The Silent Luna's Trial (Maple and Finn) novel Chapter 73

**When the Last Candle Sang to the Ocean Wind by Aurelion Kyre Solvane**

Natalia’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in shock as the reality of the situation crashed over her like a tidal wave.

Beside her, her wolf whined softly, its pain palpable, echoing the turmoil in her heart.

What remained hidden from her was the harrowing truth: Rowan had met his end on the very day they laid Evelyn to rest.

That fateful day, when Evelyn had staged her own demise in a tragic car accident, she had returned home with a purpose. Almost immediately, she reached out to Alpha Aldric, sharing damning video evidence of Rowan’s relentless attempts to harm her.

For what felt like an eternity, Alpha Aldric remained silent, perhaps weighing the gravity of the situation. Finally, he broke the silence, offering an apology on Rowan’s behalf, then inquired how Evelyn wished to proceed.

Evelyn, with a steely resolve, didn’t seek any form of compensation; her only demand was for justice. She insisted that Alpha Aldric keep her survival a closely guarded secret, a pact of silence forged in the shadows of betrayal.

That very night, Rowan was called back to the pack, summoned to face the consequences of his actions.

The following day, as the pack gathered to mourn Evelyn, Rowan arrived, oblivious to the storm brewing around him. Alpha Aldric wasted no time, ordering his immediate imprisonment in the dungeon, instructing him to contemplate his actions and prepare for the inevitable reckoning.

Yet, Rowan’s arrogance blinded him to his wrongs. He harbored a deep-seated belief that his birthright excused his behavior, that he was above reproach.

As darkness enveloped the pack that night, Rowan managed to escape the confines of the dungeon, slipping away into the night like a shadow. Alpha Aldric dispatched warriors to hunt him down, but Rowan fled deep into the heart of a secluded forest. There, he was ambushed by a rogue pack, and amidst the chaos, he succumbed to his wounds, bleeding out in the unforgiving wilderness.

Back in the desolate living room of her home, Natalia sat in a daze, her complexion ashen and her spirit shaken. She instinctively placed a hand on her belly, contemplating her next move. The weight of her choices pressed heavily on her, but one thought stood out: she needed to cling to Dante.

After all, whispers of their scandal had spread like wildfire. No Alpha, save for Rowan, would ever consider her worthy of being his Luna. With Rowan gone, Dante, despite his fall from grace, remained a former Alpha—a starved wolf still held more power than a mere pup.

If she could endure this tumultuous period and maintain her hold on Dante for just five years, perhaps he would reclaim his position of power one day.

But the shift in Dante’s demeanor left her unsettled. As anxiety gnawed at her, she rummaged through her suitcase until her fingers brushed against a small vial, a relic from her childhood given to her by her mother.

Months slipped by, and soon the day of her due date arrived.

On the day she brought their child into the world, Dante’s presence was fleeting; he visited the hospital only briefly before hastily departing.

In the sterile confines of the hospital room, Natalia’s heart ached as she watched him retreat, tears threatening to spill over.

“Aren’t you going to see your child?” she called out, her voice a mix of hope and despair.

Dante halted, a shadow passing over his features, before he quickened his pace, leaving her behind.

Despite the emotional turmoil, she had successfully given birth to the heir of the Stormwatch Pack. With Evelyn no longer a threat and Dante no longer forcing her from Frosthaven, she found a flicker of solace in her circumstances.

Even if he had turned his back on her, what did it matter? The world believed her to be Dante’s partner.

Twenty days later, Natalia set her sights on organizing a baby shower.

That evening, she pleaded with Dante, “Please come for the sake of our baby. If you don’t show up, people will gossip. He’ll grow up under scrutiny.”

Dante, reluctant to indulge her plea, felt the weight of the child’s innocence tugging at his heart.

“…Fine,” he relented, though his tone suggested he was far from pleased.

Ten days later, the baby shower for Draven unfolded as planned, with guests arriving in droves, drawn by Natalia’s announcement of Dante’s attendance.

Even amidst the whispers of his punishment, the guests treated him with a semblance of respect.

Natalia stood among the gathering crowd, a radiant smile illuminating her face, every graceful movement exuding the confidence of a true Luna—Dante’s rightful mate, in her own eyes.

When Dante finally made his entrance, he overheard her discussing pack affairs with an air of authority.

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