Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 377

Chapter 377

LUMINA

“The children are dangerous,” Margaret said, recovering some of her bovado now that the initial shock had passed. “That’s not gossip, Luna, that’s fact. They were raised in a facility that turned supernaturals into weapons. They have abilities and training that make them threats to pack security. Being concerned about that doesn’t make us bad people makes us responsible pack members.”

“Responsible pack members,” I repeated, my voice dropping to something deadly quiet. ‘Is that what you call standing in a grocery store spreading lies and fear about children? About my children?”

“They’re not lies, the unknown woman said, finally stepping into view. I recognized her now-Patricia, whose husband served on the

security council. “Lake used his abilities at school. That’s documented. Riley’s intelligence is beyond normal parameters. That’s observable. These aren’t normal children, Luna. They’re enhanced individuals with traumatic backgrounds and dangerous capabilities. Pretending otherwise is willful ignorance.”

“They’re five-year-olds,” I said, each word sharp as a blade. “Five-year-old boys who spent the first years of their lives being experimented on, who were rescued from a nightmare situation, who are trying desperately to learn how to be normal children despite everything that was done to them. Yes, they have abilities. Yes, they’re enhanced. But they’re also scared and traumatized and working harder than any child should

have to just to fit in and feel safe.”

“That’s exactly the problem, Margaret argued. “They shouldn’t have to fit in because they don’t belong here. This is a werewolf pack, Luna. Not a refuge for damaged supernatural experiments. The Elder Council has legitimate concerns about-*

“The Elder Council can bring their concerns to me and my mate directly,” I interrupted, my authority flaring to the point where several of the women actually took a step back. “Not spread them through gossip networks while hiding behind their wives. If they have issues with our leadership or our family decisions, they know exactly where to find us. What they don’t get to do is poison pack sentiment against children who’ve already suffered more than any of you can imagine.”

“We’re not trying to poison anything,” Sarah protested weakly. “We’re st… concerned. About the pack’s future. About Ollie’s position.

About whether all these changes are happening too fast.”

“Ollie,” I said, feeling my rage spike even higher, “is perfectly fine. He loves his brothers. He’s not resentful or feeling replaced or secretly hating the changes in his life. He’s a kind, compassionate child who’s learning that family is more than just blood, that strength is more than just physical power, and that being alpha means protecting everyone-not just the people who look like you or have the ‘right’ abilities.”

“But his inheritance- Patricia started.

*Is secure,” I snapped. “Ollie will be alpha when the time comes because he’ll have earned it through his character, his choices, and his training. Not because he was born first or not or because we locked away any potential competition. And if the pack can’t accept that-if they can’t accept that we might have multiple strong candidates for future leadership instead of just one-then maybe the pack needs to evolve its thinking.”

“You’re asking us to accept too much too fast,” Margaret said, her voice taking on a pleading quality now. “Werewitches in positions of authority, enhanced children with dangerous abilities, non-werewolves potentially holding pack positions… where does it end, Luna? When do we get to say that our traditions matter, that our way of life has value, that change for the sake of change isn’t always good?”

“When your traditions stop hurting people,” I said flatly. “When your way of life doesn’t require children to be institutionalized for being different. When your resistance to change isn’t just code for ‘we’re scared anything we don’t understand. That’s when you get to make that

argument.”