The Luna they betrayed became Untouchable

Chapter 33: Chapter 33

"Alpha Lucien has made his move."

Evelyn froze, slowly looking up at the Beta who had spoken. She’d been sitting in the study, going over the contract she’d drafted for the partnership with Alpha Damon.

"What?"

The door opened behind Tristan, and Varek stepped in with Celine, both of their faces pinched with worry.

"A decree was sent out from Alpha Lucien’s pack at dawn. Bloodmoon has been cut off, and any merchant caught doing business with the pack risks banishment from his jurisdiction."

For a moment, Evelyn simply stared at him. Then she slowly placed her pen on the desk.

"I expected that."

Tristan’s brows furrowed. "You did?"

"I knew Lucien wouldn’t sit quietly after Damon announced the partnership." Evelyn leaned back in her chair. "He made his position clear at the auction. He doesn’t want me building this healing house, and he certainly doesn’t want anyone helping me do it. Alpha Damon has gone against his directives."

Varek crossed his arms. "Then perhaps this is the limit of it. Bloodmoon takes the hit, Damon absorbs the consequences, and we continue with the agreement once things settle."

Evelyn nodded faintly. "That would make sense." Still, her stomach tightened. She hadn’t gotten this news from Bloodmoon directly, and she wondered if this was enough for Alpha Damon to change his mind—especially since they hadn’t stamped the contract yet.

"What do you worry about?" Varek asked.

Evelyn shook her head. "Bloodmoon," she replied eventually. "Alpha Lucien’s reach stretches far and wide, more than we can imagine. More than half of the realm answers to him. This directive from him will ostracise Bloodmoon." She paused, shaking her head. "What have I ever done to this man?" she mused.

Just as they continued to discuss, a merchant came running into the pack house, screaming for Varek, panicked and anxious at the same time.

The four of them all rushed to the hall where the merchant was—sweaty, exhausted, he looked like he’d been in a fight. The moment he laid eyes on Varek, he fell to his knees, wailing heavily.

"My Lord—" the merchant gasped, one hand braced against the floor. "The eastern route. They turned us back at the crossing. Wouldn’t let a single wagon through."

Varek’s expression sharpened instantly. "Turned back by whom?"

"Guards bearing the Supreme Alpha’s crest, my Lord. They said—" He swallowed hard, forcing the rest out. "They said every trade agreement bearing the Valemont seal has been suspended, effective this morning."

The room went silent. Evelyn felt something cold settle low in her chest. "Valemont?"

Celine’s hand flew to her mouth. "He’s doing this because of the partnership," she said shakily.

"That’s not possible," Tristan said slowly. "Valemont has no formal stake in the partnership. There’s no contract yet. Nothing binding Valemont to Bloodmoon at all."

"It doesn’t need one," Evelyn said, quiet and cold, the pieces already assembling themselves in her mind. "I’m staying here. That’s the only connection he needs."

Varek turned to her, his jaw tight enough to ache. "He’s punishing my pack. For housing you."

"Varek—"

"How bad?" he demanded, turning back to the merchant, ignoring her entirely for the moment.

"Bad, my Lord. If this holds through the season, we’ll feel it well before winter. The grain reserves alone—"

"I understand." Varek’s voice had gone hard, entirely unlike the warm man Evelyn had known her whole life. "Get him food and rest," he said to a nearby servant. "We’ll discuss the routes further once he’s recovered."

Celine was the first to speak, her voice trembling faintly. "Varek—this is a disaster. We can’t—we won’t survive this."

Varek shook his head. "No, we can." He beckoned a guard to come. "Bring me the financial reports for the past week and today’s report."

Evelyn paced around. Celine had grabbed a chair to sit while Varek and Tristan stood, waiting for the guard. It took minutes, but when he came back, Varek snatched the reports from him, eyes scanning them desperately.

He began to sweat the more he read, his eyes reading the same paragraphs over again. Evelyn snatched the reports from him and read them.

Her heart sank at the sight. This morning alone, they’d lost a few thousand coins. Valemont wasn’t a struggling pack, but it also wasn’t a wealthy pack like Silver Creek or Bloodmoon. Her father had built the wealth, but Varek and Celine had struggled during their first few years and somehow couldn’t sustain the wealth of the Valemont estate. They were only just getting up again.

There was no way they could survive hundreds of thousands in losses each day.

"This is my fault," Evelyn said quietly.

Varek’s head snapped toward her. "No."

"Varek—"

"I said no." His voice was firm, brooking no argument. "Lucien made this choice. Not you."

"But I’m the reason—"

"You’re the reason Valemont has hope again." Varek stepped closer, his gaze steady. "You’re the reason I remember what it feels like to fight for something worth fighting for."

Evelyn’s eyes softened, but as she opened her mouth to speak, Celine cut her off.

She rose from her chair, her voice strained. "Varek, we can’t afford to lose this much coin. The pack will suffer. The people will suffer."

Evelyn’s throat tightened. "Varek..."

"I know." Varek’s voice was quiet. "But I won’t abandon Evelyn. Not now. Not ever."

Celine’s eyes flickered with something—frustration or fear. She lowered her gaze, her hands clasped tightly before her.

"Of course," she murmured. "Of course we won’t abandon her."

Evelyn looked between them, her chest tight. She had brought this upon them. She had brought Lucien’s wrath to their doorstep, and now they were paying the price.

She couldn’t let this stand.

"No. I won’t sit still and watch your pack sink. I don’t care what he does to me or Damon, but I won’t let him harm Valemont. I refuse to sit still and watch this happen."

Tristan’s brows furrowed. "My Lady—what are you planning to do?"

Evelyn looked at him with determination. "I’m going to see Lucien, and no one will stop me. Not even you."

"My Lady—"

"This is my fight, and I will fight it. I won’t drag you all into my mess this shamelessly anymore."

With that, she stormed off, while Tristan ran after her.

Tristan caught up to her before she’d even reached the stables. "You’re not going alone," he said firmly.

"I said—"

"I heard what you said." He fell into step beside her regardless, already signaling for the carriage. "I’m not asking permission, my Lady. I’m coming."

She didn’t argue further. There wasn’t time, and some small, exhausted part of her was grateful not to have to.

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