777 4/4 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 The Alpha's Betrayal Rise Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 24 Moonshard 15 Finished Brin's fingers move precisely , dabbing salve over Finn's shoulder . The scent of crushed mint and lace - moss stings the air . My son hisses , his small fists clenching at the sheets . " I know , pup . " Brin murmurs . " Almost done . " I hate that wolf pups can't heal on their own . They must be eighteen and have to merge with their wolf minds to gain the healing ability . Seeing him in pain breaks my heart . Finn's skin is blotched where the shadows had burned him . Thin marks - blackened veins that fade and pulse faintly . Ivy curls tighter in my arms , half - asleep , her thumb between her lips . I stroke her hair , soft and damp against my palm , as if the rhythm could soothe all of us . Brin glances up from his work . " Tell me what happened , Luna Freya . " I exhale slowly , feeling Nyx's restless energy pacing inside my ribs . " It wasn't an attack from rogues . It wasn't even real wolves . " My voice shakes . " They were shadows . Like living smoke . They rose from the ground and - burned . " He stills . The color drains from his face . " Shadows that burn ? " I nod . " They multiplied when I tried to fight them . I - I couldn't touch them without blistering . Even the guards froze . Only Rowan's sword could cut through them . I think it's made of Moonshard . " Brin sets down the salve pot with a sharp click . " That sounds ... " He trails off , brow furrowed , eyes wide with a dawning horror . " Sounds like what , Brin ? " I press . He hesitates only a heartbeat before speaking . " Something similar happened about fifteen years ago . " My heart races . " Go on . " He swallows . " Alpha Draven - Alpha Kade's father - was attacked by shadows exactly like you described . It happened in the courtyard , in daylight . No one knew where they came from until the investigation traced the magic back to a woman . A blood - witch named Nyssa . " Finn hisses again , turning . I pat his head to comfort him . " Mama ," he whispers . " I'm here , darling , " I tell him , then turn my gaze back to Brin , urging him to continue . " Draven had been using her , " Brin says grimly , " for covert dealings . Spellwork , poisons , control charms - things he didn't want his own small council or even the High Council to know . But 1/4 Chapter 24 Monshand she turned on him . Wanted to take the pack for herself " And ? " Finished " He ordered her execution . " Brin's hand trembles as he wipes the salve from his fingers . " But there were rumors . That the fire they used couldn't touch her . That she never died , because her bones were never found " The chamber feels colder . The torches spit and crackle . Ivy stirs restlessly in my arms . Brin's gaze grows distant . " The Alpha weakened after that . His health failed slowly - like he was rotting from the inside . We thought it was guilt or old age , but now ... " He pales , connecting the dots aloud . " Now I think it might have been wolfsbane poisoning . " I stammer , " Poisoned - by who ? " He nods faintly . " It fits . And- " Brin stops himself . I lean forward , heart hammering . " And what ? " " Nyssa had a daughter . A child born in secret . The records say the girl vanished before the execution . For a long moment , all I hear is the faint crackle of fire and Ivy's soft breathing . I don't need Brin to finish the sentence . My mind already does it for him . Izel . I taste her name like venom . Rowan was the first one to tell me - witch blood , he'd said . And hadn't we already found proof ? The black - market ledger with her signature beside the wolfsbane purchases . The glamour that made my children forget me . The green witchfire that almost killed Ivy . The attempt on Finn's life . Anger surges hot and wild through my chest . How blind can Kade be ? How much evidence does he need before he sees the rot beside him ? Nyx's growl thrums through me , low and deadly . ' End them . End them both . " Not yet , " I whisper back to her . " We wait for the Blood Moon Conclave ." My wolf snarls , but I steel myself . There will be a reckoning - but not tonight . Tonight , my children breathe , and that is enough . By dawn , the keep is alive with whispers . The gates open , and a line of dark - cloaked riders 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 24 Moonshard Finished enters the courtyard . Rowan rides at the front . He's tall , unbothered by the stares that follow him . His rogues dismount silently ; their presence causes a ripple of unease through Silvercrest . Kade greets him at the steps , standing too rigidly . Jax is beside him , alert and prepared to defend his Alpha at command . " Nightfell stands under truce ," he announces , loud enough for all to hear . " You will be treated as honored guests ." The pack bows, but not deeply . Their eyes flick to me , uncertain . Later , they find me in the hall , one after another - warriors , omegas , even elders - murmuring their worries . Rogues inside the keep . What if they turn ? What if the Alpha loses face ? I answer the same way each time : " King Rowan is the only reason my son is alive . " They heard it before , but only after hearing it from me do they believe it . And they may not like it , but there's nothing they can do but obey . Lunch is tense with roasted meat , polished silver , and unspoken accusations . I sit beside my children , across from Izel , whose smile gleams as false as her pearls . Rowan sits at the far end beside Jax , speaking little , watching everything . " So , " Izel says sweetly , " Correct me if I'm wrong . But Freya , weren't you friends with King Rowan since childhood ? Before Alpha Draven cast him out of the pack ? " I don't let her claim any satisfaction . " I was , " I answer simply . She persists , " And I don't know how far it is true , but wasn't the reason for his banishment because he refused to stop loving you , even though you were promised to Kade , the Alpha's son ? " Rowan answers for me , his voice so hard and cold that it makes Izel flinch . " I'm right here , so you may ask me any questions directly . But to answer the one you already raised : yes , that is very true . " Then his brows furrow , and he asks condescendingly , " Forgive me . Who are you ? " Izel hesitates . " Lady Izel ." " The infamous mistress ? " I hear Jax muffle a snicker . Kade's jaw tightens . " Know your bounds , King Rowan . You are our guest - don't make me forget that . " Rowan lifts his goblet , smirking . " Apologies , Alpha Kade . I have been drowning in nostalgia since my arrival here . It's a dangerous thing . Reminds us of who we were ... before . I just remembered I never offered my condolences for your father's death . Alpha Draven's death was quite a mystery , wasn't it ? " Izel's hand freezes midway to her wine . Color drains from her face . 3/4 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 24 Mounalard Rowan tilts his head , eyes gleaming . " What's wrong , Lady Izel ? Old stories unsettle you ? " Kade looks between them , confusion flickering into alertness , but he says nothing . The rest of dinner proceeds in brittle silence . When it ends , Rowan declines the guest wing and requests quarters beneath the Queen's Wing instead , claiming that royalty like him deserves no less . Kade hesitates , but then his honour overpowers him - or maybe , since the conversation was witnessed by so many , he just couldn't afford to disrespect the man who saved his child . So he agrees , Send Gifts 4/4