Unrelenting Destiny [COMPLETED]

16. Damning

Luciana Faith Moore

Luciana had been sitting in her room reading. The house was quiet but soon the sounds of snarls and shouting drew her attention. She stood in the doorway of her room, peering out nervously. What's going on down there? As if to answer her question, she suddenly saw Embry and an unknown she-wolf charge up the stairs, making a beeline for Jasper and Orianna's room. She watched as they frantically pulled the room apart, creeping over to the doorway, "What's...going on?" Luci knew it was none of her business, but being by herself in that house for nearly 24 hours was driving her insane. 

Embry looked up looking slightly disheveled, "We're...looking for something."

"I can see that." Luci's brow furrowed as she lightly bit down on her bottom lip. Before she could ask anything else, the she-wolf lifted a small bottle of medicine, declaring something about magic. They left as soon as they came, going back downstairs.

Luci followed them but stayed just outside of the basement, listening in as she attempted to piece together what was going on. She was able to distinguish Jasper's deep baritone and Orianna's pitch as she screamed. But she was unfamiliar with anyone else down there. The sounds of footsteps made her flee back up the stairs, watching as the basement emptied. Jasper and Embry stood at the pack house entrance, talking in low voices. Embry glanced towards the upstairs, undoubtedly telling Jasper that Luci had seen them. He soon left, leaving Jasper there.

The Alpha looked positively broken. He had only been apart from her for a day and a half but he looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. Closing the door, he slid down to sit on the floor, his palms digging into his eyes as he rubbed. Luci crept down the stairs, her feet quiet against the wooden floor as she was drawn closer to her mate. His coffee scent comforted her as she crouched down, resting on the front of her feet as she whispered, "Are you okay?"

Jasper remained quiet before looking up, their gazes connecting. He visibly relaxed at the sight of her, arms opening to bring her closer. She fell into his embrace, curling up between his legs as they sat on the floor together. She felt his warm breath in her hair as he murmured, "No...everything is completely screwed up."

But even as he said this, she felt peace as they melted into each other, her cheek on his chest as she gently rubbed one of his arms, "It's going to be okay, Jasper." 

"Somehow you saying that makes me believe it." Jasper chuckled softly, looking down as their gazes met once more. He leaned down, their lips meeting in a soft touch. It was the sweetest kiss they had shared as of yet, not that feral devouring that they had craved since they met, but something deeper than destiny itself. Luci drew back, smiling gently, "Tell me what happened. We can figure it out together."

Getting to his feet, he helped Luci up, bringing her to her room. He didn't give his own room a single glance. Jasper sat in the large armchair she had been reading in, dragging her down to sit in his lap. He told her the entirety of his confrontation with Monica and Orianna. She gasped as he told her about the accusations against Orianna, not believing it herself.

"I don't know what I'm going to do." Jasper admitted, "Orianna never told me about this birth control she was taking. She never even mentioned that she hung out with a witch. It's hard to believe anything she says but it just doesn't feel like something she would do."

Luciana had no real opinion of Orianna. She had only met the woman a few days ago. But even she agreed that the kind woman who had bandaged, fed, and clothed her didn't sound like this diabolical mastermind. Taking Jasper's large hand in hers, she gently swept her thumb over his skin, thinking hard about the situation, "I don't want to come off as a jealous mate, Jasper. I personally do not think Orianna could do something so terrible as to plan her Luna's murder."

Jasper nodded, "But?"

"But," Luci paused, nibbling on her bottom lip again, "if she wasn't your mate, if you were to look at everything objectively as an Alpha. The evidence is really damning."

He groaned, his head falling backward. She giggled softly, leaning over to place a soft kiss on his neck. Bringing his head up once more, he caught her lips, smiling. Finally, he admitted, "I never wanted to be Alpha, you know. I grew up knowing I'd be a Beta. Ivan always seemed to be the right one for the role. And when he had his first son, that really just solidified everything for me. I never thought in a million moons that I'd have to make any sort of decision as an Alpha."

