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With a respectful gesture, she addressed me as “Lord Hand” and informed me that the proceedings were about to commence. However, her reference to us as the Eastern Lunas still troubled me, considering we bore no visible marks on our necks that would categorize us as such. Darius, ever the vigilant one, promptly corrected her misconception. Her head bowed apologetically, acknowledging her mistake.
As we were ushered towards the center of the gathering, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were merely there for the amusement of the attendees. Taking our place on the open space, it became evident that we were expected to be the focal point of the event, ready to answer any inquiries thrown our way.
Seven elderly figures positioned themselves in seats reserved for the council elders, leaving one chair conspicuously vacant. I couldn’t help but speculate that it was meant for Elder Jenny, and a wave of sympathy washed over me, knowing she was absent from this important occasion.
At the helm of the council stood a young man by the name of Vino Lawrence, assuming the role of leadership with a poised
demeanor.
He possessed the qualities of an Alpha, and it appeared that he
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had inherited the position from his father. He exuded an aura of reservedness, giving the impression that he wouldn’t be inclined to ask questions. As I observed him, it became evident that the seats in the room were meant for families rather than individual appointees. This realization led me to question why Vino was leading the council.
A respected elder named Larry McMillian broke the silence and addressed me directly, saying, “Luna Zora Rohan, we extend our warm welcome to the council. I believe you understand the purpose of this gathering, so let us proceed without delay.” I nodded in acknowledgement, preparing myself for what was to
come.
Larry continued, his voice filled with concern, “Three days ago, Luna Nellie and Elder Jenney were assaulted by soldiers from the Southern and Eastern territories. This attack took place at Luna Nellie’s residence. According to our Northern warriors stationed there, these men claimed to be searching for you, and they alleged that Alpha Hardy Corrigan, also known as Elbert, had sent them. We need you to clarify your connection with Elbert and how he came to know of your presence at Luna Nellie’s home.” The insinuation in Larry’s words infuriated me. Though he hadn’t explicitly accused me, it seemed he suspected my involvement in orchestrating the Luna’s unfortunate predicament.
With controlled frustration, I responded, “I held the position of Luna within the Magic Fang pack, married to Alpha Casey Grady. However, I was given as a peace offering to Lord Darius Hand in an effort to resolve the North–East misunderstanding. I have no knowledge of Alpha Hardy Corrigan and any affiliation with him.”
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Seeking to provide a complete account, I added, “I encountered him briefly at a social gathering, and that was the extent of our interaction. Since arriving at the Hand Estate, I have adhered to strict rules, confined within its boundaries, and forbidden from communicating with anyone outside its walls.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any information about Luna Nellie’s whereabouts, nor do I have any connection with Elder Jenny,” I stated, feeling somewhat helpless in shedding light on the matter. However, my response seemed to amuse Elder Larry, as he burst into laughter.
“Ah, Luna, lying to the council is quite a serious offense,” he remarked, his eyes piercing and filled with darkness as he fixed his gaze upon me. “In the North, we have our laws, and we firmly adhere to them. If it so happens that you’re hiding something, I’ll offer you an opportunity to confess. But be warned, if your guilt is proven, your fellow colleagues will face severe punishment for their involvement in the crime.”
Defiantly, I replied, “I refuse to admit to something I haven’t done. I’m innocent,” to which Elder Larry nodded, seemingly unperturbed.
His expression turned serious as he continued, “Let me share an interesting discovery we made. The Alpha Sheperd, Christian Blanc, from the Woodland pack in Hill Valley has been exchanging letters with his Luna. However, we managed to intercept those letters, and what we found within was intriguing. In these correspondences, the Alpha Sheperd explicitly instructs his wife to respond. He believes she can do so because you, Luna Zora, sent letters to Alpha Casey regarding your time spent in the North,” he disclosed, causing my brows to furrow in confusion and suspicion.
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The room fell into a hushed murmur as the man confidently declared, “We have the letters in our possession.” My mind raced, trying to process the implications of his words. What could I possibly say in response to this revelation?
But before I could gather my thoughts, he directed his attention towards me with an accusatory tone. “Luna Zora, what did you tell your husband about the North? I firmly believe that you divulged everything he needed to know. You see, there exists an alliance between the east and south. Alpha Casey Grady, the influential leader of the east, sought assistance from the victor of a previous battle against the North. He believed this person would be capable of accomplishing the task of separating you from the North.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. This despicable individual had twisted the narrative, distorting the truth to serve his own agenda. I couldn’t fathom how someone could be so conniving.
With a resolute tone, I retorted, “These are all mere insinuations. You possess no concrete proof to support your claims.” I hoped to cast doubt on his allegations, to unveil the flimsiness of his argument.
Dismissing my statement, he shook his head, an air of confidence surrounding him. “I possess letters from Alpha Sheperd that reveal a different story, Luna,” he revealed, his words hanging in the air. My mind raced, desperately searching for a way to counter his claim.
Just as I was about to interject, a voice boomed from Darius’s Loge, demanding attention. “Enough!” he exclaimed, silencing the
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room with his authoritative presence. All eyes turned towards him, awaiting his words.
Taking control of the situation, Darius spoke, shedding light on the truth. “I made her write a single letter to her husband when she arrived, and I personally sent it. At that time, she had no knowledge of my mother’s presence in Wonderland. I read the letter myself and still possess a photocopy of its contents. You cannot base your deductions solely on the words of a husband yearning for his wife’s affection and eager for any form of communication. Besides, what I want to know is why they took the life of Elder Jenny.”
If those people really wanted to target Zora, they wouldn’t have just killed Jenny and left my mother injured. I did some digging myself, and my mother confirmed that they didn’t ask for Zora. They attacked her and killed Jenny before my mother could come to her aid. Whatever happened had nothing to do with Zora, Kara, and Eloise. And I urge this court to stop labeling them as Eastern Lunas. Look around, folks. They’ve moved on from their husbands‘ pack. They belong to my pack now, and soon Zora will be my Luna,” he declared, causing whispers to ripple through the crowd.
As much as I admired his confidence, I didn’t think it was wise for him to announce that I would be their Luna soon. It was clear that they held a grudge against the eastern region, and the three of us were seen as representatives of the east and south, particularly Abelardo.
