Mate’s Deception, Luna’s Defiance

Before I could question my mate, the nanny’s voice called us to dinner from the doorway.

Romeo, ever the dutiful Beta, urged me gently as he set our daughter down in her crib. “Luna, let’s eat. Everly’s been working hard since dawn. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

I chuckled to myself, curious what kind of meal required hours of preparation, and followed him to the dining hall. The long wooden table was adorned with an elaborate spread: pulled pork, roasted asparagus, deviled eggs, scrambled eggs with chives, sautéed zucchini, and beef stew. Five dishes and a soup—it was a feast fit for a pack celebration, not a new mother recovering from childbirth.

Romeo, seemingly at ease, gestured for me to sit. “Luna, this top-tier nanny really is something, isn’t she? Look at this spread. You love deviled eggs and pulled pork, right? Go ahead, try some.”

I didn’t reach for the food, but Everly slid into the seat between us, comfortably serving Romeo a bowl of stew.

“Beta,” she said, her voice sweet and laced with false humility, “try this stew. It’s made with chicken and beef, packed with nutrients. Perfect for replenishing your energy after all the stress.”

She then added, her tone dripping with sympathy, “Everyone talks about how hard childbirth is for women, but no one mentions the toll it takes on the men. They endure it silently, without recognition.”

“Don’t worry, I understand. Beta, after dinner, you should rest. I’ll handle the cleanup.”

She meticulously skimmed the oil off the stew, clearly expecting praise. Romeo, visibly moved, accepted the bowl. “Everly, you really do understand me.”

“I was so exhausted watching over things at the pack clinic these past few days, and everyone just said my mate had it rough.”

“What was tough for her? She just ate and slept while I managed holding the pup, feeding, and dealing with my mother-in-law’s constant criticisms.”

Romeo glanced at me, his irritation thinly veiled. “Luna, I’m not trying to criticize your mother, but her role as a retired Gamma doesn’t compare to your duties as Luna. She should’ve stepped down entirely to help us, not just taken a few days off.”

“Thankfully, there’s someone here who understands. Otherwise, I’d be completely drained.”

Everly shot me a smug glance before placing her hand on Romeo’s, her touch lingering. “Beta, don’t worry. You can share all your troubles with me.”

“This is part of my job. You’re paying me to solve your problems.”

Romeo seemed relieved to have someone to vent to and finally took a big gulp of the stew, nodding in satisfaction. “Thank you, Everly. I feel much better now.”

As Everly comforted my mate, my heart sank. This wasn’t the Romeo I knew before we decided to have a pup. Back then, I’d suggested we wait until my mother retired before planning for a child, given his mother’s preference for her secluded cottage. But Romeo had insisted that delaying would make it harder for me to recover, pushing to move up our timeline. He’d promised to step up after the pup was born and find a nanny who met our needs.

His words today revealed just how hollow those promises had been.

“Are you finished?” I asked, my tone icy as I looked at the two of them, their camaraderie nauseating.

“If you have so much to discuss, take it elsewhere.”

“Everly,” I said, my voice firm, “you can settle today’s payment with the Beta. Pack your things and leave. You’re fired.”

Everly’s eyes widened, tears welling up instantly. Her voice trembled with feigned innocence. “Luna, what did I do to deserve this? Don’t you see how much effort I put into this meal? I cooked according to your preferences.”

“This beef stew with chicken is excellent for boosting milk production. You’re a first-time mother; you wouldn’t understand. I have experience, so you should trust me.”

She hastily ladled a bowl of stew, placing it in front of me with a look of grievance before turning to Romeo, her expression shifting to one of realization.

“Is it because you’re jealous of my rapport with the Beta?”

“You’re mistaken. This is part of a nanny’s duties, and it’s all in my contract.”

She scrambled for her bag to retrieve the contract but stumbled, falling into Romeo’s arms. He quickly helped her onto a chair, checking her for injuries before turning to me, his voice sharp with reproach. “Luna, are you serious?”

“Everly’s just the nanny, and you’re jealous of that?”

“I signed that contract myself. I know its terms inside and out, and there’s nothing inappropriate about it.”

“Do you think everyone is as petty as you?”

“Luna, apologize to Everly, and let’s move on.”

“Otherwise, if you really fire her, who’ll look after the pup when she’s still so young?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. Did he really think I was clueless? Even if I couldn’t find a nanny quickly, couldn’t we take the pup to the pack’s daycare center? Besides, we’d managed the three days at the clinic without a nanny, hadn’t we? Was this household truly incapable of functioning without Everly?

Just as I was about to retort, the sound of our daughter’s cries echoed from the nursery.