Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 378

Chapter 378

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I took a breath, trying to rein in my fury enough to be coherent instead of just angry. These women weren’t entirely wrong-the changes e significant, and people were scared. But fear didn’t excuse cruelty, and concern didn’t justify the kind of vicious gossip I’d just overheard.

“Let me be very clear about something, I continued, my voice carrying the full weight of Luna authority. “Riley and Lake are my sons. They are pack members with all the rights and protections that entails. Anyone who threatens them, who tries to have them removed, who spreads lies designed to turn the pack against them they answer to me. And trust me when I say that I am not in a forgiving mood when it comes to

threats against my children.”

“That sounds like a threat, Luna, Patricia said carefully.

“It’s a promise,” I corrected, “I have spent two months being chased after, by Andy and held captive. I have fought my way back to my family through hell and trauma and every nightmare you can imagine. And I did it because my family-all of my family, including the sons I found in that facility-is worth fighting for. So if you think I’m going to stand by and let gossip and prejudice hurt them, you have severely

misjudged both my patience and my priorities.”

with.

The women were silent now, their earlier bravado completely deflated. Good, Maybe now they understood what they were actually dealing

“As for my in-laws, I continued, addressing that particular piece of gossip, “Silvia and Samuel Blackwood are dealing with their own adjustments to the changes in our pack. But their silence is not disapproval-it’s respect for our leadership and recognition that this is our time to shape the pack’s future. If you have questions about their position, you’re welcome to ask them directly instead of speculating in grocery

stores.”

That wasn’t entirely true-Xenois and I had barely spoken to his parents since we’d returned, and their silence was starting to concern both of us. But I wasn’t about to give these gossips ammunition by admitting that.

“Now,” I said, straightening my spine and adjusting my grip on my car I’m going to finish my shopping. And you’re all going to go home and think very carefully about the kind of pack you want to live in. One built on fear and exclusion and rigid hierarchy? Or one built on

compassion and inclusion and the understanding that being different doesn’t mean being wrong. When you’ve figured that out, we can have a

more productive conversation about the future.”

I pushed past them without waiting for a response, my cart wheels squeaking slightly on the polished floor. I could feel their eyes on my

back, could sense their shock and discomfort and probably renewed anger how that the initial intimidation had worn off.

But I didn’t care.

Let them be angry. Let them gossip more. Let them run to their husbands and the Elder Council and anyone else who would listen about

how the Luna had confronted them in public and made threats.

Because the damage had already been done.

Not to them-to me. To my family. To my understanding of how deep the resistance to our changes actually ran.

I’d known there was opposition. Of course there was-you didn’t dismantle centuries of tradition without pushback. But hearing it so clearly articulated, hearing pack members casually discuss institutionalizing my children and questioning my mate’s fitness to lead and speculating about my in-laws’ disapproval… it was like being punched in the chest.

These were people I’d served. People I’d cared for. People whose emergencies I’d responded to, whose children I’d helped raise, whose