"I've come for the Luna," Helena says, her tone guarded.

Chris snarles at her threat, and surprisingly Kane straightens, inching towards him. Everyone watches with interest, frozen in place. I thought my heart might explode at the rate it was beating.

"Stand down Alpha's, I'm not here to take her," she says, softening. "She is owed reparations." At that he moderately relaxed and I slipped to his side. He kept an arm wrapped around me protectively as he stayed on high alert.

"I trust you are aware of the situation?" She asks, raising a brow.

"Yes, I was filled in," he grumbles, still mad.

"Then you are aware that after Jess won, he shifted and attacked her while her back was turned?" She asks and Chris bristles. I wrapped my arms around him trying to calm him.

"I told him all of this, rehashing it isn't necessary," I cut her off from any further upset. I don't know what Chris's blood pressure is but I feel like this isn't helping.

"Very well, I've come to deliver your reparations," she states, matter of factly. I just stood there confused.

"Isn't it customary for Dimitri to do it directly?" Chris asks, annoyed.

"Typically yes, but given the circumstances," she paused looking from me to Chris, "not prudent. At anyrate he is currently unable, and although not happy, has agreed to the fine."

"I don't want his money," I snap without thought. Chris gives me a gentle squeeze and I instantly feel bad for not consulting with him.

"But your challenge wasn't over money, was it?" She asks, the slightest glint of mischief twinkled in her eye.

"No it wasn't, but then what?" I ask.

"For breaking the rules he's forfeited his remaining collared females with him," she replies triumphantly. "Perhaps he will think twice next time."

"And he agreed to this?" I ask, dumbfounded.

"Yes."

"It would have been his only smart move," Chris offered. "He views them as property, valuable at that, but a sacrifice he's willing to make to keep his rank and position."

"Keen observation," she says with a tight smile. "Do you still refuse it?"

"We're talking about people here, this feels wrong," I snap. The very thought of accepting them made my skin crawl.

"What you do with them once they are yours is your own business," her answer was loaded.

"Fine," I conceded with a sigh. Chris gave me a reassuring squeeze, apparently he approved.

The guards parted as twelve women were marched up heads bowed. They were clustered together, clinging to one another. Some were sniffling, others silently defiant and some were flat out sobbing.

"I'll leave you to your BBQ, Alphas, Lunas." She left as quickly as she came along with her guards. A small knot of men remained outside of our gates, but I ignored them instead focusing on the women.

Chris walked up to them with me as everyone else just hung back. I caught Jude out of the corner of my eye standing near with an arm protectively around Chloe.

"Please Alpha, we will serve you well too," the nearest woman said, dropping down and submitting as the rest followed. Anger bloomed in me, I should have killed him.

"Please get up," I asked as gently as I could for how angry I was. They hesitantly got up, nervously looking around in confusion. 

"Do you know why you are here?" Chris asks softly, clearly in better control of his emotions than I was.

"No," a different one spoke up. "We were just told our ownership had shifted to Still Waters pack."

"The fuck it has," I snapped, accidentally scaring a couple of them. "We do not do this," I gestured to their collars.

I walked up to the speaker and looked at her collar, it was simple brown leather with a metal buckle and small lock. I pulled the dagger out and she didn't even flinch as I popped the lock, pulling the collar off.

"Get them off of them, now!" I snap. Jace, Xavier, Jude and Chris stepped up and started snapping locks. Some of the women flinched away but with a little coaxing let them work.

I gathered the collars and threw them in the fire, not being able to tolerate them in existence. I noticed several women had followed and were smiling as the collars burned.

"I didn't know-"

"Shh baby," Chris says, wrapping me up in his arms. "You did good, we've never done that before and we're not about to start now. Whatever you want to do, you have my support." 

"I don't know what to do, but that wasn't acceptable, can we let them go or something?" I ask him unsure.

"Most of us don't have anywhere to go," the mousy woman nearest mentioned. "Our packs are gone or we were rogues to begin with, but our mates are gone. Please don't kick us out," she quietly begs, tears welling in her eyes.

"No, sorry, I didn't mean it like that, you can stay as long as you want, I just don't want you to think you are prisoners. Jezus Christ I'm not cut out for this," I groan.

"You can't do this," a guy called from the other side of the fence. "She was promised to me," he snarls, eyes locked on a terrified redhead. Chris steps up for this one.

"Whatever deal you had with Dimitri is void when it comes to these women, I suggest you take it up with him. They are under our protection, understood?" His voice held nothing back, the threat was clear as was his power.

The men watched warily, but eventually all backed down and left. There was one left but he didn't say or do anything, just stayed to himself.

We sent the women in to shower and change, leaving it up to them if they wanted to join the party or stay inside. Most eventually showed up, some mingled, most sat together or with Jude and Chloe. 

After two hours I finally caved and went to the gate. Nate and Liam said the man hadn't said or done anything, just hung out. His sorrow radiated in waves as he outwardly looked stoic.

"All of Dimitris' deals are void," I announced. His eyes snapped to mine.

"Good," he says with a sad smile.

"Then why are you here?"

"I don't know, I guess I just had to make sure she was ok," he mumbles more to himself. I follow his eyes to a doe eyed blond sitting with Jude. She wasn't looking at him in fear, but there was a desperation in her eyes.

"If you so much as hurt a hair on her head you won't make it back out of the fence," I warn. "If she doesn't want to see you, you leave, understood?"

"Yes Luna, anything you want, I will swear it." He is openly desperate at this point.

He followed me up to the main gathering, but Kane blocked our way. "Jess, this is Dimitris third in command," he warns.

