The Alpha's Unwanted Luna (by Miss L) novel Chapter 197

Chapter 197

“Yeah, your mate knows you love to read, so he thought you might enjoy some dusty old history from Claude’s former pack,” Josh said with a teasing grin.

Before I could respond, Ryker gave Josh a playful smack on the head as everyone settled into the room, trying to find a comfortable spot. Then, without hesitation, Ryker pulled me into his lap on my desk chair, holding me close. “I’m well aware that he’s been scheming to reclaim his pack from me without resorting to a fight. He’s fully aware he’d lose again, and most of his pack wouldn’t follow him if given the choice. You should have seen the look on his face when Josh and I barged in like that.”

Josh nodded. “Yeah, he’s always been sketchy, but this time he seemed especially rushed, like he was under some kind of pressure. Though honestly, it might not have involved you or us directly. I can’t think of any other reason for his urgency. All I know is he’s obsessed with getting his Alpha title back and being a huge pain in our asses.”

Bennet cut in, breaking the conversation between Ryker and Josh. “Luna, what are you thinking? We need to keep focused, and you need to see the healer. That cheek injury isn’t going to fix itself, no matter how close you sit to the boss. That bastard broke your cheekbone.” He gripped the armrests of his chair tightly, his claws extending slightly, a clear sign of his anger.

“Bennet! Enough. We are not going to have this argument tonight,” I said firmly, pointing to the swollen side of my face. “This wasn’t your doing. Dirk didn’t have to hit me at all. He was just trying to overcompensate for his own insecurities. Honestly, I’d pushed it out of my mind until just now.” I winced as my jaw twitched involuntarily, feeling a surge of frustration at the assumption that I was hurt because of him.

I laughed softly. “I’d love to see the person who can get my mom to follow directions.” Ryker was still chuckling quietly.

“What are you talking about? I told her I’d eat and see the doc after the rogues were handled. I’m no martyr. I know we need to stay healthy to look after the pack, but they’ve been suffering longer than me. Besides, I’ve got you for pain relief.” I tapped Ryker’s cheek affectionately. “Now that they’re here and fed, we need to figure out if they’re loyal to Amy or if they’re looking for a new home. How do we go about that?”

We stayed up late into the night—well, early morning, depending on how you looked at it—as the guys patiently explained what happens when a wolf faces trial. I hadn’t realized there were different kinds of trials, but it made sense given how many new members the pack had absorbed over the years. They needed a system to sift out those who wouldn’t truly integrate into the Dark Moon pack once it took control. The weight of responsibility settled over me, but with Ryker’s steady presence and the pack’s support, I felt ready to face whatever came next.