Born to be Luna

The First Challenge

Alpha Greythorn sat quietly outside the treatment room, waiting for news of Natalia's condition.

Penelope paced the clinic's waiting area like a caged peacock, wringing her hands dramatically. Under normal circumstances, her theatrics would have irritated him beyond measure.

Tonight, however, concern outweighed annoyance.

He knew he would eventually need to speak with the younger members of the pack and determine exactly what had happened.

Though, truthfully, he already suspected most of it.

Shortly after dinner, a pack member had stormed into his office complaining that his boat had once again disappeared from the northern dock. Then Spencer, Darius, and Maisie had arrived carrying an unconscious Natalia between them.

She had been soaked through.

The scent of lake water clung to all four of them.

And there had been a suspicious smell of beer on the younger wolves' breaths.

Alpha Greythorn sighed.

Disciplining Spencer and Darius was not a prospect he relished.

Penelope would undoubtedly demand severe punishment.

Natalia, on the other hand, would never forgive him if he was too harsh.

"Please, Moon Goddess, don't take my child! My beautiful child!"

Penelope's shrill cry echoed through the waiting room.

Alpha Greythorn rose abruptly.

Enough was enough.

"There is no indication that Natalia's injuries are life-threatening," he said firmly. "The doctor is doing his job. Sit down, Penelope, before you cause unnecessary panic."

Penelope immediately deflated under his stare and retreated to her husband.

Alpha Greythorn headed toward the treatment room.

Before he reached the door, a familiar voice rang out.

"You will release me immediately!"

He froze.

The sharpness in Natalia's tone was so unlike her that he almost didn't recognize it.

"I have a few bruises and scrapes. They'll heal the moment I shift. Stop this nonsense and let me go!"

Alpha Greythorn pushed through the doors.

Pulling back the curtain surrounding the examination bed, he found complete chaos.

Natalia was attempting to climb off the bed.

Two nurses were trying to keep her seated.

The doctor stood nearby looking increasingly distressed.

"What is going on here?" Alpha Greythorn demanded.

The doctor visibly jumped.

"Alpha!"

He cleared his throat nervously.

"Natalia won't allow us to finish her examination."

"That is not true," Natalia snapped.

All eyes turned toward her.

"You've already examined me. What you're trying to do now is take blood and venom samples."

She crossed her arms.

"Neither of which are necessary."

Alpha Greythorn's gaze shifted slowly toward the doctor.

A cold feeling settled in his stomach.

Blood and venom samples?

Those procedures were rarely conducted without explicit authorization.

"And why," he asked quietly, "are you attempting to collect those samples?"

The doctor's complexion immediately paled.

Alpha Greythorn's wolf stirred uneasily.

"I thought..." the doctor stammered. "Well... Natalia is our True Luna. I assumed you would want the most comprehensive care possible."

His smile looked forced.

"I meant no harm. Only to ensure she received the best treatment available."

The explanation did little to ease Alpha Greythorn's concerns.

"Release her."

The nurses immediately stepped back.

Natalia slid from the bed, wincing slightly as her feet touched the floor.

"Come along, Natalia."

Alpha Greythorn offered her a reassuring smile.

"Let's get you home."

As they left the room, he glanced over his shoulder.

The doctor had already turned on the nurses, criticizing them harshly.

Alpha Greythorn filed the behaviour away for later consideration.

Something about the situation didn't sit right with him.

A few days later, Natalia lay curled on her bed while Maisie cried beside her.

Tears streamed freely down both their faces.

"Maisie, please," Natalia whispered. "I never meant for Spencer and Darius to get into trouble."

Her chest tightened painfully.

"I'm so sorry."

After a full investigation, Alpha Greythorn had ruled that Spencer and Darius were responsible for the accident.

Their punishment had been swift.

Three months of banishment from Goodhaven territory.

To outsiders, the sentence might have sounded mild.

Within wolf society, it was anything but.

Lone wolves were often mistaken for rogues.

Rogues were hunted.

Sometimes killed.

The only comfort Natalia could find was that the brothers would face exile together.

At least they would have each other.

The guilt was unbearable.

She knew she had played a role in what happened.

If anyone deserved punishment, it was her.

But as the True Luna, no one would ever hold her accountable in the same way.

She hated that.

After several minutes of silent crying, Maisie finally sat up.

Her eyes were red and swollen.

"I love you, Natalia."

The words made Natalia's stomach twist.

"You're like a sister to me."

Maisie swallowed hard.

"But if your actions get my brothers killed..."

Her voice broke.

"I don't know if I can forgive you."

The words landed like a physical blow.

Without another word, Maisie rose and walked from the room.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Natalia stared at it long after she was gone.

The following morning, Natalia stormed into Alpha Greythorn's office without knocking.

"Alpha, I demand that you rescind Spencer and Darius's banishment."

Alpha Greythorn looked up from his desk in surprise.

"Natalia."

His voice hardened immediately.

"Firstly, I am your Alpha, and you will address me with the respect that title deserves."

Natalia opened her mouth to protest, but he continued.

"Secondly, the investigation is complete. The punishment has been decided."

His expression remained firm.

"Those responsible must answer for the crimes committed against our True Luna."

"Me!"

The word exploded from Natalia.

"You mean crimes committed against me."

She stepped forward.

"I should have a say in the punishment."

Her pulse thundered in her ears.

"You may be my Alpha, but I am your True Luna."

The room went still.

Natalia lifted her chin.

"I was granted to this pack by the Moon Goddess herself, not through bloodline or inheritance."

Her voice shook, but she pressed on.

"I deserve the same respect afforded to my position."

The moment the words left her mouth, she knew she had gone too far.

Alpha Greythorn rose slowly from his chair.

His wolf surged beneath the surface.

The challenge in Natalia's words had not gone unnoticed.

Power filled the room.

Heavy.

Ancient.

Dangerous.

Natalia instinctively stepped backward.

"Oh..."

Her face drained of colour.

"Alpha, I..."

The reality of what she had done crashed into her.

"Shit."

Taking a steadying breath, she lowered her gaze.

"Alpha Greythorn, I apologize for my outburst."

She tilted her head slightly, exposing her throat in submission.

"I submit to your authority."

The tension eased immediately.

"It was never my intention to disrespect you. I am only concerned for my friends."

Her voice softened.

"Three months outside pack lands is dangerous. Even temporary banishment can become a death sentence."

Alpha Greythorn remained silent for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"Natalia, someone had to be punished."

His voice was gentler now.

"It is the law."

He leaned against his desk.

"However, Spencer and Darius are not prohibited from seeking temporary residence elsewhere during their exile."

Natalia blinked.

"What?"

"They are banished from Goodhaven territory."

He offered a small smile.

"Not from wolf society."

Understanding dawned on her face.

"They can join another pack?"

"Temporarily, yes."

Relief flooded through her.

For the first time since the accident, she felt as though she could breathe again.

"Thank you, Alpha."

The words came out barely above a whisper.

She turned and quietly left the office.

Alpha Greythorn watched the door close behind her.

Then he leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand across his face.

Concern lingered in his chest.

Natalia had never behaved like that before.

She had never thrown her title around.

Never challenged authority.

Never acted so impulsively.

Perhaps it was simply stress.

Or perhaps...

His gaze drifted toward the stack of medical files on his desk.

Perhaps Natalia was settling into her role as a True Luna a little faster than anyone had anticipated.