The Wounded Luna

SCARLET’S “This is Isabella, she’ll be taking care of you from now on.” I narrowed my eyes at the young girl my mate presented to me. She bowed to show respect, her lustrous blonde hair falling over her shoulders. I was unimpressed, irritation bubbling within me. “I don’t need someone else to take care of me,” I noted calmly, crossing my arms against my chest as I eyed her from head to toe. “I’m very capable of doing that myself.” Jonan let out an exasperated sigh, crouching down to my eye level. His fingers traced the curve of my wheelchair tires, his expression turning solemn as he looked up at me. “Stop being so stubborn Scarlet, a little help won’t hurt.” I scoffed at this, glancing at my legs which have been useless since the incident. I didn’t regret my decision to save my pack on that fateful day, instead, I saw it as a testament to my bravery. A huge boulder from the mountains was headed straight for the pack house, and I had used my strength to stop it from coming in contact with us. But in the process, my legs were crushed to the point they couldn’t be healed, leaving me confined in a wheelchair. I had told Jonan countless times that I didn’t want to be pitied, but I guess he was just worried about me. “I’m fine, and even if I needed a helping hand, what makes you think I would trust her? Didn’t she recently join the pack?” I argued, and Jonan glanced at the girl before returning his gaze to me. “She’s a rogue wolf with nowhere to go, my love, please bear with her.” I regarded him in silence, and his green eyes softened, pleading for me to agree. I sighed, my shoulders slumping in defeat. “Alright.” I couldn’t say no to him when he looked at me with those eyes. Jonan’s lips spread into a bright smile, straightening up to press a featherlight kiss to my forehead. “Thank you love.” Isabella stepped forward, a polite smile on her face as she introduced herself. “It will be an honor to serve you, Luna.” I acknowledged her with a nod, but little did I know that the simple gesture would become my undoing. Three weeks later…. “Ah yes, Alpha!” I tried to deny what was in front of me. “Harder please!” The echoes of betrayal rang in my ears. “Oh Isabella, you feel so good.” To find my mate in bed with another woman. My wolf thrashed and cried within me, but I stayed at the door, tears brimming in my eyes but never falling. “Jonan.” My voice was surprisingly firm as I called his name, and they both froze in their act of adultery and turned to me. Jonan’s expression was that of shock, while Isabella was impassive but I could see a hint of smugness in her eyes. “Scarlet.” Jonan scrambled to get up, but I redirected my wheelchair, cursing under my breath as the damn thing refused to move. “Scarlet wait.” It finally moved, and I didn’t look back, but the speed of the chair was no match to that of a wolf, so he quickly caught up to me. “Stop it!” He growled, his chest heaving as he glared at me. “Why are you behaving like this?” I gaped at his audacity, “why am I acting like this?!” I yelled at the top of my voice, not caring if the pack members rushed to witness the scene. “I just caught you in bed with someone else and you’re asking me why I’m like this?! Jonan combed his hands through his hair in frustration, “So what?!” He snapped back at me, his voice echoing around the hall. “We can’t even have s*x because of your condition! How else do you expect me to blow off steam!” I stared at him, my lips parted in awe. Was this the man I devoted five years of my life to? The man I had sacrificed everything for? “How disgraceful.” My voice shook with pure disgust, my hands balling into fists on my lap. “And to think the pack wouldn’t be where it is today without me.” Jonan flinched, and I could see the fury raging in his eyes. “Oh really? Is that what you think Scarlet?” I matched his glare, my eyes glistening with tears. “Yes. This pack wouldn’t be anywhere without my sacrifice—” “Cut the crap already.” He cut me off, his lips twisting into a sarcastic smirk. “You keep yapping about sacrifice like you’re the first Luna to do so, you just did your duty and it’s nothing spectacular.” The nonchalance in his words cut deep, like a knife seared right through my chest and stabbed my heart. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I looked around us, searching for someone who would stand up to him. But I saw no one, instead, they looked at me in contempt, like I was a burden meant to be tossed aside. The pack members avoided my gaze, an act that meant they were with their Alpha. At that moment, I realized I was truly alone. Isabella entered the scene, acting innocent and oblivious as she perched Jonan like the leach she was. To make matters worse, Jonan pulled her close and kissed her in front of everyone, serving a slap to my dignity and pride. He drew back from the kiss with a contented smile, and the tears I’d been desperately trying to hold back slipped down my cheeks. My teeth sank into my bottom lip till it bled, wishing there was something I could do other than watch. If not for my condition, I would have strangled them both right this instant. I would have trashed this whole pack and left it in shambles. But right now I was defenseless, reduced to nothing but a laughing stock. Jonan turned to me with his arm still wrapped around Isabella’s waist. “I’m going to make Isabella my new Luna. I’m sick and tired of tending to you.” I had expected this, but not the pain that came with it. My wolf thrashed within me, and my hands shook as I tried to keep her at bay. “Go ahead.” I urged him, raising my chin a millimeter higher as I let my gaze sweep the room, mentally preparing myself for what was to come. “I Alpha Jonan Scott of the Moon Blood Pack, reject you, Scarlet Lin, as my mate and Luna.”