Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Elena’s POV
The air is thick and heavy as Rowan and I drive into our territory. My body aches, every muscle straining under the weight of exhaustion and guilt. The scent of home should be comforting, but it feels foreign now. All I can think about is Lucian–chained, vulnerable, and waiting for me.
The pack is already gathered near the Hunter estate. They must have sensed our approach because their eyes burn with unspoken questions. Whispers ripple through the crowd, sharp and biting, like a wind that cuts to the bone,
“What happened?”
here have they been?”
I grit my teeth, forcing down the swell of emotions clawing at my throat. Sebastian strides through the throng, his face dark with anger. “Elena,” he says, his voice calm but demanding. “What happened out there? I thought I told you to stay put and see to the pack. Where have you been?”
Rowan steps forward, his voice blunt. “Lyanna has the Crescent Stone–and Lucian. She’s planning something big during the Blood Moon.”
Gasps ripple through the crowd, but my focus is on Sebastian. His piercing gaze locks on mine. “You went to rescue Lucian? You left the pack to pursue Lucian?” His voice rising as he spoke.
I feel the mistrust of the pack on me. They have every reason not to trust me, with the Joel fiasco still fresh in everyone’s minds.
“You’re back, Sebastian. When did you get back?” I ask weakly.
“That’s not important right now. What’s important is me coming home to meet a leaderless pack. Nobody knew where you had gone off to. Did you even think of how I would worry?
“Then you tell me you ran off to save your boyfriend? Elena, we just came back from a mission where we lost men. This act of yours is insulting, to say the least. You should have been here.”
“I am sorry, Sebastian. I wasn’t thinking. I only responded to the call of my mate. He was in trouble and I reacted. I am sorry.” I say in a soft,pleading voice. My eyes meet with his, begging for understanding.
I see his tense shoulders relax as he struggles with his emotions, ping–ponging between being an Alpha and a brother.
“What happened out there? Rowan said she is with the Stone. I guess that’s why we didn’t find it with Darius.” He says curtly
“She was waiting for us. She knew we’d come, and she-” My voice falters as Lyanna’s taunts replay in my mind. Lucian belongs to me now.
“She set a trap,” Rowan cuts in, his tone grim. “And we walked right into it.”
The murmurs around us grow louder, the pack’s fear and doubt palpable. I clench my fists, my wolf surging just beneath my skin. “This isn’t over,” I say, raising my voice. “We’re going back. We’re bringing him home.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightens, his eyes scanning the crowd. “Elena, we’ve already lost wolves trying to retrieve the Crescent Stone. Asking them to risk their lives again-”
“I’m not asking,” I interrupt, stepping closer. “I’m telling you. Lyanna isn’t just after power–she’s planning a ritual, and Lucian is the key. If we don’t stop her, she’ll become unstoppable. She’ll come for all of us.”
The pack erupts into arguments, voices clashing in a storm of fear and frustration. Some demand we act, while others insist we cut our losses and protect what’s left of the pack. I turn to Sebastian, my chest heaving. “You know I’m right.”
He doesn’t answer immediately. His silence is a dagger in my chest.
Later, in the privacy of the Alpha’s quarters, Sebastian finally speaks. “You deliberately disobeyed me. You abandoned the pack for selfish reasons and you’re asking me to send wolves to their deaths, Elena. Are you ready to live with that?”
I meet his gaze, unflinching. “Lucian is my mate. I’ll do whatever it takes to save him. But this isn’t just about him. If Lyanna succeeds, no pack will be safe. You know that.”
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Chosen by the Moon: Rise of Female Alpha
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Cheye
ry integersgh his Bay What the plan?
unyangend Honest desk dira “We need more information about the rival. If Lyanna wants Encian, it’s because of something specific
Flansa di Buong of devoring the sheer alle for he’s right. Charging in blind dutist work the first time. Where do we start?”
#mas erhanges a glue witheriam. Thinee someone Rowan sayt rafurtantly “A rogue wolf who used to run with Lyanna. He knows about the Crew test at the consartan ia mrient simalk
Taxes or Me? Lack, mapirien curling in my chwar
The rågor wolf * wóry figura with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue, greets us with a sly grin. His den is tucked deep in the forest, far from any
he feels lening against the doorframe. Never thought I’d see your face again. What do you want?”
informaran Rowan says curtly
tog’s gaze shifts to me, his grin widening. “And who’s this? Your new Alpha?”
I don’t have the patience for games. We need to know about the Blood Moon ritual,” I snap. “And what Lyanna plans to do with Lucian.”
His gris fades, replaced by a flicker of unease. “Lyanna’s messing with the Blood Moon?” He shakes his head, stepping aside to let us in. “You’re in deep
The rogue, who introduces himself as Dylan, lays it out plainly. The ritual requires a wolf with a rare and powerful Alpha bond -something beyond the typical Alpha connection. Lucian fits the criteria, and the Crescent Stone amplifies his role as a conduit.
The Blood Moon enhances everything, Dylan explains, his tone grim. “The Crescent Stone, the ritual, the bond–it’s all connected. Lyanna’s not just looking for power. She wants control Total, unchallenged control over every pack
“And Lucian?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Dylan hesitates. If she completes the ritual, he won’t survive it. His life force will fuel the stone. It’s why she needs him alive–until the moment she
#best*
The room spins, and I grip the edge of the table to steady myself. My worst fears are confirmed: Lyanna doesn’t just want Lucian–she plans to destroy
When we return to the Shadow Forest territory, I call the pack to a meeting. My hands shake as I stand before them, but I force myself to stand tall. I have to make them see what’s at stake.
Lyanna in’t just our enemy–she’s a threat to every wolf,” I say, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “She plans to use the Blood Moon to complete a ritual that will give her power beyond anything we’ve ever seen. And Lucian…. Lucian is the key. She’ll kill him to get what she wants.”
The pack murmurs, their fear palpable. But I press on. “I know you’re scared. I’m scared too. But if we don’t act, Lyanna will come for us next. This is our chance to stop her. To protect our pack–and every pack–from her tyranny.”
Sebastian steps forward, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I think he’s going to disagree. But then he nods. “Elena’s right. This fight isn’t just hert it’s ours
Some wolves step forward immediately, their loyalty unwavering. Others hesitate, their doubt etched on their faces. I don’t blame them.
Eat I can’t give up. Tm not asking you to follow me blindly,” I say, my voice soft but firm. “But I can’t do this alone. If you believe in Sebastian, in the strength of our pack, stand with me.”
The clearing falls silent. Then, one by one, wolves step forward. Slowly at first, but then with growing confidence.
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Chosen by the Moon: Rise of Female Alpha
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Chapter 29
2
As the pack gathers around me, my bond with Lucian flares faintly–painful but insistent. It’s a reminder that he’s still out there, waiting
And I be damned if I let him down.
