Chapter 4

Eleanor's POV

I arrived at the pack office before dawn, determined to lose myself in Luna duties. The supply reports for winter preparations needed reviewing, and I had three territory dispute letters that required careful responses. Work had always been my refuge when emotions threatened to overwhelm me.

But even here, I couldn't escape the aftermath of last night. The pack's reaction was immediate when staff members began arriving, conversations halting mid-sentence, gazes quickly averted, their scents betraying everything. Excitement, curiosity, and underneath it all, pity. The news about Edward finding his fated mate had spread like wildfire.

Seraphine growled within me, bristling at the sideways glances and whispers that followed me through the hallways.

By mid-morning, I'd managed to clear most of my urgent paperwork, but the weight of pack members' stares had become unbearable. I needed to go home and prepare for Maggie's meeting, though facing Edward felt like walking into a battlefield.

Edward was waiting in the living room when I arrived, his coffee untouched on the side table. His eyes followed me as I walked past without a word, ignoring his voice calling my name.

I needed a shower and time to mentally prepare for Luna Maggie's meeting this afternoon. She had invited me weeks ago to discuss winter preparations with the other Lunas from neighboring packs. Despite the chaos of last night's events, I couldn't let my personal crisis interfere with pack duties, the other Lunas were counting on our input for regional supply coordination.

When I returned to the bedroom wrapped in a towel, Edward waited on our bed. When his arms encircled me from behind, his lips finding my marking, I spun away in fury.

"Don't touch me," I spat. "Not after what you did last night."

"Eleanor, please—"

"You humiliated me," I cut him off, my voice shaking. "In front of everyone."

To my shock, Edward fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around my legs as he pressed his face against my thighs. I'd never seen an Alpha so broken.

"Please don't give up on me," he begged, tears soaking through my jeans. "I need you, Eleanor. I've always needed you."

"You want me to accept sharing you with her," I said flatly.

"I don't know what I want," he admitted, looking up with red-rimmed eyes. "But I know I don't want to lose you."

"You already have," I whispered.

The afternoon Luna meeting was torture. Maggie tried to maintain normalcy, discussing supply chains and winter storage, but I could feel the other women's careful glances. They knew what had happened at the equinox celebration, everyone did.

During a break, Maggie pulled me aside, her usually bright demeanor subdued.

"How are you holding up?" she asked gently.

"I'm managing," I lied.

Maggie could probably tell I was lying, but she kept quiet about it. She just hugged me softly, and I really appreciated that.

That evening, Edward and I attended the monthly Forestvale Pack Leaders meeting. These gatherings were mandatory for all Alphas and Lunas in the region to discuss territory disputes, trade agreements, and security threats.

The meeting hall buzzed with tension as we walked in. I felt like everyone was staring at me, all whispering about yesterday's drama. I had to act like nothing happened.

During the formal discussions about border patrols and the growing threat from Alpha King's Clifflands territory, I noticed Alpha Charles across the room. His hostile glares toward Edward were impossible to miss.

When the official meeting ended, Charles intercepted us in the parking lot.

"Alpha Edward." His deep voice stopped us cold.

Before Edward could respond, Charles's fist connected with his jaw, the impact echoing in the empty parking lot.

"I spent years protecting Claire," Charles said, voice shaking with emotion. "She had options, plans. Now what? She becomes your side piece while this one plays house?"

"I can't reject Eleanor," Edward said. "She means too much to me."

Charles laughed bitterly. "And you can't reject Claire because it would cripple your wolf. How convenient." He leaned closer. "Let me make this crystal clear. You're taking Claire from my pack because I can't stomach watching what comes next. You're going to mark her properly, or I'll make your life hell. The three of you can sort out your pathetic arrangement however you want."

He turned to leave, then paused. "One week, Edward. Bring her home, or face the consequences."

The car ride home was silent. When we pulled into our driveway, I headed straight for the door.

"Eleanor, please," Edward called. "We need to talk about this."

I spun around. "What is there to talk about? Why don't you go collect your mate and finish what you started?"

"Let me be clear, Edward. I will never accept this. Never."

"This isn't easy for me either—"

"Oh, I'm sorry it's so difficult for you to have two women!" I snapped. "In this situation, the only victims are me and my wolf. You and Claire get what fate decided you deserve."

I slammed our bedroom door, the sound echoing like a death knell.

Over the following days, Edward tried to resist, but I could see him weakening. Alpha Charles sent messengers demanding action. Other pack leaders began questioning Edward's stability and leadership.

Finally, the formal summons arrived: an emergency council meeting to address the "Emberwood situation."

"No matter what happens, you'll always be my Luna," Edward said desperately as we drove to the council chamber.

I didn't respond.

The chamber was packed with representatives from all Forestvale packs. Alpha Aidan called the meeting to order, first addressing security concerns about Alpha King's aggressive expansion, then turning to the main issue.

"Alpha Charles is threatening war over your refusal to accept your fated mate," Aidan said, fixing his gaze on Edward.

Alpha Quinn stood, his frame tense with anger. "Why are you refusing your responsibility? You've acknowledged the bond but won't complete it. This instability affects all our packs."

"I haven't marked her," Edward said quietly.

"But you admit there is a bond?" Aidan pressed.

Edward's shoulders slumped. "Yes."

Aidan turned to me, his eyes cold. "Luna Eleanor, are you preventing your mate from accepting his destiny?"

Heat flashed through me. "I'm not preventing anything. This is Edward's choice."

"Is it his choice, or are you manipulating him? Making him choose between duty and sentiment?"

"Don't you dare make me the villain in this," I snarled.

"You refuse to share. You would rather see pack war than step aside gracefully."

His dominance pressed against me, but Seraphine and I both refused to submit.

The debate raged for hours. Finally, the council issued their ultimatum: Edward had one week to bring Claire into our home and formalize the bond, or face united opposition from every pack in Forestvale.

We had lost.

"I'll move my things out of the master bedroom," I said when we arrived home, hands clenched to stop their shaking.

"No," Edward said firmly. "You stay in our room. Claire will take a guest room."

I laughed bitterly. "For how long? Until she demands more? Until your wolf can't stand being apart from her?"

"Eleanor, please—"

"But you won't win this fight," I said softly. "We both know that."

And he had no answer.