Chapter 291
Chapter 291
Chapter 291
ARIA
“I’m sure you would,” I said, hearing the edge in my own voice. “But unless you’re here in an official capacity-as security or investigation-I don’t see why I should discuss it with you p>
“I’m here as a concerned pack member,” Bridget said smoothly. “Concerned about what your actions mean for pack security. Concerned about whether our Luna can be trusted to prioritize Shadowmere’s interests over her personal attachments to our enemies p>
“Damon isn’t my enemy,” I said, the words escaping before I could stop them. Then, realizing how that sounded: “I mean-he was my mate. My former mate. That doesn’t just disappear because circumstances changed p>
Bridget’s expression shifted to something that might have been satisfaction. Like I’d just confirmed something she’d suspected. “So you still have feelings for him. Even after he rejected you. Even after he orchestrated attacks against Shadowmere. Even after he nearly killed your current mate during that ambush p>
“I didn’t say I have feelings for him,” I protested, but it sounded weak even to my own ears.
“You didn’t have to,” Bridget said. “You said he isn’t your enemy. That’s concerning, Luna. That’s very concerning. Because Damon Blackwood is absolutely our enemy. He’s attacked our pack multiple times. He helped orchestrate the situation with Sera that nearly destroyed Alpha Kael. He’s proven repeatedly that he has no regard for Shadowmere’s welfare. And you’re sitting here telling me he isn’t your enemy p>
I wanted to argue. Wanted to explain that my feelings about Damon were complicated, that
you
didn’t spend years loving someone and then just turn that off like a switch because circumstances demanded it. But I could see the trap Bridget was laying, could see how any defense of my position would just dig the hole deeper.
“Why are you here?” I asked instead. “Really here, not the concerned pack member excuse. What do
you want p>
Bridget leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to something more intimate. “I want to understand whether Alpha Kael made a mistake by keeping you in the Luna position. Whether he let personal feelings override good judgment. Whether the pack’s trust in you is misplaced p>
“And if you decide it is?” I challenged. “What then? You can’t remove me. That’s Kael’s decision, not yours p>
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“No,” Bridget agreed. “But I can present findings to the Ghost Council. Can suggest that an Alpha who keeps an untrustworthy mate in a position of authority might not be making decisions in the pack’s best interests. Can raise questions about whether Shadowmere’s leadership is compromised p>
The threat was clear. She was threatening to go over Kael’s head, to appeal to the Ghost Council, to create political complications that would force him to reconsider keeping me as Luna whether he wanted to or not.
“You’ve wanted me gone since I arrived,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the fear churning through me. “You never thought I was good enough to be Luna. This is just you finally getting ammunition to argue for what you’ve wanted all along p>
“Is that inaccurate?” Bridget asked. “Are you good enough to be Luna? Can you honestly say that you’ve earned this position through merit rather than just being conveniently available when the curse needed breaking p>
I wanted to lie. Wanted to insist that I was capable, that I’d proven myself, that I deserved the position I held. But after yesterday’s public humiliation, after having my inadequacy confirmed by Kael in front of the entire pack, I couldn’t make those words come out with any conviction.
“I completed the Hunt,” I said instead. “Successfully. Four fragments-more than anyone in recorded history. That should count for something p>
“It does,” Bridget acknowledged. “It demonstrates capability under extreme circumstances. But capability in a Hunt and capability as Luna are different things. Leading requires trust. Judgment. The ability to put the pack’s interests above your own emotional needs. And you’ve demonstrated repeatedly that you struggle with all of those p>
She wasn’t wrong. That was the worst part. Everything she was saying had evidence to support it. I had visited Damon against Kael’s advice. Had kept it secret. Had proven that my judgment
go of. was compromised by emotional attachments I couldn’t fully let
“What do you want from me?” I asked tiredly. “An admission that I’m inadequate? A resignation? What would satisfy you p>
“Honesty,” Bridget said. “Complete honesty about what happened during that visit. What you discussed with Damon. What information you might have shared, intentionally or not. Whether you had any role in his escape from the neutral prison p>
My stomach dropped. “You think I helped him escape p>
“I think the timing is concerning,” Bridget said carefully. “You visited him. Days later, he escaped using information about patrol rotations that very few people should have had access
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“I didn’t-” I started, but she interrupted.
“I’m not accusing you,” Bridget said. “Not directly. But I am saying that Security Chief Nina is going to investigate this connection. Is going to ask these same questions. And if you’re smart, you’ll cooperate fully rather than trying to hide things or minimize your involvement. Because if Nina finds evidence that you were complicit in Damon’s escape or in that ambush, the consequences will be far worse than just losing the Luna position p>
She stood, smoothing her clothes with careful precision. “Think about what you want to say when Nina comes asking. Think about whether full honesty now might save you from worse consequences later. And think about whether remaining Luna is actually what’s best for this pack, or whether it’s just your pride making you hold onto a position you were never suited for p>
She walked away without waiting for a response, leaving me sitting there with my barely- touched breakfast and the crushing certainty that things were about to get much worse before they got better.
If they got better at all.
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