The Luna’s Revenge Against Her False Mate

In the early hours of the morning, Rio stumbled back into our packhouse. I was waiting for him in the grand living room, my Luna aura simmering just beneath the surface. He reeked of alcohol, his Alpha dominance dulled by the haze of intoxication as he leaned in to kiss my forehead. "Valeria, I'm home," he mumbled, his words slurred.

I shifted away, forcing myself to tolerate his presence despite the stench. Rio plopped down beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist, muttering incoherently. I ignored his drunken ramblings and asked coldly, "You’ve been back for days. Where have you been?"

He didn’t reply, resting his head on my shoulder as if he’d passed out. My sharp gaze caught the faint red mark on his neck—Theodora’s scent lingered on him like a poison. With a bitter smile, I shoved him away and tossed the mate severance papers at him. "Rio, I want to sever our bond."

His eyes flickered open, a sharp glint breaking through his drunken haze before he replaced it with a pitiable look, pulling me closer. "Valeria, I know you’re still grieving Amos. I’ve been avoiding you because I couldn’t face it either. I drank to numb the pain. Please, don’t do this."

He avoided the subject of severance, and I knew why. The Silver Moon Pack’s resources were ours to share, and severing our bond would mean dividing them. He couldn’t accept that. Knowing an argument now would be futile, I headed upstairs to the Alpha suite, my heart heavy.

I couldn’t sleep. As dawn broke, just as I started to drift off, a loud crash from downstairs jolted me awake. I rushed down to find Amos’s favorite carved wolf figurines shattered on the floor, pieces scattered everywhere.

My heart clenched, and my Luna aura flared as I turned to the culprit, Callahan. "Haven’t you been taught respect? Who told you to touch my son’s things?"

Startled, Callahan began to cry. Theodora swept him into her arms, tears in her eyes as she looked at me with feigned innocence. "I’m sorry, Luna Valeria. Callahan didn’t mean to."

Rio entered then, his Alpha presence filling the room. He took in the scene and dropped the documents he was holding to go to their side, wrapping them both in his arms. His voice was sharp, laced with an Alpha tone that sent a shiver through me. "Valeria, was that necessary? They’re just figurines. They can be replaced. Why overreact?"

Callahan stuck his tongue out at me from the safety of Rio’s embrace, fearless. Theodora gave me a triumphant look, her eyes glinting with victory.

Fury surged through me, and I stormed down the stairs, trembling with rage. I slapped Rio hard across the face, my hand stinging from the force. "You’re a disgrace, Rio!"

"Ah! Alpha Rio, are you alright?" Theodora shrieked, her hands instinctively cupping his face.

Rio held her hands, his eyes flashing with anger as he glared at me. "Feel better now?"

Tears streamed down my face as I sank to the floor, painstakingly gathering the shattered pieces of Amos’s figurines. Theodora’s pointed heels kept jabbing into my hand as she pretended to avoid me, each time more painful than the last.

She feigned surprise each time, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "I’m sorry, Luna Valeria, it was an accident," yet her apologies were as insincere as her actions were deliberate. Rio watched without intervening, instead leading Theodora and Callahan to the couch, handing Callahan the documents he’d picked up.

"You like the hunting territory near the mountains, right? Your godfather is gifting it to you now," Rio said, his voice cold and calculated.

It was absurd. Our son had died during a pack hunt, and here he was, gifting territory to another child. Rio watched for my reaction as he made the announcement. But I was like a puppet with cut strings, silently collecting the shattered pieces.

Callahan, thrilled with the gift, bounced on the couch. "Be careful," Theodora advised, steadying him. The three of them exchanged smiles, looking like a perfect family. I was just an outsider.

Once Callahan calmed down, Theodora brought him over. "Remember, Callahan, I said we were here to comfort your godmother. This is her. Say hello."

Reluctantly, Callahan mumbled a greeting. It cut deeper than any wound. I pushed him away, my voice trembling. "I’m not your godmother. Leave me alone!"

Theodora shot me a venomous look, holding her wailing son as she returned to Rio’s side. "Luna Valeria, you’re so ungrateful! We came to support you after your loss, and this is how you repay us? No wonder you lost your son!"

My eyes burned as I looked at Rio, my voice shaking with barely contained fury. "Do you even hear what you’re saying, Rio? Amos was your son too!"

His cold indifference finally snapped something inside me. I lunged at him, desperate and furious, my wolf snarling in the back of my mind.

Fed up, Rio shielded Theodora and Callahan, eventually shoving me away with a growl. "You’re out of control!" he spat. "Theodora, let’s go!"

They left, and I was alone, sobbing uncontrollably as the door clicked shut behind them. The packhouse felt colder than ever, the silence deafening. My wolf whimpered softly, a quiet reminder that I was still here, still fighting, even if it felt like I’d already lost everything.