Aire stepped into her room, and stopped immediately.

Madam was already inside.

She stood near the tall windows. Her silhouette cut sharply against the moonlight spilling through the sheer curtains. The room smelled faintly of herbs and polished wood.

Aire hesitated at the threshold, with one foot still in the corridor.

"Come in," Madam said lightly, without turning.

Aire swallowed and took a step forward.

That was when she noticed the other women.

They hovered around her bed, adjusting the sheets, folding the fabric, and smoothing the pillows with quiet efficiency.

They all looked pissed.

Aire’s chest tightened at the realization. They might want to kill her for what happened to Madam.

Madam turned, clapping her hands once, sharp, commanding. "Leave. Everyone. Now."

The women froze for half a breath, then bowed at her and filed out without question. The door shut behind them with a heavy click.

Silence immediately fell i to the room.

Madam gestured toward the gray couch. "Sit."

Aire didn’t move.

Tonight, she had stood in front of kings and Alphas and walked away with her spine intact. But here, inside these four walls, alone with Madam, the courage drained out of her like water through her fingers.

"Don’t make me force you forward," Madam snapped.

Aire exhaled softly and moved. Her steps were slow, and careful, as if the floor might crack beneath her weight. She sat at the far end of the couch.

Madam joined her.

Aire flinched inwardly.

Madam studied her for a long moment, eyes sharp, and calculating. Her eyes were not cruel, but not kind either.

"You made a mistake today," Madam said.

Aire blinked. "What?"

"You made the Alphas show emotions, but most especially, Nate. You made Nate show emotion," Madam replied flatly. "Twice."

The words landed heavier than a slap. Aire’s fingers curled into the fabric of her dress. She didn’t speak.

Madam leaned back slightly, folding her hands in her lap. "Do you know what emotions are in this world, child?"

Aire shook her head faintly.

"They are weakness," Madam said. "They are leverage. They are like blood in the water."

A chill crept down Aire’s spine.

"You think the hall laughed because of wine on your dress?" Madam continued. "No. The hall laughed because they thought you were harmless. They laughed because you were beneath notice."

Madam turned her head, her eyes locking onto Aire’s. "And then you made Nate listen."

Aire’s breath hitched.

"Do you know what that does?" Madam asked quietly. "It tells every spy, every rival pack, and every ambitious royal house that you are a handle. A leash, and a pressure point."

The chill deepened, crawling under Aire’s skin.

"You made him let go," Madam said. "That alone is dangerous. But you did it publicly."

Aire stared at her hands.

"In war," Madam went on, "leaders who react are predictable. Predictable leaders lose. And those tied to them?" Her mouth curved grimly. "They die first."

Aire’s heart began to pound. She never planned to be a Luna, or take care of what happened today.

She never expected her powers to show themselves today. She knew she wasn’t a wolf but she had no name for what she was, or what she could be.

She felt no bond to the Alphas, or whatsoever.

"The moment they believe you can move the Alphas," Madam said, voice low, "they will want you silenced, or owned, or even, broken enough to obey."

Aire swallowed hard.

"Do you know how many Lunas have died because they were loved?" Madam asked. "Not hated, loved."

Fear bloomed fully in Aire now. She sobered immediately.

Madam’s tone softened slightly, but the warning sharpened. "This royal world is not beautiful. It is not fair. It is teeth and crowns and quiet assassins who smile while pouring wine."

She shifted closer.

"You do not need a wolf to be a Luna," Madam said. "You need restraint, awareness, and control."

Aire lifted her eyes slowly.

"A Luna speaks last," Madam continued. "Moves least, yet sees everything. You never pull the string in front of the crowd. Rather, you make them forget the string exists."

Aire absorbed every word, tension winding tight in her chest.

"You did well," Madam added after a pause. "But you did it loudly."

Silence stretched between them.

Then Madam sighed. "I was wrong," she said.

Aire stiffened.

"I punished you out of fear," Madam admitted. "Fear of what you are becoming. Fear of what you could cost us all. Fear of you not having a wolf but being chosen by the Alphas."

She turned fully toward Aire. "I am sorry."

Aire’s eyes widened. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"I should have taught you," Madam said. "Not hurt you."

Aire’s throat tightened painfully. She bowed her head. "I’m... sorry too," she whispered. "For what Nate did. I didn’t mean for—"

Madam lifted a hand. "You are not responsible for his violence. You’re only responsible for how you wield his attention."

Aire nodded.

Madam stood. "You will learn," she said firmly. "Because if you don’t, war would come. You’ll create a war, and this world will not forgive you."

She walked toward the door, pausing once.

"Next time," Madam said without turning, "you don’t stop the monster."

She glanced back, hesitated, then walked out of the door. The door closed softly behind her.

Aire remained seated on the couch.

’Did she just call Nate a monster?’ Aire thought.

One thing became clear to her.

She wasn’t just an outcast here.

She’d be a potential target soon.

........

A thick silence rested between the father and daughter seated in the dinning table.

Hannah sat with her hands clasped in her tight. There was no trace of her usual smug expression.

Beta Kole sat before her with shimmering anger. His anger wasn’t directed to her, so she sat comfortably.

For a while, the only sound between them was the sound of their cutleries kissing their plates.

"Are we not going to talk about it?" Hannah asked, breaking the silence.

Beta Kole ignored her. He continued munching like she had said nothing. He didn’t even spare her a glance.

Hannah dropped her fork with a soft click. "Dad!" She called. "We should talk about what we saw today. Mum died that same way. Aire killed mum, and today, you saw it."

Beta Kole nostrils flared.

"She’s a witch, and should be executed." Hannah continued before he would explode. "The council elders confirmed she killed another council member. What are they still waiting for?"

A muscle ticked in Beta Kole’s jaw. "When your mother died...." He dropped his cutleries. "We had no evidence that she did it. Now, after seeing what happened today, no one can just execute her. She’s to be our future Luna whatever she is."

Hannah nodded, her voice carrying an edge of disdain. "I was supposed to be choosen." She said bitterly. "She’s a witch, and might had done something to the triplets to make them choose her."

She went on under her breath. "We should kill her ourselves. If everyone gets the news that she’s a witch, they might kill us in her place."

Beta Kole smiled. "Don’t worry, Darling." He dropped his cutleries, and leaned backward, smiling. "I already have someone on the inside. We will be the one to end her miserable unproductive life, and finish what the curse started."