I'm Done Being Your Substitute Luna

Serafina's POV: On the fifth anniversary of our mating vow, I made a pair of rings by hand to surprise my Alpha, Matteo. But as I approached the balcony, I heard my younger sister, Lucia, ask him a question. "Matteo, if I could shift fully, would you have chosen me as your Luna five years ago?" "Yes." Matteo didn't hesitate for a second. His answer cut like a knife, severing all the love and devotion I'd given him over those five years. So I hadn't been his choice. I'd just been a stand-in because Lucia couldn't shift fully. In that case, I was done being his Luna. ***** "Serafina, what are you doing standing there?" My mother's voice came from behind me. "Take off that necklace and give it to Lucia. Now." My hand instinctively rose to protect the necklace at my collarbone. "Matteo gave this to me." At last year's Moon Goddess Festival, he'd fastened it around my neck himself, in front of the entire pack. "So what?" Mother frowned. "Lucia hardly ever asked for anything. You're her older sister. What's wrong with letting her have it?" "Do I have to give her everything she wants?" My voice was quiet, but my fingers tightened around the pendant. Mother looked at me coldly. "Serafina, when did you become so selfish? Lucia's had nothing but your hand-me-downs her whole life. "She likes that necklace. You should have offered it to her. Don't make me tell you again." "My hand-me-downs?" I almost laughed. My room. My dresses. My place. She'd taken every one of them from me. She'd even taken the Alpha I'd loved for five years. But those words stuck in my throat, silenced by the annoyance in Mother's eyes. A moment later, Lucia and Matteo came over too. Matteo frowned at my necklace. "Why haven't you taken it off yet?" My throat tightened. "Be good. Let Lucia wear it for now," Matteo coaxed. "I'll take you out tomorrow and buy you a better one." "Last year, you said you'd take me to Southshore to see the snow." I looked at him. "Then you took Lucia instead." Everything went quiet. Lucia sniffled softly, her eyes already reddening. "Serafina, it's just a necklace," Matteo said, impatience creeping into his voice. I loosened my grip and unfastened the clasp behind my neck. Lucia immediately took it, put it around her own neck, and twirled in front of me. She smiled sweetly. "Serafina, does it look pretty?" It did. She looked like the Luna the Moon Goddess had chosen. I nodded. Matteo's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned to take my hand. "Why are your hands so cold?" He had one of his people bring the shawl he'd prepared, then draped it around my shoulders. It carried my favorite fragrance and the scent of his Alpha pheromones. Once, little things like that would have made my heart flutter. He always noticed how easily I got cold and remembered my sensitive stomach. Before leaving on business trips, he checked the weather for me. He kept my medicine in the car. I'd taken all those things as proof of his love. Only now did I realize he was just as attentive to Lucia. Matteo asked Mother, "Is the seating chart finalized? Lucia likes to sit near the fireplace." "Of course," Mother answered at once. Then she turned to me. "Serafina, your sister wants that seat, so let her have it. If you're cold, put on more layers. Don't spoil the evening for everyone." Before I could answer, Lucia caught my wrist. "You're the best, Serafina. What would I ever do without you?" Matteo looked at me as though approving of how accommodating I was. He drew my coat tighter around me and said softly, "That hangover remedy will upset your stomach. I'll have someone bring you water instead." But the next second, Lucia gave a little cough. His hand left my shoulder so he could check her forehead for a fever. Mother watched them with a smile. "If Lucia hadn't been born with a weak scent gland that kept her from shifting fully, Serafina would never have gotten the chance to become Matteo's Luna." Lucia's eyes immediately reddened. She tugged at Mother's sleeve. "Mom, don't say that about Serafina. I'm the one who isn't good enough for Matteo..." The more she said it, the more it sounded as though I'd taken advantage of her impairment to steal the place that should have been hers. My throat felt as though it had been stuffed with cotton. 'Let whoever wants to be Luna have the title. I'm done.'