Chapter : 2.

Back in her quarters, the silence was deafening. The candles had burned low, casting long shadows across the room. The dinner she had so carefully prepared remained untouched, the aroma of the food now bittersweet.

Elara stood in the center of the room, her hands clenched into fists as the emotions she had held back finally broke free. The anger, the frustration, the sadness—it all surged through her in a wave that threatened to drown her.

How had it come to this?

She had once believed that the mate bond would bring her happiness, that it would bind her and Luka together in a way that nothing else could. But instead, it had become a chain, keeping her tethered to a man who didn’t see her, didn’t value her.

Elara moved to the table and blew out the remaining candles, watching as the room was plunged into darkness. The soft glow

 of moonlight filtered through the window, casting a silver sheen over the room. It was beautiful in a way, but tonight, it only made her feel more alone.

She climbed into bed, the soft sheets cool against her skin, but the emptiness beside her was a reminder of the distance that had grown between her and Luka. She had hoped that tonight would bring them closer, but now it was clear that Luka didn’t care. He didn’t want to be with her, and she was tired of pretending that everything was fine.

As she lay there, staring up at the ceiling, Elara made a silent promise to herself. She wouldn’t let Luka—or anyone else—make her feel small again. She was more than just the Luna of Crescent Moon Pack. She was Elara, and she deserved more than this half-life of disappointment and rejection.

Her eyes fluttered shut, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with her. But even as sleep pulled her under, the anger still simmered, and the realization that something had to change echoed in her mind.

Tonight, she had gone to bed alone. But it would be the last time she allowed herself to feel so powerless.

The next morning Elara stood in front of the mirror, sunlight streaming in through the window as she gazed at her reflection. Her eyes were puffy from a restless night’s sleep, and the ache in her chest lingered, a constant reminder of the disappointment that had settled over her like a heavy cloak. Last night had been a disaster. The dinner she had prepared with so much care had gone untouched, and Luka’s indifference had cut her deeper than any physical wound ever could.

But Elara wasn’t the type to let things fester. She wasn’t going to sit around and pretend everything was fine when it clearly wasn’t. She had tried to be patient, tried to be understanding of Luka’s duties as Alpha, but this was too much. He had dismissed her in front of the pack, humiliated her when she had only wanted to share something special with him.

No more.

With a deep breath, Elara squared her shoulders and left her room, her determination hardening as she made her way through the halls of the Crescent Moon estate. She knew Luka would be in his study this morning, likely going over the latest reports from the patrols. He always buried himself in work after nights like the one they’d had—nights when he ignored her, or when their arguments grew too heated.

The further she walked, the more the tension coiled inside her, ready to snap. She had spent too many nights wondering where she stood with Luka, too many days walking on eggshells around him, hoping for a glimpse of the man she had once admired.

No more tiptoeing around. Today, she would confront him, and they would talk—really talk—about the growing chasm between them. Whether Luka wanted to or not.

She reached the door to his study and paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. The sound of his deep voice carried through the wood, and she could tell he was on a call with someone—likely another Alpha or a member of the council. Elara waited for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts, but the simmering anger inside her wouldn’t let her turn back now. She was done waiting, done making excuses for him.

Without knocking, she opened the door and stepped inside.

Luka sat behind his massive oak desk, papers spread out in front of him. He glanced up as she entered, his expression momentarily surprised before it shifted back into the familiar mask of indifference. His silver eyes flicked over her, as if assessing her mood, but he didn’t stop what he was doing. He continued to speak into the phone, his tone clipped and businesslike.

“I’ll call you back,” Luka said abruptly, cutting off the conversation on the other end of the line before setting the phone down. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze settling on Elara. “What is it, Elara? I’m busy.”

His casual dismissal sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through her veins, and she had to bite back her initial response. Instead, she walked further into the room, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

“We need to talk,” she said firmly, her voice steadier than she felt.

Luka raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair with a look that bordered on annoyance. “I’m in the middle of pack business. Can this wait?”

“No, it can’t,” Elara snapped, her patience already wearing thin. “This is about last night.”

“Last night?” Luka repeated, his tone flat. “What about it?”

Elara stared at him, disbelief tightening in her chest. “Are you seriously asking me that? You promised we’d spend time together—celebrate our anniversary—and instead, you humiliated me in front of half the pack!”

Luka sighed, rubbing his hand across his jaw, as if this conversation were nothing more than an irritation he needed to brush aside. “I told you last night, Elara. There are more important things than dinner. I had to deal with pack matters—things that actually matter.”

“That’s not the point, Luka!” Elara’s voice rose, frustration boiling over. “It wasn’t just about the dinner. It’s about you constantly ignoring me, pushing me aside as if I’m nothing more than an afterthought. I’m your mate, your Luna. I should matter too!”

His eyes flashed, a brief flicker of something that could have been guilt, but it was quickly replaced by his usual cold demeanor. “You do matter,” he said dismissively. “But I have responsibilities, Elara. You know that.”

“Responsibilities?” Elara shot back, taking a step closer to him. “I know you’re the Alpha. I know pack business comes first. But it shouldn’t come at the expense of our relationship. We haven’t had a real conversation in weeks. You barely even look at me anymore, Luka. You spend more time with the council and warriors than you do with your own mate.”

Luka pushed his chair back and stood up, towering over her with his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze darkened, irritation simmering just beneath the surface. “You think I have the luxury to sit around and chat, Elara? While rogues are attacking our borders, while rival packs are circling like vultures? I’m trying to keep this pack safe, and you’re upset because I missed dinner?”

“It’s not just dinner!” Elara’s voice cracked, her anger mixing with the hurt she had tried so hard to suppress. “It’s everything. You’ve shut me out, Luka. I feel like I’m not even a part of your life anymore.”

For a moment, Luka’s expression softened, but it was fleeting. He turned away from her, his shoulders tense as he stared out of the window. “I don’t have time for this right now.”

Elara’s heart clenched, a bitter taste rising in her throat. “Of course, you don’t. You never have time for me.”

The silence that followed her words was suffocating. She waited, hoping—praying—that Luka would turn around, that he would say something to make her believe he still cared. But when he finally spoke, it wasn’t the words she had been hoping for.

“Maybe if you weren’t so busy letting Marcus pay attention to you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Elara blinked, stunned by the accusation. “What?”

Luka turned to face her, his silver eyes sharp and accusing. “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. Marcus has been eyeing you for months, and you haven’t exactly been discouraging him, have you?”

A cold chill ran down Elara’s spine. She stared at Luka, her mouth dry with disbelief. “You think I’ve been flirting with Marcus?”

Luka crossed his arms, his jaw set in a hard line. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Elara. He’s always hovering around, always making excuses to talk to you. And you—you let him. You let him get close.”