Chapter 2: THE NAVARRE PACK

~STORM

Was there a word that could truly capture the heart-wrenching ache I felt? I was drowning in a sea of depression, disappointment, and betrayal. I felt utterly useless. The only thing keeping me tethered to reality was the pack’s business and politics.

For the past three months, we had been building extra walls and mansions on the estate to accommodate Danielle and her pack.

Danielle was my husband Richard’s new mate, and every night, I had to endure the sight of him calling her to his room. He mated with her, leaving me behind as if I didn’t exist. It was as if he had forgotten he even had a wife. Somehow, he had convinced me that I should remain his Luna while he took Danielle as his mate, all in the name of strengthening our alliance since she was the sister of the Blood Moon’s Alpha. He had given me a thousand reasons to accept this arrangement, and before I knew it, a tiny “yes” had slipped from my lips. Now, I regretted every single decision I had made.

I had visited the pack’s healer countless times, suffering from constant pain and illness. I often wished I could cheat on him, just as he had done to me, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. No wolf would dare approach me, not with the Alpha’s mark still fresh on my neck.

****

“I promise I saw her give information to the Beta of the Navarre pack,” Danielle declared, and gasps echoed through the tribunal hall. Richard’s frown deepened as I stood at the center, feeling numb.

“Do you have anything to say?” one of the council members asked, their eyes scrutinizing me. I looked around at the combined council members of Blood Moon and Lock Heart.

“I didn’t do it,” I replied, my hands clasped behind my back. Even though hope felt like a distant memory, I clung to the tiniest shred of it, hoping Richard would defend me. I lifted my chin slightly, trying to project confidence.

“Then why were you getting the extra walls demolished?” Danielle shot back, and gasps filled the room again.

Had I really done something like that?

Avira, my beta, was beside me, her voice echoing in my mind. Why are you even here?

I ignored her and faced the council. “I can’t remember doing anything like that. Besides, if something like that happened, the Alpha should have known about it.” I shot Richard a deadly glance, and I could almost hear him groan in frustration.

The council nodded in agreement. “Luna Storm, you may leave.”

I nodded curtly and exited the hall with Avira. Once in my room, I practically begged her to leave me alone. I sat on the bed, my feet bouncing nervously on the floor. I couldn’t stay still.

After a quick bath, I changed into my pajamas and was about to slip into bed when the door flew open.

Richard stood there in his black suit, with Danielle trailing behind him like a devoted puppy.

“Stand up,” he ordered.

I didn’t respond and lay back down, hoping to escape into sleep.

“The Alpha orders you,” he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.

With a groan, I stood up, facing him directly. His nostrils flared, and my wolf snarled at both of them.

“What is it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“What were you trying to do?” he demanded, stepping closer until my back hit the wall. “Trying to rope Danielle and me into your shenanigans?”

“Shenanigans?” I laughed bitterly. “Coming from someone who has been creating the most drama, I’m not surprised.”

He grabbed my throat, and I saw Danielle smirk, folding her arms across her chest. I didn’t struggle until his grip tightened, and tears welled in my eyes.

“Leave me, jerk,” I managed to groan.

“Everything that has been going wrong has been because of you,” he spat through gritted teeth, as if he were the innocent party.

“I didn’t ask to be here. Reject me and let me go.”

He closed his eyes, loosening his grip just a fraction. “I won’t. The pack loves you. Everything would fall apart if I rejected you.”

I clicked my tongue in frustration. “It’s sad that they don’t know how you go around sleeping with your mistress.”

“Do you know how much pain she’s in whenever I mate with her? She’s pregnant, at least. She did what you couldn’t,” he snarled.

My breath caught in my throat. I looked from him to Danielle, noticing her small baby bump. She was already showing. In just three months, there would be a little pup. The joy on her face was unmistakable, as was the pride on his.

Did he even realize how much my neck hurt every time he mated with her? The pain was unbearable, and I had to visit the healer regularly. Did he know how my patience snapped with every moment of disconnection between us?

“It’s your fault,” I said, knowing that statement would infuriate him. His grip tightened again.

“The baby will end up being a bastard anyway. The pack won’t recognize him.”

“Let her go,” Danielle chimed in, clearly enjoying the scene.

Finally, he released me, and I crumpled to the floor, coughing. He returned to her side and kissed her. When I glanced in the mirror, I saw blood trickling from the back of my neck. My face was puffy, and my eyes were red from crying.

His Beta came in and dragged me from the floor. “Where are you taking me?” I asked, but he remained silent, pulling me along as I struggled to find something to hold onto.

He led me to Richard’s room and shut the door. I was met with the sight of Richard kissing Danielle, laying her on the bed, kissing her stomach, and mating with her. In the room we once shared. In the bed we once shared.

With each thrust, I flinched, tears streaming down my face. Nothing could stop them now. She moaned his name, and he kissed her in a way he had never done with me. They didn’t let me leave until they were finished.

I stumbled back to my room on shaky legs, determined to continue my search for a witch who could break our bond. His infidelity was clearly not enough to sever our connection.

I slipped under the white covers once more, sleeping alone for the thousandth time. I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would come quickly.

But then, I caught a scent.

I sniffed again to confirm it. My wolf was instantly alert. I got up and opened the window to catch the smell properly. I couldn’t place it, but I knew I had smelled it before.

I quickly slipped on my comfortable slippers and headed to the terrace for a better view. That’s when I saw them.

Intruders.

The Navarre pack.

Without hesitation, I transformed into my wolf and howled, alerting the others. Within seconds, I had hundreds of wolves behind me as we approached the pack’s gate, ready to attack.

Richard’s black wolf walked cautiously behind me. My wolf wanted to lash out at Danielle’s wolf as she walked beside him, but I focused on the task at hand.

The pack came first.