She Eyed My Spot, My Alpha Let Her

Chapter 15: Was It Really Mine?

Leia's POV

I looked down at the box and slowly opened it. Inside was a delicate piece of jewelry. It was beautiful and looked expensive, but it was meaningless to me.

My throat tightened, but I closed it gently and held onto it anyway. “Lady Sharon truly outdid herself.” The voice came from nearby. I turned slightly, my attention drawn to a group of guests speaking among themselves. “Of course, the arrangements are impeccable.”

“She has a natural grace. This pack is really fortunate to have someone like her,” the voices continued. “And the connections she has brought in; this will elevate the pack significantly.”

I felt my chest tighten with every word. Their eyes were not searching for me, instead they were looking at Sharon. I followed their gaze. Sharon stood near the center of the room, dressed elegantly, her presence commanding attention without effort. She moved from one guest to another with ease, her smile warm, her voice measured.

She was indeed confident, admirable and respected. This was everything Luna was supposed to be, and she wore it like it already belonged to her. A few pack members gathered around her, nodding along as she spoke, clearly impressed.

“She organized everything herself,” someone whispered. “It shows.” I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe evenly. Had I not been sidelined, wouldn’t I have shown my ability in preparations too?

Was this still my birthday celebration? Or was I just… part of some pack celebration I didn’t know about? A shadow at the edge of something that was never meant for me. “Leia.” I turned at the sound of my name. It was Sharon. She approached slowly, her expression soft, almost kind to a caring eye.

“You made it,” she said gently, her eyes scanning me briefly, like she was surprised that I came to my birthday. “I would not miss my own birthday,” I replied, my voice quieter than I intended. Something flickered in her gaze, but it disappeared just as quickly.

“I am glad you like everything,” she continued. “I wanted today to be special for you.” Are you even sure of your own words? “It is… beautiful,” I said for lack of better words. She had a satisfied smug face. “I am sure the guests are enjoying it as well,” she said, looking around.

Guests? Not me? Clearly, this was more for the guests than me and both Pete and Sharon had already made it clear to me through their actions. She turned away before I could say anything else, already being called by someone else. And just like that, I was left behind again. An uninvited visitor at what should have been my celebration.

The noise in the room grew louder. Or maybe it was just everything inside me that was beginning to unravel. I stood there, watching them. Watching as she moved through the crowd like she owned them. Watching as people praised her. Watching as everything that was supposed to be mine slipped further out of reach.

Then Pete’s voice rose above the rest. A little hope rose too. Maybe he was just exerting me, perhaps he would recognize the birthday girl now? “May I have everyone’s attention.”

The room quieted gradually as all eyes turned toward him. I felt my heart begin to beat faster. This was it. This had to be it.

He stood tall, his presence commanding the room. “Thank you all for attending tonight,” he began. His voice was steady and controlled. “We have gathered here not only to celebrate, but to strengthen our bonds and look toward the future of this pack.” What? My breath caught. Not only to celebrate?

Something inside me began to sink. He turned slightly. “And I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the person who made this event possible.” My fingers tightened around the small box in my hand. “No detail was overlooked. Every arrangement reflects dedication, intelligence, and commitment to this pack.”

I already knew. Even before he said her name. “Sharon.” The room responded immediately. Applause, approval and admiration. I stood frozen as he continued. “She has proven herself invaluable during a critical time for this pack. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed.”

Each word felt like it was pressing against my chest, making it harder to breathe. “And for that, she has my full recognition and appreciation.” That was it. Something inside me finally gave way. A c***k that had been forming for months.

Silence filled my ears, even though the room was still alive with sound, my vision blurred. I could not feel my fingers anymore. I could not feel anything except the weight of it all collapsing at once. Before I could stop it, a broken sound escaped me. Though soft, it was loud enough. That turned a few heads. Then more.

My chest rose sharply as I tried to steady myself, but it was too late. The tears came. They were hot and unrelenting. It was humiliating. “I… I…” My voice trembled, failing me completely. Then the room shifted. Confusion spread across unfamiliar faces, followed by whispers.

“What is happening?” Voices inquired. “Is that not…?” I could not hear the rest and at that moment I could not stay. I turned, barely seeing where I was going as I pushed past the crowd.

The laughter had stopped. The admiration had turned into uncertainty. As for me, I had just broken in front of all of them. A Luna who wasn’t worth glancing at, even by her own mate.