The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power (by Emily Reed) novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19 The Empty Treasury

Second Elder, Nick Cohen’s, POV:

The atmosphere inside the treasury hall felt unusually heavy today.

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I bent down and hauled the last sack of crystal coins from a forgotten, dusty corner of the storage room, then set it down with a thud on the long council table.

When the bag was unsealed, there was no shimmering pile of crystals waiting inside–only a sad mix of crushed stones and low–grade ore, with just a few usable coins scattered among the worthless debris.

A heavy silence swallowed the room.

James’s face had drained of color. Evelyn, soon to become Luna, knitted her brow in deep worry. Priscilla shook with anger, leaning heavily on her maid to keep from falling over.

“All that’s left of the pack’s money?” James growled through clenched teeth, his voice thick with disbelief and fury.

I nodded grimly. “Alpha, the guards under you and Evelyn have already spent three years‘ worth of savings on armor, weapons, and Mrs. Priscilla’s special herbs… The remainder here is just a loan from Luna–Cindy–last month to help with cash flow.”

In truth, I knew James had taken a large haul of valuables from Cindy yesterday, enough to sustain the pack for months.

But I kept quiet.

Most of that wealth was already tied up in gear, leaving not a single coin saved for daily

expenses.

“What about Evelyn’s Luna ceremony?” Priscilla’s voice cracked with anxiety and bitterness. “All the invitations have gone out! Delegates from every tribe will be there. If the ceremony looks cheap, how will the Duskfang Pack save face? James, what happened to your authority as Alpha?”

Evelyn’s voice was sharp and cold. “This ceremony isn’t just for show. It’s our chance to prove our strength to the Royal Court and every tribe. We can’t afford to fall short.”

“But where’s the money coming from?” muttered a Beta handling logistics, barely audible.

“Well…” another elder, my old friend, hesitated before snapping, “The Black Crystal Mine in the east is producing less now, but maybe if we sell some to Silvermoon Pack or Whirlwind Pack, it could tide us over…”

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Chapter 19 The Empty Treasury

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“Ridiculous!” James slammed his fist on the table, roaring, “That mine is our birthright! How can we just sell it? If word leaks out, I and the Duskfang Pack will become a joke across the entire kingdom!”

“If we don’t sell the mine, then what about the ceremony? The winter supplies? The pups‘ milk and meat?” the elder fired back, his eyes red with frustration.

At that moment, my assistant, a young Beta, rushed in, face pale and breathless. “Elder Nick, Ms. Cindy sent word that she wants the crystal coins she lent the pack last month back…

“What?!” Priscilla screamed, her voice nearly breaking the air. James and Evelyn’s faces darkened as if they’d been doused with freezing water.

I looked down at that miserable bag of crystals on the table, my throat tight, unable to find words.

The wolves in the room were frozen, all eyes locked on that worthless pile of rubble.

The air seemed to stop moving. Even the low growls of the wolf spirits faded into silence.

Priscilla pointed at the door, trembling with fury. “Cindy… she’s trying to destroy us!” Before she could say more, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed stiffly.

“Grandma!”

“Mrs. Priscilla!”

Chaos exploded. Panicked cries and uneasy howls from the wolf spirits rose and fell throughout the hall.

I stared at the bag of crystals, a cold chill creeping deeper within me than any winter frost.

The once–great Duskfang Pack was sinking fast, dragged down by greed and betrayal into darkness.