"But here we are." Luci smiled encouragingly, "But that's fate, Jasper. We don't have any control over it but it just ...happens." Truly, they were perfect examples of such unrelenting destiny. Nothing felt more right than them being together, for her to support him no matter the trials. Even now, with his sudden Alpha responsibilities, Luci wasn't at all deterred or doubtful of their place in the world.

Jasper surely felt it too as he looked at her, "Goddess, you are perfect. I'm so lucky."

She blushed, not used to his unabashed love for her, "Somehow, I feel like the lucky one. I'll be here to support you, no matter what you decide."

Jasper Orion Deveraux

The Alpha had sent for Embry to assemble the pack once more. So much information had been thrown at them but there were still many questions to be answered. The few moments he had to relax Luciana rejuvenated him and he was ready to proceed with what had to be done. 

The pack had gathered inside their town hall, the room lined with theatre seats facing a stage. Jasper stood there now as they stared at him. Behind him sat Embry, Diana, and Monica. Ivan sat there as well, his arms bound behind him. The pack's overlapping conversation was almost deafening until he raised a hand and spoke in his Alpha voice, "Astral Twilight Pack, I've brought you here today to finally answer the questions about the terrible deaths of Luna Saravie and her pups."

The pack quieted as he continued, "With the help of Luna Saravie's cousin, the witch Diana, we were able to unlock Ivan's memories to see what happened. We were able to determine that Ivan was under the influence of magic that suppressed his human nature and allowed his wolf to take over. It was this magical interference that caused him to murder the Luna and their pups. He was not, in any way, responsible for these actions and has shown enormous remorse and regret."

The previous Alpha got to his feet, the pack grumbling, unconvinced. Ivan's voice was strained, cracking as he spoke, "Astral Twilight, I want to apologize for taking your Luna away from you. What Alpha Jasper says is correct - I did not have any conscious responsibility for what happened. But I have failed you all as an Alpha. More importantly, I have failed my mate and our pups as a husband and father. For that, there is no penance and I cannot ask for your forgiveness. I take responsibility for what I have done and would like to formally step down as Alpha of this pack. I will accept whatever fate Alpha Jasper has decided for me."

The pack once again erupted in murmurs before Jasper returned to the mic, "With this revelation, we have also found more...shocking evidence towards the true perpetrator of these terrible actions. The witch Monica was tricked by my own mate, Orianna Reid-Deveraux, to create the suppressant that affected Ivan." Monica approached the front of the stage now, explaining to the pack the kinds of drugs she had made for Orianna. 

By the end of her explanation, the pack had dissolved into fits of protest and disbelief. Many of the pack knew Orianna and it seemed they were unconvinced of her involvement. It wasn't until Jasper asserted, "When we accused Orianna of this, her wolf took over more rapidly and aggressively than I had ever seen in any wolf. As her mate, I can attest that she never spoke about her wolf or shifted on a regular basis; there was clearly a side of her I had never seen before. There is far too much evidence against Orianna that cannot be overlooked."

"As Alpha of the Astral Twilight, I have decided that Ivan Everett will be stripped of his rank but will be allowed to remain in the pack. Orianna Reid will be banished and branded as a rogue." Jasper inhaled sharply but the pack did not protest, murmurs of agreement spreading around them. He caught the eye of his mate, sitting quietly amongst the crowd, "But there is one more piece of news I would like to share with you all."

The pack looked at him curiously, "You may have heard a few days ago, a she-wolf had run from The Claiming. It was my duty to bring her back to her pack lands. But when I first saw her, something happened that has changed my life."

"When I first laid my eyes on her, I felt something I'd never felt. The true pull of a destined mate." Luciana's eyes grew wide, mouth falling open slightly as she looked to him. The pack gasped, but this time in excitement. The wolves around her shot her knowing glances - after all, she was the only stranger amongst them, "Astral Twilight, I would like you all to meet Luciana Moore, your Luna."