The Surrogate Luna

KATHERINE “The southern border has requested additional warriors, Luna." I looked up from the report in front of me, fighting the urge to scowl. It's already been two hours since the morning council meeting begun and we're still not done. We already went trough business reports, border disputes, and even the monthly budget...and now even this? I suppressed a sigh. “Why?” I asked. The head warrior shifted in his chair. “Rogue activity has increased, Luna.” I placed my hands over the documents. “Have they crossed our borders or attacked anyone?" The man slowly shook. “No, Luna.” “Then you got your answer." Everyone knew why the rogue activities increased during this time. Most of them were just seeking a place to shift during the full moon and would just disperse on their own. Driving rogues away would only make them spiteful, especially when they weren't doing anything hostile. The morning meeting ended like that. I retired to my room, hopefully to rest for a few minutes. People liked to imagine that being Luna meant attending ceremonies in designer clothes and accessories while standing beside their loving Alpha. Partly, it was, but most of the time it was just unending paperwork. Being a Luna meant taking care of problems he couldn't be bothered to attend to. Alpha Slade had enough responsibilities. At least, that was what I had told myself for three years. And I was good at it. Maybe too good that Slade rarely has to join in the meeting I just went through. A soft knock dispersed my thoughts. One of my attendants politely entered, “Luna, your dress have have arrived.” She came in carrying a dress box and gently placed it on my bed. “Thank you," I said, standing from my seat. The omega bowed politely and immediately left. My eyes darted on the dress box, opening it with barely any excitement in my eyes. Another alliance dinner. Another evening spent smiling beside my husband, pretending I didn't notice he was looking forward seeing someone else. My eyes landed on my bond ring I've worn faithfully ever since my husband gave it to me. “It's been three years. You should be used to it by now, Kath.” I am Dark Moon pack's Luna, wife and mate of Slade Riverwood. His people respect and follow me, and I am his rightful mate as the Goddess intended. And still... his heart was never mine. By sunset, the Dark Moon Pack House was already filled with people. Our pack members moved through the halls carrying trays of food and wine. Intricate decorations I personally chose lined the entrance, a quick impression maker for the arriving guests. I stood in front of the mirror while one of my attendants adjusted the clasp of my dress. “You look dashing, Luna.” I gave a polite smile. “Thank you, Melly.” The silver dress fit perfectly. It was elegant without being overly elaborate. Melly reached out, attaching the brooch with our pack symbol to finish the look. My eyes darted towards the mirror one last time. I looked exactly as I was supposed to; composed, beautiful and elegant. Nobody would know how broken I was on the inside, or how much I cried in this very room. I took a deep breath, ready to meet the visitors filling the ballroom as the hostess of the gathering. I made my way to the gathering all alone, flashing the perfected smile I always wore, eyes roaming to see the attendees and already assessing the mood. My mind was already calculating everything...until I saw Slade. He stood near the center of the room, speaking with the Northern Alphas we were arranging to have an alliance with. Even surrounded by alphas like him, Slade still overpowers everyone with his presence. My mate. The man I should be happily spending my life with, except we were far from that. Slade turned to my direction as if sensing my presence. Our eyes met and the bond between us flared momentarily. Despite everything, my heart responded to the man the Moon Goddess had chosen for me. I approached with grace, still carrying the same smile on my lips as I reached his side. Slade barely reacted, not bothering to put up an act but has no choice but to acknowledge me. “This is my wife, Katherine.” he introduced me to our potential allies. I turned to them and lowered my head. “Greetings, Alphas.” “I've heard quite a lot about you.” one of them responded with a small smile. Based on the crest he wore, he is Bentley Ralf, Alpha of Silver Crest Pack. He was younger than I thought. “Hopefully only good things.” He laughed. “Don't worry, it is. Mostly how capable and perfect you are as Dark Moon's Luna.” I glanced at Slade. Once again, he maintained a straight face, not even an ounce of pride for me being praised. The celebration continued with his lukewarm treatment. He would occasionally lean closer when someone spoke, introduce me to new people. Slade would even momentarily hold me when necessary. It was the perfect lie we had to put up. Then the front doors opened again and I immediately knew who it was solely at how Slade's reaction changed. Czarina entered, wearing a pale gold