THE LUNA WHO CONQUERED DEATH novel Chapter 9

Episode 8-1

THE LUNA WHO CONQUERED DEATH

Chapter 8: Cracks in the Facade

The Luna leadership conference was exactly as boring as i’d expected.

20% OFF

A

Three hundred she–wolves from packs across the western territories, sitting in a hotel ballroom listening to presentations about “Effective Pack Management” and “The Modern Luna’s Role in Conflict Resolution.”

In my past life, I would have taken notes diligently, believing every word about serving my Alpha and supporting his decisions.

Now, I saw it for what it was: a system designed to keep Lunas compliant. Soft. Manageable.

“This is propaganda,” I muttered to Marcus during a particularly mind–numbing session about “Maintaining Grace Under Pressure.”

He choked on his coffee. “What?”

“Listen to what she’s actually saying. ‘Luna’s greatest strength is her ability to yield gracefully. To support without question. To trust her Alpha’s judgment above her own.” I turned to him. “It’s not leadership training. It’s obedience training.”

Marcus looked around nervously, but I’d spoken quietly enough that only he could hear.

“You’re not wrong,” he admitted. “But saying it out loud in a room full of Lunas…”

“Might inspire some of them to think critically?” I smiled sweetly. “What a tragedy that would be.”

The afternoon sessions were more of the same. I attended enough to maintain appearances, skipped the ones that wouldn’t be missed, and spent my time in the hotel’s business center researching instead.

I found articles about Wolfe Enterprises‘ recent acquisitions. Maps of pack territories where Selene’s daughters had historically lived. Old Council records that had been digitized and were surprisingly accessible if you knew where to look.

r

And I found something else.

A pattern.

Every seventh generation daughter for the past two hundred years has died within three months of her twenty–fifth birthday. Car accidents. Sudden illnesses. Tragic pack incidents. All are officially ruled as natural or accidental.

All happened right when their powers fully manifested.

I was three months from twenty–five.

1:1

< Episode 8-1-

+25 Points

The Moon Goddess had given me six months, but Aldric’s timeline had always been tied to my age, not to Damien’s affair. Vivian and the rejection were just a convenient cover for a murder that had been planned since I was born.

I sat back in the desk chair my hands shaking.

They’d all been killed. Every single one Not because of pack politics or mate bond drama or personal vendettas.

Because the Council feared what we could become.

“Sera?”

I jumped. Marcus stood in the doorway of the business center.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.” He walked in, concern etched on his features. “You missed the networking dinner. I covered for you, said you weren’t feeling well.”

“Thank you.” I closed my laptop quickly.

“What are you researching?”

“Family history.”

It wasn’t exactly a lie. Marcus sat down across from me, his gray eyes searching my face.

“Something’s happening to you. Something bigger than Damien’s affair.” It wasn’t a question.

I met his gaze steadily. How much could I trust him? How much should I tell him?

“Yes,” I said finally.

“Does it have to do with why Aldric Thorne visited? With this trip to Seattle?”

“Yes.”

“Are you in danger?”

I almost laughed. “Probably.”

Marcus leaned forward. “Then let me help. Really help. Not just as your Beta or your bodyguard, but as…” He paused. “As someone who cares what happens to you.”

There was something vulnerable in his expression. Something that looked dangerously close to feelings I couldn’t afford to acknowledge or encourage right now.

“Marcus…”

“I’m not asking for anything,” he said quickly. “I know you’re mated. I know the bond is complicated, but it’s there. I’m just saying that whatever you’re facing, you don’t have to face it alone.”

I wanted to tell him everything. About Selene’s Daughters, about my death and rebirth, about the artificial bond and Katherine Wolfe and the powers building inside me like a storm waiting to break.

Episode 81

+25 Points

But something held me back. Not distrust, exactly. Just the knowledge that the more people who knew, the more danger they’d be in.

“I appreciate that,” I said carefully. “More than you know. But some things I need to handle myself.”

Comments

LUCK DRAW >