The packs outcast Luna (Kaia and Theo) novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67

–Theo–

The council chamber was already tense when I walked in

The seats in the hall were filled up.

The Elders, Councillors, and the circle of Alphas were present.

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My father sat at the head of the circle with Cara seated to his right, perfectly composed as she always looked.

Elara stood near the wall, her chin lifted, eyes bright with expectation.

I already knew what this meeting was about.

It’s been five days since the full moon.

The circle had questions, and even though I hadn’t fully recovered, I had to be at this meeting.

One of the elders cleared his throat and spoke first.

“Alpha The,” he said calmly. “After what happened on the full moon, the Circle believes it is only right to revisit the matter of your Luna.”

I nodded once. “Go on.”

“The bond between you and Kaia did not manifest,” another councillor added. “Which means she is not your fated mate.”

Cara didn’t waste a second.

“Exactly,” she said sharply. “The signs were clear from the beginning but Alpha Theo here was too stubborn to notice.” Cara looked at me. “The pack witnessed how things went down. Dragging this out will only create instability.”

The councillor continued. “Since the bond between you and Kaia did not manifest, the council believes it is time you take Elara as your Luna.”

Cara didn’t wait for me to respond.

“This is the most logical course,” she said smoothly. “Elara is of Alpha blood, well-trained, and already accepted by many. Kaia was never your fated mate. The Full Moon proved that.”

I felt something twist painfully in my

chest

I stepped forward, looking at her sternly.

“Elara is not my fated mate either,” I said evenly.

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Chapter 67

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Cara snapped her head toward me. “That is irrelevant.”

“It’s not,” I said gently. “It’s the entire point.”

Elara’s fingers curled in her lap.

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“What I had with Elara,” I continued, “ended years ago. Whatever connection existed between us belongs to the past. I will not revive the past because it’s convenient.”

Murmurs rippled through the chamber.

Cara’s eyes sharpened. “You are letting emotion cloud your judgment. The pack needs stability. A Luna chosen by fate or standing.”

“I disagree,” I replied. “The pack needs someone who strengthens its Alpha.”

Cara scoffed. “This is not you speaking, it’s your bias. You’re choosing sentiment over sense.”

“No,” I said. “I’m choosing the truth.”

I met the council’s gaze, one by one.

I took a breath, then said the words I’d already accepted long before this meeting.

“I have decided to make Kaia my Luna.”

The chamber erupted.

Cara shot to her feet.

“Absolutely not. She is not your mate,” she snapped. “You cannot name a Luna who isn’t your mate. The pack witnessed how the mate bond failed-.”

“I know what I felt,” I cut in. “And I know what went wrong.”

“You can’t make Kaia your Luna, Theo” she said.

I turned to her. “You don’t get to decide that.”

She scoffed. “You are acting blindly. Even now, the bond did not surface. How can you justify this?”

I inhaled slowly, steadying myself.

“I know Kaia is my mate,” I said. “I felt it. I still feel it. Something interfered with the Full Moon night – I don’t yet know what. But I know this much.”

The elders exchanged glances.

Cara laughed bitterly. “So now you’re blaming fate? What next? Will you blame the ancestors too?”

“I’m trusting it,” I replied. “And I’m trusting myself.”

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Chapter 67

I looked around the room.

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“Kaia completes me,” I said. ” She strengthens me in ways fate alone never could.” A smile tugged at my lips. “She sees me without expecting perfection. I will not choose a Luna who makes me feel less than whole.”

Cara laughed, sharp and dismissive. “This is reckless. You are risking the pack, ignoring everything for a stray woman with a powerless lineage”

“Are you all going to sit there and allow this?” Cara demanded, turning to the councillors.

That was when my father stood.

Father’s voice cut through the chamber sharply.

“That is enough, Cara!”

Every head turned to him.

“My son has proven himself as Alpha,” he said. “Again and again. He has earned the right to choose the woman who stands beside him.”

Cara turned on him. “You seriously can’t support this.”

“I can,” father calmly replied. “I am defending my son’s right to choose his future,” he added. “Something I failed to do before.”

He looked at the council. “Theo’s decision stands unless any of you can claim he has ruled unjustly.”

The elders exchanged glances,whistling to themselves.

Minutes passed in a twinkle of an eye.

Finally, the Head Councilor cleared his throat.

“The Circle respects Alpha Theo’s decision,” he said slowly. “If he accepts Kaia as his Luna, then we will recognize her as such.”

Cara stared at them in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”

“The Alpha has chosen,” another councilor said. “We agree with him too”

My breath left me slowly.

Cara’s chair scraped loudly as she stood.

“This is a mistake,” she snapped. “And you will regret it.”

Cara glared at the council, at my father and me then turned and stormed out, the doors slamming behind her.

The chamber fell silent again.

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Chapter 67

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No matter what had gone wrong on the Full Moon, Kaia was my choice.

And I would protect that choice with everything I had.

Elara rose slowly from her seat.

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“You’re making a choice based on feelings,” she said,controlling her voice. “You’re gambling the future of your pack.”

I met her eyes. “I already have my future.”

Her jaw clenched.

The Head Councilor raised a hand. “This meeting is adjourned.”

My father approached me with a proud look as the chamber emptied.

“You held your ground,” father said quietly. “I’m proud of you.”

I nodded once. “I meant what I said. I won’t back down.”

“I know.” He hesitated. “But be careful. You challenged more than just tradition today.”

“I’m aware.” I nodded, “but I won’t back down”

–Zane–

I caught up to Cara just outside the council wing.

“Haven’t you had enough,Queen Cara? You have let Theo be now”

Cara stopped but didn’t turn around to look at me.

“I don’t take orders from guards,” she said coolly.

I stepped in front of her, forcing her to face me.

“I’m not giving orders. I’m telling you to stop before you kill him.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Mind your place.”

“My place is beside the Alpha because I’m the pack’s beta. Alpha Theo’s heart isn’t well and you know this,”I replied. “Yet you’ve been pushing him harder than any enemy ever has.”

Cara scoffed. “Theo is Alpha. If pressure breaks him, then he is not fit to lead.”

My jaw tightened. “You know that’s not true. You know exactly what his condition is, and you still stood there provoking him.”

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Chapter 67

“That ‘condition’ is precisely the problem,” Cara snapped. “A weak Alpha endangers the pack.”

I leaned closer, my voice dropping.

“No. A mother who uses her son’s weakness as leverage does.”

Cara stiffened. “You watch your mouth.”

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“I’ve watched long enough,” I said. “I watched him bleed for this pack. I watched him nearly collapse today while you kept talking. And I won’t let you pretend this is about duty.”

She crossed her arms. “Then what is it about?”

“Control,” I said flatly. “You couldn’t control your husband and make him do as you wanted. At the same time,you couldn’t control Theo. So now you’re trying to stir the narrative the way you want it.”

Cara’s lips thinned. “You think I’m afraid of you?”

“No,” I shook my head. “But you should be afraid of what happens if he drops because of you.”

Her eyes flickered, just once.

I straightened my shoulders.

“If Theo’s heart gives out,” he continued, “the pack won’t remember your intentions. They’ll remember who stood there and kept pushing.”

Cara took a step back, composure snapping into place.

“You’re overstepping your boundaries.”

“Then stop giving me a reason to,” I replied.

I moved past her, leaving one final warning before I left.

“Kaia isn’t your enemy. And Theo isn’t your pawn. Push him again… and I won’t stay silent.”

Cara stood frozen, clenching her fists against her back.

“How dare you?!” She screeched.

“Don’t push me,” I menacingly said. “This is a friendly advice, Queen Cara. Excuse me”

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