The Scorned Luna Lives Again!

Chapter Two

Ashlyn sat numbly outside the hospital, the doctor's words still buzzing in her head as she stared blankly at the horizons. Her phone screen froze on her call log. 138 missed calls. She was fortunate one of the nurses had a charger, once she had calmed down she tried to call Marcus again but soon the voicemail was full of frantic messages from her and she simply couldn't bring herself to keep trying

Marcus had been distant lately but to neglect her and their child to this extent? Perhaps he was lying somewhere, near death himself. At least she hoped he was. It was the only excuse that could be even remotely acceptable for this but she could feel him through their bond. He was alive and well.

The images of her pup, lying still under that white sheet haunted her. Even the biting chill of the night felt warm against the cold bitterness coursing through her veins. Someone had harmed her child, this was no act of carelessness. This was a vile act against her or Marcus. Perhaps both. She couldn't imagine anyone hating them to such a degree though.

Marcus was a mid-level alpha. Strong pack. A thriving business. It wasn't Anthony competitive with top-tiers but it was stronger than lower levels. This felt personal. Far too personal.

She sat there in numb silence, trying to make sense of everything but her mind was a mess. She related the day, the weeks or even the months in passing. Praying there would be some clues. Some kind of reasoning. Sadly there was nothing. Hunter had given his statement. The council of elders was informed by the hospital staff but a mid-level pack like ours didn't hold a lot of concern, it was clear they would dismiss the case entirely which only made her blood boil.

Most packs handled their own crimes, the council of elders only showed concern for the major packs. Not wanting to thin their precious resources for those they deemed unworthy and beneath them. The pack enforcers weren't even patrolling the pack house properly, it was a stroke of luck Hunter had heard the wail of her pup or he'd have died in that remote place. Now he could be laid to rest, like he deserved.

Her birthday that was supposed to be full of love and happiness had quickly become the worst day of her life. Even the death of her parents paled in comparison to the pain of this loss, though the devastation of both events felt close.

As it began to rain Ashlyn stood from her place. Her body wet with tears and rain as she walked home. Unable to drive in such a withering state.

When she makes it to her pack, everyone keeps their eyes off her. Trying to avoid the hollow look of their Luna as they know exactly what's happened but none can offer even condolences. She hadn't realized how little she meant to her pack until this very moment. How little they cared for her or the efforts she put in for them all.

The long hours handling problems in the pack, the negotiations she would handle constantly with other packs and the countless hours spent working to financially secure them all so even the poorest wolf could live comfortably. She made it happened but no one thanked her. No one appreciated her. Perhaps it was her mates fault. Since his dismissal of her everyone has begun to take advantage of her kindness and some even went so far as to look down on her despite her status. All be cause she wasn't favored anymore.

Ashlyn couldn't understand what had made her mate change so drastically. He had once courted her with such sincerity she thought she was dreaming. He was dedicated to their bond and proved to be a strong alpha as he helped rise their pack status from low-level to mid-tier. A rare feat but not impossible given Ashlyn's endless support and assistance. She had raised his pack and his company and in return he doted on her wholeheartedly but in recent years he was always busy. Working late and staying away from home. She thought it was a phase but even the time they spent together he seemed distant from her. Cold even.

She tried to beg him to seek counsel but he had shouted at her and even slapped her across the face. It was the first time he had ever raised his voice at her, let alone a hand, she was understandably shaken but his wolf was quick to prostrate himself before her. He begged her forgiveness in the most unsightly ways for an alpha. The true look of shock, horror and self loathing in his eyes led her to believe it was just a heat of the moment thing. That he loved her truly and wouldn't ever do it again so she forgave him and things were alright for a moment. Until she fell pregnant.

Ashlyn had been so excited to share the news but instead of sharing in her joy he screamed at her. Telling her she was a fool and the timing was all wrong. She couldn't understand his reaction. The pack was doing fine, his business was booming and she had received a raise at work. What could be wrong? She pleaded with him to tell her but he only grew more irritated. Leaving home for a week and leaving her feeling broken and scared.

