All Chapters of The Luna With Ruin: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Dawn broke over the combat circle, Jasmina stood at the edge, waiting. Heart pounding with the baby kicking.The pack had gathered. Hundreds of wolves watching. Silent. Tense.Erik stood as witness, holding the Old Codes book.Lyanna was at the front with Elara and her women. Theo looked pale. Jetstar's jaw was clenched.Everything was ready.Except Marcus hadn't arrived.Minutes passed. The sun climbed higher. Still no Marcus."Where is he?" Jetstar muttered."Maybe he backed down," Elara said. But she didn't sound convinced.Jasmina knew better. Marcus wasn't the type to back down from anything.More time passed. The crowd started whispering. Getting restless.Then a rider appeared. Wearing Mountain Ridge colors. Carrying a sealed message.He handed it to Erik, not Jasmina.Erik read it. His expression didn't change but something flickered in his eyes."What does it say?" Jasmina asked.Erik looked at her. Then read aloud so everyone could hear."Alpha Greythorn acknowledges the cha

They knelt in the dirt. Both unable to stand. Both refusing to yield. Meredith pushed through the crowd. Ran to Jasmina. "The baby's in distress," she said. Hands on Jasmina's stomach. "Heartbeat is there but weak. Fading." "Can you help?" "Not while you're still fighting. The stress is killing it." Meredith turned to Erik. "Stop this. Declare a draw. Something." "Old Codes don't allow—" "Fuck the Old Codes!" Meredith's magic flared. Actual power radiating from her. "That baby carries magic that could save or destroy this entire region. If it dies, we all suffer." Marcus struggled to his feet. Finally managed to stand. Swaying but upright. "I'm still standing," he said. "She's not. I win." "You're barely standing," Erik corrected. "And she's on her knees, not unconscious. The fight continues." "Then I'll end it." Marcus

Day two of recovery was worse than day one. The pain hit harder. Her body realizing how damaged it was. Every breath hurt. Every movement agony. Meredith brought medicine. Bitter herbs that tasted like dirt. "Drink." "It's disgusting." "It's healing. Drink or suffer." Jasmina drank. Gagged. Forced it down. The baby kicked. Weak but there. Protesting the terrible taste maybe. "She's getting stronger," Meredith said. Hands on Jasmina's stomach. "Heartbeat is better. Magic is settling." "Will she be okay?" "I don't know. The strain she went through... we won't know the full damage until she's born. Maybe not even then." Meredith's expression was serious. "But she's alive. That's something." Jetstar visited around noon. Brought reports. Pack business that couldn't wait. "The elders are getting louder," he said. "Demanding th

Day three. Jasmina stood for the first time. It hurt. God, it hurt. But she forced herself upright. One foot on the floor. Then the other. Meredith watched from the doorway. "You're supposed to rest another day." "Don't have another day. Vote's tomorrow." "You'll collapse." "Then I'll collapse standing." She took a step. Her legs shook. Ribs screamed. But she didn't fall. Another step. Another. By the fifth step, sweat covered her face. By the tenth, she thought she'd pass out. But she kept going. "Stubborn," Meredith said. "You say that like it's bad." "It is when it gets you killed." Jasmina made it to the door. Leaned against the frame. Gasping. The baby kicked. Stronger now. Like it was encouraging her. "We're okay," she whispered. "We're standing. That's something."

One week after the vote, Jasmina finally felt human again.The ribs still hurt but she could move without wanting to scream. The bruises had faded from purple to yellow-green. The baby kicked regularly. Strong movements. Healthy.Meredith cleared her for light duty. "No fighting. No heavy lifting. No stress.""I'm Alpha. Stress is the job.""Then manage it better. Or you'll end up back in this healing room."Jasmina went to her office. First time in over a week. Papers covered her desk. Reports. Requests. Problems waiting for solutions.Jetstar was already there. Organizing. Prioritizing."Welcome back," he said."Good to be back." Jasmina sat carefully. "What's most urgent?""Border patrols report River Stone backed off after your message. No incursions in five days.""Good. What else?""Food stores are low. Winter's coming. We need hunting parties out daily.""Assign them. W