Becoming Luna

14 - A New Alpha with a Different Luna

Tradition usually requires that the new Alpha arrives alone, and that his new Luna will be seated with the rest of the pack, to be called upon the pedestal much later.

However, Andrew’s new chosen mate is not a member of his pack and has been reluctant to go anywhere without him. Perhaps anxious, according to rumors, that the pack will not take kindly to her, given that the one she’s replacing has been a beloved member of the community.

It’s not true, of course. The pack seems quite eager to meet her and is more than ready to offer their devotion without question. To love her simply because she now bears the future leader of the pack.

Luna Cristina has been busy spreading the word of how wonderful the new lady is, how perfect she is for her son. That the new union has the Moon Goddess’s approval, given how easily the lady is able to conceive the heir, whilst Siena has been with Andrew for ages, yet still not blessed with a pup, making them suspect she must have been left barren by the incident that took her leg.

Everyone has heard the current Luna singing praises of the new lady, of her grace and gentle disposition. Of her beauty and her wit, and other winning traits that will prove to be very useful in her future position as the Alpha’s mate. The Moon Goddess smiles upon the pack, she says, giving their new alpha a worthy mate.

Andrew’s mother has created such a hype around this mysterious new girl that most of the female members of the pack are already planning on inviting the new lady to dinner one of these days, certain that they will become bosom friends soon.

Secretly, Siena wonders about this paragon of perfection, but she refuses to turn around like everyone else just to gawk upon the couple, so she remains in her seat at the far end of the first row to the left, looking forward towards the stage. She will see the happy couple soon enough.

When she does see them, she blinks a few times, frowning a little. Andrew is now escorting the new lady to a designated seat, on the front row to the right, next to Luna Cristina who is beaming proudly and welcoming them in an almost theatrically noble manner.

The first thing that Siena notices is how delicate the lady appears at first glance. There’s an air of vulnerability about her, perhaps in the way she moves and her micro expressions, that makes one want to immediately come to her defense, to protect her at all cost. While it might seem like a weakness at first, Siena recognizes it as something else. A dangerous weapon and a fail-proof defense mechanism.

Andrew’s new mate is… irresistible. There’s just something about her that makes saying ‘no’ not an option, for it would be like kicking a newborn sleeping puppy. You don’t do it because you instinctively know that it’s wrong.

However, if one looks hard enough, one notices something different beneath the brittle surface.

There’s stiffness in her posture, and something cold and dismissive in the way she glances at the ceremonial altar, as if she finds it trivial and inconsequential. She smiles demurely at whoever is trying to talk to her, but her body language suggests disinterest, however subtle.

Siena suspects the lady keeps eyes down, not because she’s shy or embarrassed, but because she doesn’t want to engage anyone in conversation.

Maybe that’s just a remnant feeling of protectiveness over her soon-to-be ex-fated mate. In any case, it’s too late to do anything about it now. Andrew seems reluctant to part with the lady, but his father calls him for the start of the ceremony so he ascends the stone dais, his expression somber.

A thick silence settles as the old Alpha speaks, voice deep and steady as he recites the sacred rites. His words echo through the amphitheater, calling the pack to witness the transition of power, the final blessing, the creation of a new bond with the new leader of the pack.

.As everyone stands for the start of the ceremony, Siena can finally properly observe the woman who has taken her place.

She’s older than Siena. Probably even older than Andrew, actually. Not that old to make people cringe while looking at the couple, but enough for the age difference to be noticed. To make Siena wonder if Andrew hasn’t truly been manipulated.

Just as she sees through the illusion of vulnerability, there is something nagging at the back of Siena’s mind, like a silent alarm going off.

Andrew’s new mate may have a delicate appearance but there is nothing soft about her, nothing malleable. While her stance seems docile and well-behaved, there’s something rather feral about her, something that tells Siena the lady is not quite submissive as she might look like at first glance.

She is dressed in a pale blue silk gown that clings to her curves and reflects the moonlight like water. Her hair is braided with silver thread and moonstone beads, glowing softly as they reflect the torchlights. The lady looks calm, even subservient—but Siena sees the careful calculation in her posture. Like a ticking time-bomb just biding her time.

Oh, they styled her wrong tonight, probably dolled her up to make her look like she’s younger and complaisant, but Siena’s sharp eyes caught the wolf’s hide in a lamb’s clothing.

The lady must have felt her looking and turned to look, recognition flashing in her eyes as soon as she saw her. She knows who Siena is, and a small smile lifts the corner of her mouth. Very subtle and almost unnoticeable, except Siena knows exactly what it means: A triumphant smile. One that says she knows she has won and has no qualms about how she did it.

Siena realizes then that it has been deliberate, all of it, and a strange sense of calm descends upon her. Not because she intends to fight for Andrew, but because she feels avenged by fate.

The woman will be their very own karma. Luna Cristina might be thinking she has a puppet in her hands, but she cannot be more wrong and very soon she will find out about it. Siena almost wants to stay, just to witness the illusion shatter. To see the incredulous look in the old Luna’s eyes when her pet finally bites the hands that feed it.

