THE LUNA'S SECRET AFFAIR

Chapter 1 Her Past

One year ago…

The memory of that day was seared into my mind – the sound of rushing footsteps, desperate shouts, the scent of smoke, and the metallic trace of fear that hung in the air like a fog. I was only ten years old, barely old enough to understand the world of packs, alliances, and rogues. All I knew then was that everything I loved was disappearing around me, my home crumbling into chaos as the Dark Moon Pack defended its lands against the rogue wolves who had attacked with no warning, no mercy.

I remembered my parents' last words, whispered with urgency as they ushered me into a hidden corner of our home. "Stay here, Leanna. We'll come back for you. Be brave, little one."

But they never came back.

Hours passed, each one feeling like an eternity, and I waited, huddled in the corner, cold and terrified. Finally, when the noises outside faded and only silence remained, I emerged to find a landscape filled with ash, scattered belongings, and… nothing of my parents. I was alone in a world I didn't know how to handle, my heart hollowed by grief I was too young to understand.

That was when the former Luna of the Dark Moon Pack, Lady Elara Mirthon, found me. She was a striking figure even in her mourning – her silver hair swept elegantly back, her gaze filled with both strength and sorrow as she looked down at me, a young orphan girl with tear-streaked cheeks and shaking hands.

She knelt beside me, her hand gentle as she brushed a strand of hair from my face. "You’re Leanna, aren’t you?" she asked softly, her voice warm but laced with sadness.

I nodded, too afraid to speak, my eyes darting to the ground as if I could somehow disappear if I just looked away.

Lady Elara sighed, her gaze distant, and for a moment, I saw something flicker across her expression – a vulnerability, a weariness, as if she carried a grief like mine. "You remind me of someone," she murmured, her eyes softening as she looked at me. She paused, then extended her hand. "Come, child. I know you’re scared. But you’re not alone anymore. You’ll stay with us."

Those words, simple and soft, became the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Lady Elara took me into the Mirthon household, a grand manor filled with the old-world elegance and opulence befitting the leaders of the Dark Moon Pack. She raised me as one of her own, though I was neither her blood nor her heir, and she treated me with a kindness and patience that I desperately needed.

It’s vivid in my mind, in those early days, I would often find myself wandering the halls of the manor, my footsteps echoing in the quiet corridors. I was grateful, of course – I was well-cared for, given a home, food, and warmth. But a deep loneliness lingered, a hollow ache that nothing seemed to fill. No amount of kindness could bring back my parents, and despite Lady Elara’s best efforts, I struggled to feel truly at home. I often felt like a guest, a small, lost figure among the towering power and tradition of the Mirthon family.

But Lady Elara’s gentleness never wavered. She’d visit me in the evenings, telling me stories of her own youth, of the challenges she had faced as the Luna of the Dark Moon Pack. “Strength, Leanna,” she would say, her voice both fierce and comforting. “True strength is not in power alone. It’s in resilience. It’s in the heart.”

As the years passed, I began to understand what she meant. She became more than a guardian – she was a mentor, a mother figure, the guiding force that helped me find my way. Her wisdom, her grace, and the depth of her empathy taught me the values of loyalty and compassion. She instilled in me a strength that went beyond physical power, a strength rooted in resilience and kindness.

Lady Elara protected me fiercely, shielding me from those in the pack who questioned her decision to take me in. Many wondered why she had bothered to care for an outsider, a child with no blood ties to the Mirthon name. But she would always meet those doubts with a quiet, unwavering determination. "Leanna is a part of our family now," she would say, her voice as firm as steel. "And family is not limited to blood."

Under her guidance, I grew not just in strength but in wisdom. I trained with the young members of the pack, learning how to defend myself, how to harness my abilities, though I knew I would never hold a true place in the pack hierarchy. That was reserved for her son and grandsons, who would one day lead the Dark Moon Pack. Yet she never made me feel lesser. In her eyes, I was capable, valuable, and I tried to live up to her expectations every day.

