The Defiant Luna
Chapter 62

Nathan POV

“You know Nathan, when Jay-la finds out where we are going, she is gọing to be really ticked off:” Jackson told him as they drove away from the pack.

He knew his Beta was right, but he didn’t want her all stressed out, the Luna Ceremony was only a week away and she needed less stress. It was not necessary. for her to be going to the Alpha Council’s estate with him.

Though Austin had said it was up to the two of them if they both wanted to come or if just Nathan and his unit wanted to be there for the sentencing of Sophia. It turned out Alpha ordering her, had revealed a lot about the

– she-wolf. Things that Alpha Austin thought he should know.

So here he was on his way to their estate just up past Buffalo to hear what those Alpha Orders had revealed. He didn’t much think he was going to like it, didn’t want Sophia anywhere near Jay-la at all.

He was going to tell her the outcome, after he knew what it was. He did know she’d not once left the pack since coming home, he’d offered to take her” updated by jobnib.com” out for dinner twice, up to their pack restaurant in Rochester, to which she had simply shaken her head and said no thank you.

He wondered if she was concerned about something happening, or someone taking her once more. She’d not said she was but surely it had to concern her. Concerned him a lot, his app was in the Beta testing stage right this minute, had half a dozen pack members using it, and two people tracking them at all times.

Would know by her Luna Ceremony if it was all good, get the bugs and glitches all sorted out if there were any, he was keeping her up to date on the progress, and any and all questions she asked he answered. Seems she was definitely going to be willing to have it on her all the time.

Likely only until her affliction settled down and resolved.

•Then she was likely to not want to use it. He was hoping it would just become the normal thing for her and shed _ always want to use it.

Their meeting today was only supposed to take an hour or so. He was glad it was all going to be sorted out and punishment was being dealt out. Then he and Jackson would have plenty of time for baby shopping. He knew that the man had a list as long as his arm from Margaret of the things she wanted.

He was hoping that the meeting would go well, and he wouldn’t leave the Alpha Council Estate ticked off and unhappy with Sophia’s punishment, likely wouldn’t be in the mood to shop if he did.

If he was honest with himself, he really was looking forward to shopping for his new pup. Hed seen pictures of the triplets when they were just born as well as growing up, but he had missed all of that. He was not going to miss a single second of any of their other children coming into the world and growing up.

They all chatted about their women on the long drive to the

‘estate which his GPS told him after putting in the address, was a good thirty, minutes north of Buffalo, up near Niagara Falls. So casual conversation was a good distraction for him. He was driving today and listening to his unit just talk and smile about their women, it was good.

Even Ethan chatted along about Maya as though she was his Mate, hed smiled at Jackson in the passenger seat next to him, and Jackson had smiled right back. The man was attached to the girl it seemed. There was no

•confirmation of Maya being his Mate. There was no guarantee he would even get a second chance, Mate. But if he really liked the girl he could choose her to be his chosen mate if she was willing that was. Though that would take much longer than a Gifted Mate.

A chosen human Mate, didn’t happen often but he would allow it, do the right thing by her, let them date for at least 6 months before showing her what they all were, though if Suzy accepted Stephen, which at this point was a given, they all thought. She could help with Maya and Ethan:

It had been years since Ethan’s Mate had died and though hed not been looking for a second chance Mate, he did attend all pack Mating balls, didn’t generally venture out to other packs though, with the exception of his Mates home pack, went to those, but to see them. They all knew it made him feel close to Claudia, her family seemed to like him as, well.

Though the three of them were hoping that the Goddess herself would grant Ethan a second mate and let him be happy once more. He obviously liked Maya, she was 20 and though there was some clear sibling rivalry between her and Suzy, that had been resolved with Ethan’s attention.

He’d seen it often inside his own pack. Some sisters just wanted what the other had, until they were happy with what they had. Simply sibling jealousy, he wondered if it was because Suzy was the prettier of the two, or at least he thought so, never stated it out loud though. Suzy was concerned about Maya being the smarter of the two, but Maya was likely concerned that her sister was prettier.

