Chapter 8
The great hall fell silent as Elder Catherine rose to her feet, her weathered face solemn as she prepared to deliver the council's judgment. I sat beside Lucian's bed, which had been moved to the side of the room so he could witness the trial despite his injuries. His hand rested in mine, warm and steady despite the silver poison still working its way out of his system.
Milana stood in the center of the circular chamber, silver chains binding her wrists. Her once-proud posture had crumbled, but defiance still blazed in her eyes as she glared at me.
"Milana Lopez," Elder Catherine's voice echoed through the hall, "you stand accused of multiple violations of our most sacred laws."
The evidence mounted like a tidal wave—testimony from pack members who had seen her sneak into the Luna quarters, fingerprints on my ceremonial gown, and finally, the silver claws themselves, displayed in a glass case for all to see.
"The use of silver weapons against a Luna is an offense against all packs," Elder Catherine continued, her voice hardening. "Against the Moon Goddess herself."
I watched Milana's face as her schemes were laid bare. The systematic way she had worked to undermine me, to desecrate sacred traditions, to steal what wasn't hers to take.
"By unanimous decision of the combined councils," Elder Catherine pronounced, "you are hereby exiled as a rogue for fifteen years."
A collective gasp rippled through the gathered witnesses. Fifteen years—it might as well be forever. No pack would take her now. She would live alone, hunted, unwanted.
"This is your fault!" Milana screamed, lunging toward me only to be yanked back by the guards. "You stole everything from me!"
I met her gaze steadily. "I took nothing that wasn't freely given. You lost everything because of your own actions."
As they dragged her away, her screams echoing down the corridor, I felt no satisfaction—only a hollow sadness for what could have been.
---
"Aaliyah, please."
Alejandro's voice was barely recognizable, stripped of its usual arrogance. He stood at the entrance to Lucian's recovery chamber, his face pale and drawn.
"You need to leave," I said firmly, not looking up from where I was changing Lucian's bandages.
"I need to apologize," he insisted, taking a step closer. "What happened—what Milana did—it's my fault."
Finally, I raised my eyes to meet his. The Alpha I had once agreed to mate was a shadow of himself now, his aura diminished, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"You enabled her," I said quietly. "You knew what she was doing."
"I didn't think—" he began.
"That's the problem," I interrupted. "You didn't think about anyone but yourself."
Lucian stirred beside me, his eyes opening to find mine. The simple gesture—seeking me first—said everything about where his priorities lay.
"Aaliyah, I know I've lost you," Alejandro said, his voice breaking. "But I need you to know how sorry I am."
I turned back to Lucian, gently brushing hair from his forehead. "Your apology means nothing to me now."
Alejandro flinched as if I'd struck him. "Is there anything I can do? Anything to make amends?"
"Leave," I said simply. "And never come near us again."
As he turned to go, shoulders hunched in defeat, I felt the last threads of our past relationship finally snap and dissolve.
---
The silver poison had finally cleared from Lucian's system, leaving him weak but healing. I'd barely left his side for three days, using my Luna powers to speed his recovery.
"You should rest," he murmured, watching me adjust his pillows.
"I'm fine," I replied, sitting on the edge of the bed. "The healer says you'll be back to normal in a few more days."
He reached up to touch my face, his fingers tracing the curve of my cheek. "You've been using your Luna powers for me."
I nodded. "They work better than anyone expected."
"Because you care," he said simply.
The truth of his words hung between us, breaking down the last walls we'd maintained.
"This isn't part of our contract," I admitted softly. "What I feel for you... it's more than an alliance."
His eyes darkened, pupils dilating as he processed my confession. "Aaliyah..."
"I know we started this for strategic reasons," I continued, my heart racing. "But somewhere along the way, it became real."
Lucian's hand tightened around mine, his grip suddenly fierce. "When I thought she might hurt you—when I felt the silver claws—all I could think was that I couldn't lose you."
The raw honesty in his voice stripped away the last of my reservations.
"Our contract was supposed to be about territory and power," I whispered.
"And now?" he asked, his voice rough with emotion.
"Now it's about us," I replied, leaning forward until our foreheads touched. "About what we choose together."
His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close despite his injuries. As our lips met in a kiss that felt like coming home, I knew with absolute certainty that this was where I belonged—not because of a contract or an arrangement, but because my heart recognized its mate.
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