dress that made her features look more innocent than she ever was. She looked...beautiful. Slade was immediately looking at her. His eyes softened the way it never did when he looked at me. “Greetings, Luna. Please forgive me for being late.” Czarina approached me first, politely apologizing. Sometimes, I wondered whether she genuinely didn't understand what she was doing or whether she truly believed there was nothing wrong with the way she existed in my marriage. But I knew better. Behind that sweet smile is a cunning she-wolf. Czarina was the reason why my marriage never worked unlike what we show in public. She was Slade's first love and chosen mate. Czarina is the reason why Slade never cared for me even though our bond was vested by the Goddess herself. Her attention quickly turned to Slade and the latter's demeanor quickly changed. He smiled to her, and suddenly, they are in their own private world. I stood beside them, listening to a conversation I wasn't part of. Our pack members were busy accomodating everyone, but I could feel them staring at the three of us. Slade barely hid his relationship with Czarina. It was an open secret among the pack. My attendants would give me a sympathetic look, one I would only respond with a smile. Meanwhile, the guests doesn't say a thing about it. After all, Dark Moon is one of the most powerful pack in the country. Crossing Slade is like like banging yourself on a steel wall. One of our pack members approached to inform us that the toast is ready. Slade reached the stage and proposed a toast for a successful gathering. He went back to Czrina's side right after, already forgotten about me. My smile didn't falter. I didn't approach them and busied myself to entertaining the guests. At one point, an elderly Luna from the Northern territory took my hand. “You are very impressive, young lady." “That's kind of you.” “No. I mean it. You run this place beautifully." I smiled politely while she roamed her eyes, landing on Slade who was busy talking to Czarina. She subtly rolled her eyes. She had enough experience in pack politics to know what was happening, for sure. She turned back to me. “Pack Alphas lead with iron claws. Lunas are different. We drive the pack with this, and this,” she pointed at her mind and chest, “Don't undermine yourself. This pack will collapse in a month or two without you if that man doesn't understand what he was losing.” My eyes slightly widened, not expecting such support from another Luna. “Thank you, that means a lot.” -- I immediately removed my heels the moment I entered my bedroom. The gathering finally came to an end with everything gone smoothly as expected. My eyes roamed the grand room. This was supposed to be our bedroom, but I can't even remember the last time he was ever here. I sat at the edge of the mattress after I washed and changed into my nightgown, feeling the emptiness I feel at nights like this. I slowly prepared myself to sleep, but suddenly felt a familiar sensation hitting me. It would always begin as warmth that would spread through my chest, then my wolf would stir restlessly, feeling the pain before I do. The incomplete bond between me and Slade was already weak. He never marked me and never completed the mating bond, but the pull of it still existed. Perhaps that was a blessing. If Slade had marked me, I didn't know whether I could survive feeling everything he felt for Czarina. A pulse of desire that wasn't mine rushed into my senses. My fingers curled into the sheets, feeling the distant echo of his emotions. The overwhelming heat and pleasure...and then comes the sharp pain. While Slade reached for someone else, my wolf still recognized him as mine. A strangled breath escaped me. “Stop.” I pleaded in a whisper, tears filling my chest. The bond might have bind us, but Slade had made his choice long ago. Somewhere in this enormous pack territory, my husband was with another woman. All while I feel the reminder that I was his mate that he accepted but never loved. Tears slipped down my face, but I quickly wiped it away and endured silently like I always did. Three years should have been enough to kill whatever feelings I once had for him. The Goddess knows I tried, but I simply couldn't erase him in this stupid heart. I initially planned to leave when I realized he had no intention of marking me, but I learned about my birth pack's decline. My marriage was the only thing holding things together. And so, I stayed, hoping that one day, Slade would look at me and see more than the woman the Moon Goddess forced into his life. I closed my eyes as another echo of Slade's pleasure passed through the bond. I ignored everything, blocking the bond in my mind as much as I could. Tomorrow morning, I would wake up and repeat everything again. I will handle everything that needed to be handled, and stand beside my husband as though he hadn't spent the night with another woman. Because that was what I was good at. I was Slade's everything. Everything except the woman he loved.