Luna Forsaken (Arya and James) novel Chapter 9

James’ POV

We arrived at Silverfang, greeted with open arms and false smiles. Marcel stood tall beside his beta, the perfect image of political grace. Leah was there, radiant in that polished, curated way of daughters raised for high places. She looked ready, eager even, to return with me to the pack. To take a place she believed was already hers.

A small launch celebration was thrown in my honour. Marcel’s wife doted on Leah like she was the moon and stars, brushing her hair, adjusting her dress, feeding her compliments like wine. The contrast made my gut churn.

Eventually, it was time to go.

Just before we left, Marcel stopped me with a question wrapped in venom and command.

“Hope the rogue knows her place when my daughter assumes her rightful position as Luna,” he said, his voice light but deadly. “There’s no harm in an Alpha having his playthings, as long as she stays in the shadows and doesn’t undermine my daughter.”

My jaw clenched, but I nodded. It was the only thing I could do.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the way Darius was looking at me, like I’d just stepped into filth and refused to wipe my boots. Pure, burning disgust.

“I don’t want to share, Daddy,” Leah said, her voice smooth but hard.

Marcel chuckled.

“Well, unfortunately, you have to. They’ve claimed each other. Asking James to reject her now would be a tactical mistake. I hear the rogue is a damn good fighter. Those skills are worth keeping around.”

Then he turned those smug eyes on me. “Someone that useful shouldn’t be discarded. No need to make her an enemy, and no need to parade her either.

Hide her well. I’d hate for my daughter to be shamed by that kind of status.”

He said it like Arya was a wild thing we were foolish to tame, something he’d rather have caged than respected.

I balled my fists at my sides, nails digging into my palm. But I couldn’t strike him. Not yet. Not here.

“Shall we?” I finally said, voice tight, and turned toward the exit.

Marcel gave me a knowing look, then smiled. “Darling, you can always come home if he treats you poorly,” he said to Leah.

She beamed, sliding her hand through mine like we were already one.

“James will treat me right,” she said sweetly. “He loves me.”

I nearly choked on my laugh but managed to disguise it as a smile.

Then came the final blow.

“I want a grand union,” Marcel said. “My daughter isn’t a dirty secret.”

And in that moment, all I could hear was Arya’s voice, soft, strong, hopeful, on the day she and I marked each other in a quiet clearing with no audience, no fanfare. I had promised to make it up to her, to give her more someday.

But I never got the chance.

Now, I was watching it play out in real time. Decisions made in my name, without my voice. Plans built on top of the life I was supposed to protect.

Was this the cost of rising?

Losing myself in rooms I never wanted to enter?

Because if this was the price… it was beginning to feel like too much.

We exchanged polite goodbyes, masked in smiles that meant nothing. And then we were gone.

Back in the car, Leah nestled against me like it was her place. Like I was already hers.

The moment we were far enough from Silverfang’s territory, I gently pulled my hand away.

She looked up, confused. But I didn’t speak.

I couldn’t.

My heart felt heavier than it ever had before. Heavier than betrayal. Heavier than guilt.

It felt like resignation.

And that terrified me more than anything.