Bound By The Moon: The Eternal Bond - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Morning came with a hush, the kind that only followed a storm—or promised one.
The air over the southern territory was fresh and clean, the sky still kissed with soft shades of lavender and gold. Birds chirped lazily in the distance, and for once, there were no alarms. No banging at the gates.
Inside the Alpha’s diner, the morning light spilled across the table, where Valen and Julia sat close together, laughter hidden in their voices as they shared breakfast in rare peace.
“You know,” Valen said, finishing a piece of toast, “I never gave you a proper wedding.”
Julia paused mid-sip. “A wedding?”
He nodded, eyes warm. “Or a vacation. Or even one full day where we were just... together. No patrols. No summons.”
She smiled, chin resting in her palm. “It’s been a little eventful, hasn’t it?”
Valen leaned in, voice dropping like a secret. “When all of this is over, I’m taking you away. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere no one knows our names. After a real wedding. Let’s call it… a honeymoon.”
Julia’s heart skipped. “Where?”
He smirked. “It’s a surprise.”
“Just a hint?”
“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”
Before she could answer, the diner doors slammed open. A guard marched in, urgency crackling in every step.
“Alpha!”
Valen shot to his feet, tension snapping through him. “What is it?”
“Two humans,” the guard said, breath sharp. “Found dead near the northern border. No wounds. No fight. They’re just… gone.”
Julia’s stomach dropped.
“Exact location?” Valen demanded.
“East of the River Pines.”
Julia stood too, instinct taking over. As she passed, she caught the guard’s glare flick toward her—sharp and accusing—but she ignored it.
By the time they reached the scene, a crowd had gathered—murmuring, tense. Two bodies lay stretched out on the earth beneath a tall pine, faces pale and still. No blood. No bruises. Just... stillness.
The pack doctors were already kneeling beside them, checking for signs that wouldn’t come.
Ryker approached Valen, voice low. “There’s no struggle. No trauma. It’s like their souls just... stopped.”
Valen frowned, crouching beside one of the bodies. “Poison?”
“Not that we can trace. It’s strange. Wrong. Whatever did this—it wasn’t human, or wolf.”
Julia stood still, absorbing the scene. Then, from the edge of the crowd, she spotted Jessy standing alone, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
She made her way toward her.
“What happened?” Julia asked softly.
Jessy’s eyes moved to hers, cold and sharp. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
Julia blinked.
Jessy’s tone didn’t waver. “You’re the Luna, after all. You should be knowing everything.”
Julia’s frown deepened. “Why are you acting like this? You’ve been weird ever since the plan with Lily failed.”
Jessy scoffed, brushing hair from her face. “I’ve just been tired. That’s all.”
But the edge in her voice said otherwise.
Julia nodded slowly, deciding not to push further.
"It's strange how they died. Did your cousin sneak in again? I mean, she's always after you," Jessy asked.
Julia stared at the scene, her brows furrowed. "I don't think so."
Honestly, she couldn’t see why Lily would do something like this. She shook her head. "It's not her."
Her eyes lingered on the two motionless humans.
It was as if their hearts had simply stopped beating—like life had been stolen in an instant.
Later, the council chamber filled with murmurs once more. Valen sat at the head, his gaze steady, but there was a quiet storm building in his shoulders.
He stood calmly, addressing the room. “Two human lives were lost this morning. No signs of violence, no known cause. But they died within our borders, and that makes it our responsibility, and also since they are our pack members”
The council listened in silence.
“We will investigate. We will protect our people—human and wolf—and whoever is behind this will answer to me. But I want one thing clear: this is not the work of the South. We are not murderers as others are beginning to speculate so.”
For a moment, there was only stillness, a long silence. Then Elder Thorne, hunched and bitter, stood.
“With all respect, Alpha, it’s easy to say that,” he said bitterly. “But ever since you took in a human Luna, everything’s been spiraling. First the attack at the full moon college, an attack a month ago, Now corpses. We need a warrior Luna, not a soft-hearted liability.”
Valen’s expression darkened.
Another elder , elder Morra , chimed in, louder now. “A true Alpha needs a true mate. Not someone who sits on his arm like a fragile trophy while our enemies gather at the gates.”
Murmurs erupted across the chamber. Whispers. Nods. Words Julia couldn’t catch—but she didn’t need to.
She already knew that they were turning against her.
Another voice joined in. “We ask the Alpha to reject the human and appoint a she-wolf worthy of standing beside him.”
Julia’s breath hitched. Her hands curled in her lap, heart thudding like war drums.
Valen’s voice boomed suddenly—feral, sharp, final.
“Enough!”
The room froze.
Valen stood, his growl vibrating through the stone walls. “You speak of strength, but you cower behind whispers. Julia is my mate. My Luna. And she is queen of this pack whether you like it or not.”
His voice lowered but carried more weight. “If you can’t accept that—get out.”
Silence.
The elders exchanged looks. Uneasy. Embarrassed.
Then one by one, they stood and filed out, robes brushing against the stone floor, pride dragging behind them.
Only five loyal remained.
Julia sat quietly, stunned, as the tension drained from the room.
She dared glance across the chamber—and saw Jessy still seated on the sidelines, silent and still. But her gaze was locked on Aiden, whose attention never left Julia.
His brow was furrowed with concern, eyes full of worry.
Jessy watched him closely, the soft clench of his jaw, the way his hands flexed when Julia flinched.
He had never looked at her like that with worried eyes the way he looked at Julia.
Not once and the rage building in Jessy’s chest was no longer quiet.