The Abandoned Luna's Journey to Power (by Emily Reed) novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25 The Arrival of the Prince

Cindy’s POV:

The three days passed in a blur.

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At dawn, just as the sky was starting to brighten, he gates of Moonwhisper Residence suddenly slammed open.

Hannah stormed in with a pack of fierce female werewolves, their faces shining with triumph and malice. “Cindy, quit pretending you’re not here! There’s a big pack meeting today. The Alpha wants you to be there! Let’s move!”

“Ms. Cindy!” Jewel went pale with fear and stepped forward, trying to protect me.

gave her a gentle squeeze on the hand, telling her to stay back, then stood up to smooth my dress.

Today I wore the moon–white gown my mother had made for me, the silver snow lotus embroidery from Northmere glinting along the hem–cool, proud, and distant.

“Let’s go,” I said quietly, not even looking at Hannah, and stepped outside.

Seeing I was cooperating, Hannah snorted coldly and, like a guard escorting a prisoner, pressed the group close around me as we walked to the gathering square.

On my way, I caught Hannah exchanging quick looks with some of Evelyn’s loyal followers at a fork in the path. They slipped away silently, heading back toward Moonwhisper Residence.

A chill sank into my chest. Of course, they couldn’t resist trying to steal from me.

“Diana, I hope Jewel remembers what I told her.

“Don’t worry, Cindy. That girl’s fiercely loyal. She won’t betray you. And anyway, they’ll never find the real treasures,” Diana’s voice was cold and sure.

I pushed the thought aside and silently prayed for Jewel’s safety.

The gathering square was packed with the adult werewolves of the Duskfang Pack. Their faces showed a strange mix of indifference, curiosity, pity, and some outright glee.

James sat high on the stone platform reserved for the leader, clad in black battle armor trimmed with gold, radiating authority. Evelyn, dressed in blazing red like fire itself, sat beside him, poised like the future Luna, drinking in envious and jealous stares.

When they saw me being “escorted” in, pride briefly flickered in James’s eyes. Looking down

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18:29 Fri, Jan 9 # G·

Chapter 25 The Arrival of the Prince

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at me, he sneered, “Cindy, after everything that’s happened, don’t you regret being so stubborn? Kneel now, admit your mistakes to me and Evelyn, and swear your loyalty to us. That way, I might consider letting you stay as just a regular wolf.”

I lifted my chin to meet his eyes, full of control and contempt, and said simply, “I regret nothing.”

James’s POV:

“Regret nothing?!”

Those words hit me like a scorching nail driven straight into my pride, lighting a fire of rage. deep inside my wolf spirit!

She still dared to defy me? Who did she think she was? Just a woman I was about to throw away, a poison who didn’t care about my grandmother’s life, a traitor scheming to break the pack apart!

I could barely hold back, itching to shift into my wolf form and shred that calm face of hers!

Evelyn, beside me, sensing my fury, lightly touched my arm, her eyes shining with the same cruel satisfaction and scorn.

Today, Cindy would disappear from Duskfang Pack for good!

I took a deep breath, swallowed my anger, and curled my lips into a cruel smile. If she won’t listen, I’d make her taste despair.

I rose to my feet, and the Alpha’s presence blanketed the square. Every werewolf fell silent beneath my gaze.

“Cindy!” I called out like hail striking the ground. “You are stubborn and unforgivable! Today, before the entire pack, I pronounce your crimes”

My eyes flashed like lightning as I laid out her “offenses“. “First, as Luna of the Duskfang Pack, you refused to carry the pack’s burdens, hoarding wealth while ignoring our tribe’s struggles. This is unrighteous!

“Second, you disrespected the Alpha, insulted your elders, showed no respect to my grandmother, and caused her to fall seriously ill. This is unfilial!

“Third, you sowed discord, broke pack unity, disrupted order, and threatened me with empty words. This is treason!

“A wolf so disloyal, unfilial, and unjust–how could you stay in the Duskfang Pack? How dare you tarnish the legacy of our heroes?”

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Chapter 25 The Arrival of the Prince

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My sentence thundered through the square, every word final. “Cindy is guilty beyond. redemption! As the Alpha of the Duskfang Pack, I hereby strip her of her status. She is now a rogue, an outcast preyed upon by all wolves, forever banned from Duskfang territory!”

The crowd was initially stunned into silence, but soon whispers erupted. Although rumors had spread, hearing this brutal sentence face–to–face shocked everyone.

“Alpha, please reconsider!”

“Ms. Cindy hasn’t caused any real trouble this past year..

“This is too harsh!”

”

Some low–ranking werewolves murmured their doubts, their voices trembling with nervous defiance.

What did they know? Cindy’s small favors were just ways to buy loyalty!

swed

“Shut up!” I roared, my Alpha aura sweeping across the square like a storm. Those who had spoken up for her fell silent, faces drained of color, unwilling to say another word.

The square belonged to me now!

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