Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 219

Chapter 219

Nicolai

Jaxon is formally inducted as my Consort Alpha in a public ceremony we open to all our allies, both Woolf and Ironwood. Not the quiet kind of ceremony that flies under the radar. No, this ceremony is meant to make a statement. One that tells our enemies we’re proud of the life we’ve chosen and we won’t hesitate to protect it

At the end of the ceremony, his name and title is recorded in the formal record of Woolf pack governance. Sometime in the days afterward, documentation will go out to allied packs and interested parties across four territories. In the language of pack law that is old enough to be legitimate and specific enough to be unmistakable:

Jaxon Vale now leads the Woolf Family by my side. His word carries authority you’d be wise not to challenge.

Jaxon comes to my office before the documentation goes out. He stands across the desk from me the same desk where we’ve had several significant conversations, where we’ve worked through intelligence reports and security problems and the complicated logistics of building something that doesn’t have a template.

“You’re sure about this,” he checks again.

“I don’t do things I’m not sure about.” I state flatly.

“It changes things. How people read the arrangement.” As if I need the reminder.

“Yes,” I deadpan. “That’s what it’s for.”

“Nicolai.”

“Jaxon.”

“Thank you,” he says, squeezing my shoulder in gratitude.

It costs him something to say it directly. I can see that. I accept it the same way-directly, without making it smaller or larger than it is.

“You never gave up on her. Even when you thought you couldn’t have her. And when it mattered most, you made sure we didn’t fail her. You arranged a contingency exit without telling me because you correctly assessed that I’d object to the deviation from the plan. I owe you our mate’s life and I’m proud to call you family.”

“You would have… objected, I mean.” He deflects, but I see the emotion he’s holding in.

“Yes. And you were right to do it anyway.” I look at him steadily. “The designation is accurate. That’s why I’m formalizing it.”

He nods and turns to leave but stops short.

“Oh, and Nicolai?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m glad we’re family too.”

The documentation goes out thirty minutes later. By evening, Dimitri reports that it has been received by fourteen allied packs and is the source of gossip shared across boundary lines, reaching even the most distant packs. The discussions, he tells me, are not uniformly positive.

“No,” I acknowledge. “They won’t be.”

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“Some of the eastern allies-”

Will adjust their assessments when they understand what the arrangement actually represents.” I set down my pen and give him my full attention. “Or they won’t, and we’ll restructure accordingly.” He doesn’t have to ask what that means.

“And the pack itself?”

“The pack has had months to watch her be their Luna. To watch the arrangement function. They’ve formed their own assessment.” I look at him. “Have you heard anything concerning?”

Dimitri considers this. “Nothing I’d describe as concerning. Adjusting, still. But not hostile.” He pauses. “She’s earned a great deal here. More than she knows.”

“She knows,” I say. “I’ve told her.”

By the time Dimitri leaves and I’m wrapping up business for the day, I find I’m more anxious than usual to get back to my family, to Skye, our son, and even Jaxon. Unfortunately, there is one last call I need to make before I can close the book on other people’s opinions about our arrangement.

The eastern territory Alpha who called me weeks ago with his politely worded concerns-the first one, before I understood the full shape of what Savin was doing. I call him back.

The conversation is brief. I explain what has happened to Savin’s network. What has happened to Volkov’s position. What the Woolf family’s restructured alliance looks like and what role his pack might play in it, should he choose to be reasonable.

Unsurprisingly, he chooses to be reasonable. He also, I note, does not apologize for the earlier call.

“You should know,” I add, before ending the conversation, “that the Consort Alpha designation went out this morning. Jaxon Vale is formally recognized within Woolf pack governance. That’s the arrangement. It isn’t changing.”

The pause that follows is heavy with things he’s probably like to say but won’t if he’s smart.

“I understand,” he confirms wisely.

“Good. I’ll have Dimitri follow up about the alliance restructuring.” I hang up, unwilling to give him a minute more of my time.

Before I can escape, Dimitri returns with coffee. He sets it on the desk without asking-he never asks, just sits.

“Is it done now?” He repeats his earlier question.

“Mostly.” I wrap my hands around the cup. “The rest is maintenance. There will be adjustments-there are always adjustments. But the structure is set.”

“How do you feel?” An unusual question for Dimitri. He doesn’t ask that.

I try to read his expression, wondering why he’s suddenly asking now, but he gives nothing away. He’s decided it’s worth asking so I’ll do my best to give him an honest answer.

I think about the designation going out this morning. About Savin’s network dismantling in real time. About Volkov losing decades of built position. About the packs that have been restructured and the ones that have been cut loose.

About Skye on the terrace last week, watching Benji investigate the garden furniture, Jaxon beside her saying

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something that made her laugh so hard her whole body shook with it. And about lying in the dark with her hand in

ine and Jaxon asleep on the other side and the plan for all of this already forming.

“Like someone who has exactly what he needs, even if I never knew I wanted it.” I answer eventually..

“But,” he prods.

“But yes,” I say, hearing the question he didn’t ask. “Exactly what I wanfed.”

He nods. Picks up his own coffee. We sit in the office in the comfortable silence of fifteen years and I look at the restructured map on my desk-Savin’s red shrinking to nothing, the Woolf alliances reshaped, the Consort Alpha designation now part of the formal record—and I bask in the satisfaction of a life that’s everything I never dreamed of but am so grateful to have.

A woman I’ve loved since we were kids and never thought I’d have is now my mate, my Luna. A beautiful little boy claims me as his, by choice if not by blood. And a man I once despised, I’m coming to love like a brother, even if may never admit as much.

The Woolf family is not what anyone expected it to be.

But it’s exactly right.

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