But as I grew older, the world outside our protected walls became more complicated, the dynamics within the pack more intricate. Tensions rose, alliances shifted, and I could sense the heaviness of Lady Elara’s responsibilities weighing down on her. Though she never shared the details with me, I saw the sleepless nights, the furrowed brows, the burden she carried to protect her people, her family.

And then, the illness struck. It was sudden, cruel, robbing her of her vitality bit by bit until the fierce woman who had once been my savior was reduced to a shadow of herself. She fought it with all the strength she had, but even her resilience could not fend off what was inevitable.

When she passed, I felt as though I’d lost another mother. The hollow ache of grief returned, accompanied by a loneliness that I’d thought I’d banished long ago. The world felt colder, harsher, without her steady presence, without her comforting words.

In the days after her passing, I found myself wandering the empty halls of the Mirthon manor once again, my footsteps echoing like I used to. But this time, I was older, more aware of the responsibilities that came with the family name, with the legacy she had left behind. I was no longer the lost, frightened child she had taken in. I had grown into a woman shaped by her strength, her kindness, and her firm belief in me.

And though I no longer had her by my side, I carried her lessons with me, her words of wisdom carved into my heart. I knew that, in a way, she would always be with me, her legacy living on in the choices I made, in the life I chose to lead. I was not truly alone. I had her memory, her guidance, and the strength she had instilled in me.

In those quiet moments, when the grief became too heavy to bear, I would remember her words: “True strength is not in power alone. It’s in resilience. It’s in the heart.” And I would take a steadying breath, lift my head, and move forward, carrying the importance of her legacy with a heart that, despite everything, remained strong.

When Lady Elara’s son, Dairon, took over the Dark Moon Pack, the entire dynamic shifted. Dairon was a powerful leader, a fierce Alpha who commanded respect with his sharp mind and unyielding strength. But despite his authority, his mother’s shadow loomed over him. Lady Elara had been the backbone of the pack, a Luna beloved and feared, and even in death, her influence lingered. Members of the pack still spoke of her with reverence, and Dairon often felt the burden of living up to her legacy.

Though he led the pack capably, it was clear that Lady Elara’s word still held power, even from beyond the grave. Her memory protected me, too. Dairon and his kin, though they tolerated me only because of her, treated me with a certain respect. Yet I couldn’t ignore the truth – I was not family to them, not truly. The Mirthons tolerated me in their lives, a lingering legacy of Lady Elara’s kindness, nothing more.

The tension in my life, however, didn’t come from Dairon himself but from his sons, Matthew and Lesther. They watched me with unsettling intensity, and their attention grew bolder with each passing year. While they’d never dared cross a line openly, their subtle advances, the possessive glances, the lingering touches, each one felt like an unspoken threat. I was a prize they coveted, something they felt entitled to simply because they could take it.

One time, I was playing with the pups when I felt their presence. And I was right, they were shamelessly staring at me.

“Enjoying the view?” I’d ask, trying to hide the sarcasm, but I failed.

“Very much,” Matthew would reply with a slow, lingering look. His gaze would drift from my face down to my hands, as though he were appraising something he was already planning to own.

Lesther, quieter but no less unnerving, would step just a bit closer than necessary whenever he had the chance. He didn’t say much, but his presence was suffocating, his silence a different kind of menace.

One day, as I tried to pass through the narrow hallway, Lesther blocked my way, leaning casually against the wall. “Going somewhere?” he murmured, his eyes dark and unreadable.

“Yes. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” I replied, swallowing my discomfort. I tried to move around him, but he sidestepped to match my movements, close enough that I could feel his breath.

He smiled, a cold, possessive look flickering in his eyes. “You act like you’re in such a rush. Stay a little while.” He reached out, his fingers brushing against my arm, the touch lingering just a little too long. “We have time.”

I pulled away, forcing a tight smile. “I actually have somewhere I need to be.”

“Always so polite,” Matthew’s voice cut in from behind me, making me jump. He had come up so quietly, so close I hadn’t even realized he was there. “You don’t need to be so distant, you know.”

My heart raced, the walls around us feeling like they were closing in. It was like I was caught between two predators, each laying claim in ways they felt entitled to, as though I was a prize they both felt they had the right to pursue.