Standard everyday human and wolfen family rivalry, seemed their two species had something in common.

He pulled his car up to the front of the grand manor, a large imposing building kind of looked like a small castle, the lawns were all manicured and well maintained, and there had been a guard at the closed wrought iron gates that looked at him and his men stated,

, “Alpha Browning of the

B***d Moon Pack.” Not a question but a statement, he’d looked at a clip board and then flipped through it and looked from each of them.

“Yes.” Nathan had responded

“Park yourself out the front, a valet will take it and bring it back to you. Follow the main drive, take the left path when it splits.” Then the gates had opened and they’d driven in to the estate.

Clearly, that man had photographs of all of them to know who was arriving. There was a wolf waiting for them, wearing full council colours. He handed his keys over to him. “Don’t scratch it.” he commented.

“Yes Alpha.” Was all the wolf said, looked young, smelled of warrior to him, yet was on valet duty. Unusual, he thought, was more of an omega job. There was another standing at the top of the stairs, ten long wide sandstone stairs that spanned one third of the front of the manor, leading up to four pillars before they entered in through the front door.

The man standing there, also in full uniform, he now realised, also smelled of warrior b***d. “Step inside Alpha, the council are waiting for you. Take the first door on your right. There will be a woman, Val, waiting for you to escort

•you to the meeting room.”

He nodded, thanked the man and did just that. Val was also a warrior, and got the impression there were no omega’s here, in the Alpha Council grounds. That everyone was warrior ranked, guess that was in case s**t hit the fan.

Had their own personal army at their disposal, not that the Alpha council wasn’t made up of retired Alpha’s and a few Luna’s from his understanding of it.

Val smiled at all of them, each in turn, then asked them to follow, her. She walked them down a long hallway. There were many rooms he noted off the hallway, each one of them had the respective council members name and pack they were affiliated with, on them. These were all their offices, wondered if they were walked down there as a show of just how many Alpha’s were here.

Likely so, to put off anyone thinking of going against them, a display of their combined power, he smiled as he saw his great grandmother’s name on the door, Luna Katelynn of the B***d Moon Pack. Wondered if she was here today.

He had not seen her since he was just a tiny child. She had joined the council long before he was born.

Knew that there were twelve council members, all from different packs from all over the country, no two Alpha’s or Luna’s from the same pack could hold a council position at the same time, could be seen as favouritism when deciding on things within their domain.

They did not stop at her door. She might not be here, could be off at another estate, dealing with another issue altogether, or even off in the royal kingdom. He’d heard that all council estates held portals to the royal kingdom, so it

•was easier for them to hold meetings and bring about news of new rulers or new laws that the king saw fit to _ apply to his wolves.

They were walked around a corner and up a curving staircase and down another hallway, to a large meeting room at what he could only think of was the very back of the building. There were several council members already there. Six he saw. His great grandmother was not among them.

Alpha Austin stepped over to him and shook his hand, escorted them to a row of chairs behind a table. The room was very simple. A table that would seat six, two tall windows on either side of the table with dark blue drapes.

An open space between them and where he and his unit sat.

White marble flooring and several planters with ferns in them, there was another table and chair set up off to his left, he noted it was bolted down to the floor and had what he could tell a place to chain someone to it, in the centre of that table. No other security around, likely didn’t need it with six council members in the room.

They were introduced to the council members; Alpha Tyler of the Pale Moon Pack, Alpha Austin, they knew was from the Winter Moon Pack, Alpha Cameron of the Glass Lake Pack, Luna Larissa of the Silver Moon Pack, Luna Gretta of the Darkened Sands Pack and Luna Hailey of the Candescent Moon Pack.

He stood and introduced himself and his unit when he was asked to, “Where is your Luna?” Alpha Austin asked him directly, a frown on his face.

“Within the pack, Alpha Austin. She is with pup, I honestly didn’t want her to be upset or have to relive her ordeal. I did not know if she would have to come face to face with Sophia if I brought her here. Not something I want either.”

