Chapter 181
Chapter 181
ARIA
+10 Free Coins
She met my eyes in the mirror, her expression sympathetic but honest. “They’re going to have questions. Lots of questions. About why the bond changed. About whether you’re adequate for the position. About what happened during the eight years since their last visit p>
Great. Perfect. Just what I needed—ancient, god-like beings showing up to judge whether I was worthy of a position I’d never actually earned. Whether I measured up to the standard set by their blessed prodigy.
“What do I do?” I asked, hearing the tremor in my own voice. “How do I prove I’m adequate when I’m being compared to someone they literally blessed p>
“You be yourself,” Celine said, though her tone suggested she wasn’t entirely confident in that advice. “You show them that you’re fulfilling your duties as Luna. That you’re contributing to pack welfare. That you’re a suitable mate for Alpha Kael p>
“Even though his wolf hasn’t accepted me,” I muttered, the words escaping before I could stop them.
Celine’s hands stilled in my hair. “What p>
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “I’m just nervous. Ignore me p>
But Celine was looking at me with concern now. “Luna Aria, are things… are things alright between you and Alpha Kael p>
Fine,” I lied. “Everything’s fine. I’m just overwhelmed by all of this. The attack yesterday, the investigation that was supposed to happen, and now these elders showing up with the remove Kael from his position if they decide he’s inadequate p>
power to
“The investigation into Luna Sera will have to be postponed,” Celine said, returning to fixing my hair but with less confidence than before. “The Ghost Council’s visit takes absolute precedence. Nothing else matters until they’ve completed their assessment and departed p>
She finished with my hair and stepped back to examine her work. I looked like a Luna, at least. The formal attire, the symbols of office, the careful presentation-all of it combined to create the image of someone who belonged in this position.
But I knew better. Knew that no amount of elaborate clothing could hide what I really was-a
1/3
12:15 Sat, Jan 3
Chapter 181
67
+10 Free Coins
political convenience who’d stumbled into being Luna through necessity rather than merit.
And now I had to face beings who could apparently see through any facade. Who’d been blessed by the Moon Goddess herself to judge whether leadership was suitable.
I was going to be found wanting. I knew it with terrible certainty.
“There’s one more thing,” Celine said hesitantly. “A warning, really. The Ghost Council… they don’t always follow normal social protocols. They might ask very direct questions. Might probe into personal matters that would normally be considered private. And you have to answer honestly. They can sense lies. Can feel deception like a physical presence p>
“They can sense lies,” I repeated flatly.
“It’s one of their gifts,” Celine confirmed. “So whatever they ask, whatever they want to know- you have to tell them the truth. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if it reveals things you’d rather keep hidden p>
My mouth went dry. They could sense lies. Which meant I couldn’t hide my inadequacies, couldn’t pretend to be more than I was, couldn’t maintain the careful facade I’d been building since arriving in Shadowmere.
They’d know. They’d know everything. Every doubt, every fear, every way I was failing to
measure up.
A sharp knock on the door interrupted my spiraling panic. Kael’s voice came through, urgent and commanding. “Aria, we need to go. They’ll be arriving any moment and.we need to be at the gates to welcome them properly p>
I took a deep breath, trying to center myself. Trying to find some calm in the storm of anxiety. “Coming p>
Celine squeezed my shoulder briefly—a gesture of support that I appreciated even though I knew it couldn’t actually help. Then she opened the door and I stepped out to face whatever judgment was coming.
Kael was waiting in the corridor, dressed in his most formal Alpha attire. He looked powerful, commanding, every inch the leader who’d guided Shadowmere through crisis after crisis. But I could see the tension in his shoulders, the tightness around his eyes that suggested he was as worried about this visit as everyone else.
“You look beautiful,” he said, taking my hand. “Perfect Luna p>
I wanted to believe him. Wanted to think that looking the part would somehow make me adequate for it.
2/3
12:15 Sat, Jan 3
Chapter 181
But I knew better.
67
Mark