Antara Luka dan Rasa

~ LAYLA ~

The sound of my heels resonates in my ears as I approach the entrance to the grand Pack Hall. I cast a fleeting glance around the large marble hall that glitters with crystal chandeliers and ornate gold frames. The sound of music escapes the banquet hall.

I am dressed to fit in – or perhaps stand out in a strapless satin red ballgown. One that is perfect for the evening but also exceeds all those around me. With every step I take, I steal attention, earning whispered compliments that flutter past me like a pleasant song.

With my chin up, I keep my gaze ahead, masking the storm that rages within me.

Reaching the doors, the man guarding the entrance blocks my way.

“Luna, we-we didn’t know you would come,” Bryan, my fiancé’s loyal assistant, says; a flash of panic in his eyes.

“I don’t need to inform you of my coming, now do I, Bryan? Where is your Alpha?”

He swallows hard as he bows his head. “He is inside, Luna. Would you like me to notify him of your arrival?”

“No need.” Smiling, I tilt my head. “He won’t like this surprise, anyway.”

~ A FEW HOURS EARLIER ~

“This is as much my wedding as it is yours, Logan. Can you at least try to pretend to be interested?” I ask, suppressing my irritation.

“Not again, Layla, can’t you just wait until I get home? I have a pack to run. Don’t you realise how much work an alpha has to do?

“I do, but we’ve been putting it off for too long. Our wedding is next week. At least I need you to accompany me to pick out a wedding dress, since you didn’t like the ones I chose.”

“Wedding dresses are all the same. I told you to just pick one with long sleeves and a modest neckline. These meaningless things are not my job. I don’t have time to waste like you.”

His attitude makes my anger rise and I purse my lips.

“Waste? This is our wedding. We are the Alpha and Luna. This wedding is a very big deal!” I snap, my voice rising.

Logan sighs. “I know what you want, Layla, but I’m really busy. Look, your father who was supposed to be the alpha died and left me with a mountain of paperwork. I’m trying to catch up. I really don’t have time to think about anything else.”

Thinking of my father, I fall silent.

I left the pack a few years ago and was living on my own when I received a call from my uncle nearly two months ago, informing me of my father’s demise in a rogue attack. The news had devastated me, especially as I had left the pack after a huge argument with my father.

Upon my return, my uncle told me my father had always hoped that I would marry Logan. They were a family we knew, one who was wealthy. My father thought Logan was the right one for me and for the future of the pack.

I had felt guilty for abandoning my father despite his harsh expectations, and so after a few dates with Logan, I decided to accept the proposal that all the elders also approved of.

“Weddings are a big deal for women.” Logan now sits back in his seat, placing his file down, and sighs softly. “I know you will never understand, but running a pack is not easy.”

“I know, so let me help you with it. I am equipped to do this stuff, and then we can discuss our wedding together and work on the pack together,” I say, wishing he would simply let me.

But Logan shakes his head. He always refuses to share anything about the pack with me, let alone let me help.

“Look, Layla. What am I supposed to do if you aren’t able to even plan one small event? Who cares if everything isn’t perfect? It’s just a wedding. I am already an alpha, and you are my luna. That’s the important thing to me. We can’t be so selfish; this wedding is meaningless.”

His words sting. We are doing this to portray a united strong front for exposure.

“Is it so selfish that I want my future husband to accompany me to choose a wedding dress, so we look good together? Am I asking for too much?”

Logan sighs, “Let’s not talk about it today. I have a lot to do. You should head home.”

“Will you join me for dinner? Perhaps we can discuss the menu for the wedding then?” I ask with a forced smile.

“No, I have far too much to do,” Logan replies dismissively, pressing a button. “Julian! Get in here!”

I turn when the door opens and my bodyguard steps inside.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“Send her home.”

“Ma’am?” he steps forward, and I raise my hand, my breasts heaving with rage.

“I can manage on my own.” Without another glance back at my fiancé, I storm out of his office.

~

Unlocking the door, I push it open, shivering as I step inside.

“Luna, you’re back! And drenched! Oh my, you will catch a cold!” Nadia, my old nanny who is now my housekeeper, exclaims as she rushes over. “What’s wrong?”

She knows me too well.

“I’m fine, Nadia. I had a little argument with Logan, but don’t worry, we are fine. He apparently has too much work to do that was left pending since Dad’s death.” I try to force a smile, hoping she doesn’t see right through me.

Nadia is like a mother to me. I lost my mother a long time ago and now I have lost my father. I can’t imagine losing Nadia. She’s the only family I have.

“Did you prepare dinner? The Alpha won’t be joining us,” I ask as we both head upstairs and enter my bedroom.

“Dinner? Oh, forgive me, Luna, but I didn’t prepare anything. I heard from Julian that the Lunar Ball was moved to tonight… I thought you would feast there.” She looks confused, fumbling over her words.

I pause from the door to the ensuite bathroom and look back at her sharply.

“What?”

Nadia looks pale as she looks at me nervously. “Yes, all alphas and lunas will attend too. I don’t know why, but Alpha Logan asked it to move to tonight. Did you… not know?”

The yearly Lunar Ball, a place where so many important figures will be, it was the first big ball of the year, and with our pack hosting it, I should be there with our new alpha.

I feel as if I’ve been doused in an icy bucket of water.

“Logan didn’t tell me anything. He was most likely planning to attend the ball alone,” I say with a bitter smile.

“I‘m afraid that might not be true, Luna,” Nadia murmurs. “There is something you need to know.”

“What is it?” I ask, keeping my emotions bottled inside.

She sighs heavily. “Alpha Logan is cheating on you.”

“That’s not possible. My father wanted this; he wouldn’t have chosen wrongly.” Am I reassuring her or myself?

She looks at me sadly. “At first I thought he would treat you well, like the queen you are. He even showed promise, but in recent weeks, I don’t think he is doing a good job of that.”

Nadia motions at me to wait before she hurries out of the room and returns with a small bag. “Please forgive me, Luna, but I found this from his pocket. They are not yours and most definitely not mine. I am certain he is having an affair.” With those words, she takes out pink panties from the bag.

My eyes glimmer with rage. I can tolerate his attitude if he’s busy or tired, but I will not tolerate being made a mockery of. How dare he demean me by having an affair.

Turning, I walk to my wardrobe and yank it open.

“Luna, what are you doing?”

“I will be attending the Lunar Ball tonight. Help me prepare, Nadia.”