BOUND TO THREE ALPHAS Chapter 65: THE TRIAL OF LUNA

Chapter 65: The Trial of the Luna

Stone torches flickered against ancient walls as Liana was dragged into the massive underground room. Silver chains clinked with each step, burning her skin like fire. The moonstone item around Magnus’s neck pulsed brighter, making her wolf whimper in her mind. "Welco to justice," Magnus announced. Seven huge stone chairs ford a semicircle around the chamber’s center. Each seat held an Alpha, their eyes cold as winter nights. Liana recognized so faces from pack etings, but now they looked at her like she was poison.

"Behold the false Luna," Magnus declared, his words echoing off the walls. "The one who threatens everything we are." Alpha Drake of the Mountain Pack leaned forward, his scarred face twisted with disgust. "She looks so small. Hard to believe sothing so weak could cause such trouble." "Weakness is often the most dangerous weapon," answered Alpha Vera of the Storm Pack, her silver hair gleaming in the torchlight. "It makes others drop their guard." Liana’s legs shook, but she forced herself to stand straight. The silver burned, but she wouldn’t show fear. Not here. Not now. "State the charges," Magnus ordered. A thin man with dead eyes stepped forward, unrolling a scroll. "Liana of the Shadowfang Pack stands accused of three cris against wolf-kind. First: upsetting natural pack order by claiming multiple mates. Second: corrupting the Alpha bloodlines with illegal magic. Third: trying to destroy werewolf traditions through false unity." Each word hit Liana like a physical blow.

The Alphas nodded, their thoughts already made up. "The punishnt for any one of these cris is death," the man added. "Together, they demand complete destruction of both the accused and her bloodline." "Wait." Liana’s voice cracked, but she pushed forward. "Don’t I get to hear the evidence first?" Magnus smiled coldly. "Of course. We are civilized animals, after all." Alpha Drake stood first, his huge fra casting shadows across the floor. "I’ve ruled the Mountain Pack for thirty years. My grandpa ruled before , and his father before him. For three generations, we’ve followed the old ways. One Alpha, one Luna, strict order. Our pack is strong because we know our place." He pointed an angry finger at Liana. "Then this... thing appears. She claims three mates, breaks every law of nature. Within months, my own wolves start questioning directions. They want to ’discuss’ hunting strategies instead of following orders. They ask ’why’ instead of accepting advice." Murmurs of agreent rippled through the room. "My son ca to last week," Drake continued, his voice getting harsh.

"He said maybe the old ways aren’t always right. Maybe females should have voices in pack choices. Maybe strength isn’t the only thing that counts." His fist slamd against his chair. "She poisoned his mind with weakness!" Alpha Vera rose next, her storm-gray eyes sparkling. "The Storm Pack has survived five wars, three famines, and countless challenges because we trust our senses over our thoughts. We feel instead of thinking ourselves into loops." She pointed toward Liana with obvious hatred. "But her impact spreads like disease. My warriors pause before striking enemies. They consider repercussions instead of acting on instinct. Last month, we lost three good wolves because they stopped to think instead of fighting. Their lives are on her hands." One by one, each Alpha shared similar stories. Wolves questioning power. Packs becoming ’soft’ and careful. Ancient traditions abandoned for new ideas. "The evidence is clear," Magnus declared when the last Alpha finished. "This false Luna kills everything that makes us strong. She turns wolves into confused people." He looked directly at Liana. "What say you to these charges?" Liana’s throat felt dry as sand, but she found her voice. "May I ask them so questions first?" "This isn’t a debate," Alpha Marcus of the Iron Wolves snarled. "You’re here to confess or deny." "I’m here to understand," Liana answered quietly. "If I’m going to die, at least let know why." Magnus considered this, then nodded. "Ask your questions. But be quick about it." Liana turned to face Alpha Drake. Despite the moonstone’s denial, sothing stirred in her mind. A whisper of power she didn’t recognize. "You talk about history and strength, Alpha Drake. But why did your mate leave you three years ago?" Drake’s face went white. "That’s not relevant." "She left because you banned her from speaking at pack etings, didn’t she? Because you said her ideas were ’female nonsense.’" Liana’s voice grew stronger. "But her idea about changing hunting patterns would have prevented the deer shortage that killed twelve pups that winter."

