Chapter 82: Chapter 82
"Yes. And the pack will respect you for it."
News spread fast. By the time we got back to our quarters, my phone was blowing up with messages. Some pack members supported my decision. Others questioned my judgment. Patterson sent a particularly nasty message about "Luna’s weakness."
Connor’s message was simple: *Legally sound decision. Morally correct. Well done.*
I collapsed on the couch, suddenly feeling every emotion I’d been holding back.
"Talk to me," Christian said, sitting beside me.
"I don’t know how I feel." I leaned against him. "I’m angry at her. I’m sad about our friendship. I’m horrified by what Tom did. I’m scared I made the wrong choice. All of it at once."
"That’s called being human." Christian kissed my forehead. "You showed mercy while maintaining boundaries. That’s strength, Sophie."
"Tom’s going to come for her."
"Probably."
"And we’ll have to deal with that."
"Yes." Christian’s voice was calm. "But we’ll take care of it together."
That night, Diana reported that Lily’s physical injuries were healing, but the psychological trauma was severe. Lily was in secure quarters with two guards outside.
I found a handwritten letter slipped under our door.
*Sophie,*
*I know words can’t fix what I broke. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But thank you for not letting me die. Thank you for being the person I should have been. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to earn your trust again.*
*I’m sorry. For everything.*
*- Lily*
I read it three times, then put it in my desk drawer. I didn’t respond. Wasn’t ready to.
Christian found me sitting at the desk, staring at nothing.
"Are you okay?"
"I cried over a friendship that died months ago," I said. "Is that stupid?"
"No." Christian pulled me up and into his arms. "It’s not."
The next morning, Christian got a formal message from Tom.
I read over his shoulder while he pulled it up on his tablet.
*Alpha Christian,*
*I demand the immediate return of my mate, Lily. She is mine by mate bond rights. Shadow Ridge has no authority to harbor her. Return her within 24 hours, or I will bring this matter before the Regional Pack Council.*
*- Tom*
"He’s delusional," I said.
"He’s desperate." Christian typed out a response. "Which makes him dangerous."
Christian’s response was ice-cold:
*Tom,*
*Sanctuary is Shadow Ridge’s right. Your mate bond does not supersede pack law. Your threats are meaningless. Lily stays under Luna Sophie’s protection.*
*- Alpha Christian*
Marcus increased border security immediately.
I forced myself to visit Lily the next day. She was in the medical facility, sitting on a bed and looking smaller than I remembered.
"Sophie." Lily stood up immediately. "Thank you for coming."
"We need to talk." I sat in the chair across from her bed, maintaining distance. "About boundaries."
"Okay."
"I can offer you protection. I can offer you safety. But I can’t offer you our friendship back. Not right now. Maybe not ever."
Lily’s face crumpled, but she nodded. "I understand."
"You hurt me, Lily. Really hurt me. And I need you to understand that sanctuary doesn’t erase that."
"I know. I just... I want to earn your trust back. However long it takes."
I looked at her—really looked at her. At the bruises. The broken spirit. The girl I used to know is buried under all that trauma.
"Then prove it," I said. "Follow the rules. Be honest. Show me you’ve changed."
"I will. I promise."
I left feeling like I’d done the right thing, even if it hurt.
Marcus was waiting outside our quarters when I got back.
"We have a problem," Marcus said.
Christian appeared from the bedroom. "What kind of problem?"
"Tom’s been spotted meeting with Harold’s remaining supporters." Marcus pulled up photos on his tablet. "Multiple meetings over the past week."
My blood went cold. "He’s building an alliance."
"Against us," Christian finished.
Connor called thirty seconds later, and Christian put him on speaker.
"I reviewed the legal precedents," Connor said. "Tom has no legitimate claim. But if he gets enough Alpha support, he could force a Council hearing."
"Let him try," Christian said. "We’re not backing down."
After Connor hung up, I looked at Christian. "I made this worse, didn’t I? By granting sanctuary."
"No." Christian’s voice was firm. "You did the right thing. Tom was always going to be a problem. This just brought it to the surface faster."
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I kept thinking about Lily. About Tom. About Harold’s warning about secrets. About everything spiraling further out of control.
Christian was in his office reviewing security protocols when Marcus burst in without knocking.
"Alpha, Luna, we have an urgent situation."
We both stood immediately.
"Tom’s not alone anymore," Marcus said, his expression grim. "He’s got five other Alphas backing him. They’re demanding a formal Council hearing about Lily’s sanctuary status."
"That’s impossible," I said. "He can’t have gathered support that fast."
"He can if someone helps him," Christian said darkly. "Someone who knows Council politics."
Marcus pulled up another photo. Tom is standing with Harold, clearly in deep conversation.
"Your father’s backing his play," Marcus told Christian. "Harold’s using Tom as a proxy to challenge your authority again."
Christian’s expression went ice-cold.
"When’s the hearing?" I asked.
"Three days," Marcus said. "And there’s more. Tom’s claiming that Sophie’s involvement in pack matters constitutes Luna overreach. He’s using Lily’s sanctuary as evidence that Sophie is making Alpha-level decisions without proper authority."
The room went silent.
"So this isn’t really about Lily," I said slowly. "This is about me. About my position."
"Yes," Marcus confirmed.
Christian’s hand found mine, and through our bond, I felt his protective fury rising.
"Then we fight this," Christian said. "Together."
We stood there in silence, and I realized that Tom hadn’t just filed a complaint.
He’d just dropped a bomb that could destroy everything.
