The Luna they betrayed became Untouchable

Chapter 47: Chapter 47

General Ashira stood at attention nearby, her posture rigid, her expression carefully neutral. She had been waiting for the right moment to speak.

"Alpha," she began, "the Alpha Summit will be held in the coming fall. Preparations are already underway."

Lucien looked up, his brow furrowed. "Already? It’s months away."

"The host realm requires significant preparation. And there is also the matter of my return." Ashira’s voice stiffened slightly. "My days at the pilgrimage are over. I’ll be returning to the pack permanently." The Alpha Summit has been confirmed for the coming fall," Ashira said, setting a folded parchment beside his plate. "Hosted in the realm this cycle, as tradition dictates."

Lucien’s jaw tightened faintly at the mention of it—not the summit itself, but the realm hosting it—though he said nothing, only nodded for her to continue.

Ashira’s eyes went over the papers and she paused, jaw tightening slightly. "Luna Veronica will be returning to the pack. Her time at the pilgrimage has come to an end, and now she’s permanently moving back to the pack."

Lucien paused, his fork raised halfway only to be dropped. This wasn’t bad news, but it wasn’t good news either.

"Already? She doesn’t have some other kind of—offering to do?" He spat out, grabbing a glass of water and downing it.

"I’m afraid not, Alpha. She’s returning for good this time."

Lucien resisted the urge to growl. His mother’s return to the pack wasn’t something he welcomed. He’d hoped she’d have gotten sick or injured from her numerous offerings and prayers at these temples she’d chosen to go instead.

He hadn’t even gotten time to digest the unfortunate news when his Beta, Marcus, came barging into the house.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. "What is it?" he asked.

Marcus stopped before the table, his voice tight. "Two of our carts were rejected at the border."

Lucien paused. "Our border?"

Marcus shook his head. "At the Celestial border, Alpha. They’ve been there for three hours now, and no entry."

Lucien’s jaw tightened. "The Celestial Realm? Why would they reject our carts? Are we in some kind of dispute with them that I do not know of?"

Marcus shook his head. "I have no idea. But they haven’t been allowed entry. Without entry, we can’t supply to the territories beyond the borders, and our trade routes will be disrupted."

Lucien’s expression darkened. "Contact Alpha Cassian."

Marcus nodded immediately. "I’ll send a messenger."

"No." Lucien pushed his chair back. "I’ll speak to him myself." He had traded with the Celestial Realm for years. Cassian had never interfered with his carts before, and Lucien had never given him reason to.

Lucien rose from the table and strode toward his office, Marcus and Ashira following behind him.

The moment they entered, Lucien moved behind his desk. "Get me the messenger. He’ll give a message to Alpha Cassian."

Marcus had barely turned to leave when a guard rushed into the office, bowing. His eyes darting between the Beta and the General.

"Speak," Lucien snapped, and the guard stopped fidgeting.

"Alpha, more carts have been rejected at the border."

Lucien frowned. More carts? What could possibly be happening in the Celestial Realm for them to turn away Lucien’s carts?

"How many?"

The guard swallowed. "Ten more carts, My Lord."

Lucien’s eyes narrowed at the number. "Ten?"

"Yes. They were stopped at the Celestial border this morning."

"That makes twelve," Marcus replied grimly.

Marcus held out his hand. "Give me the report." The messenger hurried forward and passed the papers to him.

Marcus read it, and his expression slowly hardened.

"What does he say?" Ashira asked.

"He sent his apologies, Alpha. The border will remain restricted for the foreseeable future. He says all foreign trade is being subjected to increased inspection until the matter is resolved."

Lucien scoffed. "Increased inspection?"

Marcus nodded. "They’ve apparently begun monitoring the accessibility of foreign trade entering the realm."

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. "Accessibility?"

"Internal accessibility," Marcus corrected. "They’re limiting foreign merchants from moving freely through their territory while they conduct inspections."

"That makes no sense."

"It doesn’t." Marcus and Ashira both said at the same time.

"How long?" Lucien asked, while Marcus read through it again, shaking his head. "The message didn’t specify."

Lucien’s jaw clenched. A delayed shipment was an inconvenience, but twelve carts sitting at the border meant something else entirely.

It meant contracts would be delayed. Merchants would start complaining, and if the goods didn’t reach the territories beyond the Celestial Realm, his clients would begin looking elsewhere.

"The carts rejected at the border—find out whose shipments they are."

Marcus hesitated. "Alpha, more than half of them belong to the Alphas of the First Houses."

Lucien went still. "The First Houses?"

Marcus nodded grimly. "The carts belong to several members of the First Houses. They were transporting goods meant for distribution across the realm."

Lucien’s jaw tightened. This wasn’t just an inconvenience anymore. This was a threat.

"Get me a messenger," he said, his voice flat. "I want to speak with Alpha Cassian directly. Now."

Marcus hesitated. "Alpha, the message from the Celestial Realm was clear. They’re conducting inspections. They won’t—"

"I don’t care what they won’t do." Lucien’s voice was ice. "I want an explanation. And I want it before the First Houses start asking questions."

Marcus bowed and left the room.

Ashira stepped closer, her voice low. "Alpha, if the First Houses’ shipments are being delayed, they’ll want answers. And they’ll want them quickly."

He turned from the window, his expression hard. "Send word to the First Houses. Tell them their shipments are being inspected at the border. Tell them it’s a routine procedure and nothing to worry about."

Ashira nodded, though the concern in her eyes remained. "Of course. And Marcus?"

"Have him find out exactly which shipments are being held. I want their owners notified personally. If any of them have contracts nearing expiration, I want extensions arranged before they have a reason to complain."

"Yes, Alpha." She turned to leave but he stopped her again.

"General." Ashira glanced back while Lucien’s gaze remained fixed on the reports scattered across his desk. "Find out exactly what is going on."

Ashira’s brows drew together slightly. "You believe he’s hiding something?"

Lucien’s jaw tightened. "I believe nothing happens at this scale without a reason."

Ashira nodded, then left, while Lucien remained alone in his office. He picked up the first report again.

Twelve carts. He stared at the number.

It was irritating—nothing more.

Cassian had no reason to interfere with him. Their realms had maintained peaceful trade for years, and Lucien had always respected the boundaries between them.

Whatever this was, it would be resolved.

He was sure of it.

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