Another Chance For The Barren Luna

Chapter 6

Kelly

I could feel myself crumbling inside, the same way I always did under their poison. Every time, I let them reduce me to nothing. But not today. Something fierce burned in my chest. I wouldn’t stand for it today.

“I’m not barren,” I countered, my voice trembling but firm.

Miranda’s laughter was cold and shrill. “Really? Then what would you call five years of marriage with not even a single pregnancy? There’d be hope if you at least had miscarriages.”

My lips curved into a smile that was sweet and venomous all at once. “You seem to forget, Mother, that a man needs to plant his seed for the woman to get pregnant. So let me correct you. For the past five years, Bryan has failed to plant his seed. Seems to me like a skill issue.”

Bryan’s head whipped toward me, his voice rising with fury. “Are you implying that—”

“Hush,” I cut in sharply, my voice slicing through his like glass. “I’m not done speaking.”

My hands trembled as I reached for the zipper of my dress. The sound was deafening in the silence. Slowly, deliberately, I pulled it down and turned around. The fabric slid off my shoulders, baring my back to the camera.

Gasps filled the line. Even through the small screen, I saw their faces twist in discomfort.

“Do you recognize this?” My voice cracked with rage. “These are the scars I got from being tortured for poisoning that child. A punishment you ordered, Father.”

Theodore’s mouth opened, then closed, words failing him. Guilt flooded his eyes. And in that guilt, I saw it—I saw the truth. He had known. They had all known. Theodore, Miranda, Darren, and Bryan. They all knew Tetra was the real murderer. And they had punished me anyway.

Hot tears blurred my vision. Despite everything, some part of me had once considered them family. Goddess, what a fool I’d been.

Miranda, defensive and cold, snapped, “What is the meaning of this, Kelly? Must you throw tantrums at every opportunity? A Luna is meant to be decent—”

“If you don’t shut your mouth,” I snarled, “I’ll fly there and shut it for you. You’re the last person who should talk about how a Luna behaves. Even though Tetra’s mother wasn’t the nicest woman, at least she raised me right. You? You raised a crazy, jealous, bitter b***h who resorted to murder when she couldn’t get her way. Applaud yourself, Miranda. You must be proud to be Mother of the year.”

Shame and horror flickered across her face, and oh, I wanted to giggle like a child at the sight. But I held it in.

“And you, Theodore.” My voice cracked like a whip. “You don’t even deserve to be called Father. Covering up Tetra’s crime wasn’t enough? You left the Pack in the hands of this incompetent man, and guess what? He’s slowly plunging us into debt. Give it five more years, and your precious legacy will be gone.”

Finally, I turned my gaze to Darren. “You’re the worst of all. A useless freeloader who kisses up to my parents for scraps. Do you think I don’t know you’ve been f*****g Tetra for years? Let me tell you a secret—the b***h gets around. You’re not the only one hitting it. She’s sleeping with Bryan and probably every warrior in this Pack. If I were you, I’d be getting tested before you rot from some nasty disease.”

All three faces were red with fury and shame, speechless for once in their lives. The silence was delicious. I wanted to say more, to tear them to pieces, but Bryan suddenly disconnected the call.

He spun on me, eyes blazing. “Are you out of your mind, Kelly? Why would you say all of that?! And… when did you find out?”

I met his glare without flinching. “If you’re talking about your affair with the slut, quite recently, actually. And just in time too, because I’m going to make you all pay for what you’ve done to me.”

His lip curled, his voice thunderous. “Whatever idiocy you’re planning, stop it right now. I’m your husband and the Alpha, you’ll do as I say. My affair with Tetra is none of your business. You’ll pretend not to know about it and you’ll apologize to your parents and Darren.”

“Over my dead body!” I spat. “You’re crazy if you think you have any more control over me. The Alpha King will be here soon, and when I tell him everything, he’ll cut you down to size.”

The second the words left my mouth, regret sank its claws in.

Because what followed was a blur of violence. Bryan’s hand cracked across my face, stunning me. Before I could move, he grabbed me, bound my limbs tightly and gagged me like an animal. My body thrashed uselessly against his strength.

“Make sure no one enters this room,” he barked at the maids.

I tried to scream, but the gag smothered me. Silent sobs wracked me as despair crashed over me. My one chance at freedom, slipping away. If I couldn’t tell the Alpha King, I was doomed. Goddess, what would Bryan do once Alaric left?

With the last of my strength, I prayed to the Moon Goddess for a second chance.

Just as my hope burned to embers, the door swung open.

And in came the most breathtaking man I had ever seen.

His presence was overwhelming, his aura fierce and commanding. My vision blurred as exhaustion pulled me under.

I didn’t even know who he was.

But as my eyes closed, one thought echoed like a pendulum in my mind:

He’s my salvation.