For seven years, my mate had never stepped into my room.
He had someone else in his heart, a lone she-wolf he had saved during a rogue attack. She was bold and radiant, often taunting me in front of others: "You may be the Luna, but you’re still alone in your room, aren’t you?"
I would smile faintly, offering no retort, and instead stroke Muffin’s furry head. Raising a man was far less rewarding than raising a dog. Little did anyone know how liberating it was to live a life free from managing pack affairs or catering to a mate.
But one day, after a visit to the Lycan court, he changed.
---
My name is Gabriella Greene, the daughter of Alpha Wes Greene of the Eastern Pack. At the annual Moon Festival, I saved the young Lycan Princess from nearly falling into the lake. The Lycan Queen, Robin Peterson, impressed by my gentle nature and grace, decreed that I should be mated to Ezra James, the powerful Alpha of the Northern Pack.
My face paled, and I nearly stumbled in shock. I knelt quickly, my voice trembling: "I am unworthy of such an honor, Your Majesty. Please reconsider."
Everyone knew that Ezra had brought a she-wolf back from a rogue skirmish, someone he had vowed to be with for life. He had sworn never to take another mate.
I glanced at him, and sure enough, his expression was dark, his jaw clenched. My parents were distraught for weeks, submitting multiple appeals to the Lycan King, but all were rejected. Strangely, Ezra himself remained silent, offering no resistance to the arrangement.
On the day of the marking ceremony, as we stood face-to-face for the final vow, a servant rushed in, stumbling to the floor. "Alpha! Alpha! You must come quickly! Indy—she’s taken ill. It’s serious!"
Ezra’s face turned ashen. Without hesitation, he dropped the ceremonial ribbon and stormed out of the hall, leaving me alone in front of the gathered pack. Through the edge of my veil, I watched his retreating figure, the vibrant red of his ceremonial robe fading into the distance.
The ceremony was over before it had truly begun. I pulled off my veil, and to everyone’s surprise, I smiled calmly and took charge of the reception as if nothing had happened. This mating was not merely a union between two individuals but a political alliance brokered by the Lycan Queen herself. My father had no choice but to accept it.
The guests, all seasoned pack members, exchanged uneasy glances but quickly returned to the feast. Only my brother, Wes, was furious on my behalf. "He humiliated you on your marking day!" he seethed.
I stopped him with a firm hand. "Brother, let it go. This mating was never about love. I knew what I was getting into. His actions today may have disrespected me, but they also disrespected the Lycan Queen and King. They’ll deal with it in their own way."
Wes sighed, his eyes filled with pity. "Gabriella, you deserve so much more."
I shook my head, offering no further explanation. Later, I learned that my father and brother had confronted Ezra, who accepted their anger without protest.
That evening, he finally entered our shared quarters. The traditional rituals—the sharing of bread, the ceremonial wine, the lifting of the veil—had all been canceled at my request. Even the symbolic scattering of nuts and seeds on the bed had been cleared away.
The room was bathed in the warm glow of the candles, the red decor a stark contrast to the cold atmosphere. I sat at the vanity, letting Anais remove my ceremonial adornments. When Ezra entered, I turned to him calmly. "Alpha, how is Indy?"
He sat at the table, his face shadowed in the flickering light. After a long pause, he spoke: "She’s always been frail. The servant overreacted. I apologize for today."
"You needn’t apologize," I replied, my tone steady. "We both know this mating was arranged by the Lycan Queen. I have no intention of competing with Indy. I’ll fulfill my duties as Luna and manage the pack’s affairs. Beyond that, I ask only for a peaceful life in this territory. I hope you’ll grant me that."
He studied me for a moment, his expression softening slightly. "You’ll have your dignity."
"Thank you, Alpha," I said, turning back to Anais. The marking day had been exhausting, and my neck ached from the weight of the ceremonial headpiece. Ezra, smelling faintly of ale, disappeared into the bathing chamber.
When he emerged, I was already in bed, reading a book about distant territories. The bed, a masterpiece crafted by a renowned artisan, was large enough to comfortably fit two. Ezra climbed in without a word, pulling the blanket over himself.
I blew out the candles, plunging the room into darkness.
"Why’d you do that?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion. Tradition dictated that the ceremonial candles burn through the night, symbolizing a lasting union.
"The light keeps me awake," I replied simply, settling under my own blanket. I left a wide space between us, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken agreement: he would not touch me.
I had expected this, but as I lay there, staring at the red canopy above, a pang of sadness washed over me. Every young she-wolf dreams of her mate—what he’ll look like, how he’ll treat her, whether their bond will be passionate or tender. I had my answers now. My mate was strong, commanding, and everything a Luna could ask for—except that his heart belonged to someone else.
Fighting for the affection of a mate who didn’t love me was the most foolish thing I could do. His heart was already claimed, and nothing I did would change that. So, I resolved to live with dignity, if not love.
Tears slipped silently down my cheeks as I forced myself to sleep. But soon, loud knocks and shouting erupted outside the door.
I sat up, calling out: "Anais, what’s going on?"
"Indy’s healer is insisting the Alpha come to her immediately!" Anais replied, her voice sharp with anger.
Ezra moved to get up, but I grabbed his arm firmly. "Alpha, I understand you care for Indy, but tonight is our marking night. You’ve already humiliated me in front of the pack. I won’t stop you from going to her, but tonight, you’ll stay here. I’m the Luna, and I deserve this much respect."
I held his gaze, my grip unyielding. After a tense moment, he sat back down.
I rose, lit a lamp, and draped my ceremonial robe over my shoulders, a silent reminder of my position. Ezra remained seated as I stepped out into the hallway. The commotion stopped abruptly when I appeared instead of him.
"Luna," the healer stammered, clearly surprised.
I scanned the group, my eyes lingering on the healer and her assistant. "Anais, fetch a healer from the pack. And as for those who disrupted the marking night, take them to the cells. They’ll be dealt with tomorrow."
Anais nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. One of the older pack members hesitated. "Luna, it’s bad luck to shed blood on a marking night."
I smirked coldly. "Yes, it’s also bad luck to disrupt the marking night of the Alpha and Luna. If this is how the Northern Pack enforces its rules, then perhaps changes are needed. Now, leave."
As they scrambled to obey, the healer cried out: "Alpha! Alpha!"
From inside the room, Ezra’s voice cut through the noise, cold and firm: "Silence her."
With that, she was dragged away, and the night finally fell quiet.
