Chapter 99

Dr. Morrison arrived the next morning with a clipboard full of assessment forms and an expression of professional concern that didn't quite hide his bias. Raymond had clearly briefed him thoroughly on the "situation," and his mind was already made up about my condition.

The morning sunlight streaming through my windows felt mocking—a beautiful day that would likely mark the end of my ability to protect my pack from the conspiracy destroying it from within.

"Luna Aurora," he said formally as he settled into the chair across from me, adjusting his glasses with practiced precision. "I understand you've been experiencing some difficult emotional challenges lately."

The leading question was designed to establish the narrative from the beginning. This wasn't going to be an objective evaluation—it was going to be a formality to justify decisions that had already been made by people with their own agendas.

"I've been investigating threats to pack security," I replied calmly, keeping my voice steady despite the circumstances. "That's not an emotional challenge—it's my responsibility as Luna."

Dr. Morrison made a note on his clipboard, his pen scratching against paper with deliberate slowness. "Yes, I've heard about these... investigations. Can you tell me about the evidence you believe you've discovered?"

The way he said 'believe' made it clear he'd already decided my evidence was delusional. But I walked him through everything anyway—Lydia's suspicious background, the forest meetings, Giana's conversations with rogues, the plans to eliminate pack members.

I spoke clearly and methodically, laying out the timeline of events and the connections between seemingly separate incidents. Despite my circumstances, I couldn't help but feel proud of the thoroughness of our investigation.

"I see," Dr. Morrison said when I finished, making more notes. "And how do you explain the fact that no one else has corroborated these observations?"

"Kane was with me during the surveillance," I said, gesturing toward the door where Kane stood guard. "He witnessed the same evidence I did."

Dr. Morrison glanced toward the door, his expression professionally neutral. "Kane, would you care to comment on these allegations?"

Kane's response was devastating in its professional neutrality: "I can confirm that surveillance activities took place. However, I cannot comment on the subject's interpretation of observed events."

The careful phrasing managed to acknowledge that we'd conducted surveillance while undermining my credibility about what we'd discovered. Kane was protecting his own position while systematically destroying mine, using his tactical expertise against me.

"You see," Dr. Morrison said gently, his tone patronizing, "even your investigation partner is reluctant to support your conclusions. That suggests the evidence may not be as clear as you believe."

The logic was circular but effective. Kane's refusal to fully support my claims was being used as evidence that my claims were false, which justified Kane's refusal to support them. It was a perfect trap with no escape.

"What about the photographs? The recordings?" I asked desperately.

"Alpha Raymond explained that those materials appeared to be staged," Dr. Morrison replied with practiced ease. "Creating false evidence to support delusional beliefs is actually quite common in cases like yours."

Every piece of evidence was being dismissed or reinterpreted to fit the narrative of my mental instability. The conspiracy had evolved beyond just destroying evidence—they were using my own investigation against me.

"Luna Aurora," Dr. Morrison continued in his patronizing tone, "jealousy in arranged marriages can manifest in very destructive ways. The mind sometimes creates elaborate fantasies to avoid confronting painful realities."

"This isn't about jealousy," I insisted, though I could hear the desperation creeping into my voice. "This is about protecting the pack from genuine threats."

But Dr. Morrison was already writing his assessment, the conclusion clearly predetermined. His pen moved across the paper with mechanical precision, documenting a diagnosis that would strip away my authority and freedom.

Within minutes, he'd completed a psychological evaluation that painted me as suffering from paranoid delusions brought on by jealousy and stress. The assessment was thorough and professional, which would make it nearly impossible to challenge.

"I'm recommending immediate psychiatric intervention," he announced, looking up from his clipboard with finality. "Luna Aurora is experiencing a severe break from reality that makes her a potential danger to herself and others."

The formal diagnosis was exactly what Raymond needed to strip me of my remaining authority and remove me as any kind of threat to Giana's plans. It was a masterpiece of institutional manipulation.

Raymond returned within the hour to implement Dr. Morrison's recommendations, his expression carrying grim satisfaction as he delivered the new restrictions. He moved with the confidence of someone whose decisions had been validated by professional expertise.

"Until you receive proper medical treatment, your Luna duties will be suspended," he announced formally, his Alpha authority filling the room. "You'll be confined to a secure medical facility where you can get the help you need."

The secure medical facility was essentially a prison disguised as a hospital. Once I was committed there, I'd have no access to pack information, no ability to investigate, and no chance to warn anyone about the ongoing conspiracy.

"This is what Giana wanted all along," I said desperately, making one final attempt to reach him. "Can't you see how perfectly this serves her interests?"

But Raymond's magical conditioning made him incapable of seeing the manipulation. In his mind, removing me was protecting both the pack and Giana from my increasingly dangerous delusions.

Kane was assigned to oversee my transfer to the medical facility, adding another layer of cruelty to an already devastating situation. The man who had once been my partner was now my jailer, duty-bound to participate in my destruction.

"You're really going to let this happen?" I asked him directly, searching his face for any sign of the man I'd known. "You're going to stand by and watch them destroy everything we worked for?"

Kane's response was measured and cold, each word carefully chosen: "I'm following the Alpha's direct orders regarding your care and security."

The formal language reduced our entire relationship to a security protocol. Whatever feelings he might have had were completely subordinated to his professional duties, buried beneath layers of fear and institutional loyalty.

As guards prepared to escort me to the medical facility, I realized that this was Giana's endgame. With me declared mentally incompetent and removed from any position of authority, she'd have free rein to complete her conspiracy without interference.

"She's going to destroy this pack," I said as a final warning to Raymond, my voice carrying all the authority I could muster. "When she's finished using you, she'll eliminate you too."

But Raymond was already turning away, his decision made and his conscience clear. The magical conditioning had made him genuinely believe he was protecting everyone from my dangerous instability.

Kane watched the preparations with professional detachment, but I caught glimpses of pain in his expression when he thought no one was looking. If the situation affected him emotionally, he concealed it behind his duty to follow orders.

As I was led away from my quarters for what might be the last time, I realized that I'd lost everything—my position, my freedom, my investigation, and most painfully, my partnership with Kane.

Giana had won completely, using a combination of magical manipulation, psychological warfare, and institutional power to neutralize her greatest threat. And I was powerless to stop whatever came next.

The conspiracy was about to achieve total victory, and the pack I'd sworn to protect would pay the price for my failure.