The Eclipsed Life of Luna Mischa (by Jennifer Francis) novel Chapter 19

CH 19

Mischa sat in the war room of the packhouse, where the Elders of the pack had decided that this investigation would happen. They’d been informed of it on the day she’d asked it to start; by Kendrick himself. As was pack protocol, seeing as Anthony had opted to wait on telling them until after seeing the footage she’d requested, and then he’d decided it could be managed in–house, apparently.

Kendrick had brought this to her attention, and she’d snorted, “Inform the Elders, feel free, Beta to just

follow full pack protocol because I don’t want it to be managed in–house.”

In–house inside any pack just meant behind closed doors between the offended parties and presided over by the Alpha. But she couldn’t trust Anthony to be fair in his judgment on this matter, considering it was him and Christy versus herself. Or in his eyes, likely to be Christy versus Mischa. She knew where his loyalty lay; it wasn’t with her. He couldn’t be unbiased.

The six elders that were to preside over this investigation were three former Alphas and three former Lunas, seeing as it was a matter of the Alpha versus the Luna. A fair panel to listen, read statements, watch reactions and those being questioned and could, if necessary, order the truth from any of them at will. Something she’d willingly allow, something she was also willing to bet Christy wouldn’t, and Anthony would arc up at when it was Christy’s turn.

She watched those elders all walk into the war room, and nod to her, she was the only one in here right now out of the three parties that were supposed to be in here. Because Christy was apparently upset that she was being accused of claiming Mischa was the reason behind her unusual heat.

She didn’t want to come to this investigation, even though she was now well enough to. She’d gotten the all clear from the pack doctor just this morning. This meeting had been called two hours post her discharge approval as Mischa had requested it to be.

That it be attended after Luna Christy was considered by the pack doctor well enough to come and sit here and listen and put forth her own statement. None of the Elders had argued with it, thought it was considerate of her, considering the accusations flying around and Christy had been in that hospital ward

୮ for three days now.

She’d done it on purpose though, set it up so that Christy couldn’t claim she wasn’t well enough to attend it. Anthony had already come to her in her office, to argue that it didn’t need to be an official investigation.

She’d stated, “I am a Luna to this pack, and I want my name cleared and to have proof to put before you, who accused me, to know that I did not do this to your second Luna.” She’d not even stopped attending to Luna Duties over the past three days.

Just worked as she always did, like nothing was wrong within the pack, though the whole pack had now heard about it. It was considered the Alpha and his second Luna were ganging up on the first Luna to the pack. He didn’t like that at all, the way it felt to the pack, but what he didn’t realize was that was how the pack also saw it.

CH 19

Him. always with Christy and Mischa, now on her own 80% of the time, her door had been open for the past three days, and yes the pack did know he spent way more time with Christy. Some of them even voiced quietly that they thought he was biding his time to push Mischa out of the position of Luna.

Others thought it was disgraceful because Mischa had been here with him for so very long and had been the one to help him save this very pack, and bring it into the standing it was now. How could he just shove her aside for a new younger Mate; that didn’t even attend Luna duties.

He was very unhappy about the pack chatter but couldn’t chastise them for what they saw or thought, but it also told him everything she’d said up in that room of hers, that she wasn’t the only one to see it.

He’d tried to play the loving Mate card over the past two days, coming into her office smiling at her, asking her if she was free to have lunch or dinner, did she want to go on a walk with him or let their wolves out. All in ear shot of the pack members.

She’d leaned back in her chair and stated, “We’re not allowed to interact while under formal investigation. I suggest you go and spend it how you normally would, with Christy.” He’d also not like that.

It was actually the rule. In case one tried to harm the other, the Elders had laid it out when accepting the investigation. “It’s just lunch,” he’d stated, “In the pack dining hall. What harm can it do?”

“None, but that breaks the rules. I’ll follow pack protocol, you should to,” she’d told him and waved him off.

He’d stood there and stared at her more than annoyed.

“If you’re going to try and intimidate me into backing out of the investigation happening, Anthony, I’ll have

to report that to the Elders. I believe that’s 20 lashes and 10 of them at my hands. In front of the entire

pack,” she’d stated the pack’s law right to his face.

