#Chapter 38: Territory Markers

A week after Giana's appointment, I returned to my small office to find my belongings had been moved once again—this time to what amounted to little more than a cleaning closet, with no window and barely enough space for a small desk. The message was unmistakable: my position was being systematically diminished, my authority eroded with each passing day. I didn't bother with outrage. Instead, I adapted, continuing to fulfill my ceremonial duties while quietly gathering information about Giana's activities. Beyond the physical displacement, Giana had begun inserting herself into traditional Luna responsibilities. That morning, I'd discovered she had taken over negotiations with allied packs regarding the upcoming full moon ceremonies—a role exclusively reserved for the Luna since our pack's founding. "It's at the Alpha's request," Beta Wilson had explained apologetically when I questioned the change. "Delta Giana has been... very persuasive about modernizing certain traditions."