Fate of the Lost Moon

Chapter 9

Viktor’s POV

I lean back in my chair, fingers steepled as I take in the wall of framed photographs before me. Each face staring back reminds me of our family’s legacy, the strength of the Lunaris bloodline, and the weight of the future I am responsible for shaping. And now, that future is secured. Cassandra—my headstrong, determined Cass—is destined to become Luna of Ravenwood, bound to Remus in a way no one could challenge.

Relief settles in my chest like a stone finally resting at the bottom of a pond. She will make a fitting Luna, a role that aligns with her nature, one that will bolster our family’s influence. With Remus as the alpha heir, their bond strengthens the pack’s future in a way no alliance or contract ever could.

And Stephanie… well, she will be safe. She will have her place here, freed from the demands of leadership. Her wolfless state has always concerned me, a vulnerability I’ve worked tirelessly to shield from the pack. But with Cassandra’s future secured, Stephanie’s path feels steadier too, protected by our family and the pack alike.

You’re certain Stephanie will be safe? Warrik’s voice rumbles into my thoughts, interrupting my moment of relief. Cassandra may be Luna, but Stephanie will always be her sister—and a wolfless Luna’s sister does bear a burden.

She’s back where she belongs, under the pack’s protection, I reply, though I feel a twinge of doubt. I hesitate, meeting Warrik’s unspoken questions. She’ll have family surrounding her, strength beside her. And with Cassandra’s bond to Remus, no one will question her place here.

Warrik falls silent, but his doubt lingers, threading itself into my own concerns. I suppose, he murmurs, his tone uncharacteristically cautious. Though without a wolf…

I push the thought aside and turn my attention back to the future. All my efforts, years of calculated decisions, have finally paid off. Cassandra has returned to us, her bond to Remus solidified. Stephanie’s path, too, is assured, her position unchallenged.

Through the pack link, I reach out to my son. Fynn, come to my office.

A few moments later, I hear a firm knock at the door, and Fynn steps in, his expression sharp as he closes the door quietly behind him.

“You called, Father?”

I incline my head, gesturing for him to take a seat across from me. He settles in, tension flickering in his posture as he studies me. Fynn, ever observant, is no stranger to the shifting dynamics in our family. I know he has questions—questions he’s been silently forming since the girls returned.

“Cassandra has found her mate,” I begin, watching his reaction closely. “With Remus.”

Surprise flashes across his face, quickly replaced by something more thoughtful. He nods slowly, the weight of my words sinking in.

“That means… she’ll be Luna when Remus ascends,” he says, voice steady, though I see the understanding dawning in his gaze. “The Luna of Ravenwood.”

“Exactly.” I lean forward, resting my arms on the desk between us. “And with that role comes responsibility—not just for her, but for you, as well.”

He straightens, his expression sharpening as my meaning becomes clear. “My duty as Gamma.”

“Yes.” A faint smile pulls at the corners of my mouth. “As Gamma, you’re bound to protect the Luna. Your role will be vital to ensuring Cassandra’s safety and supporting her leadership alongside Remus.”

I see pride flicker across Fynn’s face, tempered by a serious resolve. “I understand, Father. I will do everything in my power to protect her.”

“That’s what I expect, Fynn.” I soften my tone, letting some of my approval show. “Cassandra has the strength, the intelligence, to lead beside Remus. And with you as her protector, I have no doubt she will thrive.”

A pause settles over us as he absorbs the full significance of his role. I know he understands what this means, not only for Cassandra but for him as well.

“Stephanie,” he says after a moment, his tone careful. “What about her?”

My gaze turns distant as I consider my other daughter. “Stephanie’s path will be different,” I say quietly, though my voice is firm. “But she is safe here, within the pack. Cassandra’s bond to Remus secures a future for us all, and Stephanie has her own place in that future, without the burdens of leadership.”

Fynn holds my gaze, a flicker of relief tempered by something else—perhaps concern—crossing his features. I know he watches over both his sisters, but I also see him understand that Cassandra’s ascension allows Stephanie a reprieve, a space free from the pressure of expectations.

“Cassandra has found her path,” I continue. “With Remus by her side, our family’s legacy will endure. And you, Fynn, will be her protector.”

He inclines his head, his eyes shining with determination. “I will, Father.”

As he rises to leave, I watch him go, feeling a renewed sense of pride. For the first time in years, the path ahead feels certain. The legacy of the Lunaris family—strong, enduring—rests in the capable hands of my children.

Fynn’s POV

The morning sun filters through the trees, casting long shadows over the pack grounds as I pace my room. The news about Cass and Remus is still settling in. Luna, I think, letting the weight of the word press against my thoughts. Cass deserves every bit of it, and I’m proud.

She’s strong, always has been, even when things got tough after Mom. But as her older brother and soon-to-be Gamma, I know the responsibility that title brings. I’ll be her protector, the one she can rely on, and I’ll give everything I’ve got to keep her safe.

But even now, my thoughts drift to Steph. She’s different, always has been—more reserved, quieter, carrying that air of mystery around her. The pack notices, too, the way she stands out. She’s the oldest, yet everyone looks at Cass first, and I wonder if Steph feels it. Her wolflessness has marked her as an outsider in ways none of us can understand, and I hate it. She never asked for this.

“You’re her protector now,” Father’s voice cuts in over the pack link, sharp and brisk. He’s got that commanding tone he always carries in his office. “Your duties as Gamma begin now. Cass is the Luna, and you’ll protect her.”

The pride in his voice is unmistakable, and I feel it, too—Cass will make an incredible Luna. But I can’t shake the feeling, a nagging thought lingering in the back of my mind, that Steph might be left behind. She’s family, too, and whether or not she has a wolf, she’s one of us.

“Cass is strong,” Arthus, my wolf, rumbles in agreement, but I can feel his concern match my own. “But we won’t leave Steph unguarded. She’s our sister, Luna or not.”

I know, I tell him, the determination building in my chest. We’ll keep an eye on them both.

As the weight of this new responsibility settles, I remind myself of my own commitment—not just to Cass as the future Luna, but to Steph as well. She may not have the title, but she’s family. And nothing will change that.