“You’re acting like I’m some kind of… object,” I said, a hint of defiance creeping into my voice.

Matthew raised an eyebrow, an unsettling smirk tugging at his lips. “Aren’t you?”

One evening, I found myself alone in my room, trying to lose myself in a book to calm my fraying nerves. The sound of footsteps broke the silence, and my heart sank as Matthew and Lesther appeared in the doorway, silhouetted against the faint light from the hall.

“Reading again?” Matthew’s voice was low, almost mocking. He took a step inside, his gaze locked on me in a way that felt invasive. Lesther followed, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click.

I set the book down, trying to mask the unease tightening in my chest. “I’d like some time alone.”

“Alone?” Lesther’s voice was low, but it dripped with something darker. He stepped closer, and I instinctively shifted back, pressing into the arm of the chair. “Why the rush to be alone?” He leaned over, his fingers trailing along the armrest where my hand rested, caging me in.

Matthew moved around the chair, closing off any escape route. “Do you know that you are the prettiest here, Leanna?” he murmured, his fingers reaching toward my chin to lift it up. His touch was gentle but possessive, as if he’d already decided I was his to command. “We can make you scream out of pleasure, you know. Just say the word, and we can give you as many orgasms as you want.”

I pulled my face away, my voice was trembling but defiant. “You’re making me uncomfortable. Please leave.”

But Matthew’s smirk didn’t falter, instead, he tightened his grip, his thumb brushing the side of my jaw with a disturbingly soft touch. “I think you just need to relax. We can make you feel comfortable. Isn’t that right, Lesther?”

Lesther’s fingers closed around my wrist, his grasp firm as he leaned even closer, a cold glint in his eyes. “We don’t want any more games, do we?” he said, a thinly veiled threat. “Just… stay still.”

I twisted my arm, trying to break free. “Let me go,” I demanded, my voice rising. Fear and anger warred within me, but I refused to let them see my fear.

Lesther’s expression darkened, his grip tightening painfully. “You don’t get it, do you? You’re here. With us. And that’s all that matters.”

Matthew’s hand moved to my shoulder, pushing me back into the chair, his smile chilling. “You act like you don’t want this,” he whispered, his voice low and menacing. “But deep down, you know you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. Girls will die being jealous if they saw us now.”

Panic surged, and I kicked out, finally managing to shove Matthew away as his grip loosened. “Don’t touch me!” I shouted, my heart racing as I stumbled out of the chair.

But they only chuckled, as if my defiance amused them, their expressions a twisted blend of anger and amusement.

“We’ll see how long that attitude lasts,” Matthew said, his voice dripping with contempt as he straightened, eyes blazing with a mix of entitlement and frustration.

I didn’t wait to find out what he meant. I darted toward the door, my heart pounding, finally escaping into the hallway with their laughter echoing frighteningly behind me.

One time, they showed me their worst. Matthew and Lesther led me down the narrow hallway, their grips ironclad on my arms. I twisted and pulled, desperate to break free, but their hands only tightened, fingers digging painfully into my skin. Panic coursed through me, each step forward feeling like another nail in the coffin. My heartbeat roared in my ears, every breath quick and shallow as I tried to calm my nerves.

"Please," I managed to beg, but my plea was met with silence, as if I hadn’t spoken at all. The flickering light above cast shadows on their faces, accentuating the dark satisfaction gleaming in their eyes. They looked at me like I was a prize they’d been denied for far too long – a prize they would finally claim, whether I wanted it or not.

They pushed me into Matthew’s room, and the door clicked shut, the sound ringing in my ears like a final, ominous drumbeat. My chest tightened as I stumbled forward, instinctively backing toward the far corner of the room. Matthew’s twisted smile grew as he stepped closer, his gaze predatory.

“You’ll understand soon enough,” he said, his tone eerily soft. His hand moved to my shoulder, his fingers pressing down with force, making it clear I wasn’t going anywhere. I gasped, wrenching myself back, but the bed caught me, and I stumbled, struggling to find some balance, some escape.

"Don’t," I whispered as my voice shook, hoping for even a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. But there was nothing. Only determination.

