Reclaiming the Luna's Crown

As he spoke, he pressed his body against mine. His earlier arousal hadn't fully subsided, and now it flared again.

I quickly pulled away, a flash of disgust in my eyes.

I seized the opportunity to pull out the document I had prepared and handed it to him.

He raised an eyebrow. "What have you set your sights on now? Fine, fine, whatever you like, I'll buy it for you!"

Without a second glance, he signed his name with a grand flourish.

My objective achieved, I ducked under his arm and slipped away, feigning exhaustion.

"I'm tired. Maybe next time."

The fire another she-wolf started, and he expects me to put it out? In his dreams!

I clutched the agreement to sever our mate bond, my heart soaring.

Soon, I would be free.

The following week, Shawn went to Chicago for a pack business conference, leaving Maria at the house.

She showed no signs of restraint, brazenly ordering the servants around and meddling in every affair.

The household was soon filled with complaints.

Betty came rushing to me. "Luna, you have to come quick! Miss Maria insists the moonbeam tree in the courtyard is an eyesore and wants it cut down. We tried to stop her, but she found an axe herself! She's threatening to chop off all the branches!"

My grandmother planted that moonbeam tree for me the year of my bonding ceremony with Shawn. She said it would watch over me, granting me a life of happiness and peace.

But Maria was determined to chop it down—a clear power play.

I rushed over, telling her to put the axe down.

She shot me a defiant glance, but upon spotting a dark figure in the distance, her foot conveniently slipped. She screamed as she fell backward.

"Ah!"

My eyes widened as I watched her fall from beside the tree, landing perfectly in Shawn's embrace.

The heavy axe, however, teetered precariously before it came crashing down on my leg. Blood gushed from the wound.

I gasped for breath, the pain overwhelming, as Shawn's furious voice roared.

"Katrina! You just had to go after her, didn't you!"

"Do you have any idea? A fall from that height could have been fatal!"

I managed to say weakly, "It was an accident... it had nothing to do with me..."

"Don't think for a second I don't know what you did! You had the axe replaced, you smeared it with oil. You wanted Maria to get hurt!"

He glared at me with such venom, as if I were guilty of the most heinous crime.

Maria didn't have a scratch on her, yet he scooped her into his arms and rushed her to the hospital.

He didn't even glance at my leg, pinned beneath the heavy axe, already a mangled, bloody mess.

My leg required ninety-nine stitches. As I was heading to pay the bill in my wheelchair, biting back the pain, I saw Maria skipping playfully beside Shawn.

She saw me too and looked up innocently. "Alpha, shouldn't you go help Luna? Maybe she really didn't mean to..."

Shawn shot me a look of disgust before pulling her protectively into his arms.

"She went too far this time. Don't mind her. Let her cool down."

"Right now, being with you is my top priority."

I stared blankly at their retreating figures, and the last shred of affection I held for Shawn burned to ash.

So be it, Shawn, I thought. I have a special gift for you, too.

I hope you like it.