Valerie’s POV
Rumors spread faster than truth.
And in this pack...
They spread like wildfire.
I didn’t even need to hear them directly to know what was being said.
I could feel it.
In the way people looked at .
In the whispers that stopped the mont I walked past.
In the subtle shifts of respect... and doubt.
Because there was one thing about that everyone knew.
Or thought they knew.
I was turning eighteen in a few days.
And I was still...
Wolfless.
"Is it really true or is there sothing we don’t know?"
"She still hasn’t shifted. There is no doubt about that."
"How can a Luna not have a wolf?"
"I wonder how such a great warrior like Jude Smith managed to give birth to soone so useless. Her father was on par with the alpha when it ca to strength. So, how did his daughter turn out to be a useless wolfless human?"
The voices weren’t even trying to be quiet anymore.
I walked through the courtyard as usual, ignoring them.
But that didn’t an I didn’t hear them or
didn’t understand what they ant.
Because in this world...
Your wolf wasn’t just a part of you.
It was everything.
It represented your strength, power, and identity.
And without it, you are seen as nothing more than a burden.
I know this because I have lived it. When I was still a slave, the pack mbers had no qualms about mocking and beating .
So, many tis I was given beatings simply because so of the teenagers found it amusing.
They thought it was fun how they could beat to unconsciousness, yet no wolf would co out to protect .
Now, that nightmare was starting again.
The only difference was that this ti they dared not hit , but they weren’t afraid of gossiping behind my back and calling nas.
The title of Luna protected from that kind of treatnt, but it also added a lot of weight on my shoulders.
As I walked, I wondered why these rumors had started.
These people didn’t seem concerned about not having a wolf before. So, what was happening now?
If this went on, it would cause real trouble.
"Luna."
The voice pulled from my thoughts.
I turned slightly.
Lilith approached, her expression more serious than usual.
"There’s sothing you should hear," she said.
"I already have," I replied.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"They’re questioning your position just because you haven’t shifted yet."
"I know."
"That’s not all."
My gaze sharpened instantly. I couldn’t handle more problems now.
"What else?"
She hesitated for a mont before replying.
"I heard that the council is considering bringing it up and suggesting to choose a new Luna."
I scoffed.
Of course the council would get involved.
They didn’t like the way I was running things so they would definitely find a way to get rid of .
"I don’t think they can do that. I am not just the Luna, I am the alpha’s mate."
I replied calmly.
"That can always find ways to manipulate things." Lilith replied anxiously.
"They’re saying a Luna without a wolf is unstable," he continued. "That the bond with the Alpha is incomplete."
My hands curled into fists when I heard that.
"They’re questioning the authority of the mood goddess."
I said sarcastically.
"Have they lived so long that they forgot who really rules the world?" I asked curiously because the actions of the elder council indeed amounted to questioning holy bonds made by the moon goddess.
"They are like this. I guess you might have done sothing they don’t like, so they want to get you away from power."
"Are they trying to take over the work of the moon goddess? The. Why don’t they make the mate bonds themselves according to their preferences?"
I was really angry about this whole thing.
I might not be keen on being Mike’s mate, but I would never question the authority or decisions of the moon goddess.
"They wouldn’t put it so bluntly, but your lack of wolf is indeed sothing they can use. It gives them a reason to act." Lilith continued.
I exhaled slowly because that was indeed a problem.
Before, it was just prejudice.
Now
It was sothing they could justify.
Sothing they could use.
Sothing they could turn into a weapon.
"Let them," I said finally.
Lilith’s brows drew together.
"You’re not concerned?"
"I am," I replied. "But I won’t react to such ridiculous rumors."
"That’s not what I an."
I looked at her.
"Then what do you an?"
"You don’t have a wolf," she said carefully. "That’s not sothing you can ignore."
"You’re right," I said.
Her expression tightened slightly.
"But they’re wrong."
Confusion flickered in her eyes.
"What?"
I didn’t explain and I couldn’t.
Not yet.
Not to him.
Not to anyone else.
Because that secret...wasn’t just mine.
"Focus on what matters," I said instead. "How are those won who have been training recently doing?"
Lilith studied for a while before nodding her head.
"They are doing great. So could even go to battle now."
"That’s good, keep observing them." I said before walking away.
Even though I ignored the rumors, they didn’t stop. Instead, they beca more aggressively spread.
While walking back to the pack house after inspecting the store house, I heard them again.
"She hasn’t shifted."
"She doesn’t even have a wolf."
"How is she supposed to lead us?"
"She’s just a human with a title."
I stopped walking.
The words echoed louder than the rest.
I turned slowly.
Three wolves stood near the training grounds.
They were veteran warriors in the pack.
And probably because of their strength and experience, they were unconvinced by my position.
"Do you have sothing to say?" I asked calmly.
They stiffened abruptly, caught off guard.
But one of them stepped forward.
"Luna," he said, though the title lacked respect.
"Speak," I said.
After a brief hesitation, he spoke.
"It’s not personal," he said. "But the pack is concerned."
"About what?" I asked calmly.
I have long learned that showing anger was useless.
"You." He was honest and straight as an arrow.
I appreciated that.
"Go on."
He exhaled slightly.
"You don’t have a wolf."
The others stood around watching and waiting. I don’t know how they expected to react, but I remained calm.
"And?" I asked.
He frowned slightly.
"That’s not normal. Not having a wolf is a sign of weakness."
"I’m aware."
"You can’t fight like we do."
I didn’t respond.
"You can’t sense like we do."
Still nothing.
"You can’t lead in battle the sa way."
That almost made laugh.
Almost.
"But I did," I said calmly.
His expression faltered slightly.
"That was...."
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