4. Luna Material

Elliott

I rubbed my temples, staring at the map spread across my desk while Tyler paced in front of me, back and forth, like he couldn't stand still.

"Alpha, it's bad," he said. "Rogues hit the eastern border at dawn. Two of our men are dead. Five more are hurt badly."

My stomach dropped. "How much time do we have before the rogues come back?"

"Two days. Maybe less." Tyler stopped pacing and looked at me. "We need money for weapons, and we need at least thirty more gamma wolves out there, or we lose that territory for good."

Losing territory wasn't an option. Not with the Lycan King watching how every pack handled itself. If word got out that Frost Moon couldn't hold its own border, I'd look weak. Incompetent.

"What about the southern watchmen? Can we pull funds from them?"

"Already asked. They need it for the harvest routes."

"Ask the traders, then. They keep the emergency funds."

Tyler shook his head. "I've called them twice. They want land as collateral but we can't give up land right now, not with everything else going on."

“Damn it.” I exhaled sharply.

I thought of my nuclear option. My close ally who could possibly help. “Call Alpha Voss. Now.”

Tyler dialed and held the phone to me. Voss’s voice crackled through, full of excuses. His pack—Black moon was also in a bind. He had no gamma wolves to spare, his funds tied up, alliances strained. It was a dead end.

Just then, the door creaked open. Lucia stepped in, her sharp gaze sweeping the room.

"What's going on, Liot?" She asked. "You look like you're about to put your fist through a wall"

“It’s nothing,” I said quickly, forcing a calm I didn’t feel.

She crossed her arms, that wildcat fire flashing in her eyes. “Don’t lie to me, Liot. Tell me.”

I relented and laid it out—the attack, the deadline, the bleeding border. 

Lucia didn’t hesitate. “You should have come to me sooner..." she breathed. "I'll call my father. Shadow Fang can have troops and funds moving by morning. You can pay us back whenever — we're still allies."

I stared at her in surprise and relief. “You’d do that?”

“I would do anything for you,” she said softly.

I pulled her into a tight hug, breathing in her familiar scent. She patted my back and pulled away. “Go handle what you need to. I’ll make the calls.”

Once she left, I sank into my chair, the weight easing.

This is why I value a woman like Lucia. Daughter of the Shadow Fang alpha, widow to my late brother who died from the Moonbane Curse that awakened every full moon.

The curse took my brother first, then my father. I was next in line, until Lucia brought her pack’s finest healers and saved me.

My father had made me swear to marry Elise before he died because he believed she'd saved him.

And over the past few years, I grew fond of Elise. She was gentle, steady, kind.

But Lucia was a force. Powerful. Luna material. We would have been unstoppable together.

But I had to sacrifice what I wanted for the good of the pack.

A short while later, the door opened again. She returned, a satisfied gleam in her eyes.

"Done." She said.  "The gamma wolves have been mobilized, the funds are en route, and your soldiers are safe.”

Relief and heat surged through me.

"Come here," I murmured, voice low and rough.

Luckily, Elise wasn't home at the moment so I could do whatever I wanted.

She walked over, holding my gaze and slid onto my lap, straddling me. Her fingers trailed slowly through my hair as she pressed close. “All better now, Liot?” she purred against my ear.

I gripped her hips firmly, pulling her tighter against me. “You always know exactly what I need,” I growled softly, my hands sliding up her back. “My fierce, beautiful savior.”

************

Elise

I woke up today with my heart in my stomach. Today was an important day and I didn't want Elliott or Lucia to ruin it for me.

I knew Elliott had a lot of making up to do for me, if he really wanted our relationship to work.

So, today better be one of the ways he does that.

"I just got an invitation to the Frost moon art gallery" I walked into his study that morning, showing him my phone. "My mother's painting will be present at the auction"

I kept my voice calm, neutral; "Can you take me?"

He shook his head; "Elise, I'd be so busy today... I have alot of pack duties..."

"Please;" I begged, desperate. "It's the last of her paintings."

Most of my mother's collection had been sold after her death. Except that one.

It was the final memory I'd have of my mother.

There was a flicker of hesitation in his gaze but before he opened his mouth, Lucia cut in.

"Let's all go together, Liot" she said. "You know it's my birthday today and I also want a painting"

I rolled my eyes. Where had she come from?

"Of course" Elliott replied, giving her a small smile. "Anything for you"

I felt the pang of hurt that came from his quick response to her but I ignored it and decided to focus on the fact that he agreed to go to the auction with me.

I looked forward to holding my mother's painting in her hands, finally.

Hours later, we were at the auction hall. My heart beat in anticipation.

Beautiful works of art were presented one by one and people bidded exorbitant prices for them.

When my mother's painting was finally unveiled, my chest tightened.

The familiar brushstrokes felt like seeing I was seeing her again.

"Bidding starts at twenty million." The host said.

I immediately raised her paddle.

I exhaled deeply when no one else raised their paddle. Then suddenly, I heard;

"Thirty million." It came from Lucia as she smirked.