Chapter 8
1064 Words
The next morning dawned early.
Sunlight pierced the thick clouds, spilling over the town as lively voices shattered its quiet. I pushed the door open and stepped outside, tracing the clamor to its source: a crowd buzzing around Seraphina.
“Wow, the Alpha spoils you—such an amazing gift!”
“No kidding! Seraphina’s clearly his favorite!”
“Those rubies sparkle even brighter in the sun.”
“What do you mean ‘favorite’? She’s the *only* one he cares about…”
As I drew closer, the group spotted me. Eyes darted, winks exchanged, and the chatter died into an awkward hush.
Jack’s blatant favoritism toward Seraphina was hardly a secret in the pack. I never understood why he bothered hiding it while flaunting her so openly, but Seraphina? She never shied from basking in the girls’ praise.
Liv, conveniently forgetting her forest humiliation, sidled up like a loyal pup, arms crossed and smirking smugly. “What’s the point of some people becoming Luna when the Alpha’s heart isn’t even theirs?”
Tension thickened the air.
Her words shifted the crowd’s mood. Faces hardened, their glances at me laced with fresh disdain. Liv hadn’t named me, but the barb was obvious—and true.
I breezed past them, unruffled, my voice a soft murmur. “I’d gladly give up the Luna spot. Who wants it, take it.”
Every eye snapped to Seraphina.
She faltered, flustered. “No, no—Layla should stay Luna. It’s better that way.”
“But I’d love to see you and Jack together,” I pressed.
“You misheard me.” Her smile strained, teeth gritted as she forced the words out. “The Moon Goddess chose you. You and Jack are the perfect pair.”
The crowd gaped, stunned gasps rippling through them. Liv and Nora, especially, looked like they’d never seen Seraphina bend to me before.
I smirked inwardly.
For the sake of Jack’s child in my womb, Seraphina would choke out even these reluctant lies.
I let the thought linger, then walked on, tuning out the background hum of her lackeys fussing over her. They were more rattled by her concession than she was, clearly.
“Hey!”
Liv’s hand shot out, yanking my shirt hard enough to make me stumble. I turned, forced to face her.
“She only said that because you threatened her,” Liv snapped. “Jealous of her, you used your Luna status to intimidate her into backing down. She’s Alpha Carlisle’s only daughter—the pack owes him everything. Even as Luna, you’ll never measure up. Go apologize!”
I blinked, incredulous. “What’s this? The little mutt circling Seraphina’s heels isn’t comforting her master but picking a fight with me? Did your owner sign off on that?”
Liv’s eyes blazed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“A compliment,” I said dryly. “You’ve got a fine master—could use more training, though. And are you *sure* Seraphina’s ready to bear Jack’s pups right now?”
I drawled “pups” and “bear” slow and deliberate.
Panicked, Seraphina cut in before I could go further. With a theatrical sob, she wiped fake tears and tugged Liv back, retreating.
I ignored the mess and moved to leave.
Today, I was due to prepare medicine for the pack’s wounded. Maybe my innate healing gift made it easy—back in school, I’d soaked up medical and herbal knowledge like it was second nature. I’d dressed for it: a tight tee and jeans hugged my subtly curvy frame, accentuating my slim waist and full hips.
Liv fumed at my retreating figure.
With Nora’s help, she snatched a jagged stone from the ground. Winding up, she hurled it at my head with all her might.
“Ah!”
A cry rang out behind me as a broad, solid figure stepped in front. The man caught the stone, crushing it to dust in his fist, the ashes scattering on the breeze.
Liv sneered, oblivious to her mistake. “You think you can rival Seraphina? Engaged to Jack and still flirting with other guys? Let’s see which pack boy’s dumb enough to fall for you—”
Her taunt died as the man turned, his familiar features silencing her.
“Jack… Alpha?!”
Liv paled, horror washing over her. But Seraphina’s face was the real spectacle—pure disbelief as Jack shielded me. His protection was a slap across her pride.
Stammering, Liv shuffled forward, hands wringing. “I’m so sorry, Alpha—I didn’t see it was you. This… it’s all a misunderstanding!”
Jack’s brow furrowed, brushing her off with a flick of his hand. His stern gaze could cow any wolf in the pack. “So throwing rocks at the Luna’s fair game now? Since when does the Rose Pack have such reckless rules?”
His hand settled on my shoulder. The old me—before the brutal truths—might’ve felt a flicker of joy. Every wife craves some shred of care from her husband.
Now? It churned my stomach. His first defense of me felt hollow, sickening.
But Jack wasn’t done. He bent closer, studying my face, his eyes tracing the sweat beading on my forehead. A faint smirk curved his lips. “Nervous, huh? I’ll protect you. As my Luna, you’ll get the respect you deserve—I promise you that.”
I blinked. “?”
The sweat was from standing too long in the sun, tangled up with Seraphina’s crew. Heat, not nerves.
I didn’t need to dodge him, though. Someone else couldn’t stomach his whispered assurances.
Seraphina shuffled forward, clutching her chest with her usual ploy. “Jack,” she whined, “I don’t feel well…”
His attention snapped to her, all focus lost to her frail act.
I exhaled, relieved, and walked off without a backward glance.
Jack’s gaze, though, lingered—heavy, unreadable.
Cradling Seraphina as he knelt, his eyes drifted to my hips for a long, unguarded moment. His free hand brushed the silver bracelet tucked in his pocket.
When had Layla gotten so… *alluring*? That full, swaying curve—something Seraphina’s frail, sickly frame could never match.
A thought crept in: maybe having Layla as Luna wouldn’t be so bad. She still adored him, clearly. s*x with her might even be… enjoyable.
- Writer
