The Eclipsed Life of Luna Mischa

CH 15

She looked at her email as it chimed and smiled at the acceptance for the mating ball that was coming up. Sent a quick thank in return as acknowledgment of receiving it. Mating balls were the only thing Christy didn’t interfere with the running of on purpose and be completely obsessive about monopolizing Anthony’s time in front of the allied Alphas.

That was something that wouldn’t go unnoticed or unmentioned by their allies. She learned the hard way about that, because she had tried it once and had seen that those Alphas or their units that were all mated, would just tell her she was acting like an entitled brat. Which had seen them become dismissive of her and then ignore her, tell her they weren’t interested in speaking with someone so rude and mean about her own Mate's first Mate who was a good, kind and caring Luna.

Then they had only been interested in talking with Mischa had even told Anthony that Mischa was the better Luna of his two Mates, that they thought Christy was filled with she-wolf jealousy behind his back.

Christy had yelled at that Alpha, Alpha Nicholas from the Rising Blue Lotus, that it was her pack, and he couldn’t speak about her like that, that she would kick him out and reject their alliance for such disrespect. All things that were technically true, that a Luna did have the right to do, for valid reasons if, in their situation, her own Alpha Mate and the first Luna also agreed with, of course.

But when that Alpha Nicholas had snorted in amusement, because he was their biggest ally, and not just in pack size, but literally, Alpha Nicholas wasn’t to be messed with, and he understood Christy's nature better than anyone else. Something even Anthony knew, how Nicholas had to deal with a she-wolf trying to get between him and his Luna inside his own pack.

But it had been when Christy had taken offense to that snort, that she’d taken it one step too far and stated that Anthony wouldn’t tolerate those words, and if he dared to state them again, he would duel him over it.

Nicholas had looked to Anthony with a raised eyebrow. “Now there’s a statement, do you want to duel me, Anthony?” He’d looked about the pack as if assessing if he wanted to absorb it. The man’s whole unit was with him. He’d leaned an arm on Beta Jeremy’s shoulder and stated, “What do you think, Jere's?”

“Hmm, we're only taking Mischa, that one can go back to her home pack, wherever it was.” Pointing a finger right at Christy. It was fully offensive to do that, but everyone knew a Luna didn’t throw those words around. Mischa had kind of turned away and tried not to laugh at Nicholas and Jeremy’s blatant insult. Christy hadn’t understood Nicholas was pure-blooded, though how she had not, when he was absolutely massive towered over Anthony’s six-foot-two height.

Anthony that night had not been impressed either, and he had gotten to see that side of Christy he’d not seen before, that others saw, and he’d admonished her right away and told her to apologize to Alpha Nicholas for her lack of manners and respect to a pure blooded Alpha who was their packs legal advisory team on all matters for their company’s.

Putting her right in her place, she’d seen Christy look right at Nicholas and his wolf had pushed forward and stared down at her with his red glowing eyes as if to prove Anthony’s words. Christy had to bow her own head and sobbed out an apology, “I’m sorry, Alpha, I’m young and didn’t know who or what you were. Still learning and Mischa makes me feel insecure because she’s so accomplished.”

Anthony had snarled at her for the first time, “Go to your suite and stay there for the rest of the mating ball.” it hadn’t been missed that she’d tried to throw the blame on Mischa, and in front of their allies. Chrisy had clutched at his arm and the tears had rolled down her face, and he’d dragged her from the room himself.

Nicholas had turned and looked right at her. “When it’s over between all of you, Luna Mischa, you’ll be welcomed in the Rising Blue Lotus. I foresee only trouble brewing for you and Anthony with that she-wolf around.”

She’d smiled politely, bowed her head a little and thanked him for his concern, and then stated simply, “Pardon Christy’s behavior, she’s new to our mate bond, as you yourself know were here just six months ago when Anthony scented her out. She’s still coming to terms with having to share him. It’s to be expected seeing that Christy and I are not mated to each other.”

“Gracious as ever, Luna Mischa. I can see the distinct difference between yourself and her,” Nicholas had commented. Still, to this day, he didn’t like Christy and although two years had passed when he was here, he still only found time to talk to Mischa and was dismissive of Christy.

Had told her just four months ago, “She doesn’t like you.”

Mischa had nodded, “Doesn’t like sharing our Mate,” as she’d sipped her wine.

