Chapter 109: Dowager Luna’s Arrival

Author’s pov~

The entire academy was buzzing.

Under the bright sunlight, groups of highborn Alphas and noble students packed the open corridors and gathered on the main courtyard grounds.

Whispers traveled faster than the wind.

Everyone was there for the same reason.

The tea had already been spilled.

The hot news had spread across the whole campus like wildfire.

The Dowager Luna of the Second Throne had come to the Royal Lycan Academy.

And everyone was waiting for one thing.

A glimpse of her.

A word from her.

Even a single conversation with her could change a pack’s future.

Getting on her good side was enough to earn a pack years of comfort.

No border disputes.

No resource problems.

No unnecessary battles.

A single favor from the Dowager Luna could keep a pack living comfortably for a decade.

So, of course, everyone wanted to see her.

And most importantly, everyone wanted to know why she had come.

"Have you all heard why the Dowager Luna has come here?" one highborn student whispered frantically to the group beside him.

"There must be something serious happening," another replied, eyeing the heavy security near the gates. "Unless there is a major emergency, she wouldn’t come all the way here just to see her grandson, right?"

"Haven’t you all heard?" a female wolf chimed in, leaning closer. "She is here to escort someone personally..."

Several heads turned.

"Oh?"

"Oh, so she came to take Prince Raven?"

The student shook his head.

"That is where it gets interesting."

"And that is the crazy part," the female wolf lowered her voice. "She isn’t here for the Prince. She is here for someone else..."

A few students exchanged confused looks.

"Then who is she here for?"

Nobody answered.

Rumors and whispers filled the crowded grounds until Miya stepped forward, cutting through the noise and gathering everyone’s attention.

"Or maybe she is here to handle something..." Miya said, her voice dripping with venom. "Or maybe... someone."

The crowd started gossiping among themselves immediately.

"What is she talking about?"

"Is the Dowager Luna here to take action against someone?"

"Wait, it it about that wolfless, scentless deft with no pack?"

Chloe stepped forward, placing herself right beside Miya with a sharp smirk on her face.

"Do you all really not understand what is going on in our academy?" Chloe asked, raising her voice so the whole courtyard could hear.

"A scentless rogue came among us. She got the Second Throne’s Prince’s attention by doing disgusting, slutty things. Did you really think she could escape from the Dowager Luna’s eyes?"

The crowd slowly processed her words, and mean chuckles broke out across the grounds.

"Yes! That scentless, wolfless rogue who tried to get the eyes of all four thrones!"

"The scentless, wolfless slut."

"She clings to Raven! She even dared to walk out on him in the dining hall!"

"Finally, she will face the real consequences."

"I bet she won’t even see the next sunrise. She’s just a worthless rogue."

"She doesn’t belong here."

"She should never have entered this academy."

"She should have known her place."

The crowd began feeding off each other’s hatred.

No one questioned the rumors.

No one asked what had actually happened.

They simply believed what they wanted to believe.

Because Adeline was a rogue.

A wolfless, scentless one.

And in their eyes, that made her easy to destroy.

"We can finally get rid of her," Miya added, her eyes gleaming with cruel joy. "The Dowager Luna herself has come to teach that bitch a lesson."

Gasp rippled through the gathered crowd.

On the outer edge of the courtyard, Adrian and Kai were standing together.

Adrian stood silently.

His eyes moved across the students.

He didn’t like the direction the conversation was taking.

Kai was staring at his phone, hurriedly texting Sierra about the situation unfolding on the academy grounds.

Suddenly, the noise died.

A dead, heavy silence fell over the entire area.

The laughter died. The whispers stopped.

Even the students standing at the back of the crowd went still.

Adrian’s head lifted. Kai slowly lowered his phone.

Something had changed.

The air itself felt heavier.

A powerful Alpha scent spread across the academy grounds. Ancient. Commanding.

It pressed against every wolf present.

Students instinctively lowered their heads.

Some stepped backward.

Others swallowed nervously.

Then the large academy gates opened.

Dowager Luna Gwen walked through the grand archway with slow, measured steps. Her silver-streaked hair was pulled back rigidly, and her dark, ancient eyes swept over the sea of highborn students with absolute, freezing indifference.

Behind her, a line of elite royal guards stepped in precise synchronization, their heavy armor clanking softly against the stone.

Miya and Chloe instantly clamped their mouths shut, shrinking back into the crowd as the Matriarch’s terrifying aura washed over them.

