Chapter 17: I Won't Be Anyone's Political Prize

For the rest of the afternoon, one sentence kept repeating in my head.

"You becoming Luna of Nightvale."

It sounded ridiculous.

Too large.

Too far removed from the life I had planned.

A week ago, my biggest worry had been meeting an online boyfriend for the first time.

Now two major Packs were apparently calculating what my mate bond could do to the balance of Lycan power.

I hated it.

Rowan walked beside me across campus without speaking.

He seemed to understand that I needed silence.

Finally, I stopped beneath an old cedar tree.

"Do you want me to become Luna of Nightvale?"

He looked at me carefully.

"Someday? If that's what you want."

"That's not an answer."

"It is."

"Rowan."

He sighed.

"Yes. I want a future with you."

My heart tightened.

"And because I'm your mate, that future automatically includes Nightvale?"

"Not automatically."

"You're the heir."

"I am."

"So if you become Supreme Alpha, your mate becomes Luna."

"Traditionally, yes."

"Meaning people aren't wrong to look at me politically."

His jaw tightened.

"They're wrong to treat you as if politics are all you are."

I crossed my arms.

"Would you give up becoming Supreme Alpha for me?"

The question surprised both of us.

Rowan didn't answer immediately.

I felt irritation rise.

"See?"

"No."

I blinked.

"No what?"

"No, I'm not going to give you a dramatic answer just because it sounds romantic."

His voice remained calm.

"Nightvale is my responsibility. Thousands of people depend on my family. Walking away from that without thought wouldn't prove I love you. It would prove I'm irresponsible."

I stared at him.

That wasn't the answer I expected.

But somehow, it was better.

"Then what happens if I don't want to be Luna?"

"We find another way."

"Such as?"

"I don't know yet."

"Very reassuring."

"You asked for honesty."

I looked away.

He stepped closer.

"Nessa, I won't pretend my position doesn't matter. It does. But I also won't decide your life for you."

"Everyone keeps saying that until politics show up."

"Then judge me by what I do when they do."

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.

A message from Knox.

[My father wants to meet you.]

I showed Rowan.

His expression instantly darkened.

"No."

"You don't decide that."

"Right."

He visibly forced himself to relax.

"My opinion is strongly no."

"Better."

Another message appeared.

[He says it concerns the Lunaris attack.]

I went still.

Rowan read it too.

"That changes things."

"Still strongly no?"

"Now it's strongly no unless we control the meeting."

"We?"

"You, me, your parents, Cassian, and preferably my father."

"So basically a diplomatic summit."

"Pretty much."

I rubbed my forehead.

"I just wanted to attend university."

"You can still attend university."

"Between assassination history and ancient mating laws?"

"Time management."

I gave him a look.

"Terrible joke."

"I panicked."

I almost smiled.

That evening, Mom, Dad, Cassian, Rowan, and I gathered in a secure Nightvale-owned residence near campus.

I hadn't known Nightvale owned property this close to Hollowcrest.

Apparently Nightvale owned property almost everywhere.

Cassian hated that fact on principle.

"Too much centralized power," he muttered.

Rowan looked at him.

"You are literally trying to restore an Alpha bloodline."

"Different."

"How?"

"Because I said so."

I raised a hand.

"Children."

Both men stopped.

Mom looked far too amused.

We called Knox on video.

He appeared from what looked like his bedroom.

His face was tense.

"My father isn't happy I'm talking to you."

"That makes two of us," Rowan said.

"Nobody asked you."

"Enough," I cut in.

"Knox, what did your father say about the attack?"

Knox looked at me.

"He claims Stormridge wasn't responsible."

Cassian laughed coldly.

"Convenient."

"I didn't say I believed him."

"What exactly does he know?" Mom asked.

"He said my grandfather was involved in investigating the aftermath."

Rowan frowned.

"Stormridge's previous Alpha?"

"Yes."

"That's not in Council records."

"Apparently it was unofficial."

