Chapter 36: Chapter 36
Christian stared at me for a long moment, his hazel eyes swirling with amber and something that looked like barely controlled hunger.
"I’m not hiding anything," he said, his voice rough. "I’m just scared of what I’ll do to you if I don’t leave now."
And then he walked out.
Just like that.
Left me standing in the Luna’s suite with my heart racing and my new empathic ability still buzzing from feeling every ounce of his desire and fear.
"Well, that’s not dramatic at all," I muttered to the empty room.
The next morning, Christian called a pack meeting.
"Everyone needs to be there," Maria said, helping me pick out something appropriate to wear. "Christian’s going to formally introduce you as his chosen mate."
My stomach dropped. "Formally? Like, in front of everyone?"
"Yep. Main hall. Nine AM sharp." She held up two dresses. "So, intimidating Luna or approachable Luna?"
"How about ’Luna, who might throw up from nerves’?"
Maria laughed and tossed me a deep blue dress that somehow managed to look both elegant and strong. "This one. It brings out your eyes and doesn’t scream, ’I’m trying too hard.’"
By the time we made it downstairs, the main hall was packed. And I mean *packed*. At least a hundred wolves filled the space, all of them turning to look at me as I walked in beside Christian.
The silence was deafening.
Christian’s hand found mine, his fingers intertwining with mine in a gesture that was both possessive and comforting. His sandalwood and cedar scent wrapped around me, mixing with my vanilla and jasmine until the entire hall smelled like us.
"Shadow Ridge Pack," Christian’s Alpha voice boomed through the space. "I’ve called you here to formally introduce Sophie Turner as my mate and your future Luna."
The reactions were immediate and varied.
Younger wolves near the front started grinning, some even clapping. A group of female warriors I recognized from breakfast exchanged excited whispers.
But the older pack members? Their faces told a completely different story.
An elderly man with steel-gray hair and sharp eyes stepped forward. "Alpha Christian, with all due respect, does this female have the proper bloodline to be our Luna? Traditional pack hierarchy—""It is not up for debate, Elder Thompson." Christian’s voice went cold. "My mate is not subject to pack approval."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. Christian’s hazel eyes flashed full amber, a clear warning that he wasn’t interested in arguments.
But I could feel the tension rolling off the assembled wolves. Skepticism. Doubt. Resentment, even.
A young female warrior with dark braided hair suddenly stepped forward. "I support Luna Sophie’s acceptance into our pack. I saw her strength at the council proceedings. She didn’t back down, not even from Tom."
"Thank you, Jessica," I said, surprised by the show of support.
But not everyone was convinced.
A pack member with salt-and-pepper hair approached Christian, his voice low but not low enough that I couldn’t hear with my enhanced senses. "Alpha, I’m concerned about pack unity. Her... controversial past might create divisions."
"Then we’ll deal with those divisions, David," Christian said firmly.
An older woman with sharp features and perfectly coiffed silver hair stood from her seat. "Luna positions should go to females born into high-ranking families. Not outsiders from other packs who bring nothing but scandal and questions."
The words hit like a slap. My vanilla and jasmine scent spiked with hurt before I could control it.
But Maria was there in seconds, stepping between me and the older woman. "Elder Sarah, Sophie has already shown Luna qualities. I’ve witnessed her compassion, her wisdom, her—"
"Her what?" A young male warrior interrupted, his stance aggressive. "Her ability to get rejected by her first Alpha? Her skill at causing pack drama?"
Christian’s growl vibrated through the hall. "Jake Stevens, watch your tone."
But I’d had enough of people speaking for me.
"You want to know if I can handle being Luna?" I stepped forward, away from Christian’s protective presence. "You want to see if I’m worthy? Fine. I accept whatever challenges you want to throw at me."
The room went dead silent.
Jake’s eyebrows shot up. "You’re accepting a formal challenge? For combat trials?"
"That’s what I said, wasn’t it?"
Christian’s hand caught my wrist. "Sophie—"
"I can do this," I said, meeting his eyes. Through our bond, I felt his pride warring with his worry. His instinct to protect me was fighting against his respect for my independence.