Gwen didn’t even spare the gossiping students a glance. Her sharp gaze scanned the courtyard, looking past the trembling Alphas, looking past the cowed heirs of minor packs, searching for one specific person.

Dowager Luna Gwen walked past the students, and the crowd immediately parted like a wave before her, every single highborn bowing respectfully as she approached.

Just then, Lucas and Logan hurried up, arriving on the scene. The moment they spotted the matriarch, they instantly dipped their heads in a deep, respectful bow, offering a formal greeting.

Gwen simply gave them a cold, small nod of acknowledgment.

Sensing her chance to get noticed, Chloe immediately darted forward, shoving herself right between the twins. She dipped into a sickeningly sweet, exaggerated bow and greeted the Dowager Luna with a bright, eager smile, desperate to get on the matriarch’s good side.

"Dowager Luna," Chloe spoke up, her voice dripping with false sweetness and eagerness.

"It is such an absolute honor to witness your presence here at the academy today. We were all just wondering... what brings someone of your supreme status to the student grounds?"

Dowager Luna Gwen’s gaze turned instantly hard, a cold, piercing glare.

"What?" Gwen’s voice cut through the courtyard, sharp and lethal. "Now you have the nerve to question me?"

Chloe instantly tensed, her smug smile vanishing into pure panic as she stammered apologetically.

"N-no, Dowager Luna..."

She quickly lowered her head.

"You have completely misunderstood me. I was just trying to—"

"Dowager Luna..."

Before Chloe could finish, Miya jumped in, trying to salvage the situation while shifting the spotlight back to herself.

"No, Dowager Luna... she didn’t mean it like that. She is just new here and she is being extra careful out of respect for your arrival—"

Panic-stricken, Chloe cut Miya off, desperate to impress the matriarch with her pack’s status. "Yes! But you might know our pack... the Crescent Pack."

Lucas and Logan’s expressions changed instantly.

Both twins looked at Chloe.

No.

They knew exactly where this was going.

Chloe continued, completely unaware of the warning in their eyes.

"We have a deal signed under the High Concord."

Lucas immediately stepped forward.

"Chloe."

His voice was low. A warning.

She ignored him.

The twins were desperately trying to stop Chloe before she said anything else.

They knew the Dowager Luna.

They knew her temper.

And more importantly...

They knew how dangerous it was to use the High Concord in front of her.

Their hearts hammered against their ribs in sheer terror, completely aware of how the Dowager Luna despised arrogant brats trying to use political names to buy favor.

Chloe, however, seemed determined to prove her importance.

"Our pack has always maintained a good relationship with the Second Throne and the other Thrones under the High Concord as well," she continued.

"We have never broken the agreement."

Lucas’s face tightened.

"Chloe, that’s enough."

This time, his voice was firmer.

But Chloe turned toward him in confusion.

"Lucas, I’m only explaining—"

"Stop."

Logan’s voice was barely above a whisper. His eyes were filled with fear.

"Right now."

Chloe finally looked between the twins.

She didn’t understand.

Why were they so afraid?

She turned back toward Gwen.

The dowager Luna stood completely silent. She didn’t say another word.

And somehow...

That silence was worse than her anger.

Chloe’s heart pounded against her chest.

For the first time, she understood. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

She had gone too far.

Her confidence disappeared completely.

"D-Dowager Luna..."

Trembling, Chloe dropped her gaze and immediately stammered out an apology.

"I apologize."

Her voice trembled.

"I didn’t mean to disrespect you. I was only trying to..."

The dowager Luna cut her off abrupty, "Do not mistake my silence for permission to speak freely." Her voice remained calm.

"But most importantly..."

She paused.

"Do not use the High Concord as a shield when speaking to me."

Chloe’s body stiffened. "Yes... Dowager Luna. I understand."

Gwen stared at her for several seconds. Then she spoke, her voice calm filled with authority and absoluteness.

"I don’t know your pack."

Chloe froze.

"I don’t know your pack name, and I certainly don’t know your pathetic name."

Chloe’s face burned with humiliation.

Without giving Chloe another glance, the Matriarch simply turned her back on her, dismissing her entirely.

Before Gwen could take another step.

Footsteps echoed across the academy grounds.

Someone was running toward them. Everyone turned.

A figure hurried through the crowd.

Students quickly moved aside as the person approached.

The person skidded to a halt a few feet away from the matriarch, chest heaving for breath , but the figure managed to stand straight.

Gwen’s sharp eyes snapped up, and a flicker of recognition crossed her ancient features as she looked at the person standing before her.