All Chapters of The Cursed Alpha's Substitute Luna : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

INARA'S POV I couldn’t keep doing this.The weight of everything I was still hiding had become unbearable. Every time Grayson smiled at me, every time he whispered “I love you” against my skin, the guilt twisted sharper in my chest. Thorne’s latest words, the plan to sabotage the ritual itself — played on repeat in my head. I had told Grayson some of it, but not the worst parts. Not enough.I was terrified that if I kept waiting, it would destroy us right before the most important night of our lives.That evening, after dinner, Grayson found me on the balcony staring out at the moonlit grounds. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my back against his chest like he always did. His warmth should have comforted me. Instead, it made the knot in my stomach tighter.“You’ve been distant again,” he said quietly, lips brushing my temple. “Even after the date, even after everything we shared… something’s still wrong. Don’t lie to me this time, Inara. Please.”I

INARA'S POV The night before the ritual felt like the whole world was holding its breath.Grayson had insisted on a quiet dinner in our chambers — just the two of us, no pack business, no elders, no distractions. Candles flickered softly across the table, casting warm golden light on his handsome face. He looked relaxed for once, dark hair slightly messy, silver eyes soft whenever they landed on me. I couldn’t stop staring at him, my heart doing that ridiculous flip it always did these days.“You’re quiet tonight,” he said, reaching across the table to feed me a piece of honey-glazed meat with his fingers. His thumb brushed my lower lip, lingering a second longer than necessary. “Nervous about tomorrow?”I took the bite, savoring the sweetness, then nodded. “A little. Mostly excited. And scared. What if the ritual changes everything between us?”He stood up and came around the table, pulling me gently onto his lap. His arms wrapped around me like they belonged there. “It will chang

INARA'S POV I felt like a shadow of myself.Every small movement sent waves of dizziness through me, and my limbs still felt too heavy, like they weren’t fully mine. The poison had taken a lot out of me, even with the antidote working its way through my system. I hated it — hated feeling this fragile when I wanted to be strong for Grayson, for the pack, for the ritual that was now hanging in the balance.Grayson hadn’t left my side all day. He’d barely slept, I could tell from the shadows under his silver eyes. Right now he was watching me with that intense, worried look that made my chest ache.“You need a bath,” he said softly, brushing a strand of sweaty hair from my forehead. “You’ll feel better once you’re clean. Let me help you.”I nodded weakly. Even the thought of moving felt exhausting, but I trusted him completely.He didn’t let me try to walk. Instead, he slid one arm under my knees and the other behind my back, lifting me like I weighed nothing. I rested my head against h

INARA'S POV The room felt too quiet without him.I lay in bed, propped up against a mountain of pillows Grayson had arranged before he left, staring at the ceiling while my body still fought the lingering poison. The antidote was helping — the nausea had eased and the dizziness wasn’t as bad, but I still felt weak, like my limbs belonged to someone else. Every small movement reminded me how close I’d come to something much worse.Grayson had kissed my forehead before leaving, his silver eyes full of that fierce protectiveness. “I won’t be long,” he’d promised. “Niel and I are going to get answers. Rest, my love. I’ll be back before you know it.”That had been over an hour ago.I shifted slightly, wincing at the ache in my muscles. My mind wouldn’t stop spinning. Who had poisoned me? Thorne? One of his allies? Was this part of their plan to ruin the ritual? The thought made my stomach twist again, but not from the toxin this time, from fear. Fear that I was still bringing trouble in

INARA'S POV The weakness was finally starting to loosen its grip on me, but I still moved like someone twice my age. Every step felt deliberate, like my body was reminding me it had been through hell. Grayson hovered close, one hand always ready to catch me if I stumbled, but I was determined to do at least one normal thing today.I heard the raised voices near the weaving house before I saw them. Elara was standing in the middle of a small group, head down, while two older she-wolves lectured her loudly about “knowing her station” and “not wasting good materials on lesser wolves.” My blood heated instantly.I walked over as quickly as my legs would allow, Grayson right beside me.“Enough,” I said, louder than I intended. My voice still sounded a little raspy, but it carried. “What’s going on here?”The two women turned, expressions shifting from annoyance to forced respect when they saw me — and the Alpha standing protectively at my side.“Luna Inara,” one of them started, “this om