5 | Run Luna

*** Alpha Eamon's POV

There are perks to using a galley as a war room. Not the least of which is the smell. My mother had always said the scent of good food alone was better than most healing herbs.

But for some reason, in this moment, the aroma that usually brought comfort and focus was doing the opposite. I felt… a huge sense of unease. Quickly, I scanned the room, my gaze landing on the spits being turned slowly by a steward. A surge of anger welled up in me, completely out of proportion to the scene before me.

“What the fuck…” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. Why am I getting all worked up over roast beast?

And then it hit me. “Ah,” I sighed, a grim understanding settling over me. “She’s awake.”

I stood up and walked toward the door and stairwell that would take me down toward the infirmary and wards, my steps quickening with purpose.

Just before I reached it, my gamma, Raven, appeared in the doorway, his expression conflicted.

“Their Luna,” he began, hesitating as if searching for the right words. “She’s awake.”

“I know.” I assured him, holding up my palm where I had fed the she-wolf from. “Blood bond,” I reminded him, the connection between us pulsing faintly in the background of my mind.

Raven furrowed his brows, tilting his head slightly, his hesitation lingering. “I don’t think you do, Alpha Eamon,” he pressed, his voice carrying a note of concern. “There was an incident… she’s fled.”

I stopped mid-stride, his words sinking in. Fled? A spark of surprise flared within me, followed quickly by intrigue. “Well now,” I said, a dry smirk tugging at the corner of my lips, “that’s interesting.” The words were more reflex than response as my mind began shifting gears, moving swiftly from concern to strategy.

It had been eight days since we took control of the Reginale kingdom. Most of the hostiles had been dealt with—some through negotiations, others by less diplomatic means—and we were now knee-deep in reconstruction. ‘Courting’ the area, as my Beta called it. Securing alliances, addressing neglected needs, ensuring stability. The region was in disarray, its people on the brink after years of exploitation by the imperial family.

Most notably, the local villages had been drained of all their resources, their crop storages ravaged by the greed of the royals. We had acted quickly, opening the stores we’d taken back to ensure the people could survive the winter. We’d worked hard to build trust in a place where trust had long been shattered.

The villages had been ravaged, drained of their resources to feed the insatiable greed of the royals. Crops, livestock, even their winter stores had been stolen. In response, we’d acted quickly, opening the stores we’d reclaimed to ensure the people could survive the bitter months ahead. We’d sent healers to mend wounds both physical and emotional, masons to rebuild homes, and laborers to restore what had been lost. Trust was hard-won in a place so steeped in betrayal, but we were making progress—slow, deliberate progress.

And now, this complication—a Luna on the run. It wasn’t helpful, but it was… illuminating. If she’s strong enough to escape, she’s strong enough to fight. That strength, if tempered, could be valuable. Perhaps even essential.

But that would depend on her… which ultimately meant it depended on how quickly I could find her.

“Gamma Raven,” I said, my voice cutting through the heavy air. “Ready the trackers. I want her found before nightfall. And have a healer on standby.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Raven replied, turning on his heel to carry out my orders.

I followed him out, the unease from earlier now a simmering resolve. This wasn’t just about recapturing a lost wolf. This was about understanding the dynamics at play—why she fled, what drove her, and how it could be used for securing the region.

Because in the end, this wasn’t just a war for territory. It was a war for the future, and every piece on the board needed to be in its place.

And this Luna, whoever she was, might just be the key to unlocking something far more valuable than a simple alliance.