In that moment, Lesther stepped closer, his lips curled into a smirk that sent a chill down my spine. "After all this time, Leanna… now, you’re finally ours,” he murmured, his voice filled with a dark satisfaction that made my skin crawl.

I shook my head, the words catching in my throat. “You don’t own me. You never did,” I shouted at them.

But my words only seemed to amuse them. Lesther reached out, his fingers grazing my cheek, a touch that felt like a poison. I jerked back, pressing myself against the bedpost, a surge of anger and terror rising within me.

“You can fight all you want,” Matthew sneered, his hand grabbing my wrist and yanking me forward. “But it won’t change anything. We always get what we want, Leanna.”

I tried to pull back, looping in his grip, but he only tightened his hold, his face inches from mine. I could feel the intensity of their intentions, the finality in their eyes. My chest heaved as I struggled, my mind spinning, frantically searching for some way out, some way to escape this nightmare.

But I gasped when Lesther tore my dress effortlessly. Now I only have my undies. They gulped as their eyes filled with lust. “f**k! you really are beautiful, Leanna…” Mathew murmured with so much desire in his tone.

“I will be her first Mathew!” Lesther warned his brother.

“I don’t care!” Mathew replied. “As long I can have my way inside her tight p***y. I will f**k her to my heart’s content!”

“Let me go!” I screamed, as I felt the desperation keep rising inside me, but they only chuckled, as if my resistance was a game they enjoyed.

Lesther took off his clothes revealing his bare body in front of me. I looked away as tears began to shed. I was truly scared. My strength was nothing compared to them.

“Hold her steady, Mathew… I want her now!” Lesther commanded his brother. Just as Matthew leaned in, the door burst open, slamming against the wall with a force that made us all freeze. A growl echoed through the room, low and fierce, and I turned, hope sparking in my chest. Standing in the doorway was the Beta of the pack, his eyes blazing with fury and authority, his gaze locked onto Matthew and Lesther with a deadly promise.

“Step away from her. Now,” the Beta’s voice thundered with every syllable laced with authority. His presence filled the room, his energy radiating a powerful, unmistakable command that even Matthew and Lesther couldn’t ignore.

Matthew sneered but took a cautious step back, his hands clenching. “This is none of your business,” he spat, trying to mask his fear with defiance.

“Oh, but it is,” the Beta replied with his voice low and menacing. He moved swiftly, positioning himself between me and the brothers, his stance protective and unyielding. “Leanna is under my protection, and if either of you ever lay a hand on her again, you’ll face the consequences.”

Lesther’s eyes flickered with resentment, but he took another step back, clearly aware of the Beta’s strength and authority.

“You’re going to regret this,” Matthew muttered, clenching his jaw as he cast a final glare in my direction.

“Out. Now,” the Beta commanded, his tone brooking no argument. Reluctantly, Matthew and Lesther slinked out of the room, their anger evident in the way they avoided the Beta’s glare.

As the door closed behind them, I immediately wrapped myself with a blanket. The Beta knelt beside me, his gaze softening. “Are you all right, Leanna?” he asked, his voice gentle now, concerned.

I nodded, though I could still feel my whole-body trembling. “Thank you… I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come.”

“You’re safe now,” he assured, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “As long as I’m here, they’ll never harm you. Not as long as I live.”

“Thank you, Uncle!” I responded crying.

“Mom specifically ordered me to take care of you, so it is my duty to keep you safe. Now go, child. Go back to your room and rest. I will make sure to let the alpha know about this,” he promised. I nodded and thanked him again before leaving the room.

And then, I learned of the marriage arrangement.

Alpha Dairon had decided that I was to marry Stefano Alandi, the Alpha of the Golden Shadow Pack, as part of an alliance between our packs. The decision was delivered to me matter-of-factly, as if my own feelings about it were irrelevant. In many ways, they were. Alpha Dairon’s will is a law here, he could bind me to anyone he chose, and there was no one left to defend me. I was reminded, painfully, of just how little say I had in my own life. I was a ward, a shadow among the Mirthons, and I had no power to resist them.

