The Final Decision

Jenn’s POV

I had to be sensible and keep a calm head at times like this. That was what being a Luna meant. It meant overlooking and reacting calmly to certain things even if all I wanted to do was lash out and pull that woman’s hair from her scalp.

But I couldn’t do that. Not when I was still burdened with this position. And when there were so many eyes on us.

“No,” I said firmly, “I am responsible for the welfare of this pack and I’ll do anything to keep this pack safe even from you.”

“I am your Alpha and you must obey me,” He growled. “I also want what’s best for the pack, so I have made my decision.” He said and turned to Morgan whose head had an evil smirk on her face.

“I Alpha Wade Blackstrand of the Moonlit Pack accept you Morgan Wilton as my fated mate” he said, looking at the pack his eyes shining a bright hue of light blue, daring anyone to challenge his decision.

“You’re accepting her as your mate?” I asked, unable to hide my shock. “Wade, that’s impossible! She’s your enemy’s daughter for crying out loud. What are you even thinking –” I began complaining, but he cut me off with a growl.

“Enough, Jenn. I have made my decision and it’s final.” he snarled. “To appease you… she won’t stay as a member of the household.” He paused, agony flickering across his face. “Morgan Wilton will serve as –”

“No,” Morgan cut in sharply. “Absolutely not.”

“ – as a servant,” Wade finished quietly. “Until we make a decision and come to an agreement.”

“I am your fated, Wade! Not a slave!” Morgan growled.

“And Jenn is my Luna,” he said it more like he was trying to appease a kid than the command it was supposed to be. “We’ll find a way around this, but for now we have to consider her feelings – I have to consider her feelings. She’s still my wife.”

My heart flared in my chest and a feeling of both panic and dread surged inside me. He was defending me, but to what end?Even if he was defending me, it felt like he was already on her side.

Morgan took a step toward him, fury burning in her gaze. “You would humiliate me? Cage me? Again?”

Wade grabbed her wrist before she could move any closer, “I am trying to protect you.”

“By making me a slave?” she hissed.

“By keeping the pack from tearing you apart!” he said quietly, his eyes moving up to finally acknowledge the eyes on us.

Running a hand over his face, he turned to me. “I don’t want this,” he said softly. “Jenn… goddess, I’m trying.”

For a moment, I saw the man I married. The man who once held my face between his hands and told me I was his forever.

Then Morgan yanked her wrist free. And the moment shattered.

“I won’t be your servant,” she spat. “I won’t bow to your Luna. I won’t –”

“Morgan, please…” he started, grabbing her by the wrist. “Maybe we should talk outside privately. Jenn, you’ll join us too.”

Before Morgan could argue, the dining doors creaked open, and his beta, Simon stepped into the hall. His expression was strained, and he looked like he’d just come from running a marathon.

Wade paused, wide eyes turning to his beta. “Did something happen?” he asked.

Not reading into the tension in the room, Simon bowed slightly. “Alpha… Luna… forgive the interruption, but this couldn’t wait.”

“Go ahead and tell me what happened. Was it an enemy attack?Has the mad Alpha finally decided to attack me?”

All eyes in the room turned to Morgan who suddenly looked short of words. Because everyone knew the mad Alpha was her dear father. The same man who sent her to kill Alpha Wade, leader of our pack.

If he was here in our pack, then that was trouble. One that we weren’t prepared for.

“No, Alpha, it's not an enemy attack,” for the first time since he entered, he finally noticed the tension in the room. His eyes strayed to Morgan, then me before returning to Wade’s face. “I just received a call from the Alpha King.”

“The Alpha King?” Wade echoed. “He’s going to be attending the ball?”

“Yes, Alpha,” Simon replied. “He called to inform us that he’ll be arriving here with members of his court and will look into the treaty we requested.”

I had no idea what was worse. Getting attacked by our neighboring pack – Morgan’s father – or an impromptu visit from the Alpha King. Especially at a time like this.

He may say this was to look into the treaty we requested with a stronger and more balanced pack, but that was all formalities. We all knew what the Alpha King was coming here for and him attending the ball solidified our suspicions.

The culling ball was sacred. It was a ceremonial gathering where alliances were tested, and bonds were observed. If the new Alpha King was coming here, then it meant only one thing. He wanted to judge us before thinking about giving us a chance.

And now? With this chaos? We were doomed.

“This is bad,” someone whispered behind me.

Wade shook his head. “Not necessarily. Although the Alpha King doesn’t attend events like these without reason. It may be that this new one is different. Maybe he just wants to relax.”

Morgan nodded after him. “Yes. Not everything has to be about politics. Besides, I’m your fated mate. I’m not afraid of showing that to the whole world. Or are you?”

Wade quickly shook his head. “Of course not,” he answered. “This ball will proceed as planned. We will host the Alpha King with the respect he deserves, and we’ll show him the strength of our pack.”

Morgan stepped closer to him, her head held high, shoulder brushing him with a familiarity that made my eyes sting with tears. “Good,” she said. “Then your fated mate should be the one standing beside you on that day. Let the court see the bond for themselves and judge accordingly.”

Wade grunted a reply and my chest tightened painfully.

“That won’t be happening,” the words poured out of my mouth. “The culling ball is not a personal display. It’s a political and ceremonial gathering. Only recognized mates and pack representatives are –”

“Jenn, if she wants to go, then I have no problem with it,” Wade said, cutting me off. “Besides, this will be good for publicity. Morgan has a shine that no one can ignore. If she’s there – beside me – it’ll do us a lot of good.”

What?

“Did I hear you correctly just now?” I asked, my heart beating loudly in my chest. I felt like my chest was about to burst.

Wade took a step towards me, then stopped. “Jenn –”

“I need space.” I said quietly. Before he could stop me, I turned and left the hall, ignoring all the eyes that were boring holes into my skin.

I walked some distance away from the pack house, but changed my mind and decided to go for a run

“How about we go for a run, Arla,” I asked my wolf.