Bounded By Revenge; The Betrayed Luna’s Rise

An Unwanted Visitor

Aria POV

The next morning I woke before sunrise. As Luna I personally reviewed the household accounts every morning before checking on the kitchens.

When I entered the dining room, breakfast was already being served. Darius sat at the head of the table. Selena occupied the seat to his right. Noah was happily eating pancakes between them. The chair beside Darius—my seat—was empty.

I paused. Perhaps they had simply started early. I took a step toward the table. Before I could sit down, Noah tugged on Darius’s sleeve.

“Daddy, can we go riding today?”

“If you finish your breakfast.”

“I will!” His cheerful laugh filled the room. Darius smiled faintly. It was small, barely noticeable, but I noticed, because I had spent seven years searching for expressions like that.

I quietly pulled out my chair. No one looked at me. No one noticed I had joined them. Selena finally glanced in my direction.

“Oh, Luna. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you hadn’t eaten.”

“It’s alright.” I reached for a cup of tea. “I have work to do anyway.”

Just then Darius spoke. “After breakfast, take Selena around the estate.”

I looked at him. “Pardon?”

“She’ll be living here permanently.” His tone was calm. “She should become familiar with the manor.”

“I can ask Martha to show her around.”

“I want you to do it.”

There it was again. Not a request but an order. I lowered my eyes. “As you wish.”

~~~

Later, I walked beside Selena through the gardens while Noah ran ahead, laughing as he chased butterflies.

“It’s beautiful here,” Selena said sincerely. “You’ve taken wonderful care of the estate.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled. “I’ve heard everyone in the pack loves you. You don’t have to be so modest. The servants speak highly of you.”

There was not a trace of arrogance in her voice. She seemed kind. It made everything even more confusing. If Selena was not trying to replace me, why did I feel as though I was disappearing?

As we reached the central courtyard, several pack members stopped to greet us. “Good morning, Luna.” Their bows were directed at me, but their eyes quickly shifted toward Selena. Whispers drifted through the courtyard.

“So that’s Lady Selena.”

“She’s even prettier than the rumors said.”

“No wonder Alpha brought her home.”

“I heard Young Master Noah already calls him Daddy.”

Selena’s smile faltered. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “They shouldn’t be saying things like that.”

I shook my head. “They’re only talking.” But the words stayed with me long after we walked away.

By the time I returned to the main hall, I found the servants taking down a large portrait—my portrait. The painting had been commissioned shortly after I became Luna and hung above the grand staircase where every visitor could see it.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

The servants immediately stopped. One of them bowed nervously. “Forgive us, Luna. Alpha Darius ordered us to remove it. He said the wall would look better with a family portrait.”

A family portrait. My heart skipped. “Darius approved a new painting?”

“Yes. It arrived this morning.”

The servant stepped aside. Two men carefully carried a large canvas into the hall. My breath caught. It was not a portrait of Darius and me. It was a painting of Darius standing beside Selena, little Noah smiling between them. From a distance they looked exactly like a family. The artist had even painted Darius with the same soft smile I had seen yesterday—a smile I had spent seven years waiting to receive.

Behind me, footsteps echoed across the marble floor. I did not need to turn around. I already knew it was him.

“What do you think?” Darius asked. His voice was calm, almost casual. “It’ll make the manor feel more welcoming.”

I stared at the painting, then at the empty space where mine had hung. Slowly I forced a smile. “It looks… beautiful.” My voice barely sounded like my own.

Darius nodded once, seemingly satisfied with my answer. He walked past me without noticing the tears gathering in my eyes. Or perhaps he noticed—and simply chose not to care.

I did not realize how long I had been standing in front of the portrait until Martha gently called my name.

“Luna…”

I blinked, forcing my gaze away from the painting. “I’ll be in town for a while,” I said quietly. “If Alpha asks for me, let him know I’ll return before evening.”

Martha frowned. “Is everything alright?”

I smiled, though it felt fragile. “I just have an appointment.”

She nodded without asking another question. I was grateful for that.