"How could you possibly know that?" Drake whispered. Liana didn’t answer. She turned to Alpha Vera instead. "You praise gut over thought, Alpha Vera. So why do you take sleeping dicine every night?" Vera’s confident face cracked. "I don’t know what you an." "The nightmares," Liana said softly. "About the wolves you killed following ’instinct’ instead of kindness. The young thief who begged for his life. The pregnant female who was just looking for food. They visit you every night, don’t they?" "Stop this," Vera gasped. But Liana was just getting started. She looked at each Alpha in turn, and sohow, impossibly, she could see their darkest secrets. "Alpha Marcus, you’re dying of a disease you could cure if you weren’t too proud to ask the Healer Pack for help." Marcus clutched his chest, his breathing suddenly heavy. "Alpha Cole, your son isn’t really your blood. Your mate had an affair fifteen years ago, but you’ve never said anything because you love him anyway." Cole’s face sagged. "Alpha Regina, you’ve been stealing from the pack treasury to pay gambling bills. Your dogs think you’re strong, but you’re drowning in weakness." "How?" Regina’s voice was barely a whisper. "How can you know these things?" "Because that’s what unity really ans," Liana said, her voice ringing through the room.

"Not controlling others or hiding behind customs. It ans seeing each other clearly—the good and the bad—and choosing to stand together anyway." The Alphas looked around uncomfortably, no longer certain of their righteousness. Magnus stood, his face dark with rage. "Enough tricks! You use dark magic to—" "I use truth," Liana interrupted. "Sothing that terrifies you because your power depends on lies." "Lies?" Magnus laughed harshly. "I’ve told no lies." "Haven’t you?" Liana t his eyes steadily. "Tell them about your daughter, Magnus. Tell them why she really died." Magnus froze. For the first ti, fear flashed across his features. "She didn’t die in battle like you claim," Liana continued. "She died because you prevent her from mating with a ’lesser’ wolf. She killed herself rather than marry the Alpha you picked for her." "That’s enough!" Magnus roared. "And that’s why you really hate ," Liana said, her words cutting through his rage.

"Because I represent the opportunity she never had. The freedom that might have saved her life." Silence fell over the room like a heavy blanket. The Alphas stared at Magnus, seeing him clearly for the first ti. Then footsteps echoed from the room entrance. A young woman stepped into the torchlight, her red hair shining like fire. She wore Alpha marks, but her face was kind instead of cruel. "Alpha Lyra of the Sunrise Pack," she introduced herself. "And I call for this trial to end." Magnus snarled at her. "You have no authority here, child." "I have the authority of the Moon Goddess herself," Lyra answered calmly. "She visits my dreams too, Magnus. She shows the sa visions this Luna sees." The chamber exploded in shocked whispers. "That’s impossible," Alpha Drake argued. "The Moon Goddess only speaks to one Luna at a ti." "Unless," Lyra said with a slight smile, "she’s preparing us for sothing bigger than any of us imagined." She walked toward Liana, ignoring the silver chains and suppression objects. "I’ve seen the future she offers. Not the destruction of wolves, but their developnt. Not the end of strength, but the beginning of knowledge." "You’re both deluded," Magnus spat. "Am I?" Lyra turned to face the other Alphas. "Look around you.

Your packs are already changing, whether you accept it or not. The question isn’t whether change will co—it’s whether you’ll help guide it or be killed by fighting it." "What are you suggesting?" Alpha Vera asked carefully. "I’m suggesting we listen to what the Moon Goddess is really trying to tell us," Lyra replied. "Through both of her chosen daughters." Magnus stepped forward, his hand moving to the moonstone around his neck. "I won’t let you corrupt this council with more lies."

But as his fingers touched the item, sothing unexpected happened. The stone flickered, its light fading for just a mont. In that mont, Liana felt her wolf stir. And for the first ti since her arrest, she smiled. "Too late, Magnus," she whispered. "The bonds are already breaking."

The moonstone’s light died totally, plunging the chamber into flickering torchlight. And in the sudden darkness, sothing howled. Sothing that sounded very much like freedom.