2. An Insult I Won't Forgive

 

~ LAYLA ~

“Luna, we-we didn’t know you would come,” Bryan says.

“I don’t need to inform you of my coming, now do I, Bryan? Where is your Alpha?”

“He is inside, Luna. Would you like me to notify him of your arrival?”

“No need. He won’t like this surprise anyway.”

Brushing past him, I enter, and it doesn’t take me long to spot Logan. He doesn’t notice me. His back is towards me, his hand resting precariously low on the bare back of a woman in a blue dress. Something tightens in my chest, and the burning fire of rage ignites within me as I watch his fingers play with the fabric of her dress.

“Logan,” I say as I approach them, and as predicted, he removes his hand extremely quickly as he turns around, along with the woman. I instantly recognise her. His secretary and my ex-best friend, Sadie. They frantically put distance between one another, making me feel worse.

“Layla, why are you here?” Logan asks, now taking my arm and tugging me to the side as if not wanting people to realise who I am.

“Excuse me? Can’t I be here? I am your Luna or have you forgotten? I am the one who should be by your side instead of bringing some random, unranked side piece?” I ask, my voice ice cold.

“Lay…Luna Layla, please don’t misunderstand. I was just here to help Alpha Logan,” Sadie explains innocently as she comes over to us.

“Help? With what exactly?” I ask coldly.

“Layla, don’t cause a scene.” Logan’s hold on my arm tightens. “I only asked Sadie to come alone because you weren’t feeling well and couldn’t be here.”

“I couldn’t be here? I wasn’t feeling well? Don’t gaslight me, Logan. You didn’t tell me! Had you asked, you would have seen me in the front line.” I almost snarl.

Sadie gasps as she covers her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Alpha, Luna… I just wanted to help and make things easier-”

“Enough, Sadie.” I hiss. Logan’s grip only grows tighter – painfully.

“I just… I know that the Alpha has so much going on, someone has to take care of him, and since you-”

“I said enough.” My eyes flash and she shuts up, as if something in them made her decide against arguing with me.

“You weren’t yourself at the office, Layla, so I took the initiative,” Logan adds, his eyes hard.

“Weren’t myself… I haven’t been myself since the day I agreed to marry you. Save your excuses. I’m not a fool. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” I tug free from Logan’s hold, glancing down at the red fingerprints that are stamped on my arm from his far too tight grip.

Spinning on my heels, I walk over to the bar to grab a much-needed drink.

I might have acted like I didn’t care, but it does hurt.

He’s constantly lying. Why?

What have I not done for him?

I take up one of the pre-made drinks and sit down, crossing my legs gracefully, trying to control my emotions that are running rampant. I glance back at Logan, who doesn’t even seem bothered, as he murmurs something to Sadie before the duo join the crowd and begin chatting with a few guests.

Where did I fail?

After everything I learned, I should break off this engagement. I don’t want to be his luna either. He needs to get out of my pack. But he would still be able to get half of my parents’ assets. Becoming Alpha and Luna is stronger than marriage in our community. But this pack is mine, and so is everything else that he has taken from me.

I will have to talk to my uncle about this. How could my father want this? Logan is nothing special.

“Layla, is that you?”

I turn to see none other than three lunas of neighbouring allied packs.

“That’s Luna Layla to you, Chloe,” I remind her.

“Luna? I thought Sadie is soon-to-be Luna!” She giggles as one of the others swats her arm jokingly.

“Ah, don’t be so insensitive, Chloe, until it’s official anyway. But really, Layla, if you ARE the Luna, then why aren’t you over there with Alpha Logan?” Mary chimes in snidely.

“Oh, I’m sorry, it’s just that Alpha Logan has forgotten you. Every one of us knows you weren’t even meant to be here, yet you shamelessly showed your face,” Chloe mocks.

The conversation with my so-called luna acquaintances makes me want to laugh. They are the ones who used to surround me wanting to be acknowledged, yet here they are showing their true colours.

“Chloe,” I take up my glass as I adjust my legs and toss my hair over my shoulder. “How is your fiancé, Alpha Flynn, doing? He’s been borrowing an awful lot of money for the past three years from my pack. I do hope he finds a solution to his ever-growing financial problems.”

Chloe tenses and her face turns ashen. “H-how did you know that?”

Ignoring her, I look at Mary. “And you, Mary, how are you coping knowing your fiancé has fathered a child with an omega maid?” I laugh gracefully, not masking the hint of mockery from it. “How about you handle your own affairs? Has it not crossed your small minds that maybe I can be here without anyone’s permission?”

“B-But…” Mary stutters.

“Really ladies, please act like the lunas you are supposedly meant to be. If I were you, I’d use this energy on bettering your own packs. After all, there’s clearly work to be done there.”

“Luna Layla!” Rosetta, the third luna, gasps. “An insult to our packs is an insult to our alphas and the peace treaty.”