THE ALPHA'S UNWANTED MATE

Chapter 8: Luna

Two weeks after the claiming.

Leo stared at the mirror. The moonstone necklace glinted at her throat.

"Luna," she whispered. The word still felt foreign.

A knock. "Luna Leo? The pack meeting starts in 10 minutes."

Damien was already in his Alpha office when she arrived.

Maps, reports, problems. All over the table.

"You're late," he said, but smiled. "Nervous?"

"Terrified," Leo admitted. "What if they don't respect me?"

Damien came around the desk. Held her face. "Then I will make them."

He kissed her. "But they will. Because you're mine."

---

THE MEETING ROOM

---

50 pack leaders. All eyes on her.

An old wolf stood. "With respect, Alpha... she's human."

The room went cold.

Damien stood. "She's not human. She's Luna. My mate. My daughter's mother."

His voice was ice. "Anyone has a problem with that?"

Silence.

Leo took a breath. She stood.

"I may not have been born a wolf," she said. "But I will fight for this pack.

For every pup. For every elder. For you."

Some wolves nodded.

Right then, the doors slammed open.

A man walked in. Tall. Dark suit. Wolf eyes.

"Alpha Blackwood," he said. "I'm Alpha Kade of the Red Moon Pack."

He looked at Leo. Smirked.

"And you must be the... replacement."

Damien growled. "Watch your mouth."

Kade ignored him. He held out a letter.

"Challenge," he said. "For territory. And for your Luna."

The room gasped.

"You want to challenge me?" Damien laughed, but it was dangerous.

"For her?"

Kade's eyes stayed on Leo. "She's weak. She'll break.

I can give her a real pack. A real Alpha."

Leo stepped forward before Damien could.

"You don't know me," she said quietly. "And you don't get to decide my worth."

Kade's smile dropped.

Damien pulled Leo behind him. "Challenge accepted.

Tomorrow night. Under the full moon."

---

LATER THAT NIGHT

---

Leo couldn't sleep. "What if you lose?"

Damien pulled her onto his lap. Baby monitor showing their daughter sleeping.

"I won't," he said. "But even if I did... you would still be mine."

He traced her mating mark. "You're not weak, Leo.

You survived him. You survived birth. You survived me."

He kissed her. "You're the strongest person I know."

Leo closed her eyes. "Then I won't be scared."

Outside, the moon was full.

And war was coming.

---

END OF CHAPTER 8