THORNED ROSE: The Rising Luna

Rose

That morning, I began preparing everything. I packed a few essential items and hid them somewhere Alpha Magnus would never find them. I knew this would be difficult, but I had already made my decision.

When Alpha Magnus finally woke up, he didn’t call my name in his usual husky morning voice. Instead, he looked at me with a smile that, once again, tried to deceive me.

I merely returned a thin smile. “Good morning, Alpha Magnus.”

He chuckled softly. “Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?”

I nodded, even though, in reality, I had barely slept all night. I had only been thinking, planning, and praying that I would have the strength to go through with this.

Today was the day I would free myself from Alpha Magnus—and from all his lies.

*

The boardroom was packed. Every member was present, including Alpha Magnus, who stood at the front, ready to make an important announcement.

I walked in calmly, my steps steady with determination. All eyes turned toward me as I approached the long table in the center of the room.

“Luna Rose?” Alpha Magnus furrowed his brows. He clearly hadn’t expected me to be here.

“I have something to say,” I stated, my voice sharp and clear.

“I’m in the middle of a speech for the appointment,” Alpha Magnus replied, trying to maintain control of the situation.

“Exactly,” I smiled faintly. “I’m here to discuss the appointment of the new CEO. And it won’t be you, Magnus Cline.”

Murmurs filled the room. Some board members exchanged glances, while others focused on me with interest.

“What do you mean?” Alpha Magnus asked in a dangerously low voice.

I opened my bag and pulled out several documents. “According to my father’s will, the position of CEO should have been given to Mr. Memphis Delaney, the eldest son of the Delaney family—with the support of the board of directors, of course.”

I handed the documents to one of the board members. “All this time, we have been running the company under the assumption that I was appointed as CEO by the board and commissioners. But the will clarifies my position. My father wanted Mr. Memphis Delaney to take over when the time came.”

Sigma Memphis stood beside me, his face blank, almost bored. I was fortunate that he had agreed to help me with this matter. He was an adventurer, someone who had no interest in dealing with tedious business affairs.

Alpha Magnus clenched his fists at his sides, but he remained silent.

I continued, “As the largest shareholder, I formally propose the appointment of Mr. Delaney as the new CEO. In addition to this will, I also have evidence that Mr. Cline has been harming the company.”

I tapped a button on my tablet, displaying financial graphs on the large screen. “In the past few months, Lupenova’s performance has dropped significantly. Mr. Cline’s decisions have not only weakened the company’s stability but have also put the employees at risk.”

One of the board members nodded. “The data clearly shows his business decisions were reckless.”

Alpha Magnus growled under his breath. “You planned all of this, didn’t you?”

“I only revealed the truth.”

After a brief discussion, the final decision was made. The majority of the board supported my proposal. Sigma Memphis would be the new CEO, replacing Alpha Magnus.

I looked at Alpha Magnus as he stood still, his jaw clenched. I knew he was holding back his anger. Without a word, he turned and left the room.

I let out a relieved sigh. One battle had been won. But I wasn’t done yet.

As I stepped out of the boardroom, I ran into Stephenie. She stood in the hallway with her arms crossed, her expression filled with rage.

“You think you’ve won, Luna Rose?” she sneered.

“I’m only protecting my father’s assets from his greedy stepdaugther and son-in-law,” I replied calmly.

“You destroyed Alpha Magnus.”

I chuckled. “He destroyed himself.”

Stephenie stepped closer, her face flushed with fury. “You’re no better than me, Rose. You’re just an arrogant she-wolf—a rejected shameless mate .”

I pulled out my phone and showed her the screen. Proof of Alpha Magnus’s affair with her—photos, videos, and messages. A video was ready to play, capturing Alpha Magnus’s vulgar scenes to seduced and loving voice as he spoke to her.

Stephenie’s face turned pale.

“I don’t care what you call me. I don’t even need to ruin you, Stephenie. You’ve already ruined yourself.” I turned and walked away, leaving her speechless in the hallway.

Today, I had freed myself. From the lies, from the betrayal, and from Alpha Magnus. But just before I could step into the elevator, a strong grip held my wrist.

When I turned around, I saw Alpha Magnus, his expression twisted with fury.

“You deceitful bitch!” he roared. “Tell me, what’s your real plan in humiliating me like this? I am your mate, your Alpha!”

Alpha Magnus slapped me across the face—something he had never done before.

“Then act like a real mate and a true Alpha. You’re nothing but a rat gnawing away at what doesn’t belong to you,” I spat.

His eyes darkened with rage. “Your words are filthier than your sister’s. I was never wrong to choose her over you.”

“Say whatever you want about me. But in the end, I’m not the one who betrayed my mate,” I replied coldly. “Now let me go. The security cameras are watching, unlike when I had that ‘accident’ the other day.”

Alpha Magnus loosened his grip slightly, but he pushed me back against the wall, his gaze burning into mine.

I used to admire this face, but now I wanted to tear it apart with my claws.

“I, Alpha Magnus Cline, reject you, Rose Delaney, as my mate and Luna of the Moonblade Pack.”

“And I, Rose Delaney, accept your rejection. May the Moon Goddess guide you to your true path.”