The One True Luna

Chapter 1 Ailsa POV ‘That ring belongs to me, but Damian is giving it to his childhood lover!’ When I stepped into Damian’s office without knocking, the scent of another she-wolf hit my nose like a slap suddenly. After all, Damian was my mate. There wasn’t any need to knock before entering, but the dark look in his eyes proved that it was otherwise, as if I had trespassed. For the past three days, Damian hadn’t spoken to me, and since I knew he probably might be busy, I didn’t persist, but here I was to speak to my mate about my parents' moonstone arrival. And it wasn’t what I was expecting. Damian wasn’t busy with any work. He was with his lover and gifting her my mother’s necklace, gifted to me! I’m the sole heir of the Crest pack. Two years ago, my pack was attacked by a group of rogues who assassinated my parents in cold blood. I still remember the night my parents died. The cold howl that tore through the woods and the entire pack. That night was when I met Damian. He was among the allied warriors sent to save what was left to be saved from the Crest pack. But instead of just doing his duty and returning to his pack. He stayed behind, offering me the comfort I didn’t know I needed until I had it. He wrapped me in his arms when my body gave out from the grief. Held me while I broke apart. He’d always whisper, “You are not alone anymore, Alisa. You still have me by your side.” These words were so tempting. I needed his comfort so badly. He stayed beside me for many months. That alone proved he was truly here to stay. He was truly mine. He was so patient to wait until I turned 18, and just then, even when I didn’t become his mate, he promised to be mine forever, and I gave him all of me. I allowed my body to submit to the warmth of his. We went bare, and I gave him all. Every breathless moment… every inch of my body became Damian’s. That night, we bonded as one, we had hot s*x that was unforgettable. He became my anchor. I gave him everything. My loyalty and my bond and I even crowned him as the Alpha of our pack. Because he promised he’d build a future. For us. And now he stood here, giving my mother’s ring to some other she-wolf? I stepped in further. “You said you would never touch the belongings my parents left me, Damian.” I asked with gritted teeth. Callus, Damian’s Beta, snapped from the shadows. I hadn’t even known he was here until his voice sliced the air. “How could Luna be worked up over a mere ring?” He scoffed, turning to Damian. Before Callus became Damian’s beta, he told me he was his best friend back in his pack. “Callus is the best man for the beta position.” He muttered. I’d always supported every Damian’s decision until they slowly began to make me regret it. Because everyone that Damian had brought to this pack now takes advantage of me, the hatred had grown just because I wasn’t Damien’s true mate. “I told you she has no quality fit for Luna. Now that Riley’s back from Green Hills after four years, she should be crowned your Luna.” Callus, sharp blue eyes narrowed at me as she praised Damian’s childhood friend. Riley was Damian’s childhood sweetheart, graceful, well-educated, and born into one of the highest-ranking families in the territory. She schooled at the famous Academy in the territory, preparing to return as Luna someday. Everyone had expected her to take that role beside Damian, not just because of her lineage, but because she’d been his first love. Riley smiled, rubbing down her blonde hair like she always did, always a way to flaunt her beauty. I didn’t care what they said. Not really. But what was Damian going to say to them? After all, I was still his Luna. He had given me his words to always stand by me till death do us part. Was he going to let them humiliate me right in front of him? My eyes turned to him, but his lips remained closed. So I defended myself. “Do you call a diamond ring a mere thing?” I shot at Callus. “That ring was found on my mother’s body when they pulled her from the fire.” Riley laughed. “She’s always so dramatic.” My jaw clenched. “Damian, take the ring back from her. I want it back. It’s mine.” I demanded, but he sighed, completely unfazed. “I can’t take back what’s already been given. Besides, it’s my gift to her after returning to the pack.” He argued, a frown settling on his face. My heart sank. He was gifting what was mine to her? “I can always get you another one, Alisa.” He walked to me. "That ring now belongs to her.” My heart squeezed at his words. Did he realize what he was doing? He was gifting his lover my precious diamond! Riley smiled so proudly. “Don’t think about it much, Alisa. It was just a friendly gift,” Riley added, folding her arms. “In case your mind is moving in that direction, I am no home-wrecker. But the ring? I won’t give it back.” She rolled her eyes. I didn’t even care what Damian would think of me at this point, but I will never let it go, especially because it’s what represents my mom. I stepped hard on her foot, and she let out a scream. My fingers grabbed the ring from her hand and yanked it off. “Nobody takes what’s mine. My mother’s!” I shouted in her face. Damian’s eyes darkened with rage, but before he moved, Riley’s hand flew across my cheek with a slap that cracked the air. A gasp tore through my throat as tears stung my eyes, and Damian still said nothing… he stilled while looking at me. Not even a single word against Riley for raising a hand to me. “I know you must have come to inform me about something. Just say it and end whatever fight is between you and Riley,” he said flatly. My palm stayed on my burning cheek, frozen there in disbelief. Seriously? He just stood there. Watching. I sniffled through the sting in my eyes, because as much as it burned, what I came for mattered more. My jaw locked. “I came here to ask you to come with me. They found my parents’ moonstone.” He blinked. “Today?” “Yes. I waited two years for this. I finally got word it’s ready to be claimed. I thought you’d want to be there with me.” “I have the Alpha Council meeting by noon. I don’t think I can make it.” Of course. With the Alpha King. The others. The same excuse he used to avoid everything that mattered to me lately. I took a breath. “This is about my parents. It’s not just some formality. I need my mate with me.” He didn’t answer. He just stood there beside her, like I wasn’t even speaking. Riley smirked. “Maybe it’s high time you stopped calling him your mate. There is no mating bond between you two to prove that.” She smiled cruelly. I looked at Damian to say something about that, but his jaw ticked instead. His eyes dropped to the ground. “Damian… won’t you ever say something? Tell her that the mating bond doesn’t matter to us?” My eyes longed for his, but he never looked at me. “Tell her our love is beyond every bond as destined mates! We chose each other!” My voice cracked. I hated to show that Riley’s words hit a spot in my heart, and Damian still remained silent! I spat in her face instead,“ This should be the last time you say anything about our union. It’s between just the two of us, no stranger can intrude!” But before she could answer, Callus stepped forward. “She’s Alpha Damian’s childhood friend,” he said coldly. “And I’d advise you to speak to her with some respect. Before you came into his life, she had been his lover. You’re just a low-rank wolf hoping to be Luna.” My heart didn’t break at his words. It bled at Damian’s silence. He didn’t flinch. Didn’t correct him. Didn’t say a damn word. And he knew I helped him rise to Alpha. In my father’s pack. With my family’s legacy. And he let them speak to me like I was nothing. I nodded slowly. “Right.” I looked at him one last time. “I’ll go alone.” I turned and walked out, my hands shaking, but I didn’t slam the door. I wanted him to remember how quietly I left. Later that day, I got into my car, heading to claim my parents’ moonstone. I shouldn’t have stopped near the gas station by the border, but I needed water to quench my thirst. That’s when I spotted Damian’s car from a distance, parked under the trees. I rubbed my eyes to make sure they weren’t betraying me and looked again. But it was them. Damian and Riley. She was on his lap, their lips locked. His hand on her hip. My insides twisted painfully at the sight of them. Was this the meeting he said he was having with the council? I hadn’t realized my tears were spilling from my eyes. I wiped them away and drove off without showing my face.