All Chapters of Not Their Luna: A Female Alpha Story: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Dane "What do you know of triads?" My father demands, momentarily dropping the formal script he clearly came prepared to deliver."Enough to recognize when someone is trying to deliberately disrupt one," I reply, watching the Silver Creek representative's reaction carefully. The flash of calculation in his eyes confirms my suspicions—this is no coincidence, no standard honor reparation.My father studies me with new assessment, as if seeing something unexpected in his disappointment of a son. "You believe Silver Creek's challenge is connected to supernatural matters beyond pack politics," he says, not quite a question."I know it is," I state with absolute certainty. "Just as I know their Alpha has been influenced by external forces since returning from the northeastern territories with certain... artifacts."The Silver Creek representative's composure cracks visibly at this, confirming Aria's information was accurate. My father catches the reaction, his tactical awareness never dulle

Liam "Focus," Mom says for what feels like the hundredth time. "Intent without emotion. Direction without reaction."Easy for her to say. She's not the one trying to light a candle with her mind while simultaneously not burning down the entire training room."I am focusing," I mutter, staring at the unlit candle with enough intensity to melt it if the heat in my gaze was actually physical."No, you're glaring at it like it personally offended you," she corrects with that infuriating motherly patience. "Fire responds to emotion, Liam. Right now, you're feeding it frustration, which creates erratic, unpredictable responses."I take a deep breath, trying again to find that elusive balance she keeps talking about. Twelve hours of practice since my gift first manifested against the Skinwalkers, and I've managed to melt more ice sculptures, warm the room to uncomfortable levels, and accidentally set a practice dummy's hair on fire. What I haven't done is produce a single controlled flame on

Liam "We've talked, Ryleigh," I reply, keeping my voice gentle but firm. "Several times. The answer hasn't changed. What we had is over.""Because of her," she states flatly. "Because of this mate bond you rejected years ago but suddenly can't live without.""Because it's the truth," I correct her. "I tried to make it work between us, tried to build something real despite the missing mate bond. But you deserve someone who's all in, who doesn't have half his heart tied to someone else no matter how hard he tries to deny it.""So noble," she says, her tone turning bitter. "Such a gentleman, setting me free for my own good rather than admitting you just want to fuck your Alpha candidate now that it's politically convenient."The crude accusation catches me off guard, so unlike Ryleigh's usual calculated approach that it momentarily leaves me speechless."That's not—""Save it," she interrupts. "I didn't come here to listen to more noble bullshit about how you're doing this for me. I came

Finley"It's okay, Fin," Liam's voice reaches me through the connection, unexpectedly gentle. "We're all messed up here. None of us knows what we're doing. But hiding it just makes everything harder.""The triad requires authenticity," Dane adds, his presence in the circuit steady despite my hesitation. "Not perfection. Just truth, whatever form it takes."Their combined reassurance loosens something tight in my chest. Nova pushes forward, sensing the opportunity to finally express what I've been fighting so hard to contain.Fine, I think with resigned determination. They want the truth? Here it is.I lower my emotional barriers, allowing everything I feel to flow freely into the circuit between us. The lingering hurt from Liam's rejection two years ago and Dane's deception about Aria. The confusion of having two mate bonds and the attraction I feel for both of them. The growing hope that somehow, impossibly, there might be a path forward that doesn't require losing either of them.The

Liam"You seriously booked an entire restaurant?" Kaden asks, watching me fidget with my shirt collar for the fifth time."Not the entire restaurant," I correct, giving up on the collar and running a hand through my hair. "Just the private dining room in back. Which, by the way, isn't easy to arrange on six hours' notice during a supernatural crisis.""Impressive dedication to your... what are we calling this exactly? Double date? Triad negotiation? Pre-apocalypse last supper?"I flip him off, earning a rare chuckle from my usually serious brother. "You're enjoying this way too much.""Can you blame me?" He leans against my doorframe. "My perpetually bond-phobic little brother is suddenly arranging romantic dinners with not only your Goddess-given mate but your sworn rival for her affections the night before a potentially world-ending cataclysm."Despite his teasing, Kaden offers unexpected support. "Whatever happens with this triad thing, whatever you three figure out between you—I'm