Page 15 of Luna's New Reign

Maverick and Ilara soon join us, walking in silence until Kehlani’s voice fills the clearing, his words painting a picture of centuries of peace and prosperity within the Sapphire pack. The tales he tells are smooth, polished, as if he’s recited them a hundred times. He speaks of balance and harmony, of a life so perfect it almost feels like a fairy tale.

Lawrence nods along beside him, his stoic expression softening as he describes the pack’s cohesion, their unwavering unity. Bo listens quietly, his sharp gaze occasionally flicking toward me as if to gauge my reaction. River remains silent at myside, his presence a steadying force even as my jaw tightens with every passing word.

“And then,” Kehlani continues, his tone light but purposeful, “Victoria said it was time. She felt the pull and Ilara confirmed it. Fate guided us here.”

Ilara glances at me, her dark eyes glinting in the fading light. “You don’t fight fate, Mateo. You move with it. Let it guide you.”

My tight smile flips into a frown, unable to agree with those words. I can’t let it slide, not this. “If we let fate win,” I growl, “if we just followed it, Nepheline wouldn’t be at my side today.”

Kehlani slows, his head tilting slightly as he regards me. “What do you mean?”

I stop walking, turning to face the Alpha fully. River and Bo pause as well, their eyes darting between us. “Nepheline was supposed to belong to Silas, the true Alpha of the pack of the Forbidden,” I say, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. “Some deal my father made to strengthen alliances, to secure his power. She was supposed to be his Omega, to be bound to that monster for life.”

Kehlani’s brows knit together, but I keep going, my voice sharp and unrelenting. “Fate demanded that she be reduced to whatever he was going to make her. Hell, even Asani was supposed to suffer in that pack and he would have if we had just left it all up to fate.”

Kehlani sighs, a sound heavy with something I can’t quite place. Pity? Disapproval? “And now you have a wolf from the pack of the Forbidden at your side,” he says, his tone even but pointed. “That may not be the best decision, Mateo.”

My anger flares but I clamp it down, forcing myself to stay composed. River’s hand comes to rest on my back, a silent reminder to keep my temper and wolf in check. “Asani has proven himself time and time again,” I spit out, hating that once again Asani’s loyalty is in question. I could understand itwith Calista but with a wolf who hardly knows me or my pack is disrespectful. “He’s loyal. He’s brave. He’s everything a pack could ask for.”

Kehlani doesn’t respond, his gaze drifting away as if dismissing the conversation entirely. It only fuels the fire in my chest, but I swallow it down, keeping my expression neutral.

The more he speaks, the more I feel like the Sapphire wolves are picking and choosing the parts of the magic they want to nurture. The parts that fit their ideals, their narrative. And the rest? The rest is cast aside, deemed too dangerous, too inconvenient.

I tuck the thought away, shoving it into the back of my mind to revisit later. This isn’t the time or place to start a confrontation. But I know one thing for certain—I need to talk to my mates about this. About Kehlani, about Victoria, about the way they seem to twist the idea of fate to suit their needs.

For now, I let him finish his tale but my focus isn’t on his words anymore. It’s on the future, on my pack, and on the steps we’ll need to take to ensure our survival.

Because fate? Fate doesn’t guide me. It never has.

I make my own way. Always.

When Kehlani finishes his spiel, I’m more than happy to hear them say their goodbyes, Victoria and Nepheline rejoining us. She steps into my chest, her posture stiff until the Sapphire wolves shift and make their way into the crystal forest. It isn’t until they’re out of sight that Nepheline relaxes against me, letting out a heavy sigh, her scent sweetening ever so silent. The tension in her shoulders is unmistakable and I’m pretty sure Victoria gave off the same vibes that Kehlani and the others did.

The silence they leave behind is heavy, almost suffocating. I glance down at Nepheline, who’s staring after them with an intensity that makes my chest tighten. Slowly, I reach for herhand, my fingers wrapping around hers as I pull it to my lips. My voice is low, meant for her ears alone. “We need to talk.”

Her gaze snaps to mine as she nods, her grip tightening just slightly as we head for the pack house. Bo peels off to head home, the silence continuing until we’re in the living room. Remi is sprawled across the couch, his usual soft smile absent, replaced by a thoughtful frown. Darius stands near the window, his gaze distant. Asani leans against the wall, his sharp eyes scanning all of us like he’s dissecting the mood of the room.

Nepheline lets go of my hand, stepping into the center of the room. Her hair catches the warm glow of the overhead lights and for a moment, she looks almost untouchable. Then she speaks, her voice much firmer than it has been. “I don’t trust Victoria.”

I exhale sharply, a weight I didn’t realize I was carrying lifting from my chest. “Fuck,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. I step forward, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into my lap as I sink into the nearest chair. “I thought it was just me.”

Her hands rest lightly on my shoulders, her expression softening as she looks up at me. “It’s not just you,” she mumbles.

I rest my forehead against hers, my voice low enough that only she can hear. “I’m not saying the Sapphire wolves aren’t here to help, but there’s something else. Something I can’t put my finger on, but it doesn’t feel good.”

Remi sits up and leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he studies us. “Do you think it’s just Victoria?”

“I don’t know,” Nepheline admits, her voice steady but thoughtful. “But she’s… too polished. Too perfect. And the way she talks about fate, about magic—it feels like she’s using it to justify something. Like she has an agenda and it doesn’t align with ours.” She buries her face into my chest, taking a deep sniff of my scent before her body relaxes further.

Darius scoots toward us, sitting by my feet and resting his head against her thigh. He relaxes as well, almost as if he is lost without his Omega at his side. Knowing that she’s completely safe with her mates is reassuring.

I tighten my hold on Nepheline, some part of me needing to have her here—pressed against me, finding strength in my embrace. “Whatever it is, we need to figure it out. We’ll play nice for now, but we’re not blindly following their lead.”

There’s a murmur of agreement and then Nepheline’s stomach growls, everyone bursting into laughter as she just groans. A delicate smile plays on her lips as I bend down to kiss her, ‘I love you’ whispered against her mouth.

10

NEPHELINE

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