Anya POV
The moment I stepped back into the pack house, the heavy air of dominance hit me. It wasn’t just Hugh ’s scent that lingered—it was his control, his authority. He wasn’t just the Alpha of the Silver Moon pack. To him, I was his Luna, chosen for reasons I never truly understood. And now, I felt more like a pawn than a partner.
Hugh stood at the foot of the grand staircase, arms crossed, his broad shoulders making the space around him feel smaller. His piercing golden eyes bore into mine, a mix of annoyance and possessiveness in his gaze.
“You’re not going anywhere, Anya,” he said, his voice deep. “Quit trying to leave me. There’s nowhere for you to go.”
I clenched my fists, my wolf stirring uneasily beneath my skin. “You don’t own me, Hugh . You can’t keep disrespecting me and expect me to stand by like some obedient little mate. Not when you flirt with Terra right in front of me.”
His lips curled into a smirk, a condescending expression that made my blood boil. “Terra is none of your concern. She’ll always be more beautiful than you could ever imagine yourself to be. But she’s not my Luna. You are. I chose you. That’s all that matters.”
I stepped closer, my voice trembling with anger. “You chose me, but you’re not acting like it. A Luna deserves respect, not humiliation!”
Hugh tilted his head slightly, as if amused by my defiance. “Respect? You’re too concerned about things that don’t matter. I’ve given you the title, Anya. Stop worrying about who I flirt with. It’s not your place.”
My wolf snarled internally, clawing at the edges of my restraint. "Let me out. Let me show him who we are!" she growled, her voice loud in my mind. My breathing quickened as I fought to suppress her, my nails threatening to shift into claws.
Hugh caught the flicker of amber in my eyes as my wolf pushed closer to the surface. He chuckled darkly. “Careful, Anya. Don’t lose control. You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself.”
With that, he turned and walked out of the house, leaving me standing in the suffocating silence of his absence.
After he left, I tried to calm myself by walking around the pack house. The place had always felt more like a gilded cage than a home. Every room was decorated to showcase wealth and power, but none of it felt comforting or personal.
As I wandered, I found myself standing before a door I had never noticed before. It was slightly ajar, and something about it felt off. I pushed it open and froze.
The room was lavish, even more so than Hugh ’s quarters. Luxurious silk curtains hung from the windows, and the bed was adorned with velvet sheets. Expensive jewelry glittered on a vanity table, and designer heels and bags lined the shelves. Every inch of the room screamed decadence—and betrayal.
This wasn’t just any guest room. This was her room. Terra’s.
Rage bubbled in my chest. I hadn’t even been gone for long, and he’d already given her a room of her own in the pack house. He had gone to great lengths to make her comfortable—more effort than he’d ever put into our shared space.
I stepped inside, unable to stop myself. The air was heavy with her floral perfume, and it made my wolf recoil in disgust. I ran my fingers over the vanity, my mind racing. How could he do this? How could he insult me so blatantly?
I turned to leave, unable to bear the sight any longer, and collided with someone at the doorway. The impact was minor, but Terra dramatically stumbled backward, falling to the floor.
“Oh, my goddess, Anya!” she cried, clutching her shoulder. “You hurt me!”
I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. I barely touched you. Get up.”
But she stayed on the floor, her doe-eyed expression shifting to something more sinister. “What do you think will happen if I scream? You know Hugh will be furious.”
I scoffed. “Scream all you want. I don’t care.”
Her lips curled into a wicked smile, and then, to my utter disbelief, she began to scream.
Her voice echoed through the halls, shrill and exaggerated. I stood frozen, staring at her in shock as she clutched her arm and wailed like she was on the brink of death.
“What the hell are you doing?” I snapped, my voice rising.
But Terra didn’t stop. She cried louder, her performance worthy of an award. “She attacked me! Someone help!”
My heart pounded as the sound of hurried footsteps approached. Members of the pack started gathering at the doorway, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern.
“What’s going on?” one of the guards asked, his gaze shifting between me and the sobbing Terra.
“She… she pushed me!” Terra whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I was just minding my own business, and she attacked me out of nowhere!”
“That’s a lie!” I shouted, my voice trembling with fury. “She’s making it up!”
But the damage was already done. The murmurs among the pack grew louder, and I could feel their judgment eating me up.
Hugh arrived moments later, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. Terra immediately rushed to him, clutching his arm like a damsel in distress.
“Hugh , she… she hates me,” she sobbed. “I’ve done nothing to her, and she keeps trying to hurt me!”
Hugh turned to me, his expression cold and unreadable. “Anya, what the hell is wrong with you?”
My wolf snarled, “You can’t honestly believe her,” I said, my voice shaking. “She’s lying!”
But Hugh didn’t respond. He simply stared at me, his silence cutting deeper than any words could.
Terra smirked behind his back, her victory written all over her face.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought to keep my wolf under control.
Hours later, I sat alone in my room, the events of the day replaying in my mind. My wolf paced restlessly within me, her fury barely contained.
“Why do you let him treat us this way?” she growled. “We’re stronger than this. He doesn’t deserve us.”
