Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Freedom

Rose

I catch my breath, my senses sharper as I rise to my feet, Genevive’s head slamming to the ground with a thud like a ragdoll. She is slumped, her eyes still open, and her body twisted unnaturally.

The smell of urine fills my nostrils as I back away, grimacing, the sounds of my steps deafening in the sea of quiet surrounding me.

I pivot my head to look into the eyes of my onlookers, the crowd of pack officials and members alike. They aren’t looking at me, though. Their eyes are transfixed on the dead body of their former Luna.

“Is she…?” Someone asks in the crowd, a faint voice barely squeaking the words out.

Asher walks toward me as someone else asks, “Is she really dead? Can someone check her pulse?”

Margaery steps out of the throng, her head low as she stares at her sister, kneeling beside her. She strokes the girl’s hair away from her face lovingly, Genevive’s eyes their normal green now. The same as Margaery’s.

Margaery presses her fingers against her sister’s neck, pausing momentarily.

She faintly sighs, gently closing her complicated sister’s eyelids before rising.

“She’s dead.”

Everyone looks at each other, their eyes filled with an emotion I can’t quite place.

Shock? Fear? Outrage?

Then, they erupt into weeping, holding onto each other as they cry, some crumpling to the floor.

Asher takes my hands in his as I listen to their words.

“It’s over! We’re finally free of her!”

Tears of relief. Tears of joy. Long-held anxiety and fear finally rushing out of the body. They can breathe again.

“Are you okay?” Asher asks, kissing my temple. “Do you need medical attention?”

“I’ll be fine for now,” I say. “I should probably address my new pack.”

I clutch my ribs, a sharp pain stabbing through my lungs with each breath I take as the adrenalin of the fight wears off and my pain becomes more salient. I’ll need healing magic from a warlock, but that can wait. I’ll be alright.

“Members of the Black Opal Pack!” I shout, letting Asher help me as I step onto the table, holding back my wincing as I make my way there.

The chatter in the room slowly dies as they turn to face me, the sudden realization that a vampire is now their Luna falling into their eyes. Will their joy only be temporary? Will they accept me? Will they trust me?

“I want to start by saying that I am immediately taking Asher as my Alpha,” I announce, keeping my voice soft and non-domineering. They’ve had enough of that. “You all know and trust him, and I hope you’ll feel the same about me in time. For now, he’ll take the lead in pack affairs as I learn the ropes as his mate so I can earn the title of Luna, even if I’ve already technically won it.”

The people are silent, their eyes downcast.

“Something is weighing on you,” I say. “Is it that you have a question for me? Worries? Concerns? Speak them now and speak them freely.”

A few eyes blink, heads tilting upwards again.

“Will you be like Luna Genvieve?” One asks.

“Will Margaery leave for River Run?”

“What about your Clan?”

“Are you keeping the same rules as Genevieve?”

I am bombarded with questions, many of which I don’t have the answers to. The anxiety in the room rises, their trauma evident. They fear I’ll be like their old Luna, who ruled as an evil despot. Here I am, an outsider, not even one of their kind, stepping in after killing their Luna.

I don’t blame them, especially after everything they’ve gone through.

“To answer the first question I heard, no. I will be nothing like Genevieve. I can promise that. For starters, I will love my mate and treat him with kindness and respect. I will also heed your advice and listen to the people’s desires as I have always done with my Clan. That is why I’m immediately reinstating regular pack meetings and the previous legal code. No more flogging or one person acting as the judge, jury, and executioner.”

I look to Margaery, whose eyes are still transfixed on the body that hasn’t been removed yet.

“As for whether Margaery is leaving for River Run, it is her decision when she does that. I will support her either way,” I say, reaching for her hand. Quietly, I tell her, “If you want to take her out of here, I won’t hold it against you. Do what you have to do to grieve her. I understand.”

“Th-Thank you,” Margaery stutters, and I can tell she is desperately holding back tears, her eyes glossy and lips pressed together tightly. She is the only one who will weep for Genevieve, the only one who will mourn her. Even if it seems strange from the outside, given everything Gen did to her, I understand. Family is family, and Margaery needs to grieve that.

“As for my Clan,” I begin. “Alpha Asher and I have devised a rough draft of a plan to coordinate responsibilities and resources of my Clan and Black Opal. We will iron out the details with the Pack Council and my Clan Council members. Furthermore, Asher will be crowned Sire of the Crimson Night Clan, holding power alongside me. This will wait for a few weeks, as it is important that we set things straight here before doing anything else. The pack needs to heal. I know that. You need to get to know me and trust me. I’m a random vampire swooping in seemingly out of nowhere, challenging your old Luna and mating with your Alpha. It’s a lot to process, so I know it’ll take time. I will be patient. I’m a vampire, so I’ve got nothing but time.”

This earns a few chuckles from the crowd as their postures soften, the worry dying down a little.

I look to the middle of the room, and there is only a wet pool where Gen was. Margaery must’ve carried her out quietly, snaking through the crowd privately. I hope nobody disturbs her, as angry as they righteously are at Genevieve.

I reach for Asher’s hand, and he helps me down from the table.

“As for now, I need to heal my wounds to be ready for tomorrow. I also wish to spend time with my mate, freely, for the first time.”

“Aww,” some members of the crowd coo as Asher wraps his arms around me, gently around my ribs and firm everywhere else. He’s holding onto me tightly, his face buried in the crook of my neck.

A few tears slide down his cheeks as he pulls away, and I wipe them off his face.

He smiles, wrapping his arm around my waist as he faces his pack.

“I love Rose with all that I am,” he says. “Just as I love this pack. I hope you all will grow to love her the way I do, and you will see she is an incredible leader with a sharp mind and a kind heart. I also need to earn back your trust. I admit I should have stepped in to stop Genevieve a lot sooner. But, by the time I realized what she was doing, it was too late, and I had to work covertly to overthrow her: desperate times, desperate measures. But I did everything in my power to save my pack. I hope you can see that now. I hope you can see that everything I do, I do for you. Including taking Rose as my mate.”

I blush, resting my head on his shoulder, taking in his lovely scent, reveling in the fact that we’re so affectionate in public.

We aren’t looking over our shoulders anymore, wondering if Gen will find out or if someone will see it. Hoping beyond hope that nobody knows.

Now?

We can love loudly. We can love freely.

And that is an indescribable feeling.