Chapter 269: Whatever Comes Next

XENOIS "Whatever happens," I said, addressing everyone in the car, "we stay together. We're a family, and families stand united."   "Even if that family is complicated and dysfunctional and held together by trauma?" Lake asked, and I couldn't tell if he was being serious or sarcastic.   "Especially then," I confirmed.   I opened the car door and stepped out into the late morning sun, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes on me. Lumina appeared at my side immediately, and together we faced our pack. Behind us, I heard the back doors opening as the boys climbed out.   Marcus was the first to approach, his expression carefully neutral. "Alpha. Luna. Welcome home."   The formal greeting, lacking any warmth or familiarity, told me everything I needed to know about how the pack viewed our return. We weren't being welcomed back----we were being assessed, judged, evaluated for whether we were still worthy of our positions.   "Marcus," I said, matching his formal tone. "Thank you for holding thi