"Not anymore," he mumbles. Her eyes light up. "She was the only thing that he had to keep me there, I'd rather be a rogue then stay."

"Can I go with him?" She asks tentatively.

"If that's what you want," I say with a shrug.

"He's my mate, he's never been anything but good to me," she says smiling.

"You should stay here, you deserve better than a rogue's life," he deflects. I look to Chris, he's watching but shakes his head. I pause, trying to come up with an option, I know why Chris doesn't offer him a spot in our pack. He feels clean though, like he deserves a fresh start, her also.

"You'd give up your rank?" Eric asks, answering my unasked prayer.

"It's already gone, I have nothing to offer her," he says, lowering his head.

"If you are serious about severing ties, we could offer you and your mate a place." Eric has always been an upstanding guy, this just proves it further.

"I would be an omega if she would have me," he meant every word. She launches herself at him and they wrap around each other trying to be one.

"Perhaps we should talk further," Eric says, nodding and heading back to his table.

After that excitement things finally calmed back down. People kept joining in, I don't know where we got all the food from but they did an excellent job.

For the most part people just came by to pay respects and socialize. I stayed with Chris, and together with Kane and Willow very few people ventured over. I'm sure it was part of their hierarchy that I wasn't aware of.

Around 10pm a small group of men came over, I could tell from their energy that this could ruin our night.

"Kyle," Chris greets, tight-lipped.

"Chris," he replies and nods. I could feel the tension between the two, they were not friends, maybe not full out enemies though.

"Luna," he says as he respectfully nods.

"Jess," I  reply with a small smile which he returns.

"I know we've had a colourful history Chris but I'm hoping you'll put it aside and hear me out," he starts. Chris's frown just deepens as he growls.

"You have come to poss-"

"They are not for sale," I cut in.

"Surely-" 

"No," I cut him off lowly.

"Then I will challenge!" The man to his left spit out. He looked like a younger version of Kyle, I'd wager it's his son.

"I reject your challenge," Chris grates out. 

"Then you are a coward!" He snaps back with venom in his voice. Chris was on his feet in an instant and had the man off the ground by his throat. He was no match for Chris, not on his best day.

"You'd come and interrupt our dinner, make demands, then insult me?" Chris seethes. "Are you just dumb or do you have a death wish?"

"Chris please!" Kyle begs. "He's not thinking straight." Chris flung the guy back to Kyle as he glares at them.

"Leave!" Chris growls out.

"Not without her," he snarls. I follow his gaze to a scared raven haired girl.

"She doesn't look keen to go with you," I challenge, raising a brow.

"But she's mine?" He asks, dumbfounded. "She has to." I furrow my brow at that.

"She doesn't have to do a damn thing, none of them do." I rubbed my eyes in frustration, clearly they are going to bring a fair amount of trouble while we're here.

"Well, let me at least talk to her? I'm sure I can make her see reason." His eyes have softened from blazen determination to desperation, the same desperation I'd seen in Jude.

'Such a softie.' 'Not now peanut gallery.'

I frown at him for a moment before I head off to her. "Stay," I snap at him as he tries to follow. 

"I'm sorry Luna, I didn't know-"

"Relax," I say cutting her off. "Is he your mate?" She nods but keeps her eyes down. "Do you want him?" She shrugs. "Do you want me to send him away?" I ask in exasperation, earning another shrug. I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration, begging to keep my temper in check.

"Why don't you talk to him and see what he has to say?" Chloe offers. That earns a worried look. "Me and Jude will stay the entire time, just say the word and Jude will throw him out."

"Ok," she says quietly. I wave the guy over.

"Just talk, no demands. If she says go, you leave, got it?" He nods not taking his eyes off of her. "Jude won't hesitate to remove you if you overstep."

My head is really starting to ache between the stress and the messed up day. I walk back over to Chris who gives me a concerned look. 

"I think I'm calling it," I say quietly to him. "Enjoy yourself, stay out of trouble." He scoffs at that.

"Luna before you go," Kyle cuts in. "I wonder if we couldn't settle this?"

"There's nothing to settle. He will either win her over the old fashioned way and she'll go with you willingly, or not at all." I didn't want him to think there were any workarounds.

"Even still, I don't want to be indebted-"

"What is it with you guys and debts," I grumble, cutting him off. "There are no strings attached."

"Why?" He asks skeptically. 

"You'd prefer to be a puppet?" I ask, dumbfounded.

"Well no, but why would you give away such a valuable asset and ask for nothing in return." He wasn't goading me, he really couldn't fathom my motives.

"She is not an asset, she is a person that doesn't deserve to be treated as anything less. If by some chance he does win her over, he better treat her like a queen or I will come for her." I let the threat hang, as his gaze went to Chris who remained impassive.

"Don't look to him, she is plenty threat enough, or did you forget how this started?" Kane asks with a smirk.

"Understood. We do not partake in that practice. As the future Luna she will be treated very well," he assures us.

"If you'll excuse me," I say heading for the house.

What a clusterfuck this was turning into. I can barely manage myself and now I'm responsible for a mini pack.

'Technically you're responsible for all of Still Water pack already, they are just another drop in the bucket.' 'Yeah but causing all sorts of waves.'

Fought for one, ended up with twelve more. Ones mated to Jude, another to the ex gamma and a third to the Alpha's son. 

Kyle's words about them being assets bothered me. Mostly because he's right. Mates to two gammas and an alpha... That's powerful leverage in the wrong hands.

Dimitri definitely qualified as the wrong hands. He'd have no issues manipulating that to his advantage. It worried me to think how many other secrets like that he held.