Rebirth of the Broken Luna A Second Chance at Luna's Heart novel Chapter 411

Chapter 411

LUMINA

The moment Xenois ended the video call with Jerome, the office erupted into controlled chaos. Everyone started talking at once-Zade coordinating with his team, Rivers pulling up maps, Marcus checking weapons inventory. The energy in the room shifted from tense anticipation to focused determination.

I stayed where I was for a moment, processing what I’d just witnessed

Samuel and Silvia Blackwood-the two people who’d made my life hell for years, who’d rejected me as unsuitable for their son, who’d blamed me for Xena’s death and tried to destroy my relationship with Xendis-had just faced down their captors with jokes about makeup and

arthritis.

They’d refused to cooperate. Refused to show fear. Refused to do anything that might compromise their son’s vision for a better pack.

And Silvia had used her limited time on camera to check on Shawn. A werewitch teenager she barely knew, but who she’d taken in and

protected when he had nowhere else to go.

I didn’t know how to reconcile the people I’d just seen with the people who’d caused me so much pain.

“Lumina?” Xenois’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. He’d moved to my side without me noticing, his hand gentle on my arm. “Are

you okay?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly. “That was… a lot.”

“Tell me about it,” he muttered. “I’ve spent the last hour terrified they were being tortured, and instead I find out they’re critiquing their

kidnappers’ fashion choices and making jokes about caskets.”

“They’re protecting you,” I said quietly. “Everything they did on that call-the humor, the defiance, the complete lack of fear-that was for

you. To show you they’re strong enough to handle this, to take away the emotional leverage Jerome thought he had.”

Xenois was quiet for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right. They were performing. Making sure I knew they weren’t broken, weren’t going to give up, weren’t going to let their captors use them against me.”

“And it worked,” I added. “Because now you’re not operating from a place of desperate panic. You’re angry, yes. Determined, absolutely. But

not irrational. They gave you that gift.”

He pulled me into a tight embrace, and I felt some of the tension drain from his body. “How are you so wise?*

“Years of therapy and a naturally analytical mind,” I said dryly. “Also, we had a lot of practice reading complicated family dynamics.”

That earned me a soft laugh. “Fair point.”

Zade cleared his throat from across the room. “Not to interrupt a moment, but we need to finalize the rescue plan. Xenois, you coming?”

“Give me five minutes, Xenois called back. Then, quieter, to me: ‘I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything,” I said immediately.

1/3

Take care of the kids,” he said. “I know we agreed they could help with communications, but after seeing that call-after hearing my parents joke about dying-they’re going to be even more scared. They need someone to hold them together while I’m focused on the rescue.”

“Of course, I agreed. “Though I think they might be tougher than you’re giving them credit for. Did you see Ollie’s face? He was terrified, but he didn’t fall apart. And Riley was already analyzing what your parents said, looking for tactical intelligence.”

“They shouldn’t have to be tough, Xenois said, frustration bleeding through his voice. “They’re children. They should be worried about homework and friends, not whether their grandparents are going to be murdered on camera.”

I cupped his face in my hands, making him look at me. “You’re right. They shouldn’t have to deal with this. But they are dealing with it, and they’re doing remarkably well because you’ve taught them how to be strong without losing their compassion. Trust them. Trust that they

can handle this.”

He took a deep breath, then nodded. “Okay. But if any of them start to spiral-*

“I’ll handle it,” I promised. “You focus on bringing Samuel and Silvia home. Let me handle everything else.”

He kissed me-quick and fierce-then headed back to the command table where his team was assembling. I watched him transform from worried son and protective father into Alpha Blackwood, confident and commanding as he took control of the situation.

I found the boys exactly where I expected them-clustered in the living room around their makeshift command center, voices low and urgent as they discussed what they’d just witnessed.

“-think Grandma was giving us coded messages?” Ollie was saying. Like when she mentioned the caskets and burning people alive? Was

that her telling us how to defeat nightwalkers?”

“Possibly,” Riley agreed. “But it could also have been literal. We know from history that your grandparents used fire as a weapon during the territorial wars. They might have been reminding us-and Jerome-of their reputation.”

“I still can’t believe she critiqued his outfit,” Lake said, his voice carrying a note of hysteria that suggested he was processing trauma through humor. “She was literally chained in a cell and she took the time to insult his fashion sense.”

“It was a power move,” Riley explained with the patience of someone who’d clearly spent time studying psychology. “She was establishing

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