An older male warrior with scars across his face stepped forward. "I’m Connor Walsh, pack trainer. If you’re serious about this, girl, I’ll oversee the formal challenges. But it won’t be easy."
"I don’t want easy. I want fair."
Connor’s expression shifted to something like approval. "Next week. That gives you time to observe our fighting styles and prepare."
The pack members immediately broke into small groups, their conversations filling the hall with a buzz of noise that my enhanced hearing turned into an overwhelming mess of opinions.
"Did she really just accept Jake’s challenge?"
"That’s either brave or stupid."
"Maybe she’s precisely what we need."
"Christian’s lost his mind."
"I like her already."
I pressed my fingers to my temples, trying to block out the sensory overload.
Christian noticed immediately. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his side. "Let’s get you out of here."
We ended up in his office, the door locked and the blinds drawn. I collapsed onto his leather couch while Christian paced like a caged wolf.
"You shouldn’t have accepted that challenge," he said finally.
"You’re welcome to tell me that after I win."
"Sophie." He stopped pacing and crouched in front of me. "These aren’t just any warriors. They’ve been training together for years. Jake especially—he’s one of our best fighters."
"Then I’ll have to be better."
Christian’s hands cupped my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. "I don’t want you to get hurt trying to prove something to wolves who should already respect you."
"But they don’t. Not yet." I covered his hands with mine. "Christian, you can’t just command them to accept me. I have to earn it."
"I know." His voice was rough. "But that doesn’t mean I have to like watching you put yourself in danger."
"Welcome to being mated to a warrior."
That pulled a reluctant smile from him. "Stubborn warrior."
"Your stubborn warrior."
The moment the words left my mouth, the air between us changed. Christian’s pupils dilated, his sandalwood scent intensifying until it made my head spin.
"Mine," he agreed, his voice dropping to that Alpha rumble that made my knees weak.
Before I could respond, his phone buzzed on the desk.
Christian ignored it.
It buzzed again. And again.
"You should get that," I said, even though every part of me wanted him to keep looking at me like I was the only thing in his world.
He growled but grabbed the phone. His expression went from annoyed to shocked in half a second.
"What is it?"
"Marcus. He says..." Christian’s jaw clenched. "Harold’s been making calls. To other Alphas. Asking questions about you."
My blood ran cold. "What kind of questions?"
"The kind designed to make me look weak for choosing you." Christian’s eyes flashed amber. "He’s building something. I just don’t know what yet."
That evening, I found myself in the pack dining room again. This time, I paid attention to who sat where.
Jessica and a group of younger warriors made space for me at their table, chatting easily about training schedules and patrol routes. Their acceptance felt genuine and warm.
But across the room, Elder Sarah and Elder Thompson sat with a group of older wolves, their eyes tracking my every movement. Judging. Calculating.
And in between? Dozens of pack members who seemed undecided, watching to see which side would ultimately win.
"Don’t let them get to you," Jessica said, following my gaze. "The elders are stuck in the past. But most of us? We’re excited to have a Luna who can actually fight alongside us."
"You make it sound like previous Lunas couldn’t."
"Christian’s mother could," Jessica said softly. "She was amazing. But she died fifteen years ago, and we haven’t had a Luna since. Some older members think we don’t need one. That Christian’s better off alone."
That explained some of the resistance. They weren’t just questioning me—they were questioning whether Christian needed a mate at all.
"Well," I said, spearing a piece of chicken with more force than necessary. "They’re about to find out that he does. And that I’m not going anywhere."
Jessica grinned. "I knew I was going to like you."
Later that night, I stood on the pack house balcony with Christian, looking out over Shadow Ridge territory. The forest stretched endlessly in every direction, dark and wild and beautiful.
"I saw you talking to Jessica," Christian said, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
"She’s nice. Supportive."
"She’s also one of our most skilled fighters. If she’s in your corner, others will follow."
I leaned back against his chest, letting his warmth seep into me. "And if they don’t?"
"Then I’ll support you through whatever comes next." Christian’s lips brushed my temple. "You’re not facing this alone, Sophie. Not the pack challenges, not Harold’s manipulation, not any of it."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
We stood there in comfortable silence, and for the first time since arriving at Shadow Ridge, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I could do this. Be the Luna they needed. Stand beside Christian as his equal.
