Chapter 109

**Kora

Chapter 109

The room was still buzzing with a mixture of tension and relief as I watched Shawn walk away, a sense of accomplishment etched on his bloodied face. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride for his courage, even though his impulsive nature had once again caused a whirlwind of chaos. But as Luna, it was my duty to support my pack, to stand up for what was right, and that’s exactly what Shawn had done.

I turned my attention to the lingering pack members, some nursing their wounds, and others exchanging hesitant glances. It was clear that Shawn’s actions had stirred something within them. Something that couldn’t be easily dismissed.

As I prepared to address the room, a familiar figure caught my eye.

She always makes her presence known with her intense gaze and poised posture no matter where she is.

An nalise had arrived.

Her elegant presence demanded attention, and I braced myself for the storm that was about to ensue. She had always been critical of Shawn and me, skeptical of our intentions, and quick to point out our flaws. I could already hear her disapproving voice ringing in my ears.

As An nalise approached, her eyes darted from the aftermath of the brawl to Shawn’s retreating figure. Her expression hardened; a mixture of concern and frustration painted her features. Without wasting a moment, she made a beeline toward me, her strides purposeful and determined.

“Luna Kora,” she began, her tone laced with accusation, “what in the world has gotten into Shawn? This is the third incident in the past. month alone. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to defend his actions.”

Everyone was suddenly much quieter, leaning in to see what I had to say. Honestly, I hadn’t even realized that Shawn had been getting up to anything besides his normal training and patrolling duties. How did she know more than I did? But then again, she is the mother of the pack’s Alpha. I’m sure there are a lot of things that she has insider knowledge of within the pack.

The fact she’d called me Luna Kora was overshadowed by the fact that she was using it to make a scene and draw attention to what was

happening. An nalise would never respect me as a Luna, and it wasn’t until that moment that I realized it.

I squared my shoulders, meeting her gaze with grim determination.

“Shawn acted out of a sense of justice, An nalise. We have a

responsibility to protect and uphold the dignity of all members of our pack, regardless of their past.”

A nnalise’s eyes narrowed, her skepticism evident.

“But Luna Kora,” now the title was a reminder, emphasized as if I needed to remember who I was now, “you know as well as I do that we have to consider the consequences of our actions. The political fallout from this could be severe. Mason will not be pleased.”

I let out a sigh, the weight of my position settling heavily on my shoulders. I knew being Luna would bring with it difficult challenges for me to face, but it’s beginning to look more like an up-hill battle each day.

“I understand your concerns, An nalise. Mason will have his

reservations, I have no doubt about that. But we cannot turn a blind eye to the mistreatment of our own.”

She crossed her arms, a stubborn glint in her eyes. Obviously, she was not willing to hear anything I had to say. This whole conversation was just for show.

“This goes beyond justice. He attacked someone in broad daylight! Some will accuse you of favoritism toward Shawn. They’ll say you’re letting your personal feelings cloud your judgment. We must tread carefully,” An nalise said with her gaze pointed directly at me, her eyes never wavering.

A pang of frustration coursed through me at her words. I had always been caught between the expectations of my mate, Mason, as Alpha, and the need to advocate for fairness and equality within our pack. It seemed that no matter what decision I made, there would always be those who doubted my intentions.

“An nalise,” I said firmly, my voice tinged with a hint of weariness, “I understand your concerns, but I will not let fear dictate our actions. We

Chapter 9

have come a long way since the days of division and prejudice. We must continue to challenge the status quo, even if it means facing. criticism.”

Before An nalise could respond, a commotion erupted from the corner of the room. I turned to see the original instigator of the confrontation, a prominent pack member known for his arrogance and disdain for the exiles, approaching An nalise with an air of entitlement. What was his name? Jacob? I gritted my teeth as he seethed in front of me.

“Enough is enough!” he spat, his voice dripping with contempt. “Shawn has crossed the line. He’s a liability to this pack, and it’s high time he was exiled!”

My heart pounded in my chest as I realized the gravity of the situation. This was the opportunity that some within the pack had been waiting for—to rid themselves of Shawn and his perceived troublemaking. Had it been a setup? Was it planned? My gaze darted over the faces around us, spotting more than a few guilty faces in the crowd.

Of course, it was.

An nalise’s eyes flickered with uncertainty as she glanced between the furious pack members and me. It was a pivotal moment, and I knew that the decision we made now could have far-reaching consequences-not just for Shawn, but the entire pack.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my voice steady but filled with resolve.

“No decision will be made in haste, and no one will be banished without due process. We will convene a meeting, allowing Shawn to defend himself and present his case. We will gather all the facts and hear from both sides before passing judgment.”

The room became uneasy as my words hung in the air, the silence suffocating every single person in the room. I could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on me; the realization that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges. But I couldn’t falter. As Luna, it was my duty to lead with integrity and fairness, even in the face of opposition.

I was determined to navigate through the storm, uphold justice, and ensure that no member of our pack would be silenced or dismissed. It was not just Shawn’s fate that hung in the balance-it was the very

Chapter 11

fabric of our pack’s future. And as Luna, it was my unwavering commitment to protect and guide them through the challenges that lay ahead.

“That’s not good enough! He assaulted me!” Jacob argued, stalking closer, and there was a collective inhale as he invaded my space.

While that may be true, this man started the brawl in the first place by protecting the she-wolf that was being harassed, If anything, the group of people here should be putting the blame on Jacob, not Shawn.

“Step away from my mate, Jacob.”