Estelle’s POV

“Too busy doing what, exactly?” I asked.

“Meeting with other Alphas, trying to secure trade agreements, attending social gatherings,” Bosco listed off. “Anything that makes him look important to the outside world.”

Meanwhile, the pack itself was crumbling from the inside. Asher was so busy keeping up appearances that he practically left Moonveil to crash and burn on its own. It was barely hanging by a thread.

I wasn’t surprised, but hearing it confirmed still stirred up complicated feelings.

“Why come to Blackmoon?” I asked. “It’s quite the trip. There are other packs that are closer to Moonveil that you guys could’ve sought help from.”

“There were about thirty of us originally,” Edmund said. “But other packs can only take a few asylum seekers at a time, and that was if they were willing to take us in at all. Many of the neighboring packs turned us away when they heard we were from Moonveil. Apparently, our beloved Alpha and Beta had burned quite a few bridges,” he added sourly.

I laughed mockingly. Hazel had not taken her duties as the Beta of Moonveil properly, it seemed. Even Asher wasn’t able to clean up her mess completely. No wonder they so badly needed me to come back. However, it was apparently still not as important as their own pride.

“We had no choice but to split up,” Juliet said.

“Blackmoon is the closest major pack,” Velma explained. “And honestly, we were running out of options. Juliet can’t travel much further in her condition. This is the furthest we can go. If Blackmoon isn’t willing to take us, then...”

She paused, looking at her mate, Bosco, who sighed and shook his head.

“We would have to hide out in the neutral territory and become rogues,” he muttered dejectedly.

Without a pack to accept them, once defected, they would be considered a rogue if they didn’t join another pack within a certain amount of time.

Even if they stayed out of the way, becoming a rogue would make life more difficult for them. There was a huge prejudice against rogues, and most businesses do not welcome them, with the exception of sketchier locations.

I glanced at Juliet again. Her face was pale, and she looked more exhausted than the others. The stress of leaving their home, combined with early pregnancy, couldn’t be easy.

“What about the people who stayed behind in Moonveil?” I asked.

The group exchanged worried looks. “They’re hanging on, but barely,” River said. “Some people still have hope that things will improve. They have trust in Alpha Asher, especially after Moonveil rose in size under his leadership.”

Juliet scoffed weakly under her breath. “But they’ve forgotten that Estelle was the one who dragged Moonveil out of the mud, not Asher.”

“Others are too afraid to leave,” Edmund added quietly, turning to look at his mate. He reached out and held Juliet’s hand. “Starting over somewhere new isn’t easy, especially for older pack members or families with young children.”

I felt a familiar tightness in my chest. These were people I’d worked with for years. People I’d cared about. Knowing they were suffering because of Asher and Hazel’s incompetence made my anger simmer just below the surface.

But I couldn’t let emotions cloud my judgment. Right now, I needed to focus on what was best for Blackmoon.

“You came at the right time,” I said finally.

They all looked at me with surprise and hope.

“Blackmoon needs capable people right now,” I continued. “We’ve had some internal challenges since I took over as Luna. Having experienced pack members who I know and trust would be incredibly valuable.”

“You mean we can stay?” Juliet asked, her voice trembling with relief.

I nodded. “All five of you. We’ll find suitable positions based on your skills and experience.”

Edmund’s shoulders sagged as tension left his body. “Thank you, Estelle. You have no idea how much this means to us.”

“Actually, I think I do,” I said with a small smile. “Starting over is never easy, but sometimes it’s necessary.”

As I looked at their grateful faces, my mind was already working. These five people weren’t just refugees seeking shelter. They were exactly what I needed to strengthen my position in Blackmoon.

They’d worked with me before. They knew my leadership style and trusted my judgment. Most importantly, they had no loyalty to Benedict or Helena. Even back in Moonveil, I knew I could count on them.

Asher and Hazel’s failure was about to become my advantage.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway interrupted my thoughts. Caleb appeared in the doorway, his expression serious.

“Luna,” he said, “Benedict is asking to speak with you.”

Perfect timing. I’d been planning to have a conversation with Benedict about the uncooperative pack members anyway. Now he was delivering himself to my doorstep.

“Where is he?” I asked.

“Your office,” Caleb replied. “He said he’d wait for you there.”

Of course he did. Benedict loved making power plays, however small. Waiting in my office was his way of asserting dominance.

I stood up, smoothing down my clothes. “Caleb, please arrange comfortable guest rooms for our new pack members. Make sure they have everything they need.”

“Of course, Luna.”

I turned back to the five asylum seekers. “Get some rest. We’ll discuss your new positions tomorrow once you’ve had time to settle in.”

“Thank you again, Estelle— no, Luna Estelle,” Edmund said. “This means everything to us.”

“Welcome to Blackmoon,” I replied.

As I walked toward my office, I couldn’t help but feel satisfied. Benedict was about to walk into a conversation where I held all the cards. His supporters were causing problems, but I now had five experienced pack members who were loyal to me personally.

The hallway seemed longer than usual as I approached my office door. I paused for a moment, centering myself. Benedict was cunning, but he was also predictable. He’d try to intimidate me by taking control of my space.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside.

As I suspected, Benedict was sitting behind my desk, leaning back in my chair as if he owned it. He was spinning a pen between his fingers, a smirk playing on his lips. When he saw me enter, his smirk widened.

“Ah, Estelle, there you are,” he said, not bothering to get up. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”