book. "My husband remains reluctant to interfere directly in Raymond's leadership decisions. His position is that a young Alpha must make his own choices—even mistakes—to grow into his authority."
She opened the journal, revealing pages of meticulous notes in her elegant script—dates, times, observations, all centered around Giana.
"I've been documenting her activities since her arrival," Luna Elena explained. "At first, I thought her merely opportunistic—a rogue girl using her mate bond to secure position. But her patterns suggest something far more calculated."
She pointed to specific entries. "Here, she inquired about ancient council procedures—details no ordinary pack member would need. Here, she requested access to territorial defense maps. And here, she began recruiting specific young wolves, all from territories with historical grievances against our leadership."
"These patterns match historical accounts of pack infiltration described in texts dating back generations," she continued. "A charismatic outsider gains influence through personal connection to leadership, gradually repositions loyalists in key positions, then systematically weakens pack defenses before..."
"Before what?" I pressed when she trailed off.
Luna Elena met my gaze directly. "Before eliminating opposition and seizing control." She tapped her finger deliberately on a page where my name appeared repeatedly. "You pose the greatest legitimate threat to her position, Aurora. As Luna, you retain authority she cannot easily usurp. I fear she's determined to eliminate that obstacle."
"You believe she means to harm me?"
"I believe she means to remove you, by whatever means prove necessary." Luna Elena closed the journal. "Be careful. Watch what you eat and drink. Document everything. And trust few."
The door opened abruptly, causing us both to straighten. Alpha Marcus entered, his once-powerful frame now noticeably diminished. His complexion had a grayish cast I hadn't noticed before, and his movements seemed labored.
"Aurora. A pleasant surprise," he said with genuine warmth.
"We were just enjoying tea and conversation," Luna Elena said smoothly, rising to help him to a chair despite his dismissive wave.
"I'm perfectly capable of sitting without assistance," he grumbled, though his slight wince belied the claim.
"Are you feeling unwell, Alpha?" I asked carefully, noting how his hand trembled slightly.
"Nonsense," he said firmly. "Merely the inconvenience of advancing years. Nothing that warrants concern."
Luna Elena's expression suggested otherwise, her eyes meeting mine with significant meaning. The rapid decline in her mate's health seemed to coincide suspiciously with Giana's rise in influence—another troubling pattern.
As I departed an hour later, Luna Elena pressed the journal discreetly into my hands.
"Keep this somewhere safe," she murmured. "And remember—you're not without allies."
That evening, a message arrived from my father demanding my presence at his home immediately. I found him pacing his study, expression thunderous.
"You've made no progress," he said without preamble. "Giana's position grows stronger while your influence diminishes daily."
"The situation is complex," I began, but he silenced me with a sharp gesture.
"The situation is clear. You've failed to produce an heir, failed to maintain your husband's interest, and failed to neutralize a threat to your position." His voice dripped with contempt. "Your mother's treatments are expensive, Aurora. Perhaps the pack's resources would be better allocated elsewhere if you cannot fulfill your basic duties."
The familiar threat turned my blood cold. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me." His smile held no warmth. "Your mother's next treatment is scheduled for Tuesday. Whether it proceeds depends entirely on seeing concrete progress in your situation."
I left his house with my wolf raging beneath my skin. Instead of returning to my quarters, I sought refuge in the pack archives, a labyrinthine collection of historical records few bothered to visit.
Among the dusty shelves and forgotten manuscripts, I began researching prior cases of Luna displacement—instances where an Alpha's mistress had challenged the legitimate Luna's position. The historical accounts proved disturbing reading.
Every account ended tragically, with the Luna either exiled, deceased, or discredited. The pattern was clear and terrifying.
Hours passed as I delved deeper into the archives. At some point, exhaustion claimed me, and I fell asleep amid the scattered manuscripts.
A gentle touch on my shoulder woke me. I startled, disoriented, to find Kane kneeling beside my chair.
"Easy," he said softly. "It's just me."
The archives were dark except for my single reading lamp, the hour clearly late. "How did you find me?" I asked, blinking sleep from my eyes.
"I followed your scent," he admitted. "You missed dinner. I was concerned."
"I've been researching," I explained, gesturing to the scattered documents. "Historical precedents for our current situation."
Kane studied the materials, his expression growing grim. "Luna displacement cases. Not light reading."
"They all end badly," I said quietly. "For the Luna."
He nodded, pulling up a chair beside me. "I've been doing research of my own into Giana's background. She claims to have been a lone rogue most of her life, but I've found inconsistencies. The territories she claims to have wandered have no record of a lone female wolf during those periods."
I showed him Luna Elena's journal. "She believes Giana's a deliberate infiltrator. She's been documenting her suspicious activities for months."
Kane examined the journal with growing concern. "This aligns with my findings. And there's something else..."
He hesitated, seeming to weigh his next words carefully.
"I've received reports of increased rogue activity along our weakened borders—coordinated movements that suggest organized leadership rather than typical rogue behavior. I believe Giana may be coordinating with them, possibly preparing for something significant."
The implication was chilling. "We need to warn Raymond."
Kane's expression turned grim. "I've tried. He refuses to hear anything against her. And after your confrontation at the council dinner, approaching him directly has become even more dangerous."
"We need proof he can't ignore," I said finally. "Something concrete that even his mate bond can't explain away."
"We'll need to be careful. If Giana suspects we're actively investigating her..."
He didn't need to finish the thought. The historical precedents spread before us provided ample warning of what happened to those who directly challenged an Alpha's mistress.
"We'll need to trust each other," I said quietly. "Completely."
Kane's hand covered mine, warm and reassuring in the archive's dim light. "You have my trust, Aurora. Without reservation."
The promise held weight beyond the simple words, a commitment neither of us made lightly. In a world rapidly filling with enemies, we had found in each other the one thing we both desperately needed—an ally we could trust with our lives.
