The Alpha’s Hidden Luna

3.

Anger joined the sorrow as I slid back down, gritting my teeth until my jaw ached. I had already spent hours crying over this man — over this relationship — hell, I had spent so much of my life crying. Marnet was just another member of a long line of assholes who’d ripped my heart out of my chest only to crush it on the sidewalk under a heel. There was Marnet’s sister, Sophia. Jared, my weasel of a high school boyfriend. My sophomore history teacher, my half- and step-siblings, my stepmom…even my dad. The last person on that list solicited a soft sigh.

I had thought Marnet Claw was the answer to all that misery. I was freshly eighteen, a newly minted adult, and I was certain the world was at my feet. I could get out, and I wouldn’t even have to suffer to do it. I had found my mate. He would be my new family. My found family. My chosen family.

The pack wouldn’t harass me anymore, regardless of the fact that my father had, evidently, sired a daughter before taking a mate and rising to one of the senior positions within the Lupus Claw pack. I didn’t ever see him get bullied, and he was the one actually responsible for my existence.

But it wouldn’t matter. My mate was the future alpha. Even when his father died and Marnet took over the pack, I knew it would only get better. Even when he had less and less time for me. Even when he was cold and distant when we met in public, like he hardly knew me. I just looked past it, so confident he would take me as his mate, and everything would be fine.

Shame on me, for swallowing down that lie like that. Shame on Marnet, though, for underestimating me so thoroughly. The man didn’t know me at all, for all the time we spent together, and I knew so damn much about him. I’d believed he would save me, but he’d made it abundantly clear he was no savior at all.

He said he loved me. He said we’d always be together; that he’d build me a swing under a big weeping willow and we’d sit there every night. That we’d watch the sunset.

The memory bounced back to the forefront of my mind, but this time, it didn’t dampen my rage — it only stoked it. I wasn’t just going to save myself. “You’ll f*****g pay for this, Marnet Claw.”

Chapter 2

Remus

W oodward Airport, Oklahoma

Twelve hours earlier

I stared out over the rim of my glass through the window of my jet as we taxied, withholding what would only be a withering sigh. The skyline was dismal — if you could call a single traffic control tower and endless rolling hills a skyline. There were about a dozen places I’d rather be than Oklahoma. Maybe more. I was pretty sure I’d rather be at the dentist getting a cavity filled than in this desolate town.

It wasn’t the flight that bothered me — not at all. I kept Johnny Walker Blue Label on the jet, actually. It was an excellent hiding place. I swirled the amber liquid and the whiskey stones clinked gently against the glass. Honestly, maybe if I went to Oklahoma City or Tulsa, I’d have a better time. Civilization! Restaurants! Something to actually do with my time rather than stare at faces I’d be perfectly happy never to see again.

Instead, I was in the Middle of Nowhere, Oklahoma, and scheduled to socialize with a rival pack, and whoever their other honored guests might be. And oh, it couldn’t just be a meet ‘n greet, it was a whole damn Moonmate ceremony. The thought made me shudder. I lifted my tumbler, tossing the rest of my drink back in one healthy swallow. The idea of spending hours not just socializing, but pretending to like these people, made my skin crawl. That dentist appointment? I’d rather have a damn root canal. Awake. Without a sedative. Or a painkiller!

In fact, I would rather get rid of the pack altogether.

Which is exactly what I plan to do, I thought with a huff. The whole region would be better off if the wolves of Lupus Claw joined the Silverstreak pack. It was only a matter of time, of course, but it was an idea I’d been rolling around in the back of my skull for ages. The longer I mulled it over, the wiser it seemed.

“Sir? We are ready to disembark.”

I glanced up to see the air hostess hovering nearby, already picking up my empty cup and collecting my debris. I flashed her a winning smile. Oklahoma or not, I had planned ahead for the visit to the Lupus Claw pack. One could never simply trust their rival pack, after all; I had sent a few trusted packmates ahead to scout out the location. The city. Sniff around and report back if they found any interesting data points. We could not afford to be caught off guard tonight if it was indeed more than a Moonmate ceremony, and I always preferred to be as prepared as possible.

My mother called it being anal. I simply called it having foresight. After all, I wouldn’t invited Marnet Claw to so much as a birthday party, much less something as stogy as a Moonmate ceremony. The man was not to be trusted.

The cabin opened; my stewardess had already finished tidying. I stood and straightened my vest. A stern gaze arrested mine and I paused, just for a moment. “You made the right choice, coming to Oklahoma,” my mother said, her green eyes never leaving mine.