Fake Heiress True Luna (Irina) novel Chapter 93

Chapter 16: Midnight Run

Aiden’s POV

It was time for the midnight run.

A hush fell over the courtyard the moment the drums stopped, and the lantern flames flickered with the wind. The moon-huge, bright, golden-hung above us like it was blessing every wolf in the territory.

I stepped forward, lifting my voice so it carried across the entire gathering.

“The Midnight Run begins now,” I announced. “Shift and honor the Harvest Moon.”

Wolves cheered, excitement rolling through the pack like a wave. The visiting Alphas flared their energy, competitive, restless. Our own pack vibrated with pride.

But none of them mattered.

Not really.

My eyes found the only wolf that did.

Irina.

She was already stepping away; she was going to lead the run this time. Her blue eyes glowed, and then, in just a second, she shifted.

Irina’s shift must be the fastest and easiest shift I’ve ever seen. Even faster than mine. And

that’s a lot, considering I’m stronger than most Alpha wolves.

“This will prove to everyone how strong our mate really is,” Arlo said proudly, puffing his

chest.

I had to agree with him.

Even if that wasn’t enough, I’m sure seeing an almost pure white wolf with some cream spots, with that green hue around it, is more than enough proof.

Theia is amazing, beautiful, and bigger than most she-wolves.

I hope Karen sees her so she can understand how different she is from Irina and finally drop her challenge.

“Let’s join our mate,” I said, making Arlo wag his tail.

16

:

Chapter 16 Midnight Run

“Gladly,” He replied with a grin.

And then we shifted.

Bones snapped, fur erupted, paws hit the earth. My wolf-massive, dark, scarred-emerged with a snarl of satisfaction, shaking the ground as I landed.

Irina’s wolf took a step forward to join me; small flowers appeared where she had stepped.

Gasps erupted behind us.

Several Alphas stopped mid-shift. Betas stumbled. A few unmated wolves stared with parted lips.

She was… breathtaking.

Irina stepped forward, lifting her head high, her tail curved in perfect confidence. Her green-tinted glow intensified as the moonlight hit her fur.

A ripple of awe moved through the crowd.

“Is that her wolf?”

“She’s glowing-literal glowing-”

“For the Goddess, she looks unreal…”

“Shadow Pack’s Luna…”

“She’s powerful.”

“I heard she told everyone she was an enigma. I wondered what that was…”

“I can’t believe Alpha Aiden landed such a powerful mate…”

“… she isn’t the omega everyone thought-”

Too many whispers. Even if most were astonished by her transformation, I hated that they focused on the fact that I had accepted her because she was strong, because that was not

the case.

I had had enough.

“Ready to lead?” I asked Irina.

Theia replied by stepping forward, head held high, her green aura brightening as if she were answering not just me… but the entire pack.

276

Chapter 16 Midnight Rum

Then she threw her head back and howled.

A long, melodic howl-powerful yet ethereal, vibrating through the trees and down to the marrow of every wolf present. It wasn’t just a call.

It was a claim.

A declaration.

This is your Luna.

Arlo howled with her. Then wolves followed-first our warriors, then the young ones, then even the visiting Alphas.

Theia turned sharply and sprinted into the forest.

And we all followed.

She didn’t run.

She flew.

laim

Her paws barely touched the ground, each step blooming tiny sprouts of flowers and mossy trails of greenish energy that vanished moments later. The pack roared behind us, but no one could keep up with her-not even me.

Arlo growled in delight.

He never, not once, felt intimidated by our mate’s power, which only seems to grow stronger as the days pass.

Kratos warned me about it, right after her Luna ceremony.

“Are you sure you are ready to have a mate who will surpass you in every area?” Kratos asked.

I know she worried about Irina. He acts like her father, but I’m offended by the question.

“If my Luna is stronger than me, then it means she can take care of herself,” I replied without hesitation.

Kratos smiled and clasped my shoulder. “Glad to hear that, because Irina… what you saw, is just the beginning. She will become the strongest wolf alive, that is, until a new enigma is born.”

I smiled at the thought. Irina could beat me in everything if she wanted. I was just glad she was my mate and agreed to become my Luna.

I still think that way to this day, even though I feel my heart race whenever Irina wants to take

3/6

Chapter 16 Midnight Run

a dangerous approach, like in her fight with Karen.

Trees whipped past us, wind ripping through my fur. The forest responded to her presence- leaves turning slightly, ferns lifting, animals peeking out rather than hiding.

Wolves behind us panted with effort, trying to match her pace.

“She’s like a forest spirit-”

“Did her paws just-flowers?!”

“I… I’ve never seen a wolf like that…”

“Goddess bless the Luna…”

The whispers into the pack link made irritation spike in my wolf.

Not because they admired her. But because they still spoke as if she didn’t belong-like this was a surprise.

Arlo snarled.

“We made sure they knew she was a strong mate.”

I didn’t reply this time because for me, that was never important. In fact, I’m getting angry because it seems the only thing my people value is your pedigree, and I never intended to become that kind of Alpha.

Theia slowed when she reached the moonlit clearing-the meadow where the run traditionally ended. She skidded to a graceful stop, her glow softening into a warm shimmer.

I stopped beside her, brushing my flank against hers.

One by one, wolves streamed into the meadow-some collapsing dramatically into the grass, others bowing when they saw Irina standing tall, regal.

And not one of them could look away.

Irina shifted first.

Light engulfed her wolf, her body arching as her human form emerged seamlessly from the glow. Her curls cascaded down her shoulders, her eyes bright as she caught her breath.

When I shifted, I stood immediately behind her, one hand sliding instinctively around her

waist.

“You were incredible,” I murmured.

4/0

Chapter 16 Midnight Run

She smirked. “I know.”

I chuckled under my breath, resting my chin briefly on her shoulder.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify