The Barren Luna

12 - Ginny

E ver since I’d arrived at the Royal Pack, I’d been extremely warm at night, which was not what one would expect in the Rockies. It must have been a side effect of all the different drugs I’d been on in the last six months or a reaction to all the adrenaline leaving my body. Whatever the reason, I started my day with a cold shower like I did every day, before I got ready for the meeting I was scheduled to attend at the King’s office.

“Luna Regina!” The King’s brother, John, greeted me warmly. We’d met several times over the years and we always got along really well. He looked so much like his late father.

“Hello, Prince John,” I said politely, and he playfully wagged a finger at me. “None of that nonsense now, please call me John.”

“Only if you call me Regina,” I retorted, and it was settled.

“Regina,” the enchanting voice called, and I turned to face David. “This is my Beta, Helen Rawlins.”

“Hello, Beta Rawlins,” I greeted the woman whose petite figure, I was sure, belied the strength within. I knew I’d immediately sense her strong aura if my wolf were awake.

“Please, it’s Helen. Nice to meet you,” her manner was brusque and efficient, which I liked. It reminded me of Calum, and I felt a bit sad.

“You as well.”

With the introductions out of the way, Prince John and I sat down on one side of the Alpha’s desk, King David on the other, and Beta Helen simply remained standing behind him.

“I don’t know if you know this, Regina, but my brother is now the chief administrator of the Crown and Royal Court,” David explained, and I wasn’t surprised. John had spent all of his life at Court, serving the Crown, always by his father’s side, working hard and learning from him. “So tomorrow, he and I will preside over the trial together. He normally does this alone, so he can better explain how the whole process works,” he nodded at his brother, who immediately launched into an explanation:

“The Alphas, Lunas, and Betas of all American packs,” except for Spruce Mountain , I mentally amended, “will arrive at Court tonight and we’ll hear testimonies of all parties involved over the next three days, after which we’ll pass a verdict based on everyone’s votes. The majority wins. All those participating will be subject to a royal Alpha command – those testifying will be commanded to tell the truth, and those voting, to vote justly in accordance with their beliefs and values,” John scanned my face briefly as if to check whether everything was clear, and then continued:

“There are two charges being brought against you,” this sentence made me queasy but I kept my face blank, “one is related to mate disputes and is, obviously, the murder of your mate,” he glanced at David, seeming uncomfortable.

“The second one is related to territory and power, and you’re being charged with the underhanded murder of an Alpha without an official challenge,” he concluded, and words weren’t enough to express my shock at the phrasing of the charge, as accurate as it was.

Nothing had been further from my mind than taking Henry’s pack and power, and yet that’s what I technically did. I felt the familiar tension of a strong jaw clench taking hold of my face. I saw Helen observing me intently before she spoke, “May I ask what your principal concern about the process is?”

I met her striking blue eyes and admitted, “I dread facing all those familiar people and their horrible judgmental minds, as well as airing out my private problems in front of an audience. I understand why it's necessary,” I hurried to add. “Only... I can't help feeling horrified at the thought that someone might think that I did what I did for some power grab,” I explained and she nodded.

“Well, trust the command. No one will be able to lie and everyone will have to vote justly, so you have nothing to worry about.”

I was touched by the faith these three people seemed to have in me, as unfounded as it was. I needed to stop worrying about what those other Alphas and Lunas thought. I remembered that pig Larson and what Henry had told me about him, and I was more determined than ever not to take anyone’s opinion into account. Caring what others thought of him in matters that were none of their business was, after all, a big part of what ruined Henry’s life.

There was only one question left to ask, “What happens if I’m found guilty?”

They all looked at each other, but it was John who spoke, “If you’re found guilty of the territory issue, you’ll be executed. And if you’re found guilty of the mate issue, you’ll be sentenced to life in prison. If you’re found guilty of both, I think the more severe punishment wins, which would be keeping you alive in a dungeon.”

All I could do was nod. As I walked back to my room, two pups ran by me, and I was suddenly struck by a thought: Whatever happened to Henry and Hannah’s pup? While processing all that had happened to me, there was little time or emotional space left for anyone else, but now a cold, hard truth was staring me in the face: I left that poor pup fatherless.

All that pain and suffering undergone by me and, to a certain extent, his father, all so that he could be conceived, and in the end, for what? The poor pup would grow up without the paternal guidance an Alpha needed in order not to become overwhelmed by his powers. I felt horrible for not taking his tiny innocent life into account in the process of saving mine. You would have been a terrible mother , that horrible, distorted, dead Dorothy voice whispered in my ear as a tear left my eye. Without my wolf, I didn’t even have the energy to defend myself.

That afternoon, someone knocked on my door and when I yelled, “Come in!”, I expected to see Laura or Kelly. Instead, it was the King in what seemed to be his after-work attire – a black T-shirt, black sweatpants, and dark green slippers. He padded across the thick carpet to where I sat on the bed, his breathing heavy, making me wonder whether he ran here.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said while his eyes twinkled mischievously. “Close your eyes,” he whispered, and before I knew it, I was being enveloped in the kind of hug that only one person I knew could give.

“Lucy!” I yelled and she squealed: “Ginnyyy!!!”

We both jumped up and down in pure delight while David stood there with the biggest grin on his face, looking at us like a proud mother duck.

“What – How are you here?” I looked from her to David, confused.

“Am I allowed to discuss the trial?” she looked at David and he considered it briefly before responding, “You can tell her why you’re here, and she can tell you how she’s feeling but try to avoid going over any of the events she’s being tried for.”

Lucy nodded.

“Calum had to come here as a witness, so I left the pups with his parents to come here to support you. Oh, honey, this whole thing -,” she stopped herself and simply shook her head sadly.

“I believe this is my cue to leave,” David interjected before I could say anything to her. “One of your guards will sit with you two in the room, as is procedure, but feel free to chat for as long as you want.”

“Thank you so much,” I told him quietly as I walked him to the door, “I really cannot express to you how much this means to me.”

“I’m glad you’re happy,” he said, his eyes scanning my face and stopping at my mouth.

As Kelly came in to stand guard, David turned to leave, but not before shooting me a wink that I found both charming and inappropriate. I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head at him.

Lucy and I talked for almost two hours about the pups, her first trip to the court, my nightmares, how I was feeling, the wolfsbane they had me on, my anxieties about the trial, and other, more mundane things such as how annoying her brother-in-law was being. When she got up to leave, I already felt infinitely better about the three days that awaited me and I managed to have a good night’s sleep without any of my usual nightmares.

The next morning, I put on a conservative brown dress, black shoes, and a pair of white gold earrings. My nerves were high strung and I didn’t feel like looking at myself in the mirror any longer. As I was entering the breakfast hall to meet Lucy, I crossed paths with David, who looked me up and down and frowned slightly.

“Are you feeling unwell?” he inquired.

“Just nerves, I’ll be fine.”

After I located Lucy and filled up my plate with some fruit that looked easy to stomach, an Omega I'd seen a few times near my room approached me and said, “Ms. Haines, I believe you dropped this on your way to breakfast,” as she handed me one of the necklaces from my vanity.

It must have caught on my dress when I was getting ready. It was simple enough, a white gold chain with a turquoise pendant, so I chose to put it on and thank her instead of causing a fuss by making her take it back to the room.

The courtroom was huge, and it was apparent why it needed to be. There was one pack in every state, and right now, the Alpha, Luna, and Beta from 48 of those packs were present in this very room. Spruce Mountain was unrepresented for obvious reasons, and I wasn’t entirely sure whether the Royal pack would vote alongside everyone else.

Luckily, due to shifter hearing, they could all follow the proceedings without any problems. Some of the males shot me disapproving looks, probably imagining themselves in Henry’s place, and wanting justice for a fellow Alpha.

I personally knew about half of the wolves present, having met them either during diplomatic visits or at various functions for pack leaders. I could see Alpha Dominic and his new Luna, as well as that pig Larson and his poor mate looking for places to sit. I knew my sister’s in-laws, my old Alpha and Luna, would be here as well. My teeth were starting to hurt from how hard I was clenching my jaw. I hoped Freida wouldn’t suffer because her sister was a murderer.

Some of the faces I knew from interviews and spreads in the Lipstick thank you all for coming together on such short notice. There are extenuating circumstances due to which we had to expedite this trial.

As you were informed in the summons, the defendant is Regina Haines, former Luna of the Spruce Mountain pack,” I focused on his eyebrows to avoid noticing the stares being sent my way.

“Ms. Haines is being charged with the underhanded murder of Alpha Henry Giles, without an official challenge, and the murder of her mate, Henry Giles.”

Murmurs could be heard after this announcement, but a simple glare from David silenced them. I felt a slight sense of discomfort, as if someone’s hand was pressing on my back, and I realized he must have unleashed his Alpha King aura on them to make them stop.

“In order to get a comprehensive overview of the events leading up to this tragedy, we have to go over the entire chain of events leading up to the murder, and it seems that everything was set in motion almost seven months ago. I ask for your patience and understanding during this process. If you have any questions, jot them down and they will be discussed at the end of each testimony. Thank you in advance,” John concluded and David stood up. He looked so intimidating, even among all of these powerful males.

“The first witness the Crown calls is Calum Phillips, former Beta of the Spruce Mountain pack.”

The sight of Calum was so comforting and familiar that I almost smiled at him, but then I remembered I was on trial for murder, not at a family reunion. He managed a short nod at me.

“Beta Phillips, tell the truth ,” David commanded, and the command made me nauseous even when not directed at me, but Calum was unfazed.

“Can you concisely describe to us the events that pertain to this trial which took place in your pack in the month of May last year? Please stick to events you have personally witnessed.”

“At the beginning of May last year, the late Alpha Henry Giles called a meeting with the Council of Elders to discuss taking an unmated pack female as his breeder since he and Luna Regina had repeatedly failed to produce an heir in the four years that they’d been mated,” Calum stated calmly and I saw many Lunas and some of the Alphas frowning at the idea.

“The council approved the taking of a concubine, who was to be chosen from among volunteering unmated pack females, and signed off on breeding her for three heat cycles. Two days later, we interviewed the two volunteers and chose the late Miss Hannah Rogers.”

The late Hannah? What the fuck? When did she die? In labor? Oh my God, I was going to be sick.

“Why was the other volunteer rejected?” David asked.

“She seemed eager to become a mother and was thus unfit to be a breeder. The whole idea was that the pup would be given to the Alpha couple to raise as their own.”

“I see. And what did the Luna have to say about all that?”

“She wasn’t informed beforehand,” Calum admitted, looking uncomfortable, together with all the female faces I was able to see from where I was sitting. “The Alpha informed her of the decision when everything was already settled.”

“What events related to this transpired over the next few months that you personally witnessed?”

“At the beginning of August, the Alpha announced that Miss Rogers was pregnant.”

“What was the pack’s reaction to all of this?”

“Most of them celebrated the taking of the concubine, as well as the pregnancy. The pack members have been restless without an heir. They saw it as a weakness.”

“And why did no one consult the Crown before resorting to such unusual measures?”

“The Elders informed us that there was documented legal precedent for unmated Alphas over the age of 25 taking breeders to ensure the future of a pack’s Alpha line, and they made it seem like this was all completely legal.”

“Alright. What happened after Miss Rogers conceived, was there anything untoward that you yourself witnessed?”

Calum hesitated for a moment.

“I personally haven’t witnessed anything inappropriate. She was annoying, that’s for sure. Always coming to the Alpha’s office, complaining about pregnancy-related issues, wanting his attention, stuff like that.”

“What happened on September 10, Beta Phillips?”

“I was in my office when I heard Miss Rogers yelling, "No! Let go of me, Luna, no!” and I rushed out at the same time as the Alpha, only to find the Luna standing on top of the stairs and Miss Rogers lying at the bottom, unconscious. The Alpha then ordered Luna Regina to be locked in the dungeons while he took Miss Rogers to the hospital. Luckily, both the pup and Miss Rogers were fine, and the Alpha assigned her a permanent guard and ordered them not to leave her alone for even a second, not even in the bathroom, until she gave birth. The next day, I was informed - ” he continued but David interrupted him.

“Please, only discuss events that you yourself have witnessed,” he warned and Calum nodded.

“Of course, I apologize.”

“Now, how long did your Luna remain in the dungeon?” David growled at him.

“Three months,” Calum said, looking ashamed.

“Did you do anything to help her during that time?”

“My mate visited her once, when the Alpha went to the Palace when you took over as King. And our Gamma and I filed a formal complaint at the beginning of November but never heard back from anyone from the Court.”

“So he sat here with all of us while his mate was rotting in the dungeon,” David shook his head in disgust, before adding, “As for those responsible for the delay with the complaint, they have been dealt with, don’t worry. You were present when Miss Rogers gave birth?”

“Yes.”

“Can you please tell the Court what happened on that day?”

I leaned forward in my seat. I’d never heard what happened while I was in the dungeon.

“On Christmas Eve, I was informed that Miss Rogers was in labor and went to the hospital to provide support for the Alpha -”

“Even after everything he did?” David sneered.

“We grew up together,” Calum shrugged sadly, “he used to be my friend. Before I had pups of my own,” he added, and I was surprised Calum had noticed in my mate what I'd failed to.

“Alright, please continue.”

“The Alpha was pacing outside, saying that his wolf was annoyed with Miss Rogers and that he needed a break. So we waited together, and when the doctor let us in after the pup was born, the Alpha immediately started yelling at Miss Rogers and asking about the pup. He kept yelling, “What the fuck is this”, and then his wolf took over and said that the pup wasn’t his,” I was sure I gasped, just like the rest of the courtroom. I wasn't expecting this. Who could have expected this? No wonder Henry was out of his fucking mind, talking about lies half the time.

“Then the Alpha grabbed Miss Rogers by the hair and dragged her to the pack house. When interrogated under the Alpha command she admitted that she and her lover, Julius Crawley, who was her step-brother, hatched a plan to climb the social ranks of our pack. She would bear the Alpha’s pup, and in return, he would promote her brother to Gamma.

When she failed to get pregnant during her first heat, the step brother impregnated her, and the Alpha failed to smell it due to the wolfsbane he was taking in order to quiet his wolf while he had relations with Miss Rogers. She admitted that they then saw the opportunity to get rid of both the incriminating pregnancy and Luna Regina at once, and that she faked the attack. She had thrown herself down the stairs,” he finished, and I couldn’t remember ever hearing Calum talk so much at once.

“How would she have faked subsequent pregnancies?”

“She said she wouldn’t have. She would have blamed it on scarring and damage from the miscarriage. She believed she’d still get something from the Alpha out of pity.”

I couldn’t believe Hannah and Julius. I could still see his slight smile in front of the pack house as he told me: “Goodbye, Luna.” Those wolves were disgusting beyond words.

“What happened to Miss Rogers and her lover?”

“In order to best relay what happened, I must first explain that, during the Luna’s dungeon stay, Miss Rogers and her stepbrother went to see her unauthorized. There, Miss Rogers used Julius’ silver knife to inflict about a dozen cuts on the Luna’s lower abdomen while Julius held her down.

The Alpha felt his mate’s extreme physical pain and immediately ran to the dungeon, where he caught them in the act. He was extremely angry with Miss Rogers but couldn’t do anything, as she was still pregnant with what he believed was his pup. Julius, however, got fired from his position as pack enforcer and beaten badly.

On the night in question, after a guard had brought Julius to the pack house, the Alpha used that very silver knife to cut off his genitals,” a few males in the audience sucked their teeth and winced when he said this, “which he then stuffed down Miss Rogers’ throat.”

I could not believe what I was hearing. Everyone’s eyes went wide. I was sure that Henry felt like he was avenging me by doing this, but if that had truly been the case, shouldn’t he have choked on his own dick as well? I felt like all this senseless violence was, in fact, a lot of misdirected anger on his part.

“So, how did the two of them die in the end?”

“Jules was commanded not to move as he bled out. As for Miss Rogers, the Alpha smashed her skull between his bare hands.”

The courtroom was absolutely silent, and that was saying something for a species as blood-thirsty as we were.

“What happened to the pup?”

“The hospital released him to his grandparents and they immediately applied for transfer to another pack, which the Alpha approved, after confirming, under Alpha command, that they had nothing to do with their children’s scheme.”

“What happened after the murders?”

“The two of us went to his mother’s house,” Calum continued, and my ears perked up.

That bitch Catherine. I wondered if she’d be here today to ask for my head.

“The Alpha yelled at her, accused her of poisoning him against his mate, and basically banished her from the pack by forcing her to spend most of the year with one of her sisters from then on.”

The brief sense of satisfaction that I felt at Catherine finally getting her comeuppance was silenced by the familiar refrain of too little, too late. That might as well have been the anthem of the last two years I’d spent with Henry. Why care about him standing up to his mother once after I had already been imprisoned and tortured? Was I that starved for a bit of protection, a morsel of love?

“And after he left his mother’s house?”

“He seemed deeply unsettled and, frankly, unhappy. He kept talking about “his Ginny”, about how he needed to get her back, how she had to forgive him, how he would take her home and everything would be as it used to be between them.

Now, I am no doctor, but that's when things got really scary for me. I feared what he might do to the Luna at this point, and I couldn’t wait for someone to respond to my complaint, so I secretly took the pack phone and called the Court directly.”

“I want to commend you, Beta Phillips, for having the strength to disobey your Alpha and go behind his back for the greater good. I know it went against your very nature and your position,” David said and Calum seemed uncomfortable with the praise.

“I still failed my Luna,” he whispered sadly and tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I looked at Lucy and she sat motionless, tears streaking down her face.

“One last thing,” David said. “Can you take us through the events of New Year’s Eve?”

“Yes. When I had called the Royal Court on Christmas Day, I’d spoken to Prince John Bell, to whom I explained that a complaint had been made a while ago with some serious allegations, but that we hadn’t heard anything back yet. I also informed him of the latest developments, such as the murder of the concubine and the Luna’s house arrest. He assured me that he would look into the matter and send a delegation our way as soon as possible.

On December 31, the royal delegation led by King David Bell came to my home; they explained how the complaint never got processed and how they had trouble tracking it down, but they were here now to look into the issue.

It was while briefing them in my home that both my mate and I experienced a sharp pang of pain, and we knew that something must have happened to our Alpha or Luna. I ran with the delegation to the Alpha’s home, where we broke down the door, whereupon the King shoved me aside and ran into the house, from where he emerged quickly, carrying a bloody Luna Regina. She was luckily unharmed, but the Alpha was dead. We quickly pieced together what had happened - ”

“Only things you witnessed yourself, Beta Phillips,” David reminded him.

“Sorry. That is all I have witnessed directly, then.”

“Thank you, Beta Phillips, you may step down. The next witness the Crown calls is the former Gamma of the Spruce Mountain pack, Liam Bidey.”