Chapter 68

The morning of my return to Blood Moon territory arrived with perfect autumn clarity. The forest leaves had turned brilliant shades of amber and crimson, a beautiful but ironic backdrop for what I knew would be a dangerous homecoming. I stood by the window, watching Kane's security team load vehicles with military precision.

"Are you certain about this?" Kane asked, appearing behind me.

I nodded once. "Some battles can't be won from a distance."

Kane reviewed final preparations with his security team, his demeanor entirely professional despite the personal undercurrents between us. His jaw remained tight, shoulders squared—a tension he couldn't quite conceal.

"Remember the extraction signals," he instructed, his voice low as we walked through the final briefing. "Three specific phrases that will trigger immediate response if you're in danger."

"'The moonlight feels different here,'" I recited. "'My mother would love these flowers,' and 'Perhaps we should revisit the old traditions.'"

Kane nodded approvingly. "Use any of those, and my team moves in immediately. No questions, no hesitation."

I wore special protective clothing beneath my formal Luna attire—a lightweight, silver-woven fabric that could resist most poisons and slow bleeding from wounds. The sheath for a silver dagger strapped to my thigh felt foreign against my skin, but I appreciated its reassurance. The walking cane Kane had given me—elegant enough for formal occasions but reinforced with silver—completed my ensemble.

Kane personally checked my hidden communication device, his fingers brushing my collar with unexpected gentleness. "Keep this on at all times," he insisted, his amber eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my heart flutter. "I'll be monitoring constantly."

"I remember how to use it," I assured him, though I didn't move away from his touch.

"This isn't like our training sessions," he warned, his voice dropping lower. "If anything feels wrong—anything at all—use the signals."

Luna Elena prepared me with traditional Luna regalia, her movements practiced and ceremonial. The deep blue of the formal robes complemented the silver embroidery that depicted ancient pack symbols.

"You look every inch the Luna," she said, fastening the special pendant around my neck. "This marks you as recognized Luna regardless of circumstances. The silver carries old magic—protection woven by generations of Luna wisdom."

At my request, she arranged my hair to leave the silver crescent visible—a silent declaration of my changed status.

"Are you certain about displaying it?" Elena asked. "It will provoke questions."

"Let them question," I replied. "I'm done hiding who I am becoming."

---

Our convoy departed as the morning mist still clung to the valley. Kane traveled separately with another team, his presence known only to us and his most trusted people. The mountain roads wound through territory that had once felt like home but now seemed filled with potential danger.

"Trust your instincts above all else," Elena advised as we neared the main gates.

Raymond and a formal reception committee awaited our arrival, the elaborate display clearly orchestrated for public benefit. Warriors stood at attention along the driveway, council members arranged in hierarchical order, and pack members gathered behind cordoned areas.

My eyes immediately found Giana, standing slightly behind Raymond—not quite in the Luna position but close enough to signal her status. Her expression was carefully crafted into one of concerned welcome, though her eyes remained calculating.

Raymond stepped forward alone as I emerged from the vehicle, his formal Alpha regalia making him appear more imposing than I remembered. "Welcome home, Luna Aurora," he greeted with rigid formality, his expression carefully neutral.

"Thank you for the reception, Alpha Raymond," I replied with equal formality, noting how his eyes never quite met mine. His gaze kept shifting to the silver crescent on my neck, confusion and unease crossing his features.

As we entered the main pack house, pack members lined the hallways, their curious gazes following our procession. Whispers erupted as they noticed the faded mate mark and new silver crescent on my neck.

"The Luna's mark has changed..." "Is that a silver crescent?" "Her bond with the Alpha looks different..."

During the formal reception, I observed how Giana always maintained distance between us, keeping furniture, people, or Raymond himself as barriers. Her movements seemed casual to the untrained eye, but I recognized the deliberate positioning—she never came within arm's reach.

"She's afraid to get too close," Kane murmured through my communication device. "She knows we suspect her poisoning attempts. Watch her eyes—she's tracking your every movement."

He was right. Beneath Giana's perfect smile, her attention remained fixed on me with predatory focus.

Raymond made a show of announcing I would resume my Luna duties immediately, starting with tomorrow's full moon ceremony. "It means a great deal to have you back where you belong," he declared, though his careful avoidance of physical proximity told a different story.

"He can sense the mate bond is gone," Kane observed. "He doesn't understand why but knows something fundamental has changed."

When I was finally escorted to my former Luna quarters, I found the space subtly altered—personal items rearranged, new furniture added, and my scent partly masked by Giana's. The changes were deliberate, an attempt to make me feel like a visitor in my own space.

A thorough inspection revealed hidden monitoring devices in several locations. Rather than removing them, I left them in place, using them to feed false information.

"The tea Raymond sent as a welcome gift looks delicious," I said aloud, making a show of admiring the poisoned blend we had already identified at Silver Lake. "I'll enjoy some tonight before bed."

That evening, Raymond requested a private meeting "to discuss ceremony preparations." Kane immediately objected through the device.

"It's too risky. Decline."

"I need to understand what they're planning," I whispered when briefly alone. "Trust me."

The meeting took place in Raymond's formal office, with me maintaining careful distance. I positioned myself near the door, my walking cane at hand.

"What happened on the mountain road was unfortunate," Raymond began, his attempt at appearing conciliatory falling flat.

"You chose Giana over my life," I responded calmly. "There's nothing unfortunate about a deliberate choice."

He flinched. "The mate bond compelled me. You of all people understand its power."

"A true mate bond doesn't force you to leave your partner to die," I countered. "It doesn't cause agony when you're with another person. It doesn't fade after betrayal."

His eyes fixed on my neck, noticing both the faded mark and silver crescent. "What is that?"

"Evidence that the Moon Goddess has other plans for me," I replied, deliberately cryptic.

Raymond's posture stiffened as he realized I was no longer the compliant Luna he'd expected. "We can still make this work," he offered. "The pack needs stability."

"You need the appearance of stability," I corrected him. "My presence legitimizes your leadership. Let's not pretend this is about anything else."

After leaving, I spoke quietly to Kane. "He's worried. I'm not behaving as expected."

"Good," Kane replied, satisfaction evident in his tone. "Let them adjust their plans."

Later that night, a servant delivered the evening tea to my quarters—the same poisoned blend. I made a show of preparing it, knowing I was being monitored. Instead of drinking, I "accidentally" spilled it.

"How clumsy of me," I said aloud, feigning disappointment.

Afterward, I feigned increasing drowsiness, swaying slightly as I prepared for bed. I changed into night clothes, moving with gradually decreasing coordination for the benefit of watching eyes.

"They're testing whether you'll take the bait," Kane observed.

"Let them think I did," I replied quietly, arranging pillows to resemble a sleeping form. "Tomorrow we'll discover what they've planned for the ceremony."

As I completed my preparations, I whispered to Kane, "Something's happening tomorrow. I can feel it."

His response was immediate and filled with fierce determination. "I'll be close. You won't face it alone."

For the first time since returning to Blood Moon territory, I allowed myself a genuine smile. Whatever trap awaited at tomorrow's ceremony, I was no longer the vulnerable Luna who had left here broken and betrayed. I touched the silver crescent on my neck, drawing strength from its presence.

I was coming into my power at last, and they had no idea what they were facing.