THE LUNA WHO CONQUERED DEATH novel Chapter 23

Episode 16-2

After they left, Sophie looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

“Why are you helping us? No one else ever has.”

I knelt to her level. “Because you deserve help. Because every wolf in this pack deserves to be safe. And because if I don’t stand up for you, I don’t deserve to be Luna.

She hugged me suddenly, fiercely. Over her head, I caught Susan’s expression, something like hope mixed with disbelief.

How long had they been invisible? How long had the pack failed them?

Too long.

News of the omega situation spread through the pack like wildfire.

By lunch, I’d received five angry calls from high–ranking families demanding I drop the investigation. By dinner, Jackson Carver himself showed up at the Pack House, flanked by two Council members I didn’t recognize.

Damien was in his office when they arrived. I was in the library, going through mill records with Marcus, when I felt the burst of alpha power that signaled their presence.

“Trouble,” Marcus muttered.

“Let them come.”

Moments later, Damien appeared in the doorway. “Sera, we need to talk. Now.”

His tone left no room for argument. I followed him to his office, where Jackson Carver stood with his arms crossed, looking smug. The two Council members watched me with a cold assessment.

“Luna Sera,” one of them said. “I’m Council Member Brennan. This is Council Member Torres. We’ve received concerning reports about your… actions today.”

“You mean enforcing pack safety regulations?”

“We mean overstepping your authority,” Carver snarled. “Omegas complaining about working conditions? That’s not your jurisdiction.”

“Pack safety is absolutely my jurisdiction. Like Luna, every member’s well–being is my concern.”

“Luna’s role is to support her Alpha, not undermine pack hierarchy,” Council Member Torres said coldly. “Your advocacy for omegas is creating instability.”

“My advocacy is creating accountability. There’s a difference.”

“Sera.” Damien’s voice was tight. “Perhaps we should discuss this privately.”

“Why? So you can convince me to drop it?” I turned to face him. “Twelve families, Damien. Twelve families

are suffering preventable injuries because one gamma thinks omegas are disposable. And you want me to ignore that?

“I want you to follow proper protocol!”

“I am following protocol. I documented violations, suspended the offending party, and initiated an investigation.” I crossed my arms. “Unless you’re suggesting omegas don’t deserve the same protections as everyone else?”

The trap was set. If he sided with Carver, he looked like he endorsed omega abuse. If he sided with me, he undermined the hierarchy the Council depended on.

Damien’s jaw worked. “Of course, they deserve protection. But the way you handled this.”

“Saved lives. That’s what Luna does.” I looked at the Council members. “If you have a problem with that, take it up with the Moon Goddess. I’m sure she has opinions about wolves who abuse the vulnerable.” Council Member Brennan’s eyes narrowed. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Luna Sera.”

“I’m not playing at all.”

The silence stretched taut. Finally, Damien spoke.

“Continue your investigation. But Sera, in the future, I expect to be consulted before you take action on pack business.”

It was a compromise that satisfied no one. The Council members left looking displeased. Carver shot me a look of pure hatred.

I’d just made powerful enemies.

Good.

That night, I lay in bed beside Damien, the artificial bond stretched thin with tension.

“You embarrassed me today,” he said quietly.

“I protected pack members.”

“You challenged my authority in front of the Council.”

“Your authority allowed omegas to be abused.” I turned to face him. “What did you expect me to do? Ignore it?”

“I expected you to trust me to handle it.”

“Like you’ve been handling it for the past year? By doing nothing?”

His face darkened. “You’re changing, Sera. And not for the better.”

“I’m becoming the Luna this pack needs. If you don’t like that, maybe you should have thought about it before you asked me to lead the summit preparations.”

We lay in angry silence, neither of us sleeping.

My phone buzzed silently. A text from Katherine.

Katherine: Heard about the omega situation. Well done. Keep pushing boundaries. Make them uncomfortable. When they move against you, we’ll be ready.

I deleted the message and stared at the ceiling.

Four and a half weeks until the summit.

Four and a half weeks until everything fell apart.

But tonight, twelve omega families were sleeping safer because I’d acted.

And that was worth whatever came next.

TO BE CONTINUED…

D Dewumi Ezekiel

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