My Luna Accused Me of Treason to Protect Her Lover

I crossed the Silverclaw territory line just after midnight, my wolf form still humming with battle energy. Five years. Five years of blood and dirt and Rogue teeth snapping at my throat, all so Livia and the pack could sleep safe. My fur was matted with scars now, silver-tipped black coat dulled by war, but my Alpha blood burned hotter than ever. I'd led the final charge that broke the Rogue coalition at the eastern borders. We'd won.

I shifted back to human form at the tree line, pulling on the spare clothes I'd stashed years ago. They hung loose on my frame—I'd lost weight, gained muscle in all the wrong places. The kind that came from survival, not vanity. But none of that mattered. I was home. I was finally going to complete the bond with Livia, feel her mark on my neck, and start the life we'd promised each other.

Her scent hit me before I saw the packhouse—vanilla and roses, the smell that had kept me sane through every nightmare. My wolf, Ash, surged forward in my chest, desperate and aching. *Mate. Finally. Mate.*

I found her in the Alpha's study, bent over a spread of crystals and cards. She looked up when I entered, and for a heartbeat, I saw something flicker in her eyes. Then it was gone, replaced by something cold.

"Kendrick." She didn't stand. Didn't run to me. "You're back."

"I'm back." My voice came out rougher than I intended. "The borders are secure. The Rogues won't trouble us again."

"That's good." She turned back to her cards, fingers trailing over them like they mattered more than I did. "I've been consulting the Moon Oracle. There's been a development."

Ash whined in my chest. Something was wrong. "What kind of development?"

"The Oracle warns that if we complete the bond now, a plague will descend on the pack." She said it so smoothly, like she'd practiced. "We have to wait."

"Wait." The word tasted like ash in my mouth. "Livia, we've been waiting five years."

"I know." She finally looked at me, and her eyes were distant. "But the Moon Goddess has spoken. Unless you want to risk everyone's lives for your own desires?"

My jaw clenched. She knew exactly how to twist the knife. "How long?"

"Until the signs are clear." She gathered her crystals, dismissing me like I was a subordinate. "There's a welcome banquet tonight. You should rest."

I left before Ash could force a shift. Before I could demand answers she clearly didn't want to give.

The banquet hall buzzed with pack members celebrating the victory I'd won for them. I stood at the entrance, scanning for Livia, and found her at the head table—in the Luna's seat that should've been waiting for our ceremony. The chair beside her sat empty. My chair.

Alpha Marcus raised his glass. "To Kendrick Harris, our Head Enforcer, who secured our borders and brought honor to Silverclaw!"

The pack cheered. I forced myself