When he returned, he again presented himself to her as apologetic and begged her forgiveness. Like a fool she forgave him but he didn't grow any closer to her. Instead he practically abandoned her during her entire pregnancy. Showing no enthusiasm for their child. He attended very few ultrasounds and often found excuses to miss her prenatal appointments. She was hurt but he would pass it off as being 'too busy' and 'the packs needs come first' so she couldn't complain. Instead she remained silent. Hoping things would change but today made it clear things had only gotten far worse.

As she trudged into their house, exhaustion and depression clinging to her, she was greeted by the messy disarray of female clothing mingled with her husband's clothes. The female clothes were high brands Ashlyn could never own because she sacrificed every penny to the pack expenses. As she followed the trail of clothes, the heavy scent of a sickeningly familiar perfume mingled with the sounds of raw, adulterous, passion hit her ear and made her stomach churn.

She slowly reached for the door handle, her entire body shaking as she turned the knob. Praying it would be anyone other than her husband but she knew. She could smell him. She could feel the betrayal in her very soul but seeing it still shattered her entire being.

While she was grieving the loss of her child, her mate and husband was balls deep in her adopted sister Lily. Lily's porcelain flesh was covered in countless love marks, some fresh and others fading with time showing a pattern of betrayal.

Ashlyn's eyes were wide as the pair were so lost in their act of adultery they hadn't even realized she was there. At least, Marcus hadn't. Lily was smirking triumphantly as she cried out Marcus's name loud enough the whole pack would hear it and he seemed to love the sound of her lustful cries as he slammed into her and filled her without a care in the world. It wasn't until a few seconds post-climax he registered Ashlyn standing there. Tears streaming her face and her face hollow.

Marcus leapt up, covering Lily like a gentleman before trying to approach Ashlyn shamelessly, his body marked with another's scent and his c**k still wet with their betrayal. Ashlyn growled freezing Marcus in place.

"A..Ashlyn...honey..." He tried to approach her again but she stepped back, his wolf was wounded by the act. His wolf was loyal to his mate, unfortunately it didn't mean the human side would do the same. They didn't always work in tandem.

"How...how could you Marcus...on tonight...of all nights..." She trembled. Nevermind it was her birthday. Never mind she was his fated mate and Luna. What she would never forgive was that he had abandoned their pup to get his rocks off with her sister, her greatest tormenter since her youth.

Lily was watching the scene with a smug grin. She was always taking things from Ashlyn, now she has taken her mate. She tried to feign innocent, working up her best Oscar worthy performance complete with tears.

"I'm so sorry my dear sister...I..I didn't mean for this to happen...you can't blame chemistry though. Can you?" She looked up with large innocent eyes, her lashes fluttering to make her look small and cutesy which only enraged Ashlyn. It was the same look she used their whole lives to justify or weasel her way out of things

Marcus stumbled, annoyed by Lily's words. "Ashlyn...it's not..."

The worst was yet to come though as Lily smiled. "Perhaps I could join as a second wife...help you care for you and Marcus's darling pup." Her tone was soft, feigning care but Ashlyn knew there was a dark undertone.

Ashlyn trembled with rage and lashed out at her sister as she mentioned her pup at a time like this, Ashlyn's claws were extended and her teeth bared ready to rip Lily's throat out but Marcus intervened by tossing Ashlyn away. His own claws extended as he slashed at Ashlyn in a blind, misguided rage.

Realizing his mistake as he looked at his mate, crumpled on the ground, her blood on his hands, he stepped towards her but Lily cried out in fear. Tears streaming her delicate face as she used her omega nature to coax his alpha instincts into comforting her while Ashlyn laid on the ground. Her heart finally shattered into nothingness as even in this moment her mate chose his affair partner. She closed her eyes, crying silently to the moon goddess.

"Why? Why me? Please...let me leave this painful world. Please." She thought miserably, praying for some mercy as she drifted into darkness.