Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 125: Luna

Chapter 125: Luna

"All hail Luna Ava!" Nolan’s voice thundered across the clearing. He stood at the end of the line, tall and proud.

In perfect unison, the troop responded. "LUNA AVA!" they chorused, before bowing low, their heads tilted in reverence.

Ava’s heart swelled so quickly it ached. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. Her eyes betrayed her first—the tears welling so fast they blurred the lines of their uniforms. She swallowed back a sob and stepped forward, her spine straightening as if an invisible crown had been placed on her head. She walked down the aisle they created for her, her feet almost gliding. Her dress brushed gently across the dusty stone path as if kissing it in gratitude. She didn’t look left or right. She looked ahead.

At the end of the line, she paused beside him, her chest tight with emotions she hadn’t yet named.

"You could’ve warned me," she whispered to him.

He just smirked in response.

And then she turned to face them all. She bowed. Not because tradition required it—but because respect demanded it. Her gratitude poured out in that motion, deeper than any words she could have spoken.

In that moment, Ava was not just the Alpha’s mate. Not just a survivor. Not just the once-unwanted concubine who had clawed her way into power.

She was Luna.

*****

Ava sat in the backseat of the black SUV, her gaze fixed on the blur of trees rushing past the window. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap, but her fingers twitched with suppressed anxiety. Though the air conditioning hummed low and steady, she could still feel the clammy sweat at the back of her neck. Her mind was miles away—somewhere in a dark corridor of dread and doubt. On paper, her life should be perfect now. She was Luna. Unofficially. She had Lucas, the only man who made her feel seen. She had the loyalty of the gammas, and a wardrobe that screamed Luna louder than any title could. But beneath the designer dresses and polished smiles, Ava carried a weight in her chest that no amount of royal regalia could hide.

Two names haunted her: Dorian and the Alpha King. Dorian had poisoned her, framed her, not once but twice, had her sentenced to death, and took from her the most precious gift she never even had the chance to hold. That kind of villainy didn’t just go away. It didn’t evaporate into the air. Dorian was still out there, lurking, waiting. And Zoe’s warning about the Alpha King only made everything worse. According to her, he made Dorian look like a naughty schoolboy. That alone made Ava’s stomach churn with unease.

Ava rubbed her temples gently. Lucas had assigned Nolan as her personal bodyguard and designated driver. Nolan was now practically glued to her side.

She glanced at him now. He was focused on the road, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the console.

As the creaking gates of the pack’s border opened and the rogue camp came into view, Ava sat up straighter. She had come bearing supplies.

She stepped out of the vehicle. She barely had time to take two steps before Missy wrapped her into a hug that could’ve broken lesser spines. Ava closed her eyes and allowed herself to melt into the embrace, her chest tightening with a wave of unexpected emotion.

"Look at you," Missy said, pulling back and holding her at arm’s length. Her eyes gleamed with both pride and mischief. "Looking all regal."

Ava laughed softly. "It’s still me underneath all this fabric, I swear. How’s everyone holding up?"

"We’re doing good. Really good, actually. Since the gates reopened, folks are getting work, kids are in school again, and we’re just waiting on word from the high council about the date on the rogue trial. After that, we’ll be truly free." She exhaled deeply. "No more hiding. No more shame."

"Could you get some people to unload the supplies I came with?" Ava asked, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she glanced toward the loaded SUV.

Missy gave her a look, one hand on her hip, the other already waving in the direction of a few lounging pack members. "Oh, you are an angel."

Ava’s gaze drifted toward the pack house. "Is he here?" she asked.

Missy nodded, her tone sobering as she picked up on Ava’s shift in energy. "He only just arrived. He’s in his room."

Ava gave a single nod, turned on her heel, and walked toward the house.

The corridor leading to the rooms was quiet. With a deep breath, she lifted her hand and knocked. She didn’t wait long. She turned the knob and entered.

He looked up.

The moment Kade saw her, his eyes lit up. "You look absolutely breathtaking," he said.

"Thank you, Kade." Ava smiled, though her eyes didn’t quite meet his.

He patted the space beside him on the bed and leaned back on his elbows. "So. I’m here. What’s so urgent that you had to summon me from my mission."

Ava moved further into the room and perched on the edge of the bed.

"How’s the search for Dorian going?" she asked.

Kade sighed, leaning forward again, elbows on knees. "My father’s always been a sneaky bastard. But it’s just a matter of time. He’s currently hiding out in human territory. But that’s not why you sent for me, is it?"

Ava shook her head, eyes downcast. "No. It’s not."

Kade leaned back again. "Okay. Hit me with it."

Ava hesitated, choosing her words. "Sarah is currently in the dungeons... for her crimes. Lucas says I have to pass judgement on her."

Kade’s brow creased, but he nodded slowly. "Okay. She deserves that. You’re the Luna now—it’s only right you decide what happens to her."

"But I can’t," she whispered.

"Why not?"

Ava turned toward him now, fully. Her eyes met his. "Because... she’s pregnant."

"Pregnant," Kade echoed.

Ava nodded. "You’re going to be a big brother."

His head tilted, confused at first, and then his entire face shifted. "My father and Sarah?"

@Gemma_McClure: Welcome on board.