The Luna They Burned Came Back

Chapter5

Alina'S POV

I got home late, my mind racing fastly. Everything that happened with Ethan playing on repeat, from the kiss, the alliance and the plan.

The packhouse was quiet, most wolves were already asleep. At least that was a good one for me, I didn't want to explain where I'd been.

I just climbed the stairs, each step I took felt heavier than the last. Reached the bedroom door, my hand was on the handle but I suddenly hesitated.

I didn't want to go in, I didn't want to see him, but I had to,I had no other options for now. I had to act normal and I had to pretend.

So I gently opened the door. Ryker was awake, he was sitting on the edge of the bed with his phone in his hand and the blue light shining on his face.

He looked up, his eyes narrowed, they were filled with suspicion.

My stomach dropped, did he know what happened ? Did someone see me with Ethan? Or was there a camera there? Question upon questions kept ranging in my head as I glared back at him.

"Where have you been?" His voice, which was cold and soft, brought me back to reality.

I closed the door behind me, set my bag down and bought myself time to think.

"Medical center, I had to pick up some files I forgot."

That was a smooth lie, the voice didn't shake, good.

"I need to review patient records for tomorrow."

Ryker stared at me for a long moment, searching my face for cracks. Met his gaze, I didn't look away, I didn't blink.

Finally he nodded, turned back to his phone.

"You've been distracted lately." Still that flat tone. "Don't let it affect your duties as Luna."

Bit back the sharp words rising in my throat. Duties as Luna. That's all I was to him now.

A title. A role. A responsibility.

Not a wife. Not a partner. Not someone he loved.

"I won't."

Moved to the closet. Changed into my nightgown. Could feel his eyes on my back.

Silence pressed down. Heavy. Suffocating.

Used to be different. This room used to feel safe. I used to laugh here. Talk here. Hold each other here.

Now it felt like a prison.

Slipped into bed. Keep distance between us. As much space as possible.

Ryker didn't reach for me. Didn't even look at me.

Just scrolled through his phone. Face expressionless.

The coldness was thick. Physical almost.

How did I miss this before? How long had he been pulling away?

How long had he been sleeping with Mira while I convinced myself everything was fine?

Ryker finally set his phone aside. Turned off the lamp.

The room went dark.

Mattress shifted as he settled on his side. Facing away from me.

Two feet of space between us. Might as well be miles.

I closed my eyes. I tried to sleep.

Couldn't.

My mind wouldn't stop. Kept thinking about Ethan.

His kiss. His confession. The way he looked at me when we made our deal.

Eyes so intense. So full of emotion.

He'd bared his soul to me. Told me things he hadn't told anyone else.

And I meant what I said. Every word.

Going to take Ryker down. Expose his affair with Mira. Help Ethan reclaim what's his.

And when it's over I'll finally be free.

Free from this cold marriage. Free from being unwanted. Free to figure out who I am without Ryker defining me.

The thought sent fear and excitement through me both.

What happens when the truth comes out? How will the pack react?

Will they believe me? Or will Ryker twist it somehow? Make me look like the villain?

He's cunning. Ruthless when cornered. If he suspects what we're planning he'll strike first.

I have to be smart. Careful. Watch him closely.

Pay attention to his movements. His calls. His meetings.

Need proof. Messages. Photos. Something concrete.

Something he can't deny or explain away.

The idea of spying on my own husband made my stomach turn.

But pushed the guilt aside. He betrayed me first.

He chose Mira. Over me. Over our bond. Over everything we built.

Beside me Ryker's breathing evened out. Slow. Steady. Asleep.

I turned my head. I looked at him in the darkness.

Even now. Even knowing what I know. Part of me still ached.

He's my mate. My husband. The man I loved for years.

But that man is gone.

Ryker beside me now is a stranger. Someone who betrayed me. Lied to me. Treated me like nothing.

Don't recognize him anymore. Not sure I ever truly did.

Turned away. Stared at the window. Moonlight filtered through the curtains. Thin silver lines.

Tomorrow I begin. Tomorrow I start playing my part.

The dutiful Luna. The loving wife. The woman who suspects nothing.

And all the while I'll be gathering evidence. Watching. Waiting.

Ryker thinks he won. I think I'm too weak. Too naive. Too in love to see the truth.

But he's wrong.

Done being blind. Done being a fool.

And when the time comes I'll make sure he pays.

For every lie. Every betrayal. Every moment he made me feel like I wasn't enough.

My last thought before sleep finally came was of Ethan.

His determination. His pain. His kiss.

We're allies now. Bound by a common enemy. By a shared desire for justice.

And together we're going to burn Ryker's world to the ground.

---

Woke up before dawn. Ryker is already gone. Probably training with the warriors.

Good. I didn't want to see him anyway.

Got up. Showered. Changed into my work clothes.

Headed to the medical center. Had patients to see. Luna duties to perform.

