CHAPTER 6

Briar POV

Alpha Logan’s demand hit me with the force of a physical blow, leaving me briefly breathless. I let out a tense, nervous laugh, trying to steady myself against the full weight of his presence. "I don't think leaving at dawn is realistic, Alpha Logan. Tristan would never allow me to walk away so easily."

Logan didn't flinch. His face stayed completely blank, his deep voice full of deadly calm as he stepped closer. "Then you clearly underestimate what I am capable of."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. He was right—I was seeing this through the rules of the pack I had been forced to obey, while Logan worked entirely above them. Still, the thought of Tristan’s reaction made me pause. Right now, he was likely standing in the center of the ballroom downstairs beside Genevieve, angry over my public defiance. No Alpha would willingly allow his Luna to be kept alone in a private planning room with a far more powerful ruler.

"Let us rejoin the gathering, Luna Briar," Logan said smoothly, holding out a steady arm.

When I hesitated, his dark eyebrow rose with quiet amusement. "I assure you, I know proper manners well. A gentleman always escorts a high-ranking lady back to the floor. It is unfortunate your husband forgot his basic manners the moment he raised his mistress."

A sudden flush warmed my neck at his open honesty. Without another word, I placed my hand on his forearm, and together we walked down the grand staircase back into the ballroom.

The reaction was instant. Every talk in the room stopped as hundreds of eyes fixed on us. Taking a deep breath, I offered Logan a polite bow of thanks before stepping away to do my duties. Banned or not, I was still the true Luna of this pack, and I meant to act like it. As I moved through the crowd, I saw Tristan and Genevieve standing near the central pillars, both giving me angry looks. I chose to ignore them.

Noticing I was alone, a group of visiting Alphas and Betas quickly came over to speak with me. Before, out of respect for Tristan, they had kept a polite distance. Tonight, though, the change in the room was clear.

"Luna Briar," the youngest Alpha among them said, bowing politely. "You look truly beautiful this evening."

"Thank you," I replied with a careful tilt of my head.

"Will you be joining us at the Solstice Gathering next week?" he asked, his tone eager. "Our pack would be deeply honored to host you."

The invitation held a weight that went far beyond simple networking—it was a quiet sign of interest in an Alpha whose bond was clearly breaking. "I cannot make any promises just yet," I answered smoothly, my eyes briefly moving past him to where Logan stood watching the talk with a dark, blank intensity. "However, I will certainly keep it in mind."

"In that case," the young Alpha pressed with a warm smile, "may I have the honor of the opening dance tonight?"

Before I could answer, a cold, firm voice cut through the air.

"She is dancing with me."

The group fell silent at once as Tristan stepped into the circle. His sudden, aggressive move took me by surprise. Genevieve had spent the entire evening holding his arm, yet here he was, claiming control over a dance floor he had earlier shut me out of. Refusing him in public would make an unneeded scene, so I hid my surprise with a calm smile.

"Of course, Tristan. I was wondering when you would recall your duties as host," I said, making sure my voice carried just enough to remind the watchers who held the real place here.

He took my hand with needless force, pulling me onto the main floor and signaling the orchestra to begin a slow, formal waltz. Every step he took was filled with held-back anger, but I matched his rhythm perfectly, refusing to show weakness. Across the room, Genevieve stood near the edge of the floor, her hands closed into tight fists, her eyes burning with hate.

Tristan pulled me close against his chest, his grip tightening around my waist. Despite the bitterness poisoning our link, the leftover pull of the fading mate bond sent a sharp, sudden spark through my veins.

"You look stunning tonight, Briar," he said against my ear as the pace slowed.

"Thank you, Tristan," I replied coolly.

"What were you talking about with Logan Vance upstairs?" he asked, his voice falling to a harsh whisper.

*So that’s what this is about,* I thought. "Nothing that concerns you. We briefly talked about work details regarding the Silver Harvest plan."

"I see..." Tristan said, his eyes searching mine for any sign of lies. Satisfied that I was only handling pack business, his posture eased a little. A moment later, as the music faded, he let me go and at once returned to Genevieve’s side, leaning down to whisper soft words and wipe away a tear that had formed on her cheek.

Sickened by the show, I slipped out of the hall into the cool night air. As I walked down the stone hall, a sharp feeling pricked at the base of my neck. I glanced over my shoulder and caught Logan watching me from the shadows of the upper balcony, his golden-hazel eyes following my every move.

The next morning, I awoke at 5:00 AM, my mind racing too fast for sleep. Needing to burn off the restless energy, I headed down to the training grounds for an early workout. I had called Shir, one of the elite guards who had first served under my father in Shadowvale before the joining.

For an hour, we fought in the empty arena. My focus was fully broken, leaving me slow to block his strikes. By the time we stopped, my arms and legs were covered in dull bruises.

Shir wiped his brow with a towel, his forehead creasing with concern. "Luna, your focus isn't here today. You're leaving yourself wide open."

I took a heavy breath, stepping closer to him and lowering my voice. "Shir, I need to talk about something vital with you, but it cannot leave this ground."

He paused, setting his towel aside. "You have my full loyalty, Luna. Speak freely."

I glanced around the empty courtyard to make sure we were alone. "How many warriors from my birth-pack, Shadowvale, are now placed within the main compound?"

"Roughly eighty," Shir replied at once.

I nodded slowly. "I am getting ready to formally take back Shadowvale and cut our ties with Tristan. Before I make my move, I need you and a chosen group of trusted guards to keep a strict, secret watch on Genevieve. I need every move written down."

Shir’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Luna... taking on Alpha Tristan directly? If this fails, the Elder Council could call you a traitor. You could be killed."

"I am well aware of the risks," I said firmly, meeting his gaze. "Are you with me?"

He stayed silent for a long moment, taking in the resolve in my eyes, before bowing his head deeply. "My oath was to your father first, Luna Briar. I will follow your command to the end."

"Thank you, Shir. That means more than you know."

Leaving the grounds, I made my way back to the main house to get ready for the morning ahead. It was 6:30 AM. I entered the kitchen to grab a glass of water, only to be met by a sharp, mocking voice from the doorway.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up."

Genevieve was leaning against the doorframe, wearing a revealing silk robe, a glass of juice held casually in her hand. She stepped into the room, her eyes running over my bruised form with pure spite. "I didn't think you'd start throwing yourself at visiting Alphas quite so quickly."

I poured my drink, keeping my face entirely flat. "Watch your tongue, Genevieve. You are speaking to your Luna."

"Not for much longer," she sneered, stepping closer. "Tell me, Briar—what exactly were you doing locked away in that upstairs room with Alpha Logan last night? Begging for protection, or just trying to secure your next meal ticket?"