Chapter 30 – Claimed by My Mate’s Nemesis

“As long as you’re choosing me. As long as you’re committed to us, to our bond, to building something real together.”

“I am,” I promised.

“Tomorrow, whatever happens, whoever challenges – I’m bonding with you. I’m becoming Luna of Shadowmere. And nothing Damon Cross does will change that.”

Through the bond, I felt Kael’s relief, his gratitude, his growing affection.

“Then we face tomorrow together,” he said.

“And when it’s over, when you wear my mark and the bond is sealed – you’ll never have to worry about him again.”

“Together,” I agreed. “We face it together.”

As night fell over Shadowmere, as the last day before my bonding ceremony came to a close, I felt a strange calm settle over me.Tomorrow would be chaos. Damon would challenge, there would be fighting, there would be drama and tension and probably some blood.

But I knew what I wanted.

Knew who I was choosing.

ARIA

I stared at the pile of correspondence on the desk before me, my eyes burning from hours of reading formal pack communications. Each letter seemed more carefully worded than the last, diplomatic language masking what everyone really wanted to know: was the hidden omega who’d caused an Alpha to imprison his Luna and bonded mate actually capable of leadership?

The news of Damon’s breakdown had spread through the pack networks like wildfire. Every neighboring Alpha suddenly had urgent questions about Shadowmere’s stability, about the upcoming bonding ceremony, about whether I was worth the diplomatic chaos my presence seemed to create.

*To Luna-designate Aria,* one letter began, from Alpha Morrison of the Highland Pack. *While we congratulate Shadowmere on their forthcoming ceremony, we must express concern regarding recent developments in Blackwood Pack. The imprisonment of Luna

Margaret and the mate of Alpha Cross raises questions about your judgment and the wisdom of this alliance. We hope you understand our need for reassurance regarding Shadowmere’s future leadership.*

Translation: prove you’re not going to cause the same chaos here that you caused in Blackwood.

I set that letter aside and picked up another, this one from Alpha Chen of the Riverside Pack.

*We have maintained cordial relations with Shadowmere for generations. However, in light of Alpha Kael’s continued curse and the unusual circumstances surrounding your appointment as Luna, we request a formal meeting to discuss the stability of our alliance. We mean no disrespect, but the recent disruption caused by your former Alpha gives us pause.*

Translation: we’re not sure we can trust you, and we want to know if Kael’s curse makes him too weak to maintain his alliances.

There were a dozen more just like them. Polite on the surface, but underneath – doubt.

Suspicion. Worry that I was either too inexperienced or too problematic to be an effective Luna.

The worst part was, I couldn’t entirely blame them. From the outside, this had to look like a disaster. An unknown omega fleeing one pack and immediately bonding with the cursed Alpha of another, causing her former Alpha to spiral into madness in the process. It didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

I was drafting a response to Alpha Morrison – carefully worded to sound confident without being defensive – when I heard the commotion outside.

It started as distant voices, growing louder with excitement. Shouts of welcome, laughter, the kind of genuine joy that came from seeing someone beloved return home. I heard children squealing, adults calling out greetings, the unmistakable energy of a pack welcoming back one of their own.

Curious, I set down my pen and moved to the window. The view showed the main courtyard of the pack house, and what I saw made something twist uncomfortably in my chest.

A woman had arrived – tall and graceful, with honey-blonde hair that caught the late afternoon sun and turned it to gold. She was laughing, hugging pack members who crowded around her, clearly beloved by everyone who greeted her. Children clung to her legs, adults clasped her hands, and even the usually stoic guards were grinning.

She was beautiful. Not just physically, though she certainly was that, but there was something about the way she moved, the confidence in her bearing, the ease with which she interacted with the pack. This was someone who belonged here, who’d earned these wolves’ affection through years of presence and care.

And I, the future Luna who’d been here barely over a week, suddenly felt like an interloper.

