Chapter 107

Lionel’s POV

The room was deathly silent.

Words were not needed for the disbelief and hostility to come across.

None dared flash their fangs at me. They displayed their displeasure in other ways. My nose was hit with a nearly overpowering scent of bitter anger and sour disgust.

I deliberately ignored this disrespect. I could not alienate them at this point. Their approval is crucial for the next step.

There were certain steps that must be taken to be the pack’s Luna.

Above all else the pack must accept their Luna. Be able to respect her authority. To acknowledge her as my equal.

I could mate with Nan. I could marry her. I could not make her Luna without their acceptance.

It was the hardest part. Near impossible at this point. I had to try anyway.

I would never accept anyone other than Nan at my side.

‘Surely they would love her too,’ I grasp at straws. ‘If they only understood.’

I could only offer the truth.

So I spoke. Longer than I had in years. Detailing every important piece of Nan and I’s relationship.

“…found Patti on her doorstep and took her in. Rasing her as her own. Sacrificing her limited time and money to care for a pup not of her own blood.”

That was one of the things about her personality that had attracted me to Nan. Her perseverance in the face of adversity. Her unyielding love for children.

It was also a great quality in a Luna.

I did not see any faces swayed even slightly. So I kept it up. Determined to make them at least hear my reasons.

To understand I did not pick Nan on a whim.

“…up to me. Made me listen in a way no other woman has ever accomplished. Something every Luna should be able to do. Not even my ex-wife…”

I allowed a slight glare on my face towards Joseph. He flinched. All too aware of the thin ice he was treading after Katya’s crimes had been publicized.

‘Good,’ My wolf growled. ‘He endangered everything with his reckless actions.’

The lawsuit had been dropped in the face of everything. But I had not forgotten. I also made sure Joseph was properly punished.

I suspect Joseph wishes at this point that I had just sued him.

Nan’s squeeze of my hand makes me drop eye contact with my worthless brother. There is a slight reproach in the twist of her mouth when I glance at her. ‘Not now,’ her face seems to scream.

“…her own safety to get information about the kidnapping of our daughters. In the aftermath of my misplaced wrath, she bore it with a grace and dignity that is beyond admirable. Her forgiveness…”

I hated talking about my disastrous blunder. I could not brush it off with the pack. Not when everything had gone down so publicly.

That was one rumor mill I had to put to rest from my own mouth.

“…daughters have claimed Nan as their mother from the first day they met. Establishing a connection that has proven to be unbreakable and strong. Not even their biological mother could…”

That was another point I am firm on. My pups had whole established a maternal bond to Nan. It would only be detrimental to try and erase that connection.

The pack knows how important family bonds are to pups. They were blessings from the Moon goddess. Sign of her favor that pups are able to create strong bonds of connections.

This was automatically another consideration for Nan to be Luna.

“…felt the tug of a fated mating bond since the first time we touched. I have consulted experts who have agreed that it is a fated mating bond. Meaning Nan is literally the only woman my wolf will ever accept as a mate.”

I take a deep breath. Nerves rising at the blank expressions on the faces around us. Their scents muted…neutral at best.

“I will make Nan my mate. The Moon goddess has decided that. Your approval has no bearing there.”

‘Too harsh,’ I think. ‘Lighten your tone, Lionel…no need to make enemies.’

“I have told everyone this tale for so that you all understand that this was not done on a whim. That Nan is the only person who I could accept as Luna of this pack.” I look meaningfully at my pack.

“I only ask that you accept her as your Luna too.”

It is no sooner that my request is voiced when the tension in the room swells dramatically. I am slammed with scents that burn like gasoline in outrage. The room becomes near sweltering as multiple wolves’ inner flames flare at the same time.

Pandemonium breaks out.

“Alpha Lionel!” A distant cousin on my father’s side shouts. “This is outrageous!”

“Nephew,” One of maternal Uncles says cajolingly. “You’re still quite young, I’m sure these feelings are just…”

“Lionel,” Another cousin from my mother’s adds, “you must see reason. How could a commoner ever understand our world?”

My ears catch the faint whispers of some of my pack-adjacent retainers. “I like Nan. But does Alpha Lionel really think she is ready to co-lead this pack?”

My cousin Scarlett throws her two cents in. “I will admit that Lupa has done well on my wedding. But I don’t feel comfortable with some of her…status…making decisions for me.”

It’s more of the same. Disheartening to say the least. But not unexpected.

‘I see this will have to be done the hard way,’ I sigh. I allow my scent to fan out and overpower any other scent in the room.

The voices of dissent slowly quiet down.

Nan speaks for the first time.

“We understand your concerns. I know I am not what everyone expects out of a Luna. It is only natural that you all would have doubts about me.”

Everyone’s attention is focused on her. A room full of angry, unhappy wolves staring her down. Anyone would be a little nervous...especially someone born without a wolf.

Not Nan. No, she stands there unflinching. A stubborn, proud tilt to her head.

‘And they are listening,’ I resist the urge to smile. ‘They are not happy about it…but they are listening.’

“I don’t know if I will be a perfect Luna. I do know that I will be by Lionel’s side no matter what. Don’t trust me…but trust your alpha.”

There is a heavy silence once again. I see them taking in her words. Weighing them.

I feel hope for a moment. Perhaps her words have reached them. Maybe they have also been given a glimpse of her capability as the Luna as I have.

It’s my favorite cousin who speaks first.

“Don’t get me wrong, Lupa.” Scarlett says hesitantly. “It’s nothing personal.”

“Being Luna is incredibly difficult. It’s a position that many females have to be raised for from birth. I’m sure you have good intentions…”

My hope begins to deflate.

“But I am not okay with you being so unprepared for the role. Realistically, I don’t think you could wield the power and respect that comes from being the Luna. Specifically, the Luna of the Wolfsbane pack.”

Scarlet shoot me an apologetic look but does not take back her words. I hate it. There is a part of me that knows that Scarlett is just being honest.

An incredibly unwelcome voices breaks the silence. “I have one other concern.” My mother says.

“Mother…” I grit out.

“There is also the fact that she is wolf-less.” My mother reveals.

Nan’s face pales. That little reaction is the unfortunate confirmation of my mothers’ words. All previous consideration is thrown out the window.

I am forced to cut the pack meeting short after that. Unwilling to let my pack harm Nan with their insults and vitriol. My wolf rages inside at the damage my mother has done again.

I sit on the couch with my head in my hands. My head throbbing. “That went well,” I groan.

“Lionel.” Nan says soothingly. “Please, don’t worry about this.”

“I just want everyone to see you the way I do.” I admit quietly.

“I’ve known since I was a child that I would most likely never be able to properly mate. Having a possible mating bond with you was more than I could have ever dreamed for. So long as I am with you…it’s okay if I’m not the Luna.”

“No.” I rebuff. “You deserve more than that. You are mine.”

“I will find a way to make our mating bond whole.” I vow. “They will have no choice but to accept you then.”