Chapter 414
Four hundred and sixteen
Emma POV
The pre-coronation celebrations for Isabella were a three-day blur of ritual and tradition. She was about to step into the role of Luna. I still couldn’t believe it, and the whole family was proud of her for crushing it.
She had a small circle of friends, me, Iris, Anita, and two other women in the pack, and we gathered to support her. One afternoon was dedicated to prayer with the elder priestesses. The evening involved painting protection runes onto our forearms and heads with crushed ash and berry paste, then dancing in a circle beneath the moonlight.
Tables in the dining hall groaned under extravagant spreads. Platters held freshly seared seafood, while cauldrons brimmed with fish chowder that had to be eaten while steaming. Carafes of freshly squeezed orange and pomegranate juice were passed around the tables.
I tried to eat but a heaviness sat in my stomach. While the other girls laughed and filled their plates, I reached only for butter cookies, nibbling on them to give my hands something to do.
On the final afternoon, the sky turned purple and rain began to fall over the valley. In our culture, rain during a pre -coronation was seen as a rare blessing, a washing away of the old to welcome the new.
I stood by the arched window on the second floor, leaning my shoulder against the mahogany frame as I watched raindrops streak down the glass. Everyone else was gathered near the fireplace, chatting over bowls of homemade
soup.
“I knew I’d find you hiding over here p>
I turned my head. Isabella stood beside me, holding a bowl. “You barely touched anything at lunch,” she said, offering me the bowl. “I had the kitchen fix you something hot. Eat p>
I looked down at the bowl. It was chicken soup filled with tender meat, vegetables, and herbs. My stomach
rumbled.
“Your eyes are everywhere, aren’t they?” I murmured, taking the bowl and a fork. A grateful smile touched my lips. “Even with fifty people vying for your attention p>
“It’s going to be my job to see everyone,” she said, resting her hand against the windowsill as she looked out at the rain. “Especially the people I care about p>
I took a bite of chicken. The savory taste made me realize how hungry I was. Isabella sighed as she watched the
rain.
“Wesley told me about your charity for rogue children,” she said.
| My fork hovered near my mouth. Wesley tells her everything. What was I expecting between a married couple? It
was sweet, but part of me wished my breakdown in the vault had stayed between Wesley and me, because I didn’t even tell Anita.
“He told me how deeply you were moved by the children and women, and how much it hurt you that our laws leave them stranded p>
I looked down at the broth. “Yeah… that. But Wesley’s right. The pack laws exist for a reason p>
“Wesley looks at the world in black and white,” she said, smiling. “But I’ve been through so much that I see the grey p>
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I didn’t know what to say to that.
ve been thinking about my official Luna Project. Formally using pack funds for rogues would be rejected by the council in a heartbeat, but if you want to set up something private to help those children, I want to team up with you. You let me know, and I’ll stand right behind you p>
A lump formed in my throat.
“Isabella… thank you. Truly. That means more than you know p>
She smiled and trailed off, watching the rain.
“You know, rogues aren’t the only ones capable of darkness p>
I turned to her. “What do you mean p>
“Sometimes the real monsters aren’t the exiles hiding in the woods. Sometimes they’re the people we respect and idolize. They walk among us in fine clothes and hold all the power p>
“Well… obviously not my uncle, and certainly not Wesley p>
Isabella laughed. “No, of course not. I’m just generalizing, Emma. Power changes people. It makes them do terrible things. It’s one of my greatest fears about becoming Luna, that I’ll look at the version of who I’ve become and not recognize it p>
I smiled at her.
My mind snagged on what she’d said about Alexander saving Maverick months back.
“The rogue Lord…” I began, keeping my voice neutral as I chewed another piece of chicken. “The one who saved Maverick months ago, did he ever tell you why he did it p>
She shook her head. “I didn’t spend more than five minutes in his presence. Maverick was being held by that rogue with the colored hair, and then the rogue Lord stepped in and shut it all down. Wesley still refuses to see any good in him, but honestly, I was surprised he helped us at all. Given the rogue’s history with Alpha Desmond, I assumed he wouldn’t care p>
“What do you mean? Does the rogue Lord have history with Desmond p>
“I don’t know the full details,” Isabella said, leaning against the wall, “I overheard Charlie and Wesley discussing how the reason the rogue Lord became a rogue in the first place was because he murdered his own father p>
The world stopped.
My hands trembled so badly the bowl almost slipped from my grip. Isabella kept talking, unaware of what was happening inside me.
“They say Desmond helped hide him from his crimes and sheltered him. Now the rogue Lord is waging a bloody war to take back the pack from his younger brother, the rightful heir p>
Isabella’s lips were moving, but I couldn’t hear another word. The piece of chicken I’d swallowed felt like a lump of lead in my gut.
He murdered his father.
I am fated to a murderer.
The image of his eyes, his rough hands, and the way he’d kissed me became unbearable.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.