Luna's Fate: My Alpha Regretted Neglecting Me

Ever since I decided to part ways with Alpha Orion, I opted to stay in my parents' old house, not that far from the pack house.

Still, as usual, I stayed the course as Luna, fulfilling all my duties because I wasn't about to let Celeste step into my shoes.

As soon as Darius Wolfsbane, the current Beta of the pack, appeared out of the blue at the old house, he gave me a heads-up that Alpha Orion might summon me to the pack house for questioning.

Clouded with confusion, I didn't have much time to think before Alpha Orion's mind link hit me like a ton of bricks, "Get to the pack house, now!"

Only Beta Darius secretly took pity on me. Since childhood, he had known me better than anyone, harboring a debt of gratitude ever since I saved him after a brutal attack.

It was me who healed his wounds, though the scar on his face remains a painful reminder of his dark past.

With Beta Darius' lead, I went into the pack house. Alpha Orion thundered as soon as I stepped inside; his booming voice echoed through the Pack Hall.

"'How can you call yourself Luna when you've neglected your duties? You've even turned your back on the pack!" He roared in rage.

As Alpha Orion's fury grew, his glare darkened on me. It felt like he might shift into his wolf form at any second.

Though I was itching to make a break for it, I decided not to argue with his nonsense; everyone knew I did all my duties.

Meanwhile, Alpha Orion signaled the warriors guarding the door to slam it shut and lock it tight.

I defended myself against his questioning, but no one took my side.

When Celeste was called to testify, she fired back, "Everyone knows Luna Vera is lying! You've shirked your duties for four days straight, and I've been doing it all for you! You don't deserve the title!'"

Celeste wasn't finished yet. She pressed on, "I'm certain that if your mother hadn't fallen victim to that cursed illness and forced Alpha Orion's hand, you wouldn't be standing here as Luna today."

When I glanced at Alpha Orion, he fell silent, as if he shared the same sentiments as his childhood sweetheart. The way he clammed up spoke volumes; he was clearly in agreement.

When I was young, Alpha Orion lived in the pack house and once dreamed of becoming Alpha. He was as humble as they came, not even realizing that the Moon Goddess was listening to every one of his pleas.

While I shared the same dream, I never imagined that as I grew up, all my training would amount to nothing.

Instead of becoming the pack's first female Alpha, I became a commoner in our pack.

Fate turned my life upside down when my Alpha father was killed in a rival attack. Beta Martin, Alpha Orion's father, took over as Alpha. After his death, the title passed to Alpha Orion.

With my mother's help, being the former Luna and still a respected figure, she nudged me closer to him.

Once Alpha Orion ascended to Alpha, my role shifted to serving him like a king, following every command as his dutiful servant.

For all those years, my life was all about toeing the line and obeying him.

When Alpha Orion asked me to step up as his Luna, I obliged and eventually took on the role, thanks to my mother's relentless nudging.

Everything I had built crumbled when Celeste returned and reignited her old bond with Alpha Orion. It felt like he was on the brink of forgetting we were ever mates.

Since then, Celeste made herself a fixture in the pack house, which was supposed to be our sanctuary. She was there for every event, often stealing the spotlight from me. Acting like a spoiled child, she'd fool around with Alpha Orion, hold his hand, and hug him; things I longed to do but never dared.

Celeste was the spark for nearly every argument between us. Still, Alpha Orion would always brush it off, saying, "Celeste is nothing but a sister to me. You're just my Luna, nothing more!"

For the sake of our mateship and my mother's wish that one of our bloodlines continued serving the pack, I endured every wound that came my way.

Once, thinking Alpha desired someone more clingy, I tried to mimic Celeste's behavior.

Alpha Orion looked at me with sheer disgust when I tried, pushing me away with a cold, cutting stare.

He mind-linked me flatly, "Vera, I never asked you to be clingy and make a scene at this gathering."

From that day on, I never dared to be clingy again. He never took the initiative to hold my hand, and when we were together, I was always a step behind. The only person allowed to stand by his side was Celeste, and he never shied away from her touch.

With Alpha Orion, I was just a title, his Luna and mate, but nothing more. Alpha Orion and Celeste seemed more like true mates to the pack and outsiders, while I was merely a showpiece. To make matters worse, they were even too sweet in public.

Back in the present, Alpha Orion seemed convinced; indeed, my mother was putting on an act to be the way Celeste did.

Falling short of expectations, I darkened my gaze on Alpha Orion. He was the Alpha I chose to settle with, but he disappointed me.

"With everything you have done, apologize to Celeste! For letting her do your duties as Luna, or else you'll face punishment!" Alpha Orion thundered, consumed with fury.

Instead of being terrified, I burst out laughing.

"I'll never apologize to her, even if it means you'll reject me as your mate. I will be over the moon if you do. Besides, you're not my true mate."