My Husband Tried to Make Her Luna

I felt Goldie stirring within me, stronger than she had been since the silver torture. Her presence was like warm honey flowing through my veins, healing the damage Christian's betrayal had inflicted.

"She's responding to my wolf," Parker observed, his amber eyes studying me with an intensity that made my skin tingle. We sat across from each other at the small wooden table in his safe house, maps of Silver King territory spread between us.

I nodded, unable to deny the connection. "Goldie was nearly silent after the silver chains. Now she's... awakening."

Parker's hand moved across the table, hesitating before covering mine. Even that slight touch sent electricity racing up my arm. "Our wolves recognize each other, Elena. They know what we've been denying."

I wanted to pull away—needed to pull away—but Goldie whined inside me, urging me closer to him. To safety. To home.

"I can't trust this," I whispered, even as my fingers curled around his. "I can't trust anything right now."

Parker nodded, his expression somber. "I understand. But you don't have to face this alone."

He slid a folder across the table. "My scouts have been monitoring Christian's movements. He's planning something for the Grand Gathering."

I opened the folder with trembling hands. Inside were photographs of Christian meeting with Lycan Council members, documents bearing official seals, and a formal invitation addressed to neighboring pack Alphas.

"He's invited the entire Lycan Council," I breathed, horror washing over me as I read the announcement. "He's going to officially install Anya as Luna. He's telling everyone I died in the Rogue attack."

Parker's jaw tightened. "He's using your 'death' to legitimize his position. With the Council's blessing, he'll be untouchable."

Goldie snarled within me, her rage feeding mine. "He won't get away with this."

---

The border between Blood Moon and Silver King territories was marked by a small creek, its waters gleaming silver in the moonlight. I crouched in the shadows of an ancient oak, waiting.

A twig snapped, and I tensed, Goldie's senses heightening my awareness.

"Luna Elena?" Marcus Thompson's voice was barely above a whisper.

I stepped into the moonlight. "Marcus."

My father's Beta nearly collapsed at the sight of me. His weathered face crumpled, eyes filling with tears. "Moon Goddess, you're alive. We thought—we all thought—"

"I know what Christian told everyone," I said, gripping his shoulders. "What's happening in the pack?"

Marcus straightened, his expression hardening. "Christian's been purging the pack of your father's loyalists. Anyone who questioned his version of events has disappeared or been demoted. He's promoting his own men, wolves who wouldn't question him even if he ordered them to eat dirt."

"And the pack members? Do they believe his lies?"

"Some do. Others... they're afraid to speak against him."

I pulled the small vial from my pocket, the one containing traces of liquid wolfsbane from my father's study. "I need you to get this to Dr. Rivers. Have him analyze it—create forensic evidence that proves what Christian did to my father."

Marcus took the vial reverently. "The healer has been asking questions about Alpha Richard's death. He never believed it was natural."

"Tell him to be careful," I warned. "If Christian discovers he's investigating—"

"He won't," Marcus promised. "The doctor is loyal to you, not to Christian."

---

From my vantage point in the hills overlooking the Silver King territory, I watched Christian lead the pack run. His black wolf form darted between trees, larger than the others but lacking the fluid grace of a true Alpha.

Suddenly, he stopped, nose lifted to the wind. Even from this distance, I could sense his agitation as he scented something that shouldn't be there.

Me.

He threw back his head and howled, a harsh sound that sent the pack wolves scattering. Then he turned on a young Delta who had ventured too close, teeth bared.

"Christian, no!" Anya's voice carried on the wind as she shifted partially back to human form, grabbing his arm. "You're being paranoid. There's nothing there."

But Christian was beyond reason. He lunged at the Delta, teeth sinking into the younger wolf's shoulder. The sound of bone cracking echoed through the clearing as he shook the wolf violently.

"Stop it!" Anya cried, but there was no real authority in her voice. "You're going to kill him!"

The Delta whimpered, blood matting his fur as Christian finally released him, standing over the wounded wolf with chest heaving.

"See?" Anya soothed, stroking Christian's hair as he shifted back to human form. "There's nothing to worry about. Elena is dead. She's been dead for days."

Christian's eyes were wild, unfocused. "I smelled her. I swear I smelled her."

"You're imagining things," Anya insisted, her voice honey-sweet. "You're the strongest Alpha on the East Coast. No one can threaten you now."

As she led Christian away from the bleeding Delta, I saw the madness in my chosen mate's eyes—the first cracks in his carefully constructed facade of power.