The Price Of Being His Luna

ELENA’S POV Give a man your heart, and he’ll shatter it into a million pieces. I walked out of Hales Corps. Building, shades on, my head lowered in shame, while the cameras erupted in rapid clicks. “Luna Elena!” “Is it true?” “Is the Alpha taking a new Luna?” Greg shielded me from the frenzy and ushered me toward the sleek black car waiting with its door open. “She won’t be taking any questions.” he said firmly, shutting the door behind me. My head was fuzzy. My father-in-law had already called for a family meeting. Exactly the last place I wanted to be. And Adrian… I hadn’t even heard from him. I blinked hard, fighting the burn behind my eyes. The leaked image replayed in my mind. The cause of all this chaos. A woman in an expensive fur coat and red-bottom heels, her perfectly manicured hand looped around Adrian’s arm as they walked into Hales Corporation. A bold statement. An insult to me. Sandra Miles, according to the rumors, was Adrian’s original chosen mate. With the Northern heiress back, could it be, she was here to take her place? Her place? The useless headings scattered across the internet made my heart bleed. All it took was her to come back and suddenly, they all wanted her as their Luna. Why am I surprised? She has always been the people’s sweetheart. The daughter of an Alpha perfect for their Alpha. A strong match they called it. And me? I was never the choice. Never the Luna they expected Adrian to choose. After all, what possibly could a lowly omega have to offer? My phone buzzed nonstop. It had to be Becky. Of course, she’s seen the news. I tugged the silence button, because right now, I couldn’t form a single coherent sentence without bursting into tears. The car slowed causing me to look up just in time as we turned into the familiar gates of the Hales estate. Knots formed in my stomach as we drove further in. I’d rather be chewing a fist full of ice than be here right now. I let myself out before Greg turned around to get the door and walked toward the mansion, my legs heavier with each step. The guards lowered their heads as I approached, opening the twin doors that led inside. Voices drifted out from the sitting room causing me to swallow the lump that so inconveniently formed in my throat. Nothing could ever prepare me for these meetings. “Whatever, pray tell, is the reason for your lateness?” Regina’s clipped voice greeted me the moment I entered. I dipped my head slightly. “I’m sorry.” Apologies were safer than explanations. Excuses only earned back whooping insults. Not tonight. I’d already read enough of those online. So I ignored her cold, assessing look as she sized me up from my hair bun to my shoes, and turned to my Father in-law. “Lord Alpha” I greeted, forcing a brave look. His gray hair was getting grayer by the day but his eyes seemed to get even sharper. He barely looked at me before grunting a response, motioning for me to sit. It didn’t take me a full scan around the room to realize Adrian wasn’t here. Of course. He didn’t even have the decency to show up for a meeting about our marriage. In the past, family meetings like this had been bearable only because no one dared speak to me with him by my side. The last time someone tried it, the meeting had ended before it even began. Now seeing his entire family lounged there with front-row seats to my humiliation and stupid smirks plastered across their faces made me want to scream. My father-in-law cleared his throat. “Elena.” I sucked in my breath and forced my chin up. You can take it, Elena…The divorce was long coming anyway. “You and Adrian will have an interview.” I blinked. “What?” Regina’s sister’s chuckle rubbed into my irritation but I ignored her, fixing my eyes on Adrian’s father. Did he just say an interview? I was pretty sure this meeting was held to throw me out. “We have an ongoing project and so the company cannot afford these rumors at a time like this,” He stood, pacing. “Since you’ve constantly proved incompetent at your job and cannot shut the rumors yourself, I will do that for you.” His voice rose suddenly. “…Where the hell is Adrian?” Every gaze shifted to me. I opened my mouth, but nothing came. How would I know where he was? Wasn’t it obvious? “I’m standing in for him, lord Alpha,” a voice said from behind. Adrian’s Beta jogged in, buttoning his suit. “My apologies. I’m late.” Of course. Adrian’s new MO: attendance by proxy. “There’s a reason this is a family meeting,” Alex, Adrian’s annoying brat for a younger brother muttered loud enough for everyone to hear. My father-in-law tsked, then continued, “I’ve arranged an interview. Both of you will present yourselves as united. You will show the public how deeply in love you are.” I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved that this gathering wasn’t about replacing me…or furious. This family excelled so well at covering scandals with polished lies. “And…” Regina added, folding her arms, “I need a grandchild.” “You have Aria,” I said through my teeth. “A grandson, Elena,” she shot back. “Someone to carry the family name.” I bit back the urge to roll my eyes. “You forced your way into this family, the least you can do is give me an heir.” She added, her unnaturally arched brows arched even higher. Yes. Yes yes. She never failed to remind me of that. Once the meeting ended, I hurried after Adrian’s Beta, ignoring my feet that kept crying for a massage. “Where is he?” “He’s working and won’t be coming home tonight.” “That’s not what I asked, Trevor. You’re taking me to him.” My stare said the rest. We stopped in front of a luxury hotel owned by the Hales family. Surprisingly, no reporters lurked outside. I shook my head in disbelief. With the rumors everywhere, Adrian was doing absolutely nothing to control the narrative. Nothing. A hotel, at this hour, in the middle of a scandal? His father was trying to handle the mess but Adrian… Adrian wasn’t even pretending. I blinked back tears. If we were expected to sit together for that damn interview, then we needed to be on the same page. And he…he owed me a straight forward conversation at the very least. Something. Anything. We walked into the hotel. The guards bowed their greetings as we passed, while some receptionists whispered in hushed tones. “Counterfeit Luna,” a voice drifted, and hushed laughter followed. The words plunged painfully like a knife through my heart. Is that what they called me now? We entered the VIP lounge. And I saw them. My husband and his heiress, two champagne glasses between them, laughing like the world was perfect. Their smiles dropped when they saw me. She quickly scooted away from him, creating a distance between them. “What is this?” Adrian snapped. “What are you doing here?” “She insisted, Alpha,” his Beta said beside me. I wanted to scream. Instead, I looked at Sandra. “I’d like to speak with my husband.” She lowered her gaze, feigning innocence. “I’ll be outside.” The door shut behind them and I faced him. “You weren’t planning to come home tonight?” “I’m working,” he said, clearly bored. “You don’t think you owe me a conversation?” “What’s there to talk about?” “Why didn’t you come for the meeting?” “You’re starting to piss me off with these dumb questions,” he snapped. “I just told you I’m working.” I stared at him, unable to recognize him anymore. The man I married would never have spoken to me in such a demeaning tone. “But to humor you,” he added, raising his glass, “I sent my Beta.” “Right.” I swallowed. “Your father said we’ll be doing an interview.” He scoffed, lifting his drink in mock cheer.“Nothing new. We’ve been lying to the public anyway.” My heart clenched so tightly, I fought harder to breathe. How did we get here? “Why are we still married, Adrian?” I had to ask. For a moment. Just a moment…I thought I saw hurt flash through his eyes. But I must have imagined it. “You tell me,” he said, lifting a brow before downing the content of his cup. Heat flooded my face. I expected him to call me dramatic, say I’m overreacting or something but not this cold, empty indifference. “If you’re done with this …performance,” he said, “I’d like to get back to work.” That was it. I walked out before my tears betrayed me. Fine. If that’s what he wants… A divorce he shall get.