“A pup, I was unaware of this.”

“You must not have spoken to Clara recently. I believe she is aware now.”

“I have been here since having Sophia brought in.” he nodded “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” he nodded himself and sat back down.

All eyes moved to the sound of a door opening, Sophia was led in, she was wearing silver cuffs but was dressed nicely and looked. He noted healthier than the last time he’d seen her, been treated kindly, it seemed, by the Wolfen Council. Though he already knew that Austin had told him and Jay-lay that.

She glared right at him, he turned his eyes from her back to the council. This was the very reason he didn’t want Jay-la in this room. Heard her be chained to that table over there but dismissed her being in the room. He had no interest in looking at the she wolf, didn’t care at all about her anymore.

“Sophia Worthington, you are here today to hear your sentencing for the crimes committed against the Luna to the B***d Moon Pack.”

“I am the Luna of the B***d Moon Pack.” She spat out.

“Never held that title, as far as I am aware.” Nathan stated, she’d only ever held the title of the future Luna, not the

– actual Luna.

“I am your Mate, Gifted by the Goddess Selena herself. I’m the rightful Luna to the pack” She snapped at him.

His eyes moved right to her “Jay-la is my Goddess Gifted Mate. I was granted another, one that is beautiful inside and out. She is not a chosen Mate. Holds the esteemed title of Luna to the B***d Moon Pack. I am not only thankful for this, but blessed, to have one such as Jay-la accept me into her heart.”

Watched Sophia’s eyes widen at this information but then just say nothing, looked like she was really thinking about something over there. He didn’t particularly like it at all, got the distinct impression this news was not something he should have told her.

Luna Larissa stood “Enough now. As for you, young lady,”

she looked right at Sophia, “being the Luna to the B***d Moon Pack, I believe from all accounts you rejected your Mate, Alpha Nathan, before he did you, so therefore your claim is negated. Alpha Austin has already verified the validity of Luna Jay-la and Alpha Nathan’s bond.”

Saw Sophia glare at Larissa herself, only to feel that woman’s Luna Aura roll out of her right at Sophia, and she was made to bow till her head touched the table, before the woman let up.

“You will show respect, young lady.” She stated flatly. “Your crimes are numerous, and this is just one of your punishment rulings to be dealt out to you. Be thankful the current reigning Luna is not here. I could have her roll her

•aura at you, likely be ten times worse than mine.”

Nathan watched her sit back down, as he thought about Larissa’s words. Her crimes are numerous? What had she been up to, he wondered. His eyes moved to Alpha Austin and he said nothing, likely whatever it was, was none of his business. He was not likely to find out anything other than the punishment for her crimes against Jay-la.

Alpha Tyler stood and listed her crimes against the B***d

Moon Pack.

1. The k********g of the current Luna with the use of Wolfsbane

2. The k********g of the current Gamma with the use of Wolfsbane

3. The imprisonment of both the Luna and Gamma in a cell made of Silver

4. The conspiring with rogues to use an illegal rogue facility, that is used for containing and then selling, of stolen she wolves

5. The intent to sell Luna Jay-la to be used and abused by an alpha and his unit to have her brutally beaten and assaulted daily as per your wishes. Part of the terms agreed upon when making the deal.

6. The intent to have Alpha Nathan murdered for his rejection of you, and ejection of you, from the B***d Moon Pack, even though you yourself had rejected and cheated on your Mate first, which was what led to Nathan rejecting you officially.

“Six crimes you have committed in this one instance against a pack you were attached to, ruined your own standing with them. For these crimes you will be stripped of all freedoms, and for six years you will wear silver, to sever you from your wolf. You will be imprisoned for the entire time within the royal kingdom, were any plotting and planning to get out and try to hunt and extract revenge on your ex-mate and his current Luna, or their three children.

Will be seen by the royal witches and punishment will be extended. as the King sees fit.”

