Chapter 3 Spitting in the Luna's Face

Seraphina's POV

What a beautiful scene-my 'faithful' mate, who was supposedly on a business trip to Los Angeles, magically showing up here in pack territory instead.

And guess who he's with? Maria, his so-called "business partner," practically glued to his side in a silver dress so tight it could've been painted on. She looked like some clingy mermaid, all over him.

He was whispering something into her ear, making her laugh like a giddy teenager. The hand with that flashy diamond bracelet he gave her? Resting way too comfortably on his chest.

The bond mark on the back of my neck, the one linking us as fated mates, suddenly burned like hell-like someone just pressed a red-hot brand right against my nerves, trying to scorch the pain into my bones.

Grimhilde? That woman's the definition of petty. There's no way she'd let me slip out of here without trying to humiliate me.

I let out a cold chuckle and walked straight toward Marcus.

"Well, Alpha Marcus," I said, loud enough for the both of them to turn and look, "back already? That LA trip of yours sure ended fast." My tone was dripping with sarcasm.

His handsome face showed a flicker of panic, quickly masked by his usual arrogance.

And right on cue, Grimhilde appeared like she was floating on air, smug as ever. She looped her arm through Maria's like she'd just won something shiny and turned to me with her best 'I'm being polite but really I'm showing off' voice.

"Oh, Seraphina, you're here," she said sweetly. "This is Maria, daughter of the Sunfang Tribe Alpha. One of our most valuable allies."

Then, she turned and gave Maria this warm smile. "Maria, this is Seraphina, a... project manager at Marcus's company. I asked her to come because I wanted to give her some souvenirs from my last trip."

Project manager. Really? With that one little line, she erased my Luna status and reduced me to just some random employee.

Our bond ceremony had been public-everyone knew I was his Luna. But here she was, trying to paint a picture where I meant nothing, where even Maria could feel safe ignoring me.

Maria didn't even bother to shake my hand. She just flashed this fake society-girl smile. "Oh, I've seen her before," she said lazily. "Last week, actually-she sort of ran into us while we were... hanging out in Marcus's car."

"What? Sera, seriously? Why would you do that? Are you crazy?" Grimhilde snapped.

"Yeah, totally unhinged," I said, locking eyes with Marcus and smirking. "Might just bite everyone, you'd better be careful. Now, about those souvenirs, I'm waiting."

Marcus stood there like a damn statue, way too pretty and way too silent-like he thought I was bluffing and wouldn't actually stir up trouble.

Just a human in this wolf world, what could I possibly do?

Oh, he'd soon find out.

Grimhilde beamed like she'd just scored a win. "Marcus, Maria, go ahead and keep dancing," she said smugly. "Seraphina, why don't you help me serve tea to our guests?" She turned to me, feigning innocence. "Sound good?"

"Of course," I replied with a fake smile. "More than happy to."

A server suddenly handed me a tray. I noticed Maria and Marcus's glasses were empty, so I happily added a little something special to their tea-just a quick splash of my own spit.

Then I glided over to them. "Miss Maria, dancing must be exhausting. Thought you could use something strong to perk you up." She took the cup with a satisfied smile, clearly enjoying the attention.

"Alpha Marcus, can I get you anything?" I turned toward him.

"Marcus, I think you should try this. I just had a sip and it actually tastes better than anything I've had before-it's kinda salty... You've got to give it a shot," Maria chirped, clearly pleased with herself.

Marcus hesitated for a second, then took the cup. The moment he had a sip, I could literally feel his eyes burning into me like he'd just realized something.

I grabbed the tray and made a quick exit.

Just as expected, two figures gracefully stepped in and blocked my way.

"Oh wow, isn't this Seraphina?"

Clarissa and Bethany. Classic noble she-wolves. Ever since I became Marcus's mate, they've never stopped throwing shade at me.

Clarissa's mated to the pack's Gamma, and Bethany's with the elder's son. They're always glued together like a pair of vultures that live for other people's misery.

Clarissa fake-gasped and covered her mouth. "Darling, that look... so unique. For a second I thought you were part of the cleaning crew."

She didn't have to raise her voice-just loud enough for the people nearby to hear. The low chuckles that followed felt like tiny needles jabbing at my skin.

Bethany jumped right in, sweet smile as sharp as ever. "Clarissa, come on. Be nice. I mean, Marcus never actually brought her to any proper event before, did he? Maybe she just never learned how our pack handles these things. Honestly, he probably thinks bringing her out is... kind of embarrassing."

