The Shattered Moon

Chapter 2 – The Rival Alpha

Damian

At the edge of the forest, the Moonfang Pack estate squatted like a monument to pride. With walls that reached for the sky, cameras at all the angles. It was too beautiful to be believed. Men like Marcus always enjoyed what they could control, sculpt and collect. Even their houses bore out that longing.

My S.U.V. screeched to a halt at the gates, and two others screeched in behind it. I looked forward, the dark glass of the window reflecting the stone arch in front.

“Smile?” Colton said dryly from the passenger side. I didn’t. Both of us knew this was no diplomatic visit. Not for me. I leaned forward into the dawn light, my cuffs flattened neatly. The wind was pulling at my coat, however, I was too lazy to button it. Let them see the tattoo on my neck, the lines on my forearms, the symbol of the Blackthorn bloodline on my ring. Let them remember just who it was that I was.

Marcus was at the top of the stairs spreading his hands in a practiced welcome gesture. His smile did not travel to his eyes. “Alpha Blackthorn,” he called. “A pleasure.”

I nodded, my tone clipped. “Marcus.”

His eyes darted to the others who emerged behind me—my Beta, a couple carefully appointed enforcers and two Council elders who had tagged along to talk about the growing rogue problem in our territories. Rogues didn’t skate on narrow paths like that unless someone was making them.

I had a suspicion who.

But all of that flew to the back of my mind when I saw her. She appeared through the opening from behind Marcus and walked several respectful paces behind him. Moonfang Pack's Luna.

Layla.

She was in cream slacks and a pale blouse, the expression on her face neutral — but none of that masked the slight tremble in her stance. Her eyes were downcast. Her hair was strained back from her face. Too tightly. I noticed everything. The shadow on her left cheekbone. The slight start when Marcus looked in her direction. The flexing of her left wrist in a manner that was too stiff. I'd seen too much abuse in my day not to know right away.

And something within me stilled.

She came out to greet us, her voice very quiet. “Welcome, Alphas. The Moonfang Pack is honored.” I nodded a bit, and when her eyes darted up to mine briefly, something connected between us. Just a second. Only long enough for me to see that she knew I’d caught it. And that she had expected me to avert my eyes.

I didn’t.

She spun, disappearing into the house as Marcus led us to the front doors. The inside was no less impeccable than the outside — glass chandeliers, marble flooring, modern art to match a designer’s catalogue. But it was cold. Sterile. As if the people who lived there had never really been welcome to rest.

We walked into the main conference room, to find a long table already arranged. Marcus started into a long description of rogue sightings. His voice droned, full of inflated border numbers and half baked theories.

I leaned into my chair, and switched off my mind. Once more, I swept my gaze across the room—warriors standing against the walls, hidden surveillance cameras perched in corners, and—

Layla.

She stepped through the side door with a silver tray, gliding toward them in carefully rehearsed steps. Her head was down once more, her tray full of wine glasses and water. She never made a sound, not even a peep.

She approached and when she was by my side I looked up—on purpose. She handed me the drink, her hand shaking a little as she set the glass down by me. We made eye contact again, and this time, I saw it.

Pain.

Not just fear. Not just silence. She had also been suffering through it for long enough. Since the day she was mated to Marcus, really. Suddenly, the reports I’d been scoffing at for a year, the rumors I'd been dismissing about Moonfang’s Luna, all fell into place.

Marcus had not mated her for love.

He had possessed her and he had punished her for not turning into what he wanted. I felt my anger simmering low in my chest. Controlled. Focused. It always started like that. Layla whirled and fled, vanishing behind the hallway curtain. Colton leaned in closer to me. “You’re doing that thing again.”

“What thing?”

“Watching people like you’re deciding if you kill them or not.” I didn’t answer.

“Just saying,” he muttered under his breath. “You’re scaring the Council.”

Good.

Marcus rambled on about border threats and Layla returned. This time she brought a glass decanter with her. She glided noiselessly toward one of the elders who stood by Marcus, watchful and poised. But then it happened. Her wrist slipped. Just slightly. The wine cascaded over the rim and splattered the white linen tablecloth. Not much. Barely anything. But Marcus responded as if she’d committed treason.

He shot to his feet so quickly that his chair screeched behind him. His eyes burned with rage. The entire room fell still.

“Layla,” he said slowly. “You really think I invite the Council to see you make an i***t of me?”

She looked down instantly. “I—I’m sorry. It was an accident.”

“Was it?” he said, moving a step closer. His voice dropped into a poisonous tone. “How many accidents is that this month, hmm?”

She seemed to shrink before his tone. No one moved. Not even the Council elders. They didn’t even open their mouths. Cowards. She clutched the decanter to her breast, whispering her words. “I’ll clean it. I didn’t mean—”

Marcus made a lunge for her arm. I didn’t think. I moved. My chair growled back across the floor, when I got up. One step, two and I was on the other side in a breath. My hand reached forward, snapping about Marcus's flesh as he reached, snatching his wrist so he couldn't touch her.

He froze.

So did the entire room. It reverberated off the walls. The type that made clear to every wolf in earshot that I was not interested in playing politics. I gripped his wrist tighter. I felt his bones move beneath my hand. Caught the flicker of astonishment, and unease, in his eyes.

He tried to pull away. I didn’t let him. I stooped towards him, and looked into his eyes with, placid indifference. "That's no way to treat a Luna," I snapped.