“I see it as an act, her not caring that you’re walking about on Anthony’s arm but I also see the way she glares daggers at you from across the room. He’s oblivious to it, I see.”

“I’m aware,” She’d nodded. “I’m also unconcerned, I’m nothing like her. She may do as she pleases. It will all come out one day.”

“A true Luna wants her Alpha to be happy, as long as he’s loyal in return. Until she’s not happy, that is, doesn’t…” he’d trailed off.

“Love him anymore.” Mischa nodded. She understood what he was thinking “and then the pack falls into disarray or deficit.” She nodded.

“My offer still stands.” Nicholas had commented casually as Anthony had sat down at the table and looked between the two of them.

“What offer?” he’d asked.

Nicholas had stood. “For Mischa to come and live in the Rising Blue Lotus when you're over,” he commented without issue.

“What, I’m never going to reject Mischa. Why would you say something like that?” he’d frowned.

“Why, indeed?” Nicholas had stated. “I’ll turn in. Being here makes me miss Lucinda more than in any other pack. Jeremy, I’ll leave you in charge.”

“Yes, Nick.” Had been his Beta’s comment, and she’d watched him walk away. A part of her wondered, as she’d watched him walk off, if she did leave, would Nicholas rescind their pack alliance. Her eyes had moved to Jeremy, and he’d smiled at her and nodded ever so slightly as if he knew what she was thinking.

Anthony had looked to her, and she’d shrugged it off as if it was nothing, and continued to talk to those at the table.

Now, as she sat at her Luna’s desk, she knew Nick was right. It was just a matter of time before it was over between herself and Anthony, and this pack was going to be in deficit right away. Not only would it lose a Luna, but the pack's accountant too. It would also lose Alpha Nicholas and his legal expertise, as well as the strongest backing for allied assistance.

Though even if she ever got around to leaving this pack, she wouldn’t go to an affiliated pack, and she did know who their enemies were and where not to go as well. But not to the Rising Blue Lotus, because Anthony would be able to track her down. It would in fact likely be the very first place he looked for her if she ever left him.

If she did leave, there would be no coming back to him or this place for her. She knew Christy’s intent was to drive her away, to have her issue that rejection to Anthony and blame it all on Christy and her behavior, the way he favored her over Mischa even.

Which would, of course, up until this very moment be seen as unreasonable, because she’d been mated to him for two decades and was suddenly leaving him over him getting a second Mate. It could be seen as she was the one with she-wolf jealousy and couldn’t handle having to share him.

That Mischa would only stay if he rejected Christy, that she was making him try and choose between them, and only have one Mate. Though to Christy’s disappointment, she’d never once done that, not even on the day he’d scented Christy out had she objected, she’d not liked it, but what could she do about it? Nothing.

But now, here in this moment, he’d not tended to her in heat and only tended to Christy's. So, it wasn’t in fact unreasonable at all to say that. Not considering the argument she’d put to him in her room about her believing he only wanted to be with Christy. That she-wolf had created this very circumstance where Mischa could in fact blame Christy, and get away with it.

If she’d not been there to see Anthony actually scent that she-wolf out that fateful day, and not having felt the pains of betrayal as she’d watched him touch that she-wolf’s face all lovingly the day he'd scented her out. With all that Christy did and said over the past two years, her constant insecure act and tears, subterfuge in trying to keep her and Anthony apart, and now this, her self-induced heat.

Mischa would honestly believe that there was some sort of trickery or dark magic involved in Christy having become Anthony’s second Mate. But she had been there, to see him scent her out, hadn’t felt a thing when he’d touched her or marked and mated her that very night out in the woods without telling her he was going to.

They were all things that proved it was all true, that Christy was, in fact, a real Goddess-Gifted Mate, though she wondered if he was meant to choose between them or accept both of them, it had never even crossed his mind to choose between them. Accepting Christy was his only thought, seeing as they ran this pack with the belief that one should love and cherish what the Goddess gifted to them.

They led by example, and although they did not enforce a Goddess-Gifted Mate upon their pack members, it was preferred that they accepted them. Mischa wondered if their Goddess would bless her with a second Mate one day, one that wasn’t Christy’s or Anthony’s and was solely hers, and she would live with him from that moment on, and not have anything to do with Anthony at all anymore.

Would he care, get jealous, annoyed and angry about her never spending time with him, or would he just be happy because it meant he didn't have to spend time with her, and could just live with Christy and never have to concern himself with her again.