Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 375

Chapter 375

LUMINA

I pushed my cart through the automatic doors of the Silver Creek Shopping Center, mentally reviewing the list I’d made that morning.

School supplies for the robotics club-Riley had been very specific about the types of batteries and wire they’d need. Groceries for the week, since three growing werewolf boys ate approximately their weight in food daily.

And maybe something special for dinner, a treat to celebrate the fact that we’d made it through another chaotic week without anyone dying or the Elder Council staging a coup.

Small victories.

The mall was busier than I’d expected for a Thursday afternoon, but I supposed that made sense. Most of the pack members who worked traditional jobs were off by now, and the stay-at-home parents were doing their weekly shopping runs. I recognized several faces as I grabbed a cart-pack members I’d known for years, women I’d served alongside in various Luna duties, mothers whose children went to school with Ollie.

“Luna Lumina,” Mrs. Chen said as she passed, her tone warm but her smile slightly strained. “Good to see you out and about.”

“You too, Mrs. Chen,” I replied, returning the smile even though something about her expression made my wolf stir uneasily. “How’s your daughter doing? I heard she made the honor roll.”

*She did, thank you,” Mrs. Chen said, but she was already moving past me, her cart angled like she was in a hurry despite having stopped to greet me in the first place.

Odd.

I shook off the feeling and headed toward the school supply section, methodically collecting items from Riley’s list. The boy had somehow memorized the specifications for every component he needed, reciting them to me that morning with the kind of precision that made me

wonder if his enhanced cognition extended to photographic memory. Knowing Riley, it probably did.

“Luna,” another woman said as I passed, this one younger-Jessica, 1 tink her name was. Her daughter was in Lake’s class. “How are the

boys adjusting to school?”

“Very well, thank you,” I said, genuinely pleased to be asked. “They’re loving the robotics club. Lake especially-he’s made several friends

already.”

Jessica’s smile flickered, something complicated passing through her expression. “That’s… good. Really good. I’m glad he’s settling in.”

But she didn’t sound glad. She sounded uncertain, maybe even uncomfortable. My wolf stirred again, more insistent this time, picking up on cues I couldn’t quite identify.

I continued through the store, collecting items and exchanging pleasantries with various pack members. But as I moved deeper into the shopping center, I started noticing a pattern. People greeted me-they had to, pack protocol demanded respect for the Luna-but the greetings were perfunctory. Strained. Several women who I’d considered friends found reasons to cut conversations short or avoid eye contact entirely.

Something was wrong.

I was debating whether to address it directly or just finish my shopping and leave when I rounded the corner into the canned goods aisle

Chapter 375

and nearly collided with a cluster of women standing in a tight group, the voices low but animated.

-completely irresponsible, one of them was saying, her back to me. recognized her voice-Margaret, one of the Elder Council members’

wives. “Bringing those children into the pack without proper vetting, without considering the security risks-”

“And the werewitch,” another woman interrupted, her tone dripping with distaste. “My husband said the Elder Council is furious about that.

A werewitch with Luna status? It’s unprecedented. It’s wrong.”

I froze, my hand tightening on the cart handle. They were talking about Lake. About my son.

‘I heard he did something at school,” a third voice contributed-Sarah mother of one of Ollie’s classmates. “Used his abilities to move

something without touching it. Scared half the children in his class. But of course nothing was done about it because the Luna protects him.”

“She protects both of them,” Margaret said, and I could hear the judgment in her voice. “Those damaged children from that facility.

Everyone knows they’re dangerous-they were literally raised as weapons. But Lumina acts like they’re normal kids, like we should all just

accept them and pretend everything’s fine.”

“My sister works at the school,” another woman said-I didn’t recognize this voice.

“She said the teachers are terrified. That Riley is too smart, too observant, like he’s analyzing everyone around him for weaknesses. And

Lake… well, everyone knows what werewitches are capable of when they lose control.”