Cassian leaned closer.

"Why unofficial?"

"Because he suspected someone inside the Council."

Silence followed.

Dad spoke first.

"That would explain compromised safe houses."

Cassian's expression hardened.

"Or it could be a story designed to redirect suspicion."

Knox looked frustrated.

"I know how this sounds."

"Do you?" Cassian asked.

"Your Pack advisor recognized Nessa as a child. Years later Lunaris survivors kept getting exposed. Now your father's secretary leaks Nessa's private messages and accesses sealed records."

"Mara did that, not me."

"Mara works for Stormridge."

Knox clenched his jaw.

"And she's Elodie's aunt."

That silenced everyone again.

Mom frowned.

"Could Silvercrest be involved?"

Rowan answered.

"Possible."

Knox nodded reluctantly.

"My father thinks Mara has been passing information to Silvercrest for years."

"And he kept her as his secretary?" I asked.

"He didn't know."

Cassian snorted.

"Convenient again."

Knox ignored him.

"He found encrypted transfers last night. She accessed old Stormridge records and sent copies somewhere outside the Pack network."

"Where?" Rowan asked.

"Still tracing it."

I leaned forward.

"What does your father want from me?"

Knox hesitated.

"He wants to apologize."

"For what?"

"For what I did."

I laughed without humor.

"That's your apology to make, not his."

"I know."

"Anything else?"

"He wants to explain why he warned me away from you."

"You already told us. Politics."

"Not only politics."

My attention sharpened.

"Then what?"

Knox looked uncomfortable.

"He said your appearance in Hollowcrest could trigger something called the Moon Court Claim."

Cassian went completely still.

Mom whispered:

"No."

I looked between them.

"What is that?"

Neither answered immediately.

"Cassian."

He exhaled.

"It's an ancient Lunaris succession mechanism."

"Meaning?"

"When the Alpha line disappears and later resurfaces, surviving allied Packs can challenge or recognize the returning heir."

"Challenge me how?"

"Through the Moon Court."

"And if I lose?"

"You don't become Lunaris Alpha."

I shrugged.

"Sounds fine."

Cassian's expression remained grim.

"That's not the dangerous part."

"Of course not."

"If you refuse the claim entirely, Lunaris territory, assets, and surviving authority can be redistributed among historical allied Packs."

Rowan's eyes narrowed.

"Which Packs?"

Cassian answered quietly.

"Nightvale, Stormridge, Silvercrest, and three others."

Everything clicked.

"So some people benefit if I never become Alpha."

"Yes."

"And others benefit if I do, depending on who I'm bonded to."

"Yes."

I leaned back.

"So that's what this is really about."

Not beauty.

Not jealousy.

Not even romance.

Power.

Rowan's hand rested on the table near mine.

He didn't touch me.

He simply waited.

I looked at everyone.

"Then we're doing this my way."

Cassian raised a brow.

"Meaning?"

"I'm not hiding."

Mom opened her mouth.

I stopped her.

"And I'm not rushing a mate bond just because ancient laws make everyone nervous."

Rowan nodded immediately.

"Agreed."

"I'm not accepting courtship petitions."

"Good," he said.

"Especially not yours."

"I wasn't going to petition."

"Good answer."

Cassian almost laughed.

"And I'm not giving up Lunaris simply because people want the inheritance divided."

Something changed in the room.

My wolf stirred.

Golden warmth spread beneath my skin.

Cassian slowly stood.

"Say that again."

"What?"

"The last part."

I frowned.

"I'm not giving up Lunaris."

His eyes flashed gold.

Then he lowered his head.

Not deeply.

But enough.

"Then, heir of Aurelius, you have my recognition."

The golden glow around my wrists brightened.

Mom stared.

Rowan's wolf surged in response.

And somewhere far beyond the room, a howl rose into the night.

Then another.

Then three more.

Cassian's expression changed.

"They're answering."

"Who?"

He looked at me.

"The surviving Lunaris wolves."