REJECTED ALPHA'S LUNA

Catherine kept walking, though every whisper cut into her like a blade. “She wouldn’t be able to give birth to a child.” “The prophecy is surely true. It has been three years since she married the Alpha, yet she has never gotten pregnant.” “Is she really a branded slave?” “A mere woman made Luna of our pack? The elders are already questioning the bond between her and the Alpha.” Even when she tried not to listen, the words chased her everywhere she went. Throughout the week, they had followed her like a curse, repeated so often that her ears felt worn numb by them. The maids whispered. The taverns buzzed. Even the children at the pack academy she often visited spoke of it in hushed voices. It had all begun during the New Year ceremony. Catherine had always refused to let the maids bathe or dress her, but that morning she had overslept after a terrible nightmare. In her haste to join the others, she had no choice but to let them help her dress. That was how the secret had been exposed. The birthmark on her cleavage. Since then, cruel rumors had spread through the entire pack. Some called her a slave. Some mocked her as barren. Others branded her a cursed, wolfless human unworthy of the title of Luna. Her footsteps were slow and heavy, each word she had heard sinking deeper into her heart. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and for a moment she thought she might collapse under the weight of it all. In that moment, only one person came to mind. Her husband. Silas, the Alpha of the Moon Pack. Catherine strode down the hallway, the main door at the far end slightly ajar. Sunlight filtered through the red curtains along the left side of the passage, casting a dim glow across the floor. Just a metre away from the door, she heard it. “Yes, f**k me, Alpha, harder—yes! Don’t have mercy on me.” Catherine came to an abrupt stop. Her whole body stiffened, and the color drained from her face. Her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. The air around her suddenly felt suffocating. That voice—she knew it instantly. It was Kyla. Her best friend. The only person in the pack who had ever been close to her, the only one who had treated her kindly despite Catherine’s low status and lack of powerful family ties. Catherine hurried forward as the room suddenly fell silent. With trembling hands, she pushed the door open. Her breath caught in her throat. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision, and one slipped down her cheek. Clothes were scattered across the floor, undergarments tossed carelessly beside the bed. And there, sprawled naked on the bed, was Silas—her man, her mate, the one she had never imagined would betray her. Then her gaze shifted to the woman lying beside him. Kyla. Catherine stared at her, her eyes filled with disbelief, pain, anger, and crushing disappointment. But Kyla looked completely calm, as though nothing was wrong. There was no guilt on her face, no shame, no sign that she had just shattered her friend’s heart. “Why?” Catherine asked, her voice shaking. “Why would you betray me?” Kyla sneered. “I didn’t betray you. Your man needed someone who could give him a child. As your good friend, I simply stepped in.” More tears spilled down Catherine’s face. She knew Kyla was lying, twisting cruelty into something noble. “I thought you were like a sister to me,” Catherine said helplessly. “I never believed you would do this. But now I see—you’re just like everyone else.” Kyla casually twirled a strand of her hair around her finger. “Don’t blame me, Catherine. Blame yourself. You can’t give birth, and you come from nothing. Did you really think you would remain Luna for long? Everyone wants you gone. You have no family, no one to protect you, no one to stand by your side.” Then Kyla slid off the bed, completely naked, and looked at Catherine with a small smile. “I can protect you,” she said smoothly. “I can shelter you. But only if you sever the bond with Silas and end the marriage.” Catherine said nothing. She knew she couldn’t face Kyla—not now. And fighting her would only make things worse. Catherine couldn’t even transform, while Kyla had a strong wolf. Even without shifting, Catherine stood no chance against her. So she turned and ran. Crying helplessly, she fled back to her room, where she collapsed into silent sobs. She refused to come out for the rest of the day, ignoring every call for meals and shutting herself away with her heartbreak. Catherine stayed indoors for days, refusing to eat or drink. On the fourth day, the Alpha’s assistant, John, entered the room. “Luna, you need to eat. You can’t starve yourself for days,” John said softly. Catherine gave a dry laugh before replying, “Why should I eat? You want me to keep living when another woman has taken my man? When everyone in the pack scorns me? When they all want me gone, huh?” With an expressionless face, Lucky said coldly, “Luna, you have to eat. Those matters can only be discussed if you are alive.” Helplessly, Catherine got out of bed and went to eat breakfast. Afterward, she asked Lucky, “Where is Alpha Silas?” Lucky replied, “He is your husband. You should go to his bedroom.” Catherine lowered her head and walked toward the bedroom. She hesitated at the door, raising her hand to knock, but paused. Before she could knock, the door creaked open. The moment Catherine saw who had opened it, her expression changed drastically. “Catherine, what are you doing here?” Kyla asked with a smile on her face. Catherine’s heart felt hollow as she asked dryly, “Is the Alpha inside?” Kyla sneered. “He isn’t in the bedroom. Have you made your decision about what I told you?” Catherine looked at her and replied timidly, “I’m still thinking about it.” Kyla’s face darkened, but she waved Catherine away. “You should leave and think carefully. Make your decision quickly.” Catherine reluctantly turned around and walked away. Kyla then closed the door behind her and re-entered the room. “Why do you refuse to see her?”