My Twin Sister Became His Second Luna Chapter 07

My Twin Sister Became His Second Luna Chapter 07

Stoneveil’s collapse came slower than Crestwood’s, but it ran deeper.

In the first month after Nerissa left, Alpha Rafe only noticed that meetings were taking longer.

By the second month, the finance director found conflicting tax figures across three affiliated territories. The Gamma in charge of the mines showed up in the council chamber with two contradictory dispatch orders and demanded to know which one he was supposed to follow.

By the third month, a blizzard hit a northern town. The emergency depot was packed with supplies, yet no one knew the access code Nerissa had set. The relief convoy left a full day late, and dozens of lower-ranked wolves were forced to wait in the basement of a church.

Discontent began spreading through the Pack.

In the past, Nerissa had gathered the Healers, warriors, and supply officers for drills before every disaster. She never stole her father’s authority in public. Every order was ultimately issued in Alpha Rafe’s name.

After she left, everyone discovered that nearly every decision that had made their Alpha look wise, calm, and incapable of making mistakes had actually come from her.

The council demanded that the Alpha explain the succession plan.

“Nerys is already Luna of Crestwood, and Nerissa has legally withdrawn from Stoneveil.” The elderly Beta placed a resignation letter on the table. “The Pack has no qualified heir, and you haven’t handled a single border crisis independently in the past two years.”

Father’s Alpha pressure exploded.

“Are you challenging me?”

The Beta didn’t bow.

What made Father’s face even darker was that no one else in the council chamber dropped to their knees, either.

“I’m asking you to fulfill your duties as Alpha.” The Beta remained calm. “If you can’t, the council has the authority to call a vote of no confidence.”

For the first time, Father realized that after losing Nerissa, his Alpha pressure was still strong, but it could no longer silence every challenge.

That evening, Nerys dragged her luggage back to Stoneveil headquarters.

She threw her coat onto the sitting-room sofa, her eyes red.

“Kaelen hasn’t answered a single PackLink message all day. He even canceled my winter ball and said the budget had to go toward repairing the eastern defenses.”

Mother hurried over.

“How could he treat you like that? You carried his pup, and you’re not well.”

“I told him he still had feelings for my sister, and he actually told me to stop being dramatic!”

Father came out of the study, his expression grim.

“Crestwood just sent an emergency request for help. Rogues broke through their eastern defenses. You’re the Luna. Why did you leave instead of staying there to calm the people?”

Nerys stared at him in disbelief.

“Dad, you’re blaming me, too?”

“I’m asking you to do the job you’re responsible for.”

“Nerissa used to handle all of that! Why should I have to do it now?”

The room fell completely silent.

Mother instinctively looked toward the corner. The five file boxes stuffed with voluntary declarations were still stacked there. No one dared throw them away, and no one wanted to open them.

“Then just bring her back.” Nerys sounded irritated. “You’re her parents. If you order her to come home, how could she possibly refuse?”

Mother lowered her head.

“She’s blocked our mind links and every other way we’ve tried to contact her.”

“Then go to Frosthaven and find her!”

No one knows which district of Frosthaven she’s in.”

Father dropped heavily into his chair.

A few months earlier, Redmarsh had closed the southern passage, accusing Stoneveil of breaking its marriage agreement. Crestwood had also suspended joint patrols because of its own crisis. The two Packs that Nerissa had once kept stable were now blaming each other and fighting over the losses. Their long-standing alliance was barely holding together.

The terminal suddenly chimed.

The council formally delivered its notice: seven days from now, it would hold a no-confidence vote against Alpha Rafe.

Mother finished reading the notice, her fingers trembling.

“Nerissa always knew how to fix these things.”

Father closed his eyes and, after a long silence, said:

“She ran off and left both Packs to pay for her selfishness.”

No one reminded him that Nerissa had never owed them a lifetime of unpaid loyalty.

Nor did anyone notice the Frosthaven industry news scrolling beneath the alert on the terminal:

[Northstar Tactical Force unveils a prototype of its next-generation variable-form moon-silver weapon. Lead designer declines to reveal identity.]