I left the letters on the desk and made my way downstairs, drawn by curiosity and something I didn’t want to examine too closely. By the time I reached the courtyard, the crowd had grown larger. The woman was distributing what looked like wrapped packages from her travel bags – gifts for the pack members, I realized. Herbs, small trinkets, things she’d clearly collected with specific people in mind.

“Ivory!” A young girl – Sophie, one of the children who’d found me at the spring falls – threw herself at the woman. “You’re back! Did you bring me anything?”

“Would I forget my favorite little wolf?” Ivory – so that was her name – crouched down and produced a carved wooden wolf from her bag. “Found this at a market in the Northern Territories. Made me think of you.”

Sophie squealed with delight, and I felt that uncomfortable twist in my chest again. This woman knew the pack’s children well enough to bring them personalized gifts. Knew who would want what, who to greet first, how to make each wolf feel special and seen.

Everything I was still learning how to do.

I hung back near the entrance to the pack house, not wanting to interrupt the homecoming but unable to look away. Ivory moved through the crowd with practiced grace, accepting hugs and offering greetings, clearly comfortable in a way I’d never quite managed despite everyone’s warmth toward me.

Then Nina appeared, moving through the crowd with her usual efficiency. “Ivory! When did you get back? We weren’t expecting you until after the ceremony.”

“Finished my mission early,” Ivory said, embracing Nina warmly. “Plus, I heard we were getting a new Luna. Couldn’t miss that, could I?”

There was something in her tone – pleasant on the surface but with an edge underneath that made my wolf’s ears prick up with wariness.

“Speaking of which,” Nina said, turning to scan the crowd. Her eyes found me hovering near the entrance. “Aria! Come meet my cousin.”

Cousin. So Ivory was family to Nina, which probably explained her popularity in the pack.

I forced myself to walk forward, aware of how many eyes were suddenly on me. The future Luna meeting the beloved pack member who’d been absent. I could feel the weight of comparison, of judgment, of people wondering how I would measure up.

“Ivory, this is Aria,” Nina said with a warm smile. “Our future Luna. Aria, this is my cousin Ivory. She’s been on an extended mission gathering rare healing herbs from the Northern Territories.”

Ivory turned to face me fully, and I got my first clear look at her. She was stunning – golden eyes that matched her honey-blonde hair, features that were both delicate and strong, a figure that even travel-worn clothes couldn’t diminish. But more than her physical beauty, there was something about the way she held herself. Confidence without arrogance, warmth that seemed genuine but somehow didn’t quite reach her eyes when they landed on me.

“Luna Aria,” she said, her voice melodious. “What an honor to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

ARIA

She extended her hand, and I took it, noting how her grip was firm but not quite warm. Her smile was perfect – welcoming, friendly, everything it should be. But her eyes told a different story. They assessed me coolly, measuring, judging, finding me wanting.

I knew that look. I’d seen it enough times from Sera.

“The honor is mine,” I said, keeping my voice neutral. “Nina speaks highly of you. I understand you’ve been gathering herbs?”

“Among other things.” Ivory gestured to her bags. “Actually, I brought back quite a haul. Some rare specimens that should help with various pack needs. Including – ” she pulled out a carefully wrapped bundle, ” – moonbeam plants. Fresh ones, properly harvested. I heard our Alpha had a mishap with some that were picked incorrectly.”

The implication hung in the air, subtle but unmistakable. She’d done what I’d failed to do – harvested moonbeam plants the right way, without nearly getting everyone killed by nightwalkers.

“That’s wonderful,” I said, refusing to take the bait. “I’m sure Eliza will be thrilled. The plants have been helping Kael significantly.”

“Yes, well, I know exactly how to prepare them for maximum efficacy,” Ivory said with that same pleasant smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ve been studying healing herbs for years. It’s something of a specialty of mine.”

Of course it was. Of course this beautiful, beloved, competent omega had skills I lacked, knowledge I didn’t possess, a history with the pack that I could never match.

“Ivory’s one of our best herb gatherers,” Nina said, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrent of tension. “She’s traveled all over, studied with some of the best healers in the territories. Having her back is a real blessing.”

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