Chapter 60

Chapter 60

**Mason

The room seemned to hold its breath as my eyes locked on Jacob, the insolent pack member who had the audacity to invade my mate’s space. Fury surged through my veins, a raging fire that threatened to consume me. How dare he try to intimidate Kora, and try to undermine her authority as Luna? I would not stand for it.

At that moment, all rationality fled. I stepped forward, my fists clenched, and the air cra ckled with tension. The pack members around us shifted uneasily, sensing the impending clash between two dominant forces. Mother always quick to seize the opportunity to sow discord, wore a smug smirk, reveling in the chaos.

“Back off, Jacob,” I growled, my voice low and dangerous. The authority of the Alpha resonated within me, commanding attention and respect. My eyes bore into his, challenging him to defy me.

Jacob, however, seemed unfazed by my presence. He sneered, his arrogance shining through his defiance. “What’s the matter, Alpha Mason? Can’t handle the truth? Your Luna is playing favorites. Shawn assaulted me-”

“You swung first!” a voice called from the crowd, trembling but outraged. I scanned for it and spotted a young woman gripping a pitcher of beer in her trembling fist.

Jacob snapped around, sneering at her, and I intervened before he could lash out at her for speaking up.

Every fiber of my being screamed to unleash my fury upon him, to teach him a lesson he would never forget. But I knew I had to maintain control for the sake of our pack and the fragile balance we had fought so hard to achieve.

“Jacob,” I said, my voice cold and calculated. “You will show respect to Luna Kora. She is your Luna, and I will not tolerate any disrespect toward her or our pack members.”

My mother, always one to stoke the flames, interjected smugly.

“Mason, it seems you’re blind to the reality of the situation. Shawn’s actions have caused nothing but trouble. This pack needs stability, not impulsive acts of violence.”

There were quiet murmurs of agreement but just as many scoffs.

Her words grated on my nerves, and I refused to let her taunts get under my skin. Instead, I directed my attention back to Jacob, my voice carrying the weight of my authority.

“The matter of Shawn’s actions will be addressed through due process, as Luna Kora has stated. Until then, he is under our protection. No one will be exiled without fair judgment.”

Mother’s eyes flickered with annoyance, but I couldn’t allow her or anyone else to undermine Kora’s authority or question her decisions. As Luna, she had the right to stand up for what she believed in, and my duty as Alpha was to support her.

“Enough of this, I declared, my vojec resonating with power. “We will reconvene when tempers have cooled, and a fair judgment will be made. Until then, I expect everyone to respect our pack’s unity and adhere to our principles of fairness and justice.”

Silence hung in the air as my words settled over the room. The tension remained, but there was a collective understanding that no further action would be taken for now. My mother wore a scowl, her displeasure evident, but she knew better than to challenge me directly.

I turned to Kora, who stood beside me, her expression a mix of determination and weariness. She had shown incredible strength in the face of adversity, and I admired her unwavering commitment to justice. Gently, I reached out and clasped her hand in mine, offering her a silent reassurance.

We both knew the truth of it-Shawn wasn’t going anywhere. He’d been her friend for years, and had she not been trying to be a good Luna, she would have been right beside him in that brawl. I doubted that there was even anything to discuss, but we’d put on a show for the pack if only to keep the peace.

“We will navigate this storm together, Kora,” I said, my voice softening. “It’ll all be okay.”

Kora’s eyes met mine, a spark of gratitude and determination shining within them. She squeezed my hand, drawing strength from our connection. Together, as Alpha and Luna, we would weather the challenges that lay ahead and protect our pack with unwavering resolve.

The room began to disperse, whispers and murmurs filling the space as pack members retreated, each absorbed in their own thoughts. As the chaos subsided, I knew the storm was far from over. But I also knew that Kora and I would weather it together, emerging stronger on the other side.

No one, not even my mother, would diminish Kora’s role as Luna or question her decisions again. Not while I was still Alpha. Our pack’s unity and the principles we held dear would prevail despite our challenges. And as Alpha, I would ensure that justice would prevail and that the voice of every pack member would be heard.

As the room slowly emptied, I remained standing with Kora by my side, a fortress of determination amidst the fading chaos. The weight of the situation settled heavily upon us, but we were ready to face it head-on.

“Kora,” I whispered, my voice filled with determination. “We won’t let anyone undermine your authority. You are the Luna, and together we will protect our pack.

She nodded, her eyes reflecting a renewed sense of purpose. Thank you, Mason. Your support means everything

to me.”

The sound of footsteps approaching caught our attention, and I turned to see a group of pack members making their way

toward us. Among them was Shawn, his face bruised and bloodied from the altercation, but his eyes burned with defiance.”

“We’re with you, Alpha Mason, one of them spoke up, his voice laced with conviction. “Shawn acted in self- defense; we all saw it! We won’t let Jacob’s lies tear our pack apart

A wave of gratitude washed over me as I realized that despite the tension, there were those who understood the truth and were willing to stand up for justice. Fueled by loyalty and a shared belief in fairness, these pack members were the pillars upon which our unity stood.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice filled with sincerity. “Your support is what makes our pack strong.”

The group nodded, a collective determination shining in their eyes. Then, they dispersed to their respective tasks, cach ready to contribute to the stability and harmony we all desired.

A newfound sense of purpose enveloped us as Kora, and I remained in the center of the room. We knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but we were prepared to face any challenge united as Alpha and Luna.

“I have faith in our pack,” Kora said, her voice filled with conviction. “We will overcome this and emerge stronger.”

I smiled, pride swelling within me. “Yes, we will. We have faced countless trials before, and we have always prevailed. This time will be no different.”

With renewed determination, we left the bar, ready to embark on the journey ahead. Our resolve was unshakable, and together, we would lead our pack toward a future where justice, unity, and respect reigned supreme.