All six council members stood and looked right at him “

Alpha Nathan, is this ruling satisfactory for you?”

He stood himself and frowned,

, “To be honest, I would like

to see her head come off her body.” Saw all of them frown at him disapprovingly, “But, I know my Luna would not want this. Is a mother herself,

, has voiced concerns about

Sophia being separated from her children. As much as it is to my dislike, my Luna would want compassion for Sophia’s children. Jay-la is kind-hearted and wondered aloud once if you had a prison for mothers and their children, not that she wants the children to suffer at all.

Simply thinks the children should not be punished by having their mother taken away from them. They did not do anything wrong, and Alpha Austin stated himself.

Sophia appears to love her children.”

“She does.” Luna Gretta nodded, “Is strongly bonded to them, however her crimes have not just been against you and your Luna, she has committed several others which came to light when she was Alpha Ordered to answer questions. “It is unlikely, as much as she loves them and they her, she is fit to raise them.”

He could only nod his head. “May I enquire as to her other

•crimes?”

“No, they for the other packs to hear. but to ease your mind, she will not likely be released from the kingdom’s prison for at least a hundred years.”

That made him blink, wondered what her other crimes were, against other packs at that. “Then-I hope you will find her children a good home and a nice pack to go to, to be raised well and live a long life, without the knowledge of their mothers’ crimes.” He bowed his head slightly out of respect.

“They have already been severed from her and b***d bonded to another, a safe pack I assure you.” Luna Gretta nodded “Thank you and your Luna for the concern over those little ones.”

“‘ll show you all out.” It was Alpha Austin, he took the paper from Alpha Tyler and escorted them out.

Nathan did not look back at Sophia, she was going to be out of his life, away from Jay la and their children for a very long time, at least a hundred years. That was a full relief to him. He was happy to be able to report this to Jay-la when he got home.

Alpha Austin walked next to him, “How is Jay-la doing?” he asked

“Good, is happy in the pack. Still riles up quickly and puts me in my place when needed.”

“Good, that is what a Luna does. Keeps her Alpha Mate under control. I did not see your wolf at all, in there?”

“Havoc has no interest in that she-wolf, has other things on

• his mind.” He smiled a little.

“A pup.”

“Yes, is steadfast it’s his, not mine.” He chuckled softly.

“Could well be. Austin nodded “Her Luna Ceremony, a bit of a hick up there I heard, humans inside the pack for it.”

“Yes, we’ll hold it more like a wedding and I’ll announce her through a pack wide mind-link, call it a minute of silence.

Jay-la’s idea, so it’s alright with her. I will however, take her and the children out onto our balcony after it’s all over and present her to the moon goddess as it should be. Verbally thank our Goddess for gifting me such a loving and forgiving mate.”

“Nicely done son.” He nodded.

“Great grandmother is not here?” he asked as they stepped out the front door and his car was parked waiting for him.

“No, over in Europe, standing in for an unexpected European Council member having a pup.”

Nathan turned and looked at him more than surprised, ” Yes, it was a shock to all, considering she’s 400 years old.” The man chuckled and shook his head, “Got a new Mate herself and well.” He shrugged

“As the Goddess sees fit, blessed them with a pup of their own.” Nathan smiled

Alpha Austin nodded “She’ll be back in six months or so,

*might just drop in for a visit. Be warned, she’s like your mother. Enjoys hitting one up the back of the head.” Held

– out that piece of paper “For your records of her punishment. Seems a little lenient, I understand, but her other crimes were worse or some of them. You will receive an official sentencing ruling after we are done. With her estimated release date if she behaves herself.”

“Is she really that bad?” he asked.

“Unfortunately, yes. If I hadn’t agreed to Jay-la’s thoughts on Alpha Ordering her, she would be getting away with a lot. That girl is one hell of an actress, had us all fooled.” He nodded “I’d like to hear word on that new arrival. Perhaps come visit, with Clara.”

“You are more than welcome, Alpha Austin.” Nathan got in his car to head back to Buffalo for shopping.