Kept my head down. Acted normally. Smiled when I needed to.

No one suspected anything.

Lunch time came. I was reviewing charts when my phone buzzed.

Message from unknown number.

**Unknown: Meet me at the clearing. Noon. Come alone.**

I knew who it was. Ethan.

I checked the time. Eleven forty five.

Told my assistant I was taking an early lunch. Left through the back exit.

The clearing was on neutral ground. Between territories. Safe enough.

Got there at noon exactly.

Ethan was already waiting. Leaning against a tree. Arms crossed.

I looked up when I approached. "You came."

"Said I would."

He pushed off the tree. I walked closer. "We need to coordinate. Figure out our next move."

"Agreed. What did you have in mind?"

"Tonight there's a pack gathering. Social event. Ryker will be there with Mira."

"I know. I'm expected to attend."

"Perfect. I'll be there too. As a visiting Alpha. Business reasons."

Raised an eyebrow. "Bold move."

"Necessary move. I need to see them together. Gauge their relationship. See how obvious they're being."

It made sense. "And me?"

"You watch Ryker. I'll watch Mira. We compare notes after."

"What if someone notices we're both watching them?"

"Then we're just observant pack leaders. Nothing suspicious about that."

Suppose he was right.

"Fine. Tonight then."

He stepped closer. Too close. Could feel the heat from his body.

"Alina." My voice is lower now. Softer.

"What?"

"Thank you. For doing this. For helping me."

"Helping us both. Don't forget that."

He smiled. Small one. Barely there. "Right. Helping us both."

Silence stretched between us. Heavy but not uncomfortable.

Finally stepped back. Put distance between us before I did something stupid.

"I should go. Need to get back before someone notices I'm gone."

"Of course. Tonight then."

Nodded. Turned to leave.

"Alina," he called out.

I looked back.

"Be careful. Ryker is dangerous when threatened."

"I know."

"I mean it. If anything happens—"

"I'll be fine Ethan. I can handle myself."

He didn't look convinced but nodded anyway.

Left the clearing. Headed back to the medical center.

The rest of the day dragged on. Patients. Paperwork. Meaningless small talk.

Finally evening came. Time to get ready for the gathering.

Went home. Ryker still wasn't there. Training ran late probably.

Good. Gave me time to prepare.

Choose a dress. Blue one. Ryker's favorite once upon a time.

Not wearing it for him though. Wearing it because it made me look confident. Put it together.

Did my hair. Makeup. All the Luna things expected of me.

Ryker came home at seven. I walked into the bedroom. Saw me getting ready.

"You look nice." Said it like it was an observation. Not a compliment.

"Thank you."

He showered. Changed into his Alpha attire. Formal but commanding.

We left together. I walked to the gathering hall side by side.

Looked like the perfect couple. The Alpha and his Luna.

No one knew the truth. That we were strangers sharing a bed. That he was sleeping with another woman.

That I was planning to destroy him.

The hall was already full when we arrived. Pack members. Visiting wolves. Music. Food. Laughter.

Ryker immediately found Mira. Of course he did.

She was across the room. Red dress. Too tight. Too revealing.

Their eyes met. Something passed between them. Quick. But I saw it.

My wolf growled inside me. Wanted to tear her apart.

Controlled it. Smiled instead. I played my part.

Ethan arrived twenty minutes later. Announced as a visiting Alpha. Business with our pack.

No one questioned it. Alphas visited all the time.

His eyes found mine across the room. Brief nod. Then he moved through the crowd.

I watched Ryker all night. I watched how he looked at Mira. How he found excuses to stand near her.

How his hand brushed hers when he thought no one was looking.

I watched Ethan watching them too. His jaw was tight. Hands clenched.

This was torture for him. Seeing them together. Knowing what they'd done.

Made my way over to him. Casual. Like I was just being a good hostess.

"Alpha Ethan. Welcome to our pack."

"Luna Alina. Thank you for having me."

Formal. Proper. For anyone listening.

But our eyes said more.

Moved through the crowd separately. I kept watching. Keep gathering information.

By the end of the night I had seen enough. Ryker touched Mira five times. Whispered to her three times.

Left the gathering early with her. Said he had a pack business to handle.

Liar.

Found Ethan outside. Away from the crowd.

"Did you see?" I asked.

"All of it."

"What now?"

"Now we document everything. Get proof. Build our case."

"And then?"

"Then we expose them, in front of the whole pack and make sure everyone knows what they did."

I looked at him, really looked at him and saw the pain there. The anger and the betrayal.

I felt it too, all of it. "We'll make them pay Ethan, I promise."

He reached out, took my hand and squeezed it.

"Together?" " Yes, Together."

We stood there in the darkness, the two broken people plotting revenge. Tomorrow the real work begins. Tomorrow we start gathering proof.

Tomorrow we start the countdown to Ryker and Mira's downfall and I couldn't wait.