All Chapters of The Alpha’s Treaty, Now His Luna: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

PENIELFinally, she gave a short nod, seeming almost satisfied. “Better. Now, let's see if you can hold it under pressure.” Before I could ask what she meant, she stepped toward me, her hand coming slowly toward my wrist in a clear, simple grab.It wasn't a real attack. Just a simple lunge to grab my arm, slow enough that I could easily dodge. But to someone who had experienced her strength. It was terrifying.Instinct took over. I jerked my arm back, scrambling away from her, abandoning my stance completely, to throw my hands up in a panic.Rhea stopped, her hand hovering in the air where my arm had been. She looked disappointed. I didn’t understand why I felt hurt by that knowledge. "You froze." She said simply."I was surprised!" I protested, breathing hard."Your enemy will not send you a letter announcing their attack," Rhea said flatly. "Again."This time, I managed to sidestep, though it was clumsy, and awkward, almost tripping over my own feet.She didn't even hesitate. “Again

PENIELI stumbled to a halt, bending over with my hands on my knees, gasping for air, certain I was going to collapse and die right here on the track.“Walk a lap to cool down,” Rhea ordered, as if she hadn’t just pushed me to the brink of death and back. “Then we begin.”The “beginning” was more stance work. More blocks. But today, she added movement. She would have me hold the stance, then shout “Left!” or “Right!” and I had to shuffle-step in that direction without breaking form. My legs screamed in protest. I fell twice. She said nothing, just waited for me to get back up.We moved on to evading a slow, swinging practice stick. “Do not block the wood. Move your body. Slip. Duck. You are smaller. Use it.”Thwack! I wasn’t fast enough. The padded stick hit my shoulder, a dull pain radiating through my arm.“You hesitated. You thought about it. On the battlefield there'll be no time to think about how to evade your enemy's strike. Don’t think. React. Again.”Thwack! This time on the

PENIEL“Would it work?” I asked, the idea taking root. “Would they come? Or would their mates forbid it?”Nadia’s expression turned serious, her Luna instincts, the ones she’d never been allowed to use, rising to the surface. “Some might forbid it. That is the risk. You must be subtle, Peniel. Clever. Don’t call it a group for ‘abused she-wolves.’ Call it… a Luna’s sewing circle. A herbal study group. A gathering for newly mated she-wolves. Something harmless and traditional. The ones who need it will find their way to you. They will hear the truth in the words you don’t say.” She leaned forward, squeezing my hand. “And you must have Lucian’s support. Not just his permission, but his public protection. He must make it clear, without saying it directly, that a mate’s control stops at the door of your meeting room. That the Luna’s time with her she-wolves is sacred. It is the only way they will feel safe enough to come.”It was smart. It was a way to use my position not just as a title,

PENIELI let my hands slide from his hair down to his sides, feeling the hard muscle beneath his shirt. I looked up at him through my lashes.“You know,” I said softly, “you don’t have to carry it all alone. Not tonight.”His brow furrowed slightly, not understanding at first. I leaned in closer, letting my lips brush the pulse point on his neck. He tensed, then a low rumble started in his chest."Forget about it," I whispered, rising onto my toes so my lips were near his ear. "Just for tonight."I felt him stiffen, then a slow inhale. "Peniel…"“Shhh,” I whispered, moving my hands to the front of his shirt, my fingers toying with the first button. “Just for a little while. Let me take care of you.”I undid the button. Then the next. His breathing hitched. I looked up and saw the conflict in his eyes, the duty pulling him one way, the need I was stirring pulling him another.“The reports…” he started, his voice already deeper, rougher.“Can wait.” I popped the third button open, letti

PENIELThe tension drained from his shoulders. A soft smile touching his lips, and transforming his whole face. He leaned closer, and I leaned in to meet him, our foreheads touching. His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb stroking my skin. Our breaths mingled. Slowly he angled his head, bending down…The bedroom door flew open with a bang.“LUNA!”We jerked apart like we were caught doing something we shouldn't. Luciano yanked the blankets up to his chest with a furious snarl. “How dare you barge into without knocking!” he barked at the same time I gasped, “Preya! What is it?”Preya had skidded to a halt in the doorway, her eyes wide as saucers. They darted from my disheveled hair and Luciano’s shirt I was wearing, to Luciano’s glaring, blanket-clad form. A deep, mortified look entered her eyes, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment. “I’m so sorry, Alpha!” she squeaked, dropping into a clumsy bow. “I wasn’t aware you were still in here!”Luciano just huffed, the sound half-