CHAPTER 131: CHAPTER 131 BENEATH THE FULL MOON

A month later.

The sky above Shadow Pack territory glowed with the amber hues of sunset as Emma and Tiny exchanged their sacred vows beneath a canopy of intertwined branches. My best friend looked radiant in her simple white dress adorned with moonstone beads that caught the fading light. Tiny, usually intimidating in his Beta role, gazed at Emma with such tender devotion it brought tears to my eyes.

"By the bond of moon and heart, I claim you as mine," Tiny’s deep voice carried across the gathering, his massive hands gentle as they cradled Emma’s much smaller ones.

"And I claim you, my wolf, my mate, my forever," Emma responded, her voice steady despite the tears shimmering in her eyes.

Leo stood beside me, one arm wrapped protectively around my now prominent baby bump. At seven months pregnant, our son made his presence known with frequent, powerful kicks that never failed to bring a possessive gleam to Leo’s eyes.

"She looks happy," I whispered to Leo as Emma and Tiny sealed their union with a kiss. The assembled pack members and human guests erupted in applause and howls of celebration.

"As do you, my Luna," Leo murmured, his lips brushing my temple. His hand splayed across the curve of my belly where our son responded with a firm kick. "He approves of the union as well," Leo added with a rare smile.

The celebration moved to the main clearing where tables laden with food awaited. Lanterns illuminated the area, casting warm light over the festivities as humans and wolves alike danced and feasted.

As I settled into a comfortable chair at the main table, I caught sight of Enzo and Lilith, with their infant daughter bundled carefully in Lilith’s arms.

"Victoria," Enzo greeted."You look well."

Leo’s body tensed beside me, his protective instincts still flaring whenever Enzo came near.

"Thank you for coming," I said sincerely. "How is little Aurora doing?"

Lilith stepped forward with gentleness. "Would you like to hold her?"

Aurora’s sweet laughter bubbled in my arms as I cradled her close. I bent and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, whispering the same ancient words my mother had once spoken over me. A shimmer of faint golden light danced briefly across her skin—the fairy’s blessing passed on through me.

Emma and Tiny’s union concluded amidst joyful cheers, the pack’s voices echoing with celebration beneath the stars. The night was thick with the scents of roasted meats and wildflowers, music and laughter spilling through the air.

"Luna Victoria." Rosa approached quietly, her eyes warm with motherly concern. "You should rest now."

Leo immediately stood, helping me to my feet with characteristic protectiveness. "She’s right. Our son needs his mother well-rested."

I said my goodbyes to the happy couple, embracing Emma tightly. "I couldn’t be happier for you," I whispered.

"Same for you," she replied, placing a gentle hand on my belly. "Godmother duties start soon!"

Seven months later, under the full moon’s zenith, my labor began. The pack gathered outside, their voices raised in prayer and song, while Leo never left my side. His strength anchored me through each wave of pain until, through blurred tears, I thought I saw my mother again—her gentle hands guiding our son into the world.

"Silvano," I whispered when they placed him in my arms, his tiny body perfect with a dusting of dark hair and eyes that already held a hint of Leo’s intensity. "Our son of the forest."

Leo’s eyes gleamed with moisture as he touched our son’s cheek with a reverent finger. "And heir to Shadow Pack," he agreed, his voice rough with emotion. "Perfect, like his mother."

When Leo presented Silvano to the pack under the fading moonlight, a collective howl rose from hundreds of throats—werewolves acknowledging their future Alpha. Tiny and Emma stood closest, ready to assume their roles as godparents. Even Enzo and Lilith watched from a respectful distance, little Aurora sleeping peacefully in her father’s arms.

"Our family," Leo murmured later as I nursed Silvano in the privacy of our bedroom, his arm around us both. "My mate and my son. My greatest strength and legacy."

I leaned against his solid warmth, watching our son’s perfect face as he drifted into contented sleep. "Our future," I agreed softly.

Outside our window, the territory of Shadow Pack stretched vast and peaceful under the morning light—stronger than ever before under the leadership of an Alpha who had learned to embrace change and a Luna whose dual heritage had become not weakness, but the foundation of a new era.

Silvano Moretti, child of wolf and nymph blood, slept soundly between us, unaware of the destiny that awaited him or the bridges his very existence had already built. But that was a story for another time.

For now, wrapped in the protective embrace of my mate with our miracle child between us, I was simply Victoria—no longer the frightened girl running from her brother’s control, but Luna of the most powerful pack in the Northern Territories, beloved mate, and now mother.

And that was more than enough.

———

The morning sun spilled across Shadow Pack’s sprawling lands, gilding the training fields and forest beyond in warm gold. From my seat by the tall window of the Alpha’s office, I watched my son pace like a caged wolf. At twenty-five, Silvano carried Leo’s commanding presence in every line of his body, tempered by my own stubbornness. It made him magnificent... and infuriating.

"The Council grows impatient," Leo said from behind his massive oak desk, his voice heavy with the authority that had built Shadow Pack into the strongest pack in North America. Silver threaded through his dark hair now, but his eyes remained sharp and unyielding. "You’re heir to the most powerful pack on the continent. You need a Luna."

Silvano stopped pacing, his jaw tight with that familiar Moretti defiance. He had Leo’s height and strength, but his movements carried an otherworldly grace,"I’ve already found her," he said.

"Then why have you never brought her home? You’ve never spoken her name."I said.

Silvano’s expression softened when his gaze met mine, as it always did. For all his Alpha strength, he would always be my gentle boy. "Because she doesn’t know me yet. Not truly."

Leo’s brows furrowed. "What do you mean she doesn’t know you exist? Either you’ve met someone or you haven’t."

"It’s complicated." Silvano dragged a hand through his dark hair, a gesture inherited from his father. "I see her sometimes—in dreams, in visions when I run the forest. "

Silence stretched between us, broken only by the sounds of pack life outside.

Leo’s jaw tightened. "Son, the pack needs stability. The other Alphas are watching. You can’t build your future on dreams and shadows."

"They’re not just dreams." His eyes flashed. "She’s strong. Dark hair, green eyes. And when the time is right, our paths will cross."

Pride and worry warred in my chest. We’d taught Silvano to value true love, not politics. But duty had its weight too.

"The Harvest Moon Gathering is in six months," Leo said after a pause. "Every major pack will be represented. The Council expects you to meet eligible Lunas."

"I’ll attend," Silvano conceded, though reluctance colored his tone. "I’ll play the dutiful heir. But I won’t choose for politics. When I take a mate, it will be forever—like you and Mom."

Leo’s eyes darkened. "If your mysterious mate hasn’t appeared by then—"

"She will." Silvano’s voice was quiet but absolute. "I can feel it. She’s coming."

When he strode from the office, determination in every step.

"Do you believe him?" Leo asked, moving to stand behind me, his arms strong and certain around my waist. "Do you believe this woman is real?"

I remembered my own unlikely journey, the bond I had fought for against all odds. "Our son has never lied. His fairy blood is strong. If he says she’s coming..."

"Then we wait," Leo finished, pressing a kiss to my hair. "And pray she’s worthy of him."

Beyond the office window, the sun climbed higher, gilding the Shadow Pack lands with promise. Change was coming. And with it, the beginning of Silvano’s story.