Carter stood in the doorway to my office, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He slid the document across the desk toward me. "This Acting Luna Representative label is just for the council secretary's records. Sign a thirty-day authorization so Sienna can handle the Northern border matters. Negotiations can't stop every day over our couple's issues."

I stared at the paper. The scope listed meetings, Alpha family public events, heir accompaniment, and the Luna seat itself. My fingers tightened around the pen. "This goes way beyond three hours."

He nodded. "The ring stays on Sienna until morning's ritual ends. Sign it and things stay clean."

I pushed the document back. "No. I won't authorize anything this way."

He exhaled slowly. "Lena, this is the only way to keep the border stable."

The door opened behind him. A jeweler in a crisp suit entered, carrying a small velvet box. "Alpha, the Luna Ring. It was adjusted last night for the ceremony. To put it back on Lena's finger, we need to resize it properly. The current fit won't hold."

Carter glanced at me, then at the jeweler. "Just a quick fix. Nothing permanent."

The jeweler checked the ring on his measuring scale. "It was resized to Sienna's dimensions. Restoring it should take an hour."

I crossed my arms. "You had it resized before I even noticed it missing."

He met my gaze without blinking. "To stop it from slipping during the ritual. Simple precaution."

Eli appeared in the doorway, his small hand clutching the doorframe. He looked up at the jeweler. "Is the ring going to be able to change back to Mom's size later?"

Carter placed a hand on Eli's shoulder. "Of course. Resizing is like fixing an injury. It heals right back."

I didn't correct him. Instead, I turned to the jeweler. "Add the adjustment date and the commissioner to the repair record. Keep that note. Father and son can't keep calling planned replacements temporary."

I flipped through the old Luna archives on my desk, pulling up the maternal ritual book. The page sat half-hidden, almost discarded. Ancient Luna Refusal. When the Alpha transferred identity symbols or bond authority without Luna consent, the Luna could publicly withdraw stable and representative authorization, with Moon Council witnesses required.

I circled the key clause and slid the page to Carter. "This part about Sienna representing you in Alpha heir education activities. Does this mean you also decided for thirty days who would stand in for me with Eli?"

He scanned the circled section. "The document expands the replacement to family matters. Not just negotiations."

I folded the page and tucked it into my pocket. "Good to know."

Ronan waited at the border when I stepped outside later that afternoon. He held out a folded document. "Seven years ago. Carter signed this ceasefire. The public story misses details."

I scanned the pages. Elders supporting Carter had started the fight. Ronan had used the inheritance dispute to force a stop. I compared it to the pack archives, confirming the public version omitted an entire page.

Carter appeared behind me, jaw tight. "I knew the details. Ronan was still a threat to the Alpha position then. We needed the traitor narrative for pack stability."

I turned to him. "You always delete the parts that hurt your decisions."

That night, I sat alone in the healing den, trying to reach my wolf. Silver patterns spread from my wrist across the mate mark. A resonance pulled toward the North. I didn't move closer. Instead, I told the healer, "Only record the body reaction. No conclusions about new mates."

Ronan sent a messenger through the link. "I won't enter Silverpine. Resonance won't be used for inheritance talks."

Carter checked the medical log and slammed the door. "Ronan came back to use you for the throne. If you keep contacting my brother, I'll restrict your leave with Alpha security."

The Northern Council sent the next message at dusk. "Silverpine must confirm the real Luna authorized person by tomorrow sunset. Otherwise, the border agreement suspends."

Carter leaned against my desk. "Sign the thirty-day authorization or I'll activate Alpha Override and approve Sienna with mate and Alpha authority."

I flipped through the remaining archives, finding the clause. I folded it into my pocket without showing him.

An hour before sunset, the council notified all core members to gather at Luna Hall. Sienna already sat in the seat that belonged to me, waiting.