Page 103 of Full Moon
I take the bowl, and as our cheeks brush in a gesture of gratitude, I rumble softly. "Thank you, truly, for all that you and your mate are doing." I press a gentle kiss to her cheek before straightening.
She bows deeply, her voice trembling with emotion. "You honor us greatly, Luna."
As she hurries back inside, Alec chuckles. "You've given her a memory she'll never forget. Most Lunas wouldn't even acknowledge a lesser wolf."
His words strike a nerve, and I freeze mid-sip. A low growl rumbles from my chest as I turn to face him, my eyes blazing with sudden fury. "I was treated as less than nothing for years," I say, each word dropping like ice into the space between us. "Tortured by those who thought themselves superior. Poisoned. Hunted. Made to believe I was worthless."
My canines flash as I speak, anger simmering just below the surface—anger at every council member who knew what I was, every witch who drew my blood, every person who looked at me and saw nothing worth saving.
"No one is lesser under my watch. Not a single wolf in my pack. If I find out anyone is abusing my people—anyone treating themas less than they are—I will rip their fucking throats out." Alec wisely steps back, his earlier amusement vanishing.
Good.
I turn away, needing distance before the rage spills over into something I can't control. The councils made me feel worthless for years. I will never—never—let anyone in my pack experience that same pain. As I approach my father's house, I pause, taking in the scene through the frosted window.
My mates are inside, moving about the kitchen with an ease that speaks of comfort and familiarity. Torben is setting the table, his massive hands gentle with the delicate plates. Khal is warming something on the stove, stirring with focused attention. Easton and Diaval are talking quietly in the corner, their heads bent close together.
The sight stills something deep inside me.
This is what family should look like. This is what I remember from before—before the fire, before the loss, before everything turned to ashes and I was left alone in a world that didn't want me. A sense of peace washes over me, momentarily calming the storm that lives beneath my skin.
We still have a war to fight. The councils are still out there, plotting our destruction, hunting us with monsters and magic and the kind of cruelty that spans generations. But right now, in this moment, I have everything I need. A pack that would follow me into hell. Mates who would burn the world to keep me safe. And a home—two homes now—where I finally belong.
The councils have no idea what's coming for them.
But they will.
Soon.
