All Chapters of The Luna With Ruin: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

The envoys returned one week later with news. Stefan entered Jasmina's office looking tired but satisfied. "We got two more." "Two more alliances?" "Pinewood Clan and Clearwater Pack. Both signed mutual defense pacts." He laid the documents on her desk. "Three total now. Small clans, but committed." "Why did they agree?" "Pinewood needs protection from River Stone expansion. Clearwater's been isolated for years, needs trade partners." Stefan sat. "They're not signing because they believe in female leadership. They're signing because we're offering something they need." "Don't care why they sign. Just that they do." Jasmina read through the agreements. Standard terms. Mutual defense. Trade rights. Territory respect. "These are good. Well negotiated." "Jetstar helped draft them. Made sure we're not giving away too much." "Smart. What about the other clans?" "Still co

Stefan gathered the twenty warriors in the training yard. Dawn light. Cold air. Serious faces.Jasmina watched from the side. Five months pregnant now. Showing clearly. But present. Observing."We're going after Kade's rogue pack," Stefan announced. "Twenty of us. Fast strike. Neutralize the threat. Return home."Murmurs among the warriors. Some excited. Some nervous."Kade has maybe thirty rogues. All experienced fighters. All desperate. All willing to die." Stefan pointed to maps laid out on a table. "They're camped here. Northern territories. Three days' travel.""What's the plan?" one warrior asked."Hit them at dawn. When they're sleeping. Separate Kade from his fighters. Take him down first. The rest will scatter without leadership.""And if they don't scatter?""Then we fight. Hard. Fast. Efficiently." Stefan looked at each warrior. "I won't lie. This is dangerous. Some of us might not come back. If you w

Day six. Late afternoon. The scout spotted them first. "Warriors approaching from the north!"Jasmina ran to the gates. Heart pounding. Hands shaking.Twenty warriors had left. How many were coming back?She counted as they emerged from the forest. One. Two. Three. Five. Ten.Fifteen.Sixteen.Seventeen.Eighteen.Her heart sank. Two missing.The warriors walked slowly. Exhausted. Bloody. But walking.Stefan led them. Limping. Arm bandaged. But alive."Report," Jasmina said."Mission successful. Kade is dead. Rogue pack scattered." Stefan swayed. "We lost two. Marcus and Helena. Both died in the initial assault."Jasmina felt the weight of those names. Marcus—not the elder, a young warrior. Twenty-three years old. Helena—thirty-five. Mother of two."Their families?""Being notified now.""Get your warriors to the healers. I'll handle the families."Stefan nodded. Led his team toward the healing rooms.Jasmina found Marcus's mate first. Young woman. Pregnant. About three months."I'm s

Week eleven. Damoew's final week of exile. The camp felt different. Marcus had returned from visiting Kira. Looked lighter somehow. Less angry."She's doing well," Marcus told Damoew. "Found a new pack. Northern settlement. They accepted her. She's happy.""I'm glad.""She asked about you. Wanted to know if you were really in exile. Really trying to make amends.""What did you tell her?""The truth. That you're here. Working. Earning redemption slowly." Marcus paused. "She said to tell you that she forgives you. Not for me. For herself. So she can move on."Damoew felt something break inside him. Relief. Gratitude. Overwhelming emotion."Thank you. Tell her thank you.""I will." Marcus sat by the fire. "You know, I hated you for three years. Burned with it. Let it consume me. But hatred is exhausting. Takes too much energy. I'm tired of it.""So you're letting it go?""I'm trying. For Kira. She's moved on. I should too." He looked at Damoew. "Doesn't mean I like you. Or trust you comp

Seven days until Marcus and Erik returned. Jasmina stood with Damoew on the packhouse balcony. Morning sun. Clear sky. Everything looked peaceful."Tell me what they'll look for," she said. "You've dealt with Alpha evaluations before.""Stability. Proof the pack functions without chaos. They'll talk to random pack members. Ask questions. Gauge morale.""Our morale is good. Better than when you left.""I noticed. The pack feels... united. Purposeful." Damoew touched her stomach. The baby kicked against his hand. "They'll also look at alliances. Border security. Economic strength.""We have four alliances. Borders are strong. Economy is stable.""Then you should pass. Easily.""Unless they decide pregnancy makes me unfit regardless.""Then they're fools. And you ignore them and keep leading anyway."Jasmina smiled. "When did you get so supportive of female leadership?""When I watched my mate prove she's better at it than I ever was."That afternoon, Elara brought final preparations. "T