Ashes of the Luna queen

Chapter One I heard it before I saw it. Three little letters. One tiny voice. “Mommy.” I stopped in the hallway, fingers curling around the edge of the doorframe so tightly my nails bit into wood. My heart did something ugly inside my chest. But I refused to call it breaking. My son — our son — sat on the living room floor surrounded by toy wolves and tiny wooden soldiers. His dark curls were messy from his afternoon nap, his little cheeks pink with excitement as he laughed. That full-body laugh. The one that always sounded like sunlight. And she was kneeling in front of him. Red hair cascading over one shoulder. Perfect smile. Soft eyes. Gentle hands. Like she belonged here. Like she had every right to stand in the center of my home and touch what was mine. “Again!” Eli squealed. She laughed softly and scooped him into her arms. My stomach twisted. Eli wrapped his tiny arms around her neck and buried his face against her shoulder before saying it again. “Mommy.” The room tilted. I didn’t move. Couldn’t. Because somewhere between the kitchen and this doorway, my body had turned to stone. Caden sat in the armchair across from them, one ankle resting over his knee, fingers tapping lazily against the armrest. His jaw tightened when he noticed me standing there. The closest thing to guilt he was capable of. But he didn’t correct Eli. Didn’t tell her to put my son down. Didn’t even look ashamed. He knew I was there. He just didn’t care enough to hide it anymore. Five years. Five years beside that man. I stood next to him while he clawed his way to the top of the pack hierarchy. I smiled through political dinners and endless meetings. I stitched together alliances while he basked in their results. I bled for his empire. Literally. There were scars on my body that existed because I chose him. And while he built kingdoms, I raised our son mostly alone. Because Alpha Caden Vale was always busy. Busy leading. Busy working. Busy disappearing for nights at a time with excuses that smelled like perfume and lies. I wore the Luna title like armor even when it felt more like a leash around my throat. And this? This was my reward. My son calling another woman Mommy while my husband watched in silence. Slowly, I released the doorframe. Then I straightened my spine and fixed my expression into the mask I’d perfected over the years. I walked into the room. The air changed immediately. Caden finally looked at me fully. His silver eyes locked onto mine, unreadable as ever. Once upon a time, I used to spend hours trying to understand what those eyes meant. Anger, regret or love . Now I knew better. Caden only loved power. Everything else was temporary. “Selene.” My name left his mouth flat and controlled. A warning disguised as a greeting. I matched his tone perfectly. “Caden.” Silence stretched. The mistress shifted slightly where she stood. I crossed the room without rushing and crouched beside Eli. The moment he saw me, his face lit up. “Mama!” The word hit differently. Not because it hurts less. Because it reminded me there was still one thing in this house that belonged to me completely. I kissed the top of his head slowly, breathing him in. He smelled like soap and warm blankets and home. The only real thing left in this packhouse. “Hi, baby,” I murmured. Eli immediately leaned toward me, tiny fingers grabbing onto my sleeve. The redhead hesitated before setting him down carefully. At least she had enough sense not to challenge me directly. Yet. Eli wrapped himself around my leg, peeking at me through dark lashes identical to Caden’s. But the stubbornness? That was all mine. I brushed my fingers through his curls gently. Then I finally looked at her. Really looked at her. Young. Beautiful. Delicate in the way men liked because it made them feel powerful. She lifted her chin slightly, shoulders tightening like she expected screaming. Crying. Maybe even begging. I gave her none of it. Just a slow smile sharp enough to cut skin. Something flickered across her face then. I stood, lifting Eli easily into my arms. Behind me, Caden’s voice finally broke the silence. “You’re late.” I almost laughed. Late. Not are you alright? Not we need to talk. Not even a shame. Just control. Always control. “I was handling your border problem,” I replied smoothly. “Someone has to.” His jaw flexed. The mistress glanced between us carefully now, like she was beginning to realize this wasn’t a wounded wife walking into betrayal. This was war entering the room quietly. Caden stood slowly from the armchair. Once, the sight of him had made my pulse race. Now all I saw were weaknesses. “You should rest,” he said. I tilted my head slightly. “Concern from you? That’s new.” His eyes darkened. There it was. That tiny c***k beneath the perfect Alpha exterior. Most people never noticed them. I collected them. Every weakness. Every secret. Every betrayal. Caden thought his empire was untouchable because everyone feared him too much to look closely. But I had spent five years at his side. And wives noticed everything. The missing funds hidden through offshore pack accounts. The quiet meetings with rival Alphas. The illegal trades happening through the eastern borders. The alliances balanced on threats instead of loyalty. I knew exactly where to press if I wanted the entire kingdom to collapse. And lately? I’d been very tempted. Eli yawned softly against my shoulder, interrupting my thoughts. My expression softened instantly as I rubbed his back. Caden noticed. He always noticed when it involved our son. Maybe because Eli was the only thing he loved that wasn’t connected to ambition. Or maybe because he knew Eli still chose me first. For now. The thought sent something cold through my veins. The redhead stepped backward carefully. “I should go.” “Yes,” I said before Caden could answer. She looked startled by how quickly the word came. I smiled again. Polite. “Drive safely.” She grabbed her purse almost immediately and headed for the door without another word. Smart girl. Caden waited until the front door shut before speaking. “You embarrassed her.” I stared at him for a long moment. Then I laughed softly. Just enough to make the temperature in the room drop. “She was holding my child in my house,” I said quietly. “If embarrassment is the worst thing she suffered tonight, you should both be grateful.” His eyes narrowed. For a second, the air between us crackled with pure Alpha tension. Power pushed against power. Most Lunas lowered their eyes when challenged. I never had. “You’re angry,” he observed. “No,” I replied honestly. Anger was too small for what I felt now. Anger burned hot. I adjusted Eli higher against my shoulder before walking toward the staircase. “Selene.” I paused halfway up. “What?” A long silence followed. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter. “He’s just confused.” I looked over my shoulder slowly. “No, Caden,” I said softly. “He learned from you.” His expression hardened instantly. I turned and continued upstairs without another word. But as I reached the top step, something deep beneath my skin stirred. That old instinct. The warrior beneath the Luna. The woman I used to be before marriage taught me silence. Because the truth was… Caden thought this story would end the way all stories like this ended. With a broken wife. A discarded Luna. A woman too shattered to fight back. He had no idea what I’d already set into motion. No idea how many enemies were waiting for the chance to drag him off his throne. And he definitely had no idea that I was done protecting him from them. I pushed open Eli’s bedroom door carefully and laid him against the mattress. He curled toward me instantly in his sleep. My chest tightened. Then, quietly, I brushed a kiss against his forehead. “I’ve got you,” I whispered. Even if I had to burn the entire empire down to do it. And somewhere far below, deep in the territory beyond our borders, a dangerous man named Kael Draeven had just crossed into our lands. The game was already beginning. Caden simply didn’t know it yet.