But beneath my dread, I found a flicker of hope. Stefano’s proposal meant freedom from Matthew and Lesther’s gaze, an escape from their aggressive pursuit. Marriage to Stefano, though unwanted, was an option far better than staying where I was, where my every move was watched, every word weighed. The Golden Shadow Pack was respected, powerful in its own right, and far enough away that I might finally find some peace, some relief from the constant tension. Above all, I will become a luna.

Alpha Dairon’s voice echoed in my mind, his words clipped and formal when he’d informed me of his decision. “You will be joining the Golden Shadow Pack, Leanna. Alpha Stefano has honored us with his interest, and it will strengthen the alliance between our packs.” He looked at me with the same cold indifference he often did, the same way one might regard a pawn on a chessboard. “You will go without complaint,” he had added, as though daring me to object.

I had wanted to scream, to refuse, to demand that he give me a choice. But what good would it do? As the days passed, I reminded myself that even if this wasn’t a love match, it was my best chance at a life of my own. I was only a burden here, tolerated out of obligation to Lady Elara, and I didn’t want to be someone’s charity case any longer.

One evening, I found myself alone in the old study, the quiet sanctuary where I had spent so many hours with Lady Elara, listening to her stories and learning from her wisdom. The memories pressed in on me, filling the silence with a bittersweet warmth. I could almost hear her voice, reminding me to be strong, to make my own path, even if it meant going against those who thought they held my fate in their hands.

“What would you have done, Lady Elara?” I murmured into the empty room, my fingers tracing the lines of the desk where she used to write. “Would you have fought this?”

The question hung in the air, unanswered, and I could feel a swell of sorrow well up within me. She wasn’t here to defend me anymore, to insist on my happiness as she had once promised. I had to rely on myself now, to make the best of what I’d been given.

When I heard the door creak open behind me, I stiffened, recognizing the heavy, deliberate footsteps. I turned, and there stood Matthew, his eyes gleaming as he stepped into the dimly lit room, his presence filling the small space with a stifling heat. His expression held a familiar hunger, one that I’d seen too many times before.

“So,” he drawled, a smirk tugging at his lips. “The little orphan is getting married off. Isn’t that just grand?”

I forced myself to remain calm, to hold his gaze without letting him see my discomfort. “Yes, Alpha Dairon has arranged it. I’ll be leaving soon.”

He stepped closer, his gaze roaming over me with an appraising, possessive look. “Leaving? That’s a shame.” He reached out, tracing a finger along my arm, and I fought the urge to pull away. “I always thought you belonged here, with us.”

I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I’m honored to be chosen for an alliance. This is the best for the pack, and for me.”

He chuckled, his hand lingering a moment longer than necessary before he finally withdrew it, a glint of disappointment in his eyes. “Perhaps. But don’t think for a second that your new Alpha will be able to keep you away forever. You’ll always be one of us, Leanna. Don’t forget that.”

His words left me feeling uneasy, a thinly veiled promise that I knew he intended to keep. But I held my head high, unwilling to let him see my fear. “Thank you, Matthew. I’ll remember.”

“Oh, and more thing… Alpha Stefano has a mate, but he couldn’t marry her because she was a lowly omega. So, I’m sure, you will be living a miserable life there that you will surely beg to be back in our arms again…” he laughed loudly before turning his back on me.

When he finally left the room, I released the breath I’d been holding, my mind spinning with thoughts of Stefano, of the Golden Shadow Pack, of the chance to finally carve out a life beyond the shadow of the Mirthons. There was no guarantee that Stefano would be any kinder especially that he has his own mate, any gentler, but at least I would be free of Matthew and Lesther’s suffocating presence, free to breathe, even if only for a little while.

In my heart, I held onto that hope, whispering to Lady Elara’s memory for strength. I knew I could endure anything, as long as it meant I could finally step out of the shadows, finally find a place where I wasn’t just tolerated but maybe, one day, even valued.

As I prepared for the journey to the Golden Shadow Pack, I promised myself that no matter what waited for me there, I would embrace it. This was my chance to start anew, and I would find the strength to make something of it, to honor the memory of the woman who had saved me all those years ago.