When My Alpha Stripped Me of My Luna Rights

The moonlight cast long shadows across the Alpha's study as I slipped through the door, my heart pounding against my ribs. Three days of confinement in the Healer's wing had left me restless, but it had also given me time to think. To plan.

Dorothy's journals. I needed them before Andrew destroyed them.

"We have to hurry," I whispered to my wolf, who prowled anxiously within me. "If he finds us here..."

*He won't,* she growled back. *We are quieter than he is careless.*

The study smelled of leather and whiskey—Andrew's scent had always dominated this space, but now I could detect something else. Fear. His fear.

I moved toward Dorothy's bookshelf, hidden behind a false panel in the far wall. My fingers traced the outline of the secret compartment, finding the small latch that would reveal her precious journals.

"Where is it?" A frantic voice made me freeze. "Where is that damn recipe?"

Andrew burst through the door, his eyes wild, his usually immaculate appearance disheveled. He didn't notice me crouched in the shadows as he tore through the bookshelves, tossing leather-bound volumes onto the floor.

"The Grief Tea," he muttered, ripping pages from a notebook. "The pack expects it at the funeral. Mother always made it, but I—" He stopped, running his hands through his hair. "I don't know how to make it without her notes."

I pressed myself against the wall, barely breathing. This was it—the confession of his fraud, spoken in his moment of panic.

"Eden says I need to show strength," he continued, talking to himself. "But how can I lead if I can't even perform the basic rituals?"

He yanked another journal from the shelf, flipping through it desperately. "Where is it? Where is the recipe?"

I watched as he tore through Dorothy's life's work, searching for the knowledge he should have possessed as Alpha. The knowledge he'd been stealing from her for years.

---

"Clara." Andrew's voice cut through the morning air like a blade. "Come with me."

I followed him to his office, my body still aching from yesterday's Alpha command. Eden sat perched on the edge of his desk, her fingers tracing patterns on his shoulder.

"You called for me, Alpha?" I kept my voice neutral, though my wolf snarled at the sight of them together.

"I need you to hand over my mother's Luna Amulet." Andrew extended his palm toward me. "Immediately."

The amulet hung heavy around my neck—Dorothy's final gift to me before she died. I touched it reflexively, feeling the ancient silver warm against my skin.

"Why?" I asked, though I already knew.

"Eden needs spiritual comfort during this trying time," he said, not meeting my eyes. "As the future Luna, she should wear it."

Eden's eyes gleamed with triumph as she leaned forward. "It would mean so much to me, Clara."

"No." The word escaped before I could stop it.

Andrew's face darkened. "What did you say?"

"I said no." I straightened my spine, clutching the amulet tighter. "This is Dorothy's amulet. It's sacred. It's not yours to give away."

"SACRED?" Andrew roared, his Alpha aura exploding outward. "YOU DARE SPEAK OF SACRED THINGS AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE?"

The force of his rage hit me like a physical blow. I stumbled back, but refused to fall.

"KNEEL!" he commanded, his Alpha voice reverberating through my bones.

Pain shot through my body as my knees buckled against my will. I fought against it, trembling with the effort to remain standing.

"Andrew," I gasped, "please—"

"KNEEL BEFORE YOUR ALPHA!" His voice cracked like thunder.

My legs gave out. I collapsed to the floor, the amulet digging into my palm as I clutched it desperately. Something inside me cracked—a hairline fracture in our mate bond that sent waves of agony through my chest.

Eden's soft laugh floated down from above. "Poor Clara. Still so defiant."

---

"Gamma Stone?" I knocked softly on Marcus's door, wincing at the pain in my bruised body.

The door opened, revealing the tall, imposing figure of our pack's head warrior. His eyes widened slightly at my appearance.

"Luna," he said, glancing over his shoulder before pulling me inside. "You shouldn't be here."

"I need your help," I whispered, pulling out the toxicology notes I'd hidden in my boot. "Dorothy was poisoned. I have proof."

Marcus examined the papers, his expression darkening. "These are serious accusations, Luna."

"I know." I swallowed hard. "And I think Eden did it."

He studied me for a long moment, then sighed. "Dorothy was good to me. Better than good."

Hope fluttered in my chest. "Will you help me?"

"I can't openly defy the Alpha," he said carefully. "But if you can prove Eden's involvement..."

"I need to leave the Pack House," I said quickly. "There's a Rogue herbalist who might have supplied the wolfsbane. If I could just—"

"Tomorrow night," Marcus interrupted. "During the border patrol shift change. I'll make sure the east gate is unguarded for exactly seven minutes."

He handed back my notes, his eyes hard with resolve. "Find your proof, Luna. For Dorothy."

As I turned to leave, he added quietly, "And be careful. The pack is watching."