Poor Andrew doesn’t have the will strong enough to control his new Luna. But unlike Siena, this lady will neither be accommodating nor gently guiding him. She will take over and will be quite unapologetic about it.

The pack will suffer the most, she predicts. They are dreaming of a mother figure but will have a very rude awakening. Siena almost feels sorry for them, but she can feel them staring daggers at her back, most likely comparing her to Andrew’s chosen mate. They don’t need Siena anymore, and probably resent her presence tonight.

“...by the power vested in me by the Alpha King, I authorize the rejection of the fated bond between Alpha Andrew Prowler and Siena Merrick of the Borderland Territory, so that he may now choose a new mate and luna.”

Siena keeps her face devoid of any expression and turns to Alpha Warren as he summons her and his son’s new mate on the stage. The other woman eagerly ascends, standing beside the younger alpha.

However, instead of actually being allowed to join them on the stage, the guards halt Siena at the base of the stairs. Apparently, she’s not even allowed to look Andrew in the eyes on the same level during the breaking of bonds. Probably her punishment for betraying him. He is now looking down at her, which is humiliating, to say the least.

Their eyes meet for the first time since their last talk meeting at the hospital. In that fraction of a second, Siena sees something flash in his eyes. Sadness, yes, but also guilt, buried beneath pride. A flicker of shame, even though he will never publicly admit it. And then a silent apology.

Because he knows perfectly well that Siena is not the villain his parents are portraying her to be, just to keep his reputation spotless.

Then, his new mate grabs his hand and like a window shutting, Andrew blinks and it’s all gone.

His eyes are cold as he recites the rejection of fated bonds. “I, Andrew Prowler, son of Alpha Warren and Luna Cristina, reject the bond with Siena Merrick, once my fated mate and fated Luna.”

The invisible thread linking them snaps. She feels it recoil through her chest like a lash, as if her heart has been pulled out and left to beat on stone. The air feels thinner all of a sudden, as if it is resisting entering her lungs. She feels deep sadness and intense heartache, for a part of her has been ripped away, and she is powerless to do anything about it.

Well, anything but accept it.

The pain of the severed bond brings Siena to her knees but, determined to keep a shred of dignity for herself since everyone seems dead set on stripping her of honor and respect, she raises her chin and answers in a clear and steady voice. “I, Siena Merrick, daughter of former Gamma Daniel and former Beta Lucinda, reject the fated bond as well...”

A murmur of unrest and displeasure goes through the crowd.

They are not happy with how she has worded the acceptance of the rejection. She was supposed to say “I accept my punishment” or “I accept your just decision”. However, Siena refuses to say it any other way. The choice of severing the bond has been mutual, all things considered.

‘Insolent b*tch!’ Luna Cristina’s inner voice is the loudest to condemn her, of course.

‘The audacity!’

‘She doesn’t seem repentant at all!’

‘Andrew dodged a bullet…’

So many more hurtful words, but Siena is not quite done yet.

Her decision solidifies as she watches Andrew take Leah Blackclaw as his chosen mate and chosen luna. All her second thoughts about handing over Silver and Silk to the new alpha and staying for a while to help start the business before leaving vanish as the pack howls in joyous celebration as the new alpha and his mate mark each other, and fulfill the blood pact that makes them the official new leaders of the pack.

Siena whimpers brokenly, not caring if anybody hears. No one is listening anyway. They are all ignoring her pain. Even Andrew seems to have completely forgotten about her, staring at his new Luna as if he’d never loved another before her.

How cruel.

She might not be perfect and cheating back had been the worst drunken decision of her entire life, but she was hardly a criminal! Surely she deserves better than to be treated like this!

Rising slowly from the ground, Siena joins the collective mind-link and in a loud voice fueled by hurt and anger, she declares…

“...I hereby also break the bond with the pack, and choose to leave the territory now that the ceremony is over.”

There’s a stunned silence before the howls of angry protests echoes all around.

Alpha Warren is staring at her in disbelief. “What have you done!?”

Andrew is staring at her with his mouth open, incredulity written all over his face. Did they really think she was going to stay after all this?

Nobody expected her to actually leave the pack, even though they were all thinking things would be better off if she did. Siena is one of the most vulnerable members of the pack, after all, and the life of a lone wolf is unforgiving even for someone with both legs. Which is probably why they were so sure she was going to just grin and bear everything, like she usually did.

Because the truth is, she will not survive in the Barrenlands for long.

The Barrenlands. A shiver runs up her spine because that is exactly where she would end up in. A wolf without a pack belongs to the Barrenlands, where she will be forced to stay for a period of time, until her petition to leave the cursed dumpster and live amongst humans is allowed by the office of the Alpha King. That is, if it ever gets granted at all.

Most of the exiled applicants don’t survive long enough to receive the permission. They either die of starvation or sickness, or slowly lose their minds as they turn rogues.

But then again, unlike most soon to be exiled wolf, Siena has a plan. Oh, and grant money worth five hundred thousand dollars.