The Alpha Christmas claim

Chapter 12: The Luna Strategist

The New Reality

The Alpha Suite, once a sanctuary of possessive claim, now felt like a tense, highly classified command center. While Seraphina was technically confined to the secure eastern wing of the Hall, the subtle, unfamiliar scent of her powerful, pregnant she-wolf musk still permeated the building, a psychological weapon that constantly grazed the edges of the Mate Bond.

Lila sat at the mahogany table, not as Rhys’s subordinate, but as his peer. Rhys paced behind her, unable to settle, his Alpha power struggling against the unprecedented lack of control.

“She is three days shy of eight months,” Rhys gritted out, repeating the information provided by the Pack healer. “The child is viable. And Seraphina is leveraging the fact that my blood has secured a new, stronger Pack lineage, even if it’s outside the Mate Bond.”

Lila felt the spike of possessive jealousy—a wave of raw, acidic emotion that threatened to make her physically ill. The Mate Bond didn't just broadcast Rhys's feelings; it amplified her own insecurities and desires, turning them into primal, irresistible commands.

“Breathe, Luna,” Rhys commanded, stopping his pacing to place a firm hand on her shoulder. “Don’t let the jealousy consume you. It’s what Victor wants.”

Lila forced herself to take a slow, deep breath, stabilizing her emotions. “I know, Alpha. The Mate Bond is screaming that I should shred her and burn her scent from this Hall. But the human part of me knows that if we rush, we give Victor the chaos he needs.”

She looked up at him, her eyes sharp. “We need information that invalidates the timing, or the legitimacy. The timeline is the key. Seraphina claims she carried the child for four months before leaving the Red Moon Pack. If we can prove the gestation is less than eight months, it proves external tampering with the timeline.”

The Strategic Deployment

Lila summoned her two key operatives: Evelyn, the historian who commanded the Pack’s intelligence network, and Zara, the security lead, whose loyalty to Rhys was absolute.

The two she-wolves entered the suite and immediately dropped their heads in deference to the Mate Pair.

“This is no longer a political matter; it is a counter-insurgency,” Lila stated, her voice quiet but authoritative. She felt Rhys’s intense pride radiating through the bond at her command presence.

“Evelyn,” Lila continued, consulting the notes she had quickly scribbled. “Your task is forensic intelligence. I need two things immediately: First, access the Law of Progeny, Subsection 4. Does it state anything about the viability of a non-Mate heir being contested by a true Mate Bond? Second, I need a detailed report on the average gestation period for a Red Moon she-wolf. I want to know if Seraphina’s claim of eight months is medically accurate for her lineage, or accelerated.”

Evelyn, impressed by the precision of the command, nodded sharply. “Understood, Luna. I will utilize the archives and the healers immediately.”

Lila then turned to Zara, whose slate eyes were fixed on her with cold, unwavering respect.

“Zara. Your assignment is external intelligence. Seraphina was found by one of Rhys’s former guards. I need to know the specific path she took to arrive here. Who escorted her once she entered our territory? Who fed her? Did she pay for anything? I want a complete log of all communication between her and any Blackwood wolf after she crossed the boundary.”

Zara’s lips curved in a faint, grim smile. “I suspected Victor was involved in the transportation. We will find the scent trail, Luna. Consider it done.”

The she-wolves departed, leaving Rhys and Lila alone.

Rhys walked to the window, staring out at the unforgiving blizzard. “You commanded them perfectly. But the hardest part remains.”

“I know,” Lila said, rising to stand beside him. “I have to confront her. I need to look the biological claim in the eye.”

The Terms of Containment

Lila insisted on confronting Seraphina alone, over Rhys’s strenuous objections. It was a calculated risk: showing the pregnant she-wolf that the Luna was not afraid of a confrontation and was not relying on the Alpha’s physical protection.

Zara led Lila down the secure hallway to Seraphina’s spacious, well-appointed room. As Zara stepped back to guard the door, Lila inhaled the thick, aggressive scent of the Red Moon she-wolf—a challenging, dominant musk that was meant to unsettle.

Seraphina was seated by the fireplace, sipping tea, her beautiful face composed but wary. She looked regal, a stark contrast to the human whom she considered a temporary inconvenience.

“The Luna honors me with a visit,” Seraphina purred, placing her cup down slowly.

Lila didn't use the polite chairs. She stood in the center of the room, radiating a cold, focused authority that had been trained by Rhys.

“Let’s be clear, Seraphina,” Lila stated, her voice devoid of emotion. “I am not here to discuss my Mate. I am here to discuss treason. You are being guarded because we know Victor orchestrated your arrival to destabilize the Alpha’s succession. You are either his willing pawn, or his victim.”

Seraphina laughed, a sharp, brittle sound. “And what difference does it make to you, little human? You are a Mate of destiny, but this child is a Mate of blood. This Pack respects blood above all else. When I give birth, this Hall will be forced to choose between the ancient, spiritual claim, and the living, breathing Alpha heir.”

Lila finally allowed herself a small, dangerous smile. “And that is why you are my captive. Because your only value to me is the evidence you hold against Victor. I know why Rhys was with you—it was survival. It was a temporary transaction to keep his wolf from madness.”

Seraphina’s composure finally fractured. “He told you that? The truth?”

“He told me everything,” Lila confirmed, her voice laced with the possessive power of the Mate Bond. “The difference between us, Seraphina, is that Rhys used you, but he chose me. The Mate Bond is absolute, and it binds his soul. You only touched his skin.”

Lila stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the pregnant she-wolf’s.

“Here are the terms of your stay, Seraphina. You are valuable as a witness against Victor. You will be safe, and the child will be cared for. But you will not spread dissent. You will not talk to anyone but me, Rhys, or our security team. And most importantly, you will not challenge my status as Luna. I have the power of the Mate Bond and the Alpha’s absolute trust. You have a swollen belly and Victor’s empty promises.”

Lila gave her a final, commanding glance. “You are the pawn, Seraphina. Now, tell me the exact date you last saw Victor’s closest contact in the Red Moon territory.”

Seraphina stared at her, the fight draining from her eyes, replaced by a cold realization: this human was not broken by jealousy; she was tempered by it. She was a true threat.

“The Beta Commander… Tiernan,” Seraphina whispered, her voice laced with fear. “He was the one who met me outside the territory. He told me to wait until the moment Rhys was claiming his Mate to announce the claim.”

Lila turned instantly, her blood running cold. Tiernan. The Beta Commander Rhys had entrusted with the Hall defenses. The leak was not external; it was deep within the Inner Circle.

She strode to the door, her composure shattered by the new danger, and gave Zara an urgent command.

“Zara, we have a new problem. Commander Tiernan is Victor’s accomplice. Secure him immediately. Do not let him communicate with anyone. And alert the Alpha. The plan has changed.”