The next morning dragged on as I waited for my mate to return home. When he finally did, he immediately launched into an explanation, his voice heavy with exhaustion and concern.
"Tricia had a high fever all night. It wouldn’t go down."
"Is she okay now?" I asked, making an effort to sound interested. The name 'Tricia' felt foreign and unwelcome on my tongue. Yet, I knew she was Sienna’s daughter.
Funny how my mate showed more care for another woman’s child than for his own mate.
He paused mid-motion, irritation flashing briefly across his face. "Are you being sarcastic again?" His sigh was long and weary—whether genuine or just for show, I couldn't tell. "Look, I didn’t sleep all night. I'm exhausted."
"Then you should rest. I have duties to attend to," I said, reaching for my bag. The responsibilities of a Luna awaited me.
"Selene..." He reached out, his grip gentle yet hesitant. "What is it?"
"We'll make up for the mateship anniversary celebration next time, okay?" His attempt at reconciliation was met with a faint, empty smile from me.
"I’m not mad," I murmured.
He pulled me into a hug, but the embrace felt hollow, his promises even more so. "There’s a Wolf gathering this weekend," he said, his voice quiet against my hair. "Many packs will attend. Let’s go together."
The Celestial Night Pack held a prestigious position, not just in Moonvale Town but in the surrounding territories as well. Gatherings like these were prime opportunities for Alphas to network, all vying for Cassian’s favor. Once, being mated to him had felt like a blessing, but as his Luna, I felt nothing but numbness. Despite my efforts, the pack’s elders and warriors still looked at me with disdain, treating me as though I were nothing more than a glorified servant.
In the past, I would bring Cassian meals or medicine, even in inconvenient situations, like his office. Yet, in front of others—especially the elders or the Omegas—he never acknowledged my presence with respect.
Reality snapped back into focus as Cassian clenched his jaw, frustration evident. "Well, suit yourself," he muttered.
I didn't attend the gathering. But what I hadn’t expected was that he would take Sienna instead.
As I worked in the office, Luna responsibilities keeping me occupied, my phone buzzed incessantly. Annoyed, I checked social media, only to be bombarded with pictures from the gathering. Sienna was in nearly every photo, effortlessly mingling with Cassian and the other Alphas, as if she had always belonged there.
Oddly enough, Beta Adrian was nowhere to be seen in any of the images. Perhaps he had refused to assist the Alpha this time. I often found myself scolding him for his apparent indifference toward serving Cassian, yet that very stubbornness never failed to impress me.
As I stared at the tweets, a bitter thought crossed my mind: Why didn’t you just become his Luna instead of me, Sienna?
One image stood out—Alpha Cassian carrying Sienna like a princess across the lawn, her cheek resting against his chest. The onlookers cheered and showered them with compliments, calling them the perfect match.
Unable to ignore what I had just witnessed, I joined the chorus of voices, leaving a single comment on one of the photos:
"Perfect match."
A lone clapping emoji punctuated my indifferent acknowledgment.
Then, without another thought, I closed the app, silenced my phone, and shut off my mindlink. I just wanted peace.
Night had already fallen by the time I finished my tasks. When I finally checked my phone again, I found dozens of missed calls and messages from Cassian.