Clarissa looked a bit let down by my calm expression and decided to go for the kill. She gave a faux-sympathetic sigh and leaned in closer.

"Honestly, those fated mate bonds really mess people up, huh? Forcing our incredible Alpha to be tied to someone so... beneath his status. But you know, looking over there," she nodded toward Marcus and Maria, "he finally seems to be waking up. Maria's the real deal-Sunfang Tribe, classy, noble... just perfect Luna material, don't you think?"

I finally looked up, just calmly watching them like they were two overcaffeinated monkeys trying to perform Shakespeare.

The way I stayed chill definitely threw them off. Clarissa's staged smile twitched for a second.

"Clarissa,"

My voice was soft but it cut through the noise like ice dropping into boiling oil. "You look... anxious today."

Her smile froze. "Sorry, what?"

"I said," I leaned closer, voice dripping with sugar and venom, "your makeup's running. Crying again? Can't blame you-Leo's been busy playing lapdog to that new dancer at Moonshade. You know, the one with the kind of rack that makes grown wolves drool."

Clarissa turned sheet white. Her perfect smile completely crumbled.

Her lips moved but no words came out. The giggling she-wolves nearby suddenly found better things to look at.

I didn't even pause. My eyes shifted to Bethany next.

"And you, Bethany," I gave her a smile and watched the shock spread on her face, "about that Crescent Tech investment your dad made last quarter-remember who shot it down? That would be me. Guess he forgot to tell you it tanked so bad your family just lost profits for the next three years. That necklace on your neck? Might want to check the resale value soon."

Bethany flinched, instinctively clutching her necklace as fear overtook her expression.

She thought her family's secrets were well buried, but as someone running the core operations of Marcus's company, I'd seen way too many dirty transactions at the top level of the tribe. Not much could get past me.

I took a step forward, narrowing the distance between us, and said flatly, "So, ladies, while you're all busy judging my outfit, I've been cleaning up the messes your husbands left behind to keep the company running, just so they can keep funding your extravagant, empty lives."

A cold, victorious smirk tugged at my lips.

"Frankly, you should be thanking me instead of barking like stray dogs. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a billion-dollar deal to finalize. Unlike you, I don't rely on a man's last name to define my worth-I earn it."

Marcus finally looked over, and his face changed-whatever smugness he just had vanished into something more guarded.

He reflexively tried to step away from Maria, but she only clung tighter, like ivy wrapping around a tree.

In Maria's eyes flashed a flicker of hatred, but it was quickly buried under that perfect, pitiful mask she wore so well.

Letting go of Marcus, she glided toward me, every step measured like she'd rehearsed it in front of a mirror.

She stopped just close enough-friendly, but still keeping that high-society distance.

"Oh, Seraphina," she cooed, sweet enough to give cavities. "Are you okay? They went way too far just now."

As she lifted her hand to touch me, I took a small step back, dodging her gentle act.

"I'm fine," I said. "But seriously, thank you for your concern, Miss Maria. You've done so much for us."

"What?" Maria blinked, confused.

I gave her my best sorority bitch smile-the one that says "I'm smiling while mentally setting you on fire."

"Oh, you're such a gem-taking care of my husband and still finding time to check on his legally wedded wife."

Her face stiffened. I leaned in, voice dripping saccharine.

"Between being his arm candy and his personal kink consultant on 'business trips,' I'm amazed you even have time to breathe. But hey, someone's gotta keep him leashed and gagged, right?"

Gasping sounds rippled through the crowd.

Maria's face turned an ugly shade of red. "You... You're making that up!"

"Oh, really? That kind of up-close 'attentiveness' must be exhausting," I said, each word laced with poison. "So I figured you deserved a little something for the trouble. Something real."

I opened my clutch and, under everyone's stunned eyes, calmly pulled out a checkbook and pen.

"So, Miss Maria," I said, holding the checkbook in my palm, "what's your service worth? Name your price. A hundred grand? A mil? Or do you charge by the hour?"

And then, adding sweetly, "Oh, and if you're working in the car, surely there's a cramped-quarters f*e, right? That's gotta be extra."

You could hear a pin drop in the ballroom.

One second. Two.

And then someone cracked.

"Pfft-"

That was all it took. Suddenly, loud laughter burst through the hall like a wave smashing a dam. The she-wolves doubled over, cackling, shooting Maria outright disgusted looks.

"Enough!"

Marcus's furious roar exploded beside me.