Chapter 6: The Luna's First Pack Meeting
The day of the official Pack introduction was marked by a chilling formality. The tension in the penthouse had reached a dangerous equilibrium: two strong-willed individuals, bound by a primal, hated instinct and a rigid, necessary contract.
Sera, dressed in an immaculate ice-blue suit that mirrored the cold authority in her eyes, stood opposite Alistair. They were preparing to leave for the Packhouse—the physical hub and traditional heart of the Thorne Pack.
"The Packhouse is ancient, Seraphina," Alistair instructed, his golden gaze sharp. "It is not the penthouse. There is no anonymity. Every glance, every word, every move you make will be scrutinized. Remember your role: Silent Consort."
"I am aware of my role, Alpha," Sera replied, her tone cool. "But I cannot be silent if I am to prove I am not a liability."
Alistair narrowed his eyes. "Do not contradict the Beta or the Elders. Their opinions are inconsequential now, but open rebellion is not."
"Understood," Sera conceded, a tiny smile playing on her lips. "I will reserve my rebellion for private use."
The comment earned her a flicker of grudging approval—or perhaps frustrated arousal—in Alistair's eyes, before he swiftly masked it.
* * *
The drive to the Packhouse was brief but intense. The building was a massive, gothic stone structure tucked away in the deep woods outside the city limits, reeking of old power and territory.
The meeting room was intimidating: a long, heavy oak table surrounded by about two dozen individuals—the inner circle of the Thorne Pack. They were a mixture of ages, genders, and roles (Betas, Omegas, warriors, and Elders). All were visually striking, radiating an underlying physical power.
At the head of the table sat an older woman, Lydia Thorne, Alistair's mother, the previous Luna. Her hair was silver, and her face was a masterpiece of cold, aristocratic disapproval. She refused to meet Sera's eyes.
Sera immediately spotted Elara, the Beta female, standing near the back, her green eyes burning holes into Sera's back.
Alistair introduced Sera with minimal ceremony. "This is Seraphina Thorne, my Mate. She is the Luna of this Pack. Her word is mine. Disrespect will not be tolerated."
He didn't elaborate. He didn't explain the contract. He simply asserted dominance.
Lydia Thorne, however, could not contain her distaste. She cleared her throat loudly.
"Welcome, Seraphina. You are… a surprise," Lydia said, her voice laced with venom disguised as politeness. "Alistair, we need to discuss the immediate needs of the Pack. The previous Luna oversaw the Pack's Charity Foundation. It generates millions for our human operations. Will Seraphina be managing the finances or the public face of the Foundation?"
This was the first true test of Sera's utility. If she said she couldn't handle the finances, she was weak. If she said she would take over, she risked immediate failure under public scrutiny.
Sera met Lydia's gaze—a direct challenge to the former Queen.
"The Pack's Charity Foundation generates $50 million annually and is currently being audited by the city for tax compliance issues," Sera stated calmly, using the knowledge she had instantly gleaned from Alistair's financial reports. "Its public face is secondary to its stability. As the new Luna, I will not simply manage the public relations, I will manage the solvency."
She looked at Alistair, daring him to disagree. Alistair's face remained impassive, but his posture subtly shifted, a barely perceptible signal of acceptance.
"I spent years managing the Q3 reports for Thorne & Co. as a PA," Sera continued, addressing the skeptical faces. "I am intimately familiar with the inner workings of this corporation, its debts, its holdings, and its legal vulnerabilities. The foundation needs an analyst, not a figurehead. I will analyze its books and secure its compliance first. Lydia, I would appreciate any assistance you can provide during the transition period."
The challenge shifted. Sera wasn't just claiming the role; she was claiming authority through expertise. Lydia was left speechless.
* * *
Alistair dismissed the meeting shortly after. As they were leaving the Packhouse, Alistair paused in the hallway, grabbing Sera's arm tightly.
"You risked too much, Seraphina," he growled softly, his golden eyes blazing with conflict. "You embarrassed my mother in front of the Elders."
"I secured my position," Sera retorted, pulling her arm back. "I proved I am valuable, not a decorative liability. You did not ask for a silent wife, Alistair. You asked for stability. I just gave it to you."
He stepped closer, the air crackling between them. The Mate bond was screaming now, a tangible pressure in the small of her back.
"You have no idea what you're stepping into," Alistair said, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "The Pack Elders will test your limits. And I will not always be there to clean up your human pride."
"Then you better trust my intellect," Sera challenged, refusing to back down. "Because unlike the woman you dated before me, I won't be called 'dead weight' again."
He stared at her—the defiant human female who was disrupting his entire existence. A flicker of reluctant heat—not irritation, but possessiveness—crossed his eyes.
"Very well, Luna," Alistair conceded, the title sounding like a low, reluctant warning. "The Foundation's financial audit is your first official mission. Prove your worth, or the Pack will tear you apart."
END OF CHAPTER SIX.