CHAPTER 51: LUNA RILEY

James paced across the room, his steps quick and uneven. Worry tightened every part of his face. He wanted to help Julian, anyone could see that but he also knew his voice held no weight tonight. So he turned to the only person whose presence could shift the whole room.

"Lewis... can you talk to Jeffrey?" he asked quietly. "Julian’s been on his knees all night. He won’t last much longer."

Jeffrey might have been the one who handled family matters most of the time, but when Lewis stepped forward, the whole house listened. Even he did.

Lewis didn’t answer right away. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Julian still kneeling on the cold stone floor, shoulders sagging, body trembling from exhaustion. When Lewis finally spoke, his voice was sharp enough to cut straight through the air.

"Did you do this on your wedding night?"

I froze.

He knew. He had known all along about what Julian did with Camilla. He warned him before cold, distant warnings, the kind that carried teeth underneath but he never fully stepped in. Maybe because the damage had already been done. Maybe because punishing something that had already destroyed me wouldn’t bring anything back.

Still, why bring it up now?

Julian’s gaze darted desperately from one corner of the room to another, anywhere except toward Lewis.

Lewis let out a dry, humorless laugh. "So it’s true."

"Uncle Lewis, I " Julian started, voice cracking, but he stopped. There was nothing he could say now.

Lewis’s tone dropped to a deadly low. "Theo. Bring me the stick."

James flinched visibly.

He rushed forward, stumbling over his words. "Lewis, no wait. You misunderstood, I was only trying to say "

Lewis turned his glare on him. Nothing loud. No raised voice. Just one look. And the entire room stilled.

"He was meant to start a new life that night," Lewis said, every word cold. "But while his bride was dying alone by the water, he was betraying her in their home. Tell me, James... does a man like that deserve pity?"

I always knew Lewis carried his emotions tight, locked and hidden. But today, the anger leaking through his calm mask was enough to make the air shake.

He looked to Theo again. "Punish him. No holding back."

Earlier, when Julian had been disciplined, the family went easy. No one wanted to push him too far. But Theo was not the gentle type. Broad frame, controlled strength, the kind of presence that made people instinctively straighten their spine when he entered the room.

I stepped forward before I even realized I’d moved.

"Let me do it."

Theo paused and looked to Lewis.

Lewis gave a small nod. "Let her."

Theo handed me the whip without hesitation.

Julian’s head snapped up. His eyes widened. Maybe he thought I was stepping in to shield him. Maybe he believed that because I was a woman, I’d soften the blow.

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

I wrapped my hand around the handle, feeling its weight settle into my palm. This wasn’t just discipline. This was everything I’d held inside the betrayal, the pain, the silence, the years spent drifting like a forgotten echo.

"Julian," I said, meeting his eyes, "this is for Elena."

And I struck.

The crack echoed through the room like lightning splitting the sky. Julian cried out, shock twisting his features. He didn’t expect the pain. He didn’t expect me.

"Does it hurt?" I asked, my voice steady and cold.

His gaze clung to mine. I knew I should’ve played it cool, hidden my feelings. But I couldn’t. Not after everything.

All those years beside him. All that love I gave so freely. And how did it end? With my body lying cold by the river.

He needed to feel something anything that came close to what he put me through.

"You..." Julian’s voice trembled. He stared as if he were looking at a ghost.

I didn’t stop.

Another strike.And another.

Each blow landed with the weight of every memory, every heartbreak, every moment I’d died before I actually died.

"This is what you owe me," I whispered.

Julian stopped crying out eventually. He just stared at me with wide, hollow eyes searching my face like he was trying to figure out who I really was.

But before I could lift my arm again, Lewis’s voice cut through the room.

"That’s enough."

He stepped forward, slow but certain, and gently took the whip from my hand. He passed it back to Theo with a nod.

I didn’t realize how badly my hands were shaking until the whip left them. My knees weakened, and I stumbled. Lewis caught me instantly, steady arms pulling me close until I found myself sitting on his lap like he’d planned it.

