Alison’s Point of View
The council chamber buzzed with a quiet intensity that seemed to seep into every corner of the room. I sat beside Xander, my hands resting on the carved wooden armrests of my chair, the intricate wolf insignia of the NightFang Pack etched into the wood beneath my fingertips. My heart raced, but I kept my face calm, my expression neutral. Today was no ordinary day. It was the first time I would preside over a major pack case as Luna.
The weight of responsibility was tangible, like an invisible crown pressing down on me. A year ago, I wouldn’t have thought this possible, me, a slave from Silver Moon, now the daughter of an Alpha and most of all a Luna, seated at the head of the most powerful pack council. Beside me, Xander exuded his usual air of authority, his gaze steady as he surveyed the room. Just his presence grounded me.
“Ready?” he asked, his voice low but laced with a warmth that only I could detect.
I nodded, meeting his eyes. “I am.”
He gave a small smile, the corner of his mouth quirking upward in a way that sent a surge of confidence through me. “Good. You’ve got this.”
The case began with the sound of the council’s herald striking the staff against the stone floor. The sharp echo silenced the murmurs in the room, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Bring forth the accused and the accuser,” the herald announced, his voice booming.
Two figures emerged from opposite sides of the chamber. To my left stood a man introduced as Darian, a warrior accused of sabotaging the pack’s trade routes to a neighboring pack. His eyes were defiant, his stance rigid. On the other side was another introduced as Liora, a merchant whose evidence had brought the charges against him. She looked nervous, her hands clutching the folds of her skirt.
The accusations were grave, the consequences even more so. If Darian was found guilty, the punishment would be severe.. a betrayal of this magnitude threatened not only the pack’s alliances but its honor, he could be expelled from the pack.
Xander leaned forward, his commanding voice filling the room. “Darian, you stand accused of treason against the pack. Liora, you claim to have proof of his actions. Both of you will present your cases before this council, and we will determine the truth.”
As the proceedings began, I listened intently, my senses heightened. Darian’s testimony was passionate, but his words didn’t sit right with me. There was a hint of defensiveness, a touch of overcompensation that made me suspicious. Liora, on the other hand, seemed genuine, but her nervousness made her argument less compelling.
Halfway through the hearing, I felt the familiar tug in my mind, the gentle pull of my ability. It was a skill I had kept hidden for most of my life, but as Luna, it had become a tool I could no longer ignore. I glanced at Xander, who gave me a barely perceptible nod. He knew what I was about to do.
I closed my eyes briefly, focusing on Darian’s thoughts. They swirled in disjointed fragments, but one word stood out like a beacon: guilt.
“They’ll never find out I was paid off, his mind whispered, the voice tinged with panic.”
My breath hitched, He was lying.
I shifted my attention to Liora, carefully wading into her thoughts. They were a jumble of worry and frustration, but underneath it all was a kernel of truth “but I saw him with my own eyes. Why doesn’t the Alpha believe me?”
The truth lay somewhere between their words and their minds, and I knew it was up to me to bring it to light.
“May I speak?” I asked, my voice calm but firm.
The room fell silent as all eyes turned to me. Xander leaned back, a flicker of curiosity in his gaze.
“Of course,” he said, gesturing for me to proceed.
I rose from my seat, my movements deliberate. “Darian, you’ve spoken passionately about your innocence, yet there’s something missing in your story. You claim you were nowhere near the trade route on the night in question, but multiple witnesses place you there. How do you explain that?”
Darian shifted uncomfortably, his defiance faltering. “They’re mistaken,” he muttered.
I turned to Liora. “And you, Liora. You’ve brought serious accusations against a respected warrior of this pack. Why are you so certain it was him?”
Her hands trembled as she spoke. “Because I saw him with my own eyes. He was meeting with someone from the Rogues, handing over documents. I recognized him, Luna. I swear it.”
The room erupted in murmurs, but I raised a hand, silencing them.
“Liora,” I said gently, “if what you’re saying is true, it means Darian has betrayed not only his pack but his Alpha and Luna. Are you willing to stand by your claim, knowing the gravity of this accusation?”
She met my gaze, her eyes fierce despite her fear. “Yes, Luna. I am.”
“I believe Liora, as you all may not really know, I pride myself with the gift of hearing through people’s thoughts and I have used that ability to listen in on Darian’s thoughts and he knows as much as I do that he is guilty, now I’d give you one more chance to save yourself, if not I will provide the name of the Rogue you are in cohorts with and we will hunt him down until we find him and he exposes you!” I held his gaze as I folded my arms “What’s it going to be?” I concluded
I could see something flicker in his eyes, doubt but to clear it up I said “The Rogues name Braxton….”
“I’m sorry Alpha.. He threatened me” wiry thar he fell on his knee and sang like a bird.
With a smile plastered on my face, I sat down, allowing the council to deliberate on his confession. The weight of the moment settled over me like a shroud, but I felt no hesitation. The truth was clear, even if it wasn’t easy to face.
Xander turned to me, his voice low. “You’ve made an impression on them. They will trust your judgment now.”
I looked at him, my heart swelling with pride. “Thanks for trusting me my love,” I said softly.
When the council reached its decision, it was unanimous. Darian was found guilty, and his punishment was to be banished from the pack, a fate worse than death for many and to him too as he kept pleading to be forgiven even as the guards pushed him out if the hall.
As the herald announced the verdict, I felt a surge of relief and pride. I had done it. I had stood beside Xander, not as a mere figurehead, but as an equal, a leader.
That night, as we returned to our chambers, I couldn’t shake the sense of accomplishment that lingered in my chest. Xander closed the door behind us, the sound echoing in the quiet room.
“You were incredible today,” he said, his voice filled with admiration.
I turned to face him, my cheeks warming. “I just did what I thought was right.”
He crossed the room in a few swift strides, pulling me into his arms. “You didn’t just do what was right. You showed everyone why you’re their Luna. You were strong, decisive, and compassionate. I couldn’t be prouder of you.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine, but it was the intensity in his gaze that left me breathless. He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing over my cheeks.
“I love you,” he said, his voice low and rough.
“I love you too,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
He kissed me then, his lips claiming mine with a passion that left no room for doubt. His hands slid down my back, pulling me closer until there was no space between us.
The bed was soft beneath me as he laid me down, his body hovering over mine. He didn’t rush, taking his time to explore every inch of me, his touch igniting a fire that burned through every fiber of my being.
“Xander,” I breathed, my fingers tangling in his hair.
“yes my love,” he murmured, his voice a mix of reverence and desire. “You’re everything to me.”
That night, he showed me just how much he meant it, his love wrapping around me like a protective shield. And as we lay tangled together, our breaths mingling in the quiet, I realized that this was what it meant to truly belong to him, to our pack, to myself.
For the first time in a long time, I felt whole.