The Jilted Luna

A Liability

Lost in the storm of emotions swirling inside her, Victoria did not even realize when sleep finally took hold of her. One moment she was still caught in her thoughts, and the next, everything faded into darkness. Beside her, Carlisle remained awake, sitting quietly as he watched her. His expression was hidden in the dim light, his eyes unreadable as he studied her sleeping face.

After a while, he shifted closer and pulled her gently into his arms. He held her carefully, almost instinctively, drawing her against his chest. Lowering his head, he buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply. Her scent wrapped around him, soft and familiar, settling something restless inside him. It was calming in a way he had not expected, like a quiet lullaby easing his mind.

For the first time since his days fighting on the frontlines, Carlisle felt a sense of peace. The tension that had lived in his body for so long finally loosened, replaced by a rare kind of stillness. That warmth stayed with him, pulling him under until he, too, drifted into a deep and undisturbed sleep.

When they woke again, the sun was already high, its light spilling into the room. The moment Carlisle opened his eyes, everything came rushing back. He got out of bed almost immediately, already reaching for his clothes as the weight of his responsibilities settled over him once more.

He had shut himself away for three days, ignoring everything outside this room, and now reality demanded his attention again. There were matters across the pack grounds that could not be left unattended any longer.

Victoria stirred behind him, her movements slow and unsteady as she pushed herself upright. Before she could fully get up, Carlisle turned back and pressed a hand gently against her, guiding her down onto the bed again.

“Rest,” he said simply, his tone calm and stripped of emotion. “I’ll be in my office. There’s work to handle.”

He did not wait for her response. In the next moment, he was already gone, moving quickly through the halls until he reached his office, where Marcus was waiting.

Back in the Alpha suite, Victoria barely stayed awake long enough to register his absence. Exhaustion pulled her under again, her body far too weak to keep her conscious. Even the smallest movement felt like too much. Her legs trembled at the thought of standing, and she felt as though she might collapse if she tried. It was easier to let sleep take her again.

In his office, Carlisle wasted no time. The moment he sat down, his focus sharpened, his gaze locking onto Marcus.

“Did the Royal Family respond?” he asked, his voice firm. “When will they send the convoy to escort the Princess back to the capital?”

His brows drew together as he leaned forward slightly, his fingers interlaced beneath his chin. The earlier calm was gone, replaced by the steady pressure of leadership.

Marcus straightened as he spoke. “I delivered the letter myself through the secure line before we returned,” he said. “I made it clear they needed to act quickly. If the vampires catch wind of this, it could become a serious problem.”

He paused briefly before continuing. “We received their reply just before dawn. They’re sending their strongest warriors in secret to retrieve her. They should arrive within fifteen days. Ten if everything goes smoothly. Until then, we keep her safe.”

There was a trace of excitement in his voice. It was not difficult to understand why. The princess they had rescued was no ordinary captive. She was the only daughter of the Alpha King, missing for three years and presumed lost.

That they had found her at all, hidden among prisoners in a vampire stronghold, still felt unreal.

Once she was safely returned, the rewards would be significant. Recognition from the Royal Family alone would elevate their standing. And given Carlisle’s direct involvement in her rescue, it was not impossible to imagine an even greater outcome.

If the Alpha King chose to reward him personally, even offering his daughter’s hand, their pack’s future would change entirely. With royal backing, no rival would dare challenge them.

Marcus hesitated slightly before speaking again. “Alpha… about Victoria—”

“She’s my Luna,” Carlisle snapped, his voice sharp as he bared his fangs. “Show respect.”

The reaction was immediate, almost instinctive. But just as quickly, something shifted. His expression tightened, the anger fading into something more complicated. He stood abruptly, tension returning to his posture, leaving Marcus momentarily caught off guard.

Inside, Carlisle was far from steady.

He knew what he should feel. He told himself, again and again, that hatred was the only thing that made sense. But the past three days had made that belief harder to hold onto. His body had betrayed him. The bond between them had made sure of that.

No matter how much he tried to distance himself, every moment with her had chipped away at his certainty.

Now, it felt like he was standing on unstable ground, caught between two opposing forces. One pulling him closer, the other pushing him away. The conflict pressed in on him, heavy and suffocating.

He despised losing control. Yet around her, control slipped through his grasp no matter how tightly he held on. Even his wolf, Roque, had fought for dominance during those moments, pushing forward with instinct that drowned out reason.

And still, beneath it all, there was the memory of his father.

That loss had not faded. It lingered, sharp and unyielding, a constant reminder of what stood between them. It was not something he could simply forget or forgive. That pain remained, feeding the storm inside him.

It was that clash, between what he felt and what he believed he should feel, that made everything unbearable.

Marcus watched him carefully, his unease growing.

“Alpha… that scent…” he began, his voice faltering as realization set in. His eyes widened slightly. “You… don’t tell me you’re… starting to feel something for her?”

The truth became clear in that moment.

At first, Marcus had convinced himself that Carlisle had simply been punishing Victoria behind closed doors. That the three days of absence had been nothing more than a harsh lesson.

But standing here now, face to face with him, there was no denying it.

The scent clinging to Carlisle was strong, unmistakable. It filled the room, thick with something intimate and raw. It was not the scent of punishment.

It was the scent of something else entirely.

Carlisle had not even taken the time to wash before coming here, and the evidence lingered around him like a second skin.

Marcus felt it fully now, the pheromones hitting him all at once, making his breath hitch slightly. There was no misunderstanding it anymore.

This was not cruelty.

This was something far more dangerous.

Because if Carlisle gave in to that bond completely, it would change everything. It would not just affect him. It would ripple through the entire pack.

Would they all be expected to follow his lead? To set aside their resentment and accept her?

Even if they tried, what would that mean for their future?

Victoria was not weak in mind. That much Marcus could admit. But strength here meant more than that. This was not a place where skill in management alone could protect anyone. The borderlands were unforgiving, and danger was always close.

The vampires had retreated, but that did not mean they were gone for good. If they returned, stronger and more prepared, what would happen then?

Victoria could not fight. She could not defend herself, let alone stand beside Carlisle in battle.

And in a world like this, that made her vulnerable.

A weakness.

A risk they could not afford to ignore.