I blinked up at him, confused. "Lewis... what are you doing?

Lewis caught my wrist before I even realized he’d moved. His fingers closed around my hand, and his brows pulled tight when he saw the red marks left by the whip handle.

"Does it hurt?" he asked quietly.

I hadn’t felt a thing while I was striking Julian, but now that he’d said it, a slow ache rolled across my palm. A sting I couldn’t ignore anymore.

"I’m okay," I whispered. Then, trying to pull us away from whatever was hanging in the air between us, I asked, "What about Camilla?"

Jeffrey, who still looked shaken from my earlier outburst, cleared his throat and forced his voice into that calm, Alpha-like tone he always used in front of outsiders.

"She has a serious heart condition," he said. "And not long ago, she attempted to take her own life. Operating now is too dangerous. We’ll wait two weeks before deciding anything."

Vivian didn’t take that well. Her expression hardened, voice soft but stubborn.

"Jeffrey, once the baby is born, my family will take responsibility for the child," she said. "We won’t demand anything from the Hales. But Camilla’s body can’t handle another surgery. Please... reconsider."

Before Jeffrey could answer, something sharp burst inside me. I turned toward her.

"Mrs. Morrigan," I said, my voice cold, "it’s starting to make sense why your daughter thought she could get away with everything she did. With a mother like you? I wouldn’t put it past you to help her cover up a murder."

Vivian didn’t even flinch. That woman had spent her whole life defending Camilla; she probably didn’t know how to do anything else. She gave me a slow, patronizing stare.

"Ms. Ashbourne," she said, "you’re new here. I’ll assume your disrespect comes from ignorance. But be careful with your words."

I crossed my arms and leaned in a little.

"Ignorance? That’s interesting, coming from you. Your younger daughter slept with her older sister’s mate on the night of their wedding. She’s pregnant with his child. And you’re still defending her? Should I bring out a calendar so we can count how many times they were together that night?"

Vivian’s mouth fell open, but nothing came out. Good.

"I’ve seen twisted families before," I said, laughing bitterly, "but yours might take the prize. Your older daughter isn’t even fully laid to rest, and you’re already pushing the younger one into her place like some replacement part. What age do you think we’re living in? Traditions died with the empires that birthed them. Yet somehow, you’re still clinging to the mindset of a world that no longer exists."

I shook my head.

"If I were your older daughter, I’d claw my way out of the grave just to ask why you let this happen. Why you’re still protecting the one who caused it. How do you sleep at night?"

"You you !" Vivian sputtered, hand trembling as she pointed at me.

I gave her a cool smile. "You must think Camilla is some kind of gift from the heavens. What did she do in a past life? Save your entire bloodline? Because the way you worship her is almost impressive."

Malcom Morrigan, who had stayed quiet until now, stood abruptly. His voice boomed, thick with authority.

"That’s enough! Show respect. You’re just a child. This is not your place to speak."

I faced him without backing down even an inch.

"Child?" I repeated. "Alpha Morrigan, let me be clear. I’m Lewis Hale’s wife, a Luna, That makes me your equal in this room. And since we’re talking about parents my mother is the kindest woman I’ve ever known. She would never raise a daughter who betrays her own sister and carries her sister’s mate’s child."

Maybe I pushed too far. Maybe I should’ve bitten my tongue.

But no. Not anymore.This was my second life, and I wasn’t here to play gentle for people who would tear me apart if they could.

Jeffrey didn’t yell at me. He didn’t even frown. He just cleared his throat, looking a little awkward, and said,

"Riley may not have had a formal mating ceremony with Lewis yet, but I already see her as part of this family. She has every right to speak."

Vivian and Malcom stiffened.

Jeffrey continued, voice turning firm Alpha firm.

"As for Camilla, she’ll stay here for the next two weeks to recover. A private doctor will watch her day and night. She won’t suffer, and she won’t lose weight."

Then he added, colder:

"But the child she’s carrying... that cannot stay."