All Chapters of The Luna With Ruin: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The Eastern Vale delegation arrived at noon. Three wolves. All male. All wearing formal pack regalia that marked them as official representatives. Jasmina watched from her office window as they approached the packhouse. Led by a young wolf who carried himself with the confidence of someone raised in privilege. "That's Rowan," Jetstar said beside her. "Alpha Vincent's eldest son. Twenty-six years old. Being groomed to take over the pack when his father retires." "Why didn't the Alpha come himself?" "Because sending his son is an insult. It says you're not important enough for the Alpha's personal attention." Jetstar's voice was tight with controlled anger. "It's a power move. Making you negotiate with someone who can't actually make decisions." "So anything we agree to can be overruled later." "Exactly." Jasmina touched her stomach. The baby was restless today. Kicking constantly. Sensing her stress. "Where are we meeting them?" "The formal reception room. I've cleared it of a

The Northern Frost delegation arrived the next morning.No announcement. No courtesy warning. Just three wolves at the packhouse gates demanding entry."That's Alpha Erik himself," Jetstar said, watching from the window. "He didn't send delegates. He came personally.""Is that good or bad?""Depends on why he came. Either he's taking you seriously enough to address concerns himself, or he's here to personally ensure you step down."Jasmina stood. Her body ached from yesterday's meeting with Eastern Vale. The baby had been restless all night, keeping her awake with constant kicking."Where's Lyanna?""Training yard. I'll send for her.""No. Let her stay there. I'll handle this one alone." Jasmina straightened her clothes. "If I need help at every meeting, it proves I'm weak.""Or it proves you're smart enough to use available resources.""Either way, I handle this one solo."The recepti

Theo returned five days after leaving for the Sisters' Haven.Not alone.Twenty-one wolves traveled with him. All female. All watching the Strong Black Clan territory with wary eyes.Jasmina stood at the packhouse entrance. Waiting.She'd received Theo's message yesterday. Short. Direct. "Bringing them home. Arrive tomorrow. Elara wants to meet you first."Now here they were. Twenty exiled women. Coming home after years of isolation.Led by Theo's sister.The group stopped fifty yards from the packhouse. Organized. Cautious. Ready to run if needed.One woman stepped forward. Mid-twenties. Short dark hair. Scars on her arms. Eyes that had seen too much.Elara.Jasmina recognized her from Theo's description. But also from something deeper. A kinship. The look of someone who'd been betrayed by their own pack."Alpha Supreme Jasmina," Elara said. Not quite respectful. Not quite challenging

Day four before Marcus's deadline, Jasmina woke to chaos. Someone had vandalized the east wing. The section where Elara and her women stayed. Graffiti on the walls. Crude drawings. Words like "traitors" and "whores" and "go back to exile." Elara stood in the corridor looking at the damage. Her face was blank. Too blank. "Who did this?" Jasmina asked. "Don't know. Don't care." Elara's voice was flat. "We've seen worse." "This is unacceptable. I'll find who did it. Punish them." "And then what? They'll just be angrier. Do worse next time." Elara turned to her. "We told you. Some of us said this would happen. That the pack would never accept us back." "The pack will accept you. The ones who did this are cowards. Minority." "Maybe. But they're loud cowards. And loud minorities are dangerous." Jasmina called Jetstar immediately. "Get everyo

Day two before Marcus's deadline brought a surprise. Alpha Erik from Northern Frost arrived unannounced. No delegation this time. Just him and two guards. "Erik," Jasmina said, meeting him at the gates. "I wasn't expecting you for another month." "Plans changed." He looked older than last time. Tired. "We need to talk. Privately." They went to her office. No witnesses except Lyanna, who Erik seemed to accept without complaint. "Marcus Greythorn visited Northern Frost last week," Erik said without preamble. "Tried to recruit us for his war against you." Jasmina's stomach dropped. "And?" "I told him no." Erik sat heavily. "Told him his vendetta against female leadership was his problem, not mine. That Northern Frost doesn't fight other packs' battles." "Thank you." "Don't thank me yet. I'm not fighting with you either. I'm staying neutra