Territory and Trust

(Audrey's POV)

Arthur’s dark eyes locked onto mine as I posed my question, half-expecting him to dismiss it.

"Consider it done."

His words were calm but unwavering.

I blinked at him, unsure if I had heard him correctly. "Just like that?"

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the polished wood of his desk. His lips curved into a faint smile, but his tone carried no jest. "Just like that. It’s not a challenge, Audrey. The territory isn’t going to someone outside the pack. You’re my mate. My Luna."

I stared at him, caught completely off guard by his readiness. Grace stirred in my mind, her ears perking up with interest. Territory meant respect. It meant something far deeper—power and loyalty tied to our pack’s very foundation. It was no trivial thing to him or anyone in the pack.

"You're in a good mood today," I replied carefully, studying him.

His expression didn’t shift, but the intensity in his eyes softened slightly. "It’s not about my mood, Audrey. It’s about you finally accepting this. You deserve it. You’ve always deserved it."

The warmth in his voice filled a space I didn’t even realize had grown so cold in the past few days. But Grace, though soothed, wasn’t entirely satisfied.

"Would you make the same offer to Victoria?" I asked, the words out of my mouth before I could stop them.

At the mention of her name, his entire demeanor changed. His jaw clenched, the faint smile fading from his lips. His eyebrows knitted slightly—a flash of something defensive crossing his face. "No," he said firmly, the timber in his voice leaving no room for doubt.

"And why not?" I pushed gently, keeping my tone even but curious. Inside, Grace paced cautiously, waiting for his answer.

His dark eyes bore into mine. "Victoria gets the Clinical Director position. That’s all."

He stepped closer, the weight of his presence filling the room as his voice softened but retained its stern edge. "You are my mate, Audrey. My Luna. You hold a place in this pack that no one—certainly not Victoria—could ever replace."

Before I could respond, he moved swiftly, pulling me into his arms. The solid warmth of his chest pressed against my back as his hands rested on my hips. His deep voice brushed against my ear, both soothing and commanding. "The territory will make you a true power holder, Audrey. This is where you belong. Under the Moonstone name, with me."

His thumb grazed over my knuckles as he gently held onto my hand. "Every single pack member will answer to you when this is done. Even me," he added, his voice dipping into a playful tone as he pressed a kiss to my shoulder. His lips lingered for a moment as he finished in a teasing murmur, "Both in pack matters and... private ones."

Heat crept up my neck, and Grace's playful purr hummed in agreement. He chuckled softly against my skin, clearly enjoying the effect his words had on me. Despite myself, I couldn’t suppress the faint blush rising to my cheeks.

"Arthur," I began, my voice quiet but holding its firm edge as I turned slightly to face him. "This isn’t something you should joke about."

His eyes held mine, serious now, though the faint curve of amusement still lingered on his lips. "I’m not joking, Audrey. You’re my equal in this pack. I own nothing you don’t already own with me."

For the first time in days, I felt the weight pressing against my chest begin to lift. The doubts that had gnawed at the corners of my mind found themselves quieted, at least for now.

"You’re impossible," I muttered under my breath, but a soft smile tugged at my lips.

"No, I’m yours," he replied easily, his hand cupping my cheek for the briefest of moments before he stepped back.

He glanced at the clock on the wall and sighed. "I need to leave for the council meeting. They’ll raise a fuss if I’m late again."

"Of course," I said, smoothing my dress as I tried to refocus.

Before he turned to leave, he paused at the door. His dark gaze sought mine once more, his tone lighter as he said, "Don’t forget the full moon gathering tonight at the pack mansion."

My hand instinctively brushed over my stomach as his words settled. This was my chance. Tonight would be the perfect time to share the news.

I smiled at him, a touch of mystery in my expression. "I have a surprise for you."

His brow arched in intrigue as a smirk teased at the corner of his mouth. "A surprise?"

"You’ll have to wait," I said coyly, stepping past him toward my desk.

"Patience isn’t exactly my strong suit, Luna," he quipped, but I waved him off with a playful flick of my hand as he finally left the room.

---

The rest of the morning passed quickly, though my mood had shifted more positively since our conversation. I was still organizing papers at the therapy office when a familiar knock interrupted me.

Victoria Moonstone stood in the doorway, her piercing blue gaze guarded while her composed demeanor masked whatever brought her here.

"Luna Audrey," she greeted with her usual polished tone. "May I come in?"

I gestured to the chair opposite my desk, though Grace growled faintly in the back of my mind.

She sat gracefully, her hands folded neatly in her lap. "I wanted to apologize," she began, her voice soft but almost too practiced. "I never meant for this to cause... tension between us."

Her eyes briefly flicked to mine before looking down, as if feigning humility.

I kept my expression neutral, leaning back in my chair. "The position is yours now. Make the most of it."

Her brows arched slightly, though her polite smile didn’t waver. "You’re being incredibly gracious about this, Audrey," she said sweetly. Then her tone shifted faintly, carrying an edge that I couldn’t ignore. "Arthur made it clear you can take any role you want within the pack. He said you have free rein."

It wasn’t just the words that bothered me—it was the way she said them. Like she was testing boundaries, asserting herself in a way that made Grace bristle.

"You should remain focused on the healing center," I said flatly, choosing my words carefully. My concern wasn’t about titles or power, but the stability of the pack. Victoria roaming unchecked was the last thing any of us needed.

Her expression shifted again, a flicker of surprise that she quickly hid. "You don’t have to worry about me," she replied, her voice dripping with artificial sincerity.

Before I could respond, a sharp knock broke the tension. Daniel Hayes entered, a stack of documents in hand. He placed them delicately on my desk and gave a respectful bow.

"The territory transfer papers, Luna Audrey," he announced formally.

Victoria’s controlled facade cracked noticeably at his words. Her gaze shot to the documents, then back to me.

"Territory transfer?" she repeated, her tone slipping into disbelief.

I didn’t look at her as I began signing the papers. My voice was calm but cold. "I don’t believe that’s any concern of yours."

She flinched slightly, but pressed on, her tone quickly shifting into one of apparent regret. "You misunderstand me, Audrey. I have no interest in material possessions. I care only about maintaining peace between us."

I fixed her with a flat stare, Grace’s dislike bleeding into my tone. "Then start by respecting what isn’t yours, Victoria."

Her lips twitched as if words were caught at the tip of her tongue, but she nodded stiffly instead.

---

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, I found myself eager for the evening ahead. I left the center with a mix of excitement and anticipation bubbling in my chest.

Arthur was waiting near his car, standing tall with his arms crossed against his chest. He usually greeted me with warmth, but something about his demeanor felt different tonight.

"Arthur," I started, a soft smile on my lips as I approached him.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, I heard the subtle hum of the passenger window rolling down. My eyes darted to the gleaming glass as it lowered slowly.

Victoria’s face appeared, framed perfectly in the SUV’s window. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders as she offered me a practiced smile.

"I hope you don’t mind," she said, her tone light but overly sweet, "My car broke down, so my brother kindly offered to drive me to the full moon party."

She paused briefly, her emphasis on the word "brother" deliberate.

"I trust that’s okay with you?" she added, tilting her head as if to appear innocent.

The words hit me like a slap, my chest tightening as Grace snarled faintly in the back of my mind. My gaze snapped to Arthur.

I searched his face for some kind of explanation, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes.