Lily and James (werewolf novel) novel Chapter 258

Chapter 0258

(Luna Jane POV)

I arrived at the party a few minutes late. Normally I would arrive at these kinds of events with Randall, but

he was meeting with James before the party, so I came by myself. I almost did not show up, but I came

because I knew that as the luna of this pack- I had to.

The space was beautifully decorated and completely filled with wolves. There were very obviously more

than 500 wolves in attendance.

It made me want to throw up. Yes, really.

It was no secret to anyone that I was against having this party. Even though Margie paid for the food and

decorations, at least two dozen omegas and three dozen security guards had to work overtime for the

event, and those overtime costs would be solely borne by the pack. The pack simply did not have the

money to be incurring those kinds of unnecessary expenses anymore.

In the last few months, more and more of our allies had ended or “paused” trade contracts with us, and

we had also had a variety of accounting irregularities that we were trying to sort through. If things

continued this way, the pack was projected to run out of money within the next two to three years.

And yet -despite all of that, the money was not even what bothered me most about the party. What

bothered me the most was that the party was to celebrate Stephanie’s return and her (forced) marriage to

James. That did not sit right with me.

Randall and I had had several fights about the party and James’ marriage over the past several days, especially after I overheard him talking to Margie about the plan to alpha-order James to marry and mark Stephanie if he showed any resistance tonight. I kept begging him to reconsider, to let me turn myself

into the werewolf council and be done with our debt to Margie.

Unfortunately, he would not hear of it. He said that disclosing my bad acts could jeopardize our remaining trade contracts; that he could not function without me if the council had me executed or

Imprisoned for what I did; and that James was not stable, responsible, or strong enough yet to take over in his stead. Randall insisted that it was my duty to him and to the pack to stay the course. He also reminded me that James used to love Stephanie, and he reassured me that James would eventually

thank us for forcing his hand.

Although I eventually (and reluctantly) agreed with him, as the days passed, I found myself starting to care less and less about my so-called duties and obligations. I was tired of my every decision being clouded by fear, guilt, and obligation. For once, I wanted to do what was right. For once, I felt OBLIGATED to do what was

right.