Chapter 372 I’ve Made My Choice
Emilia’s POV

“You must be wondering how we lost one another,” Margarita said, resting her hands on the table. “It happened during the war between the witches and the Southern Pack. When the fighting started, your grandfather, Chris, and I fled with the children.”

She paused before continuing. “The hunters caught up with us. We split up to draw them away.”

Her voice stayed steady, but she looked down at her hands. No one interrupted.

“Chris was badly wounded while we were running. I did everything I could for him, but we couldn’t stay anywhere for long. We hid in ditches, ruined buildings, even hollow trees. The wolves were always close behind.”

She took a slow breath. “I couldn’t save him. He died in my arms.”

I stopped eating. Across the table, Chuck sat quietly, listening.

“Eventually, the Southern Pack got a new Alpha,” Margarita continued. “He wasn’t interested in carrying on the hunt, so it ended. I returned to Thornhaven and took in the witches who had nowhere else to go, the ones everyone called cursed or unlucky. Together, we rebuilt the town.”

I tried to imagine surviving all of that. She’d lost her home, been separated from her children, and watched the man she loved die. Still, she’d come back and built a place where other witches could live safely.

Margarita reached across the table and took my hand. “Emilia, does your being here mean you’ve made a decision?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “I want to become a witch. I want to help you protect Thornhaven.”

Chuck grinned and sat up straighter. Mindy, however, frowned.

“What about Sebastian?” she asked. “Has he agreed?”

I managed a small smile. “I trust him to support a decision that makes me happy.”

The words hurt to say. Only yesterday, I would have said them without a second thought. Now I could only hope they were still true.

Margarita held my hand between hers. “Follow your heart, darling. If you and your husband truly love each other, you’ll find a way through your problems.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Grandmother, this decision might give us a few more problems.”

She laughed and shook her head. “I’d call it a test. If he and his pack can’t accept witches, or a powerful half-blood witch as their Luna, that’s their loss.”

“Yes.” I lifted my chin. “It is.”

Margarita stood and looked at Chuck and Mindy. “You two can look after the cottage for now.”

Then she turned to me, smiling. “I have a granddaughter’s wish to grant.”

By the time I brought Margarita to Silverlake City, the blood moon was only three days away. I booked her a room at the hotel closest to Silver Moon territory. She needed to be nearby, but no one in the pack could know she was there.

I’d gone over the plan at least a dozen times. On the fifteenth, I would host a charity gala at the pack house. No one would question their Luna organizing an evening for a good cause.

The day before, Vesper and her coven would enter the territory as caterers and event staff. Their company was legally registered, so they had a good reason to be there. They could carry in supplies and walk around with clipboards without looking suspicious.

They would put up the decorations, hang the lights, and arrange the flowers before leaving. Then Margarita would quietly adjust their work, turning the decorations into the setup for a ritual that would seal away a witch’s bloodline.

On the night of the blood moon, Vesper’s coven to perform the ceremony. They would provide the witches and the power needed, while Margarita stayed out of sight and checked each step.

On paper, it all worked. In practice, Abigail’s pregnancy announcement had left everyone at home upset, and I wasn’t sure how they would react to me suggesting a party. Still, I’d come too far to give up now.

“Don’t overthink it,” Eve said. “You’ve faced worse than this.”

“That’s not very comforting.”

“It’s still true.”

The moment I entered the pack house, Mila hurried across the room. She caught my arms and looked me over.

“Emilia, where have you been? Sebastian has been searching everywhere for you. He’s been frantic.”

“I needed some time to clear my head.”

“I have to tell him you’re back. He’s been worried sick.” Her expression eased as she reached out to him through the mind-link.

I nodded and went to the sofa. After two days of driving, my whole body ached. Everything else still hurt too, but at least I could finally sit down.

Mila joined me a moment later and patted my knee. “I’ve told Sebastian. He’s on his way.”

I waited. From the way she watched me, she had more to say.

“Emilia, you know how much he loves you.” She took my hand. “He would leave his own home before he chose to sleep with another woman. He wouldn’t betray you.”

She paused, then continued. “And can we really trust anything Abigail says? Just because she claims the baby is his doesn’t make it true. We still have three months to wait for the test results.”

I nearly laughed, but there was nothing funny about it. “I’ve never doubted that he loves me. I believe he wouldn’t choose to betray me.”

“Then—”

“That isn’t the problem, Mila. The baby is.” I met her eyes. “If it really is his, what am I supposed to do?”

She fell silent. Mila usually knew what to say, but this time she only looked at me. Perhaps she hadn’t fully considered what that would mean for my life.

“Even if the baby is Sebastian’s, you won’t have to deal with it,” she said at last. “Titus and I will handle everything.”

I could already imagine how that would go. If the baby was Sebastian’s, their wish for an heir would make it hard for them to refuse Abigail anything. She could make one demand after another, and they would keep giving in.

And where would that leave me? I would be the Luna who couldn’t give the pack a pup, watching Abigail receive everything she wanted. I could end up being mocked in my own home while she carried my husband’s child.

But worrying about what might happen wouldn’t prevent it. I had something else to focus on now.

“Mila, there’s a plan I’ve been working on,” I said, sitting straighter. “I want to host a charity gala.”

“A gala?” She looked surprised. “What would it be for?”

“The pack.” I smiled, keeping my real purpose to myself. “I’ve been Luna for a while, but I’ve never organized an event of my own. I’d like to raise money for children whose families are struggling.”

I continued before she could ask more. “We could help pay for their schooling, books, and other supplies. Give them a better chance to stay in school.”

Her expression softened, and she squeezed my hand. “Emilia, after everything you’ve been through, you’re still thinking about the pack’s children.”

I kept smiling despite the ache in my chest. “Most of my work as Luna has been helping Sebastian with the company. I should be doing more for the pack too. They’re my responsibility as well.”

“You have such a kind heart,” Mila said. “Do you need help organizing it?”

“I’ve already made the arrangements,” I said. “It’ll be on the fifteenth of this month.”