The Vengeful Warrior Luna's Return novel Chapter 22

22 /25

Isla’s POV

Kieran’s expression tightened, almost embarrassed.

“Mother’s been on Doctor Danelle’s herb for years. It’s… expensive. Pack Zane’s been running on empty for a while, so when Astra got into the Pack, she started covering some of the costs.”

I blinked at him, stunned. “Pack Zane needed her money? How could the pack be short on funds? I heard your grandfather earned huge commercial assets after his military campaigns.”

He sighed. “That’s true. But the family had a poor management… we sold most of them off.”

It felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over me.

“So… Pack Zane is basically an empty shell now?”

His silence was all the answer I needed.

I hadn’t realized the once-glorious Pack Zane had fallen so far.

But thinking about it, it wasn’t that hard to see why. Kieran’s father and second uncle held no real positions, his oldest brother was mediocre at best, and the pack had been running on the last shreds of its old war glory.

When Kieran mated Astra, the whole city had turned out to watch. I’d been there too, caught up in the spectacle.

I thought it was a perfect match between equals. Now, looking back, it was less “a match made in heaven” and more “Pack Hale giving Pack Zane a generous gift.”

If that was the case, Astra’s property had to be substantial.

“If you give it all back…” I hesitated, lowering my voice, “won’t it look like you’re bowing your head to Pack Hale?”

He froze, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I just think,” I said, my gaze drifting to a small stain on the white wall, “if you keep even a symbolic amount, it sends a message. She’s the one who broke the mate contract first.”