Luna Forsaken (Arya and James) novel Chapter 98

98 The Room, The Lie, The Deal 2

James’s POV

Nixon stared at me like he wanted to hit me for how long it took.

Devin’s gaze stayed steady.

Archie’s expression was hard.

I didn’t stop.

“I thought I could fix it,” I said. “That’s why I kept her. I thought time would soften her. I thought if I held her close enough, fed her, watched her… she’d understand.”

Nixon’s mouth twisted with disgust.

“Held her,” he repeated, low.

I met his eyes.

“Yes,” I said. “Held her. Like a prisoner. Like a thing. Like someone I had the right to keep.”

The words tasted like ash.

“And now she’s gone,” I continued. “So I need the truth. I need to know if Lisa and Margaret’s punishment was real or staged. I need to know if Marcel made them vanish neatly to close the story.”

Nixon inhaled slowly.

“I’ll investigate,” he said.

Devin nodded.

I’ll go with him,” he said.

Archie added, “Me too. We’ll get answers.”

Good.

I nodded once.

Then Nixon spoke again, shifting the conversation where it was already headed.

Marcel’s countenance changed after Blackbirth,” Nixon said.

I lifted my gaze.

“What do you mean?” I asked

Nixon’s jaw flexed.

“He’s calmer,” Nixon said. “Too calm. He’s not pushing like he used to He’s watching you

Devin nodded once.

“He didn’t press for prisoners,” Devin added. “Not the way he should have.”

Archie’s eyes narrowed.

“And he hasn’t demanded the land again,” Archie said. “Not yet.”

I felt my stomach twist.

Because I’d noticed it too.

Marcel had come into my office, asked about land, and then, when I pushed back, he hadn’t fought.

That wasn’t Marcel.

Marcel fought for everything he wanted.

Unless he already had it.

Unless he already had a different plan.

I took a slow breath.

“I learned something in Blackbirth,” I said.

Nixon’s eyes sharpened.

Devin leaned forward slightly.

Archie went still.

I continued, fast.

“Union procedure,” I said. “Maxwell told me.”

Nixon’s gaze hardened instantly.

“Procedure,” he repeated.

“No officers go to packs for signing.” I said “No ‘council officers visiting‘ to finalise membership

2

Nixon froze

Devin’s jaw clenched.

Archie’s eyes widened slightly.

I pressed on.

“Joining happens at the headquarters,” I said. “Licence and certificate issued there. Verification til ere. Not here.”

Nixon’s mouth tightened.

“You think it was a sham,” Nixon said, voice sharp.

I held his gaze.

I nodded.

“Even though I hoped it wasn’t,” I said. “All indications show that it was.”

My throat tightened again.

“And if that was a sham,” I finished, “then I wronged Arya terribly.”

Nixon’s eyes burned.

Devin swore under his breath, low.

Archie’s jaw clenched hard.

Nixon stepped closer, voice dropping into a growl.

“So those men who came to the pack,” he began.

“I don’t know who they were,” I cut in. “But if Maxwell is right, they weren’t part of an official process.

Nixon exhaled hard through his nose.

“That explains why Marcel didn’t want you talking to union officers alone,” Nixon said, anger thick. “Because you would have exposed it.”

Devin’s eyes darkened.

And Leah’s poison story would have still happened,” Devin said. “Because it was never about

igning. It was about removing Arya.”

chie’s gaze cut to mine.

St The Roomy. The Lie, The Deal 2

“And you helped them,” he said flatly

The sentence was brutal

True

I didn’t lash out.

Because I deserved it.

I nodded once, stiff.

“That’s why I need facts,” I said again. “Lisa and Margaret. Silverfang. I want to know how clean Marcel’s hands really are.”

Nixon nodded sharply.

“We’ll do it,” he said.

I exhaled and ran a hand through my hair, frustration tightening my scalp.

Then I added, “And keep it quiet.”

Nixon’s eyes narrowed.

Quiet?” he repeated.

“Yes,” I said. “If Marcel knows we’re sniffing around, he’ll bury whatever is left.”

Devin nodded.

Archie murmured agreement.

Nixon held my gaze for a long beat.

You’re finally learning,” he said.

t wasn’t praise.

it was a warning.

I nodded once.

Go,” I ordered. “Now.”

They turned to leave.

Nixon paused at the door and looked back at me.

95 The 27 m The Le, The Deal 2

“Arya isn’t coming back,” he said again, slower “Don’t lose yourself chasing a ghost”

My jaw clenched

I didn’t answer.

Nixon’s eyes lingered, then he left with Devin and Archie.

The door shut.

I was alone again.

Alone in the room where my mistakes lived.

The silence returned instantly, thick and accusing.

I stared at the bed.

Then at the wall.

Then down at my hands.

Hands that had carried her unconscious to the infirmary.

Hands that had fed her blood to save her life.

Hands that had also, later, held the knife that severed her.

My throat burned.

I swallowed hard.

Then the door slammed open.

Violently.

Leah

Of course Leah.

She barged in like she owned the air, face wet with tears, breath sharp, eyes blazing.

“I can’t do this anymore!” she cried.

Her voice wasn’t sorrow.

It was frustration.

<98 The Room. The Die. The Deal 2

Entitlement.

Demand

“I can’t continue living in celibacy!” she screamed, stepping toward me like she expected me to

comfort her.

I didn’t move.

Leah’s tears fell faster.

“Arya is gone,” she snapped. “She’s gone and you still won’t touch me!”

She pointed at me like I was the villain.

“This wasn’t the deal!” she shouted.

My jaw clenched.

The nerve.

The timing.

The audacity.

People were burying bodies. People were sleeping beside ashes. Children were waking up asking where their fathers were.

And Leah was in here crying about sex.

I took one step forward, eyes cold.

“There was no time I was meant to touch you,” I said.

Leah froze, shocked by the flatness in my voice.

“What?” she whispered.

I didn’t soften

“The deal,” I said, voice low, sharp, “was to cover up your baby so you wouldn’t be a laughingstock”

Leah flinched

Her lips parted

I kept going

< 98 The Room, The Lie. The Deal Z

“Now that you are not pregnant,” I said, “it is none of my business

Leah’s face twisted.

“None of your business?” she repeated, voice rising. “You can’t be serious.”

She stepped closer, tears turning into fury.

“My father,” she began.

I cut her off.

“Your father,” I said, voice colder, “is the reason my pack is bleeding.”

Leah blinked hard, stunned.

Then she shook her head violently as if denying reality could change it.

“You promised him!” she screamed. “You promised to mate with me and put a baby in me!”

She jabbed a finger at my chest.