He’d stalked from the room and the teen that had been in her office at the time and looked at the door

slamming shut and murmured ‘Zing, round one to Luna Mischa.‘ And chuckled, Mischa had chuckled softly herself, and they’d gone back to discussing the university degree the girl wanted.

He came back and tried again. When she’d been in her office on her own, he had closed the office door to the pack but had to have his Beta leaning on the door between his and her office, because of pack protocols and her previous threat. It could be seen as he was trying to intimidate her info backing down and calling off the investigation.

He’d sat before her and looked apologetically at her, sighed softly “Mish, I was just upset at… Christy’s state and I unfortunately lashed out. I formally take it back,” he told her.

He knew she was the only one that could rescind the investigation, because it was him and Christy versus her, so it had to be her that called it off, not them or that would be seen as they’d forced her hand to stop the investigation, because they didn’t want the truth to come out. Which implied both of them or one of them were in fact guilty, and they didn’t want the pack to know this.

“Too late.” Had been her words, because somehow the true ramifications of what he’d done had clearly escaped him. “If you, nor Christy, attend this investigation. I’m going to put forth that you are both guilty of trying to not only frame me, but of wanting me gone from this pack.”

<CH 19

Clay

His eyes had gone wide, “Mischa.” He’d gasped. “We are Goddess–Gifted, I’m not about to reject you, you know this. I just want us to all get along and this is pulling us apart.”

“This is what’s pulling us apart, is it? Hmm, I guess I’ll add to that an investigation into both our Mate bonds with you, mine and Christy’s and put to the elders that you need to reject one of us. Then I’ll accept being the one you reject.” She’d held up a hand to stop his retort “Don’t take this as an ultimatum, I’ll willingly relinquish you, and you can live here with just one Mate, that being Christy. I’m not trying to get you to reject her. I’ve never done that.”

She’d seen Kendrick stand up from the doorway at her words as he understood exactly what was going on. This was not just a normal fight, this was a full–on war, and she saw it as her own Alpha Mate and his second Luna, wanted her gone and she was willing to go, but he’d have to be the one to reject her and in front of the pack; formally stating the reason for it.

There had been a very long moment of silence in her office after those words were out of her, and she could see Anthony was unhappy as he actually realized himself there was more to this investigation, and if he didn’t let her have it and kept trying to back Christy, he would be the one that came out of it the worse off.

“Are you looking to find a way to reject me?” he’d finally muttered.

She knew he wouldn’t want that, despite that he spent hardly any time with her, he did like having two

Mates, being able to tell other wolves he had been blessed by Selena on two separate occasions. It

showed he was favored by her, and seen as a good Alpha.

But if he rejected her or she him, everyone would know he’d had two Mates and lost one, they would be talking about why Mischa had left him after 22 years of him loving and cherishing her. What had he done to turn her away from him? It also wouldn’t take long for them to figure out that Christy was the issue. Lunas didn’t leave unless they were wronged and unwanted. All Alphas knew that.

She’d just raised an eyebrow at him and ignored his question altogether, stated instead, “Are you and Christy guilty or are you coming to the investigation?” She didn’t actually have to talk to him at all regardless of what he brought up.

“We’ll be there.” He’d muttered and gotten up and left her office. Kendrick had looked at her, and she’d shrugged as if she no longer cared.

“You’d make a good wolfen lawyer, you know,” he’d stated.

“Mm, I learned a lot from Nicholas.” She nodded. “Might just opt to go back to studying when I’m no longer needed in this office.”

He’d sighed but walked away and closed the door between the two offices as it was supposed to be, and she’d gotten up and opened her office door to the foyer.

“Where are they?” Elder Simone asked.

She’d shrugged. “I don’t know, I’ll ask if you like,” she’d offered, and gotten a nod.

Had mind–linked to Anthony about where he and Christy were. “We’re on our way,” had been his reply, she’d relayed it to the elders as they sat down. The Alpha Unit arrived before Anthony and Christy did. Paul was walking next to Brent and their pack pathologist Gillian, who was also carrying a sealed envelope which she knew would contain the results of Christy’s blood work up. They all took up seats bar Kendrick, who laid out many manila folders on the table in front of the Elders.

She knew they were going to be the reports of the investigation he’d conducted. She’d been emailed a list of what evidence had been collected. Not the exact content of each one, but she’d being innocent, was pretty certain of what was in each one.

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