3. I Said No

Luna Taylor's POV

"I'm telling you I didn't order anything."

The delivery looked like he was contemplating launching the box in his hands at me. His tablet pinged every few seconds.

He pursed his lips setting me with an irritated look.

"The Luna did," he grumbled.

My forehead  pulled together into a deep frown.

"There's been a mistake. Please return it." I answered calmly.

He looked so shocked that it was comical. If I didn't know any better, if have assumed I just asked him to behead himself.

"I can't return a seven million dollars set back to the shop. The Luna of this pack ordered it herself for the coming moonlight ball." He exclaimed.

 

" I don't care if....wait did you say seven million dollars?" I shrieked.

"Yes it's a limited edition cartier diamond and sapphire set. Fit for a queen." He answered, chest puffed.

"Can I see the order?." I asked.

He hesitated before handing over the tablet.

I glanced from him back to the page, confused. The insignia stamped at the top right of the receipt page was one I knew very well. 

Moonstone Jewelers.

There were one of the most exclusive jewelers in the world. Thier pieces were made to stun and they charged highly for it.

One of their major policies was that you had to go to thier store to make an order.

 

Brandon hasn't let me step out of the pack for more than six months now. There has to be a mistake somewhere. Maybe they didn't know what pack it was to be delivered to. 

I looked it over again and the order had been charged on the pack's account and it was addressed to the Luna of Crescent City Pack. 

Brandon's Pack.

My eyebrows rose. Could Brandon have ordered this? 

The pack was middle class at best. We weren't wealthy enough to be spending seven whole million dollars on jewelry and Brandon would know that. 

He'd told me. 

I've even had to continually dip into my savings since we've gotten married to get things for myself because of how little money the pack had to spare.

There were better things to use the money for than to get me new dresses or toiletries.

The necklace alone cost enough to purchase a small house. The matching earrings cost even more.

A small noise behind me made me turn around. From the corner of eyes, I could see the Omega maids working diligently around the living room and stealing looks at the delivery man. One of them shot me a dirty look.

I forced a deep sigh and turned back around. I was irritated enough as it is.

My fingers tightened around the tablet as I looked the order over one more time.

"This looks legit," I admitted.

The man puffed out his chest," I told you," he answered.

I bit my lower lip and pinned him with a sheepish look, "But there's no way anyone in this pack ordered this. We don't have that kind of money."

He turned a horrible shade of red.

A familiar voice drifted down the staircase before I could say anything else. 

"Oh wonderful." Clara walked down gracefully. "You're finally here."

The delivery man's  shot her a bright smile.

"Where's my necklace?." She asked.

The man thrusted the package at her.

My eyes widened.

She'd ordered the necklace? From the pack's account?

How?

Snatching the tablet from me, he handed it to her. I watched with my mouth agape, as she effortlessly signed for the package.

Could Clara be stealing from the pack?

I stepped forward, still confused.

"But if the order was for you, why was it addressed to me? Why was the order under Luna of the Crescent City Pack?" I asked.

The room grew quiet. 

Clara turned to me and laughed like I was asking a stupid question. "Oh Taylor."

The familiar condescending smile appeared. "Must you always pretend?"

What was she talking about? 

I cocked my head to the side and stared at her. " I'm not pretending, the paperwork says—"

"Do you really want to do this in front of everyone?" She interrupted sharply.

The delivery man suddenly became fascinated with his shoes. The maids around us quickly disappeared but not before shooting me nasty looks. 

Goosebumps spread all over my arms. What had I done now?

"I'm just confused." I added.

"Oh goodness." She scoffed loudly. "Is that what this is about?"

The Omega maids were now openly watching.

My stomach sank. I knew this game.

"You're making this much of a scene because you're confused ?"

"I'm not making—"

"You poor thing." She said, reaching for my arm.

I immediately stepped back.

Her expression shifted into a perfectly wounded one. "I know being Luna is stressful but aren't you being too dramatic?"

I had the sudden urge to scream. She was doing it again. Twisting something I said and making me look like the unreasonable one.

My fingers dug into my palm. This wasn't worth it. 

"Forget it." I conceded, turning away.

Behind me I heard Clara sigh sadly.

"Being emotional must be a symptom of a wolfless Luna."

The maids burst into laughter.

I bit down on my lip, drawing blood. 

I needed to get out of here.

***********

The goddess must have heard me because fifteen minutes later, my phone vibrated. Flipping it open I saw that it was a message from Ethan, my cousin. 

'Meet me by the cafe by the lakeside. Its urgent.'

The message made my heart jump but it didn't stop the genuine smile from spreading across my lips. I'd missed him.

******************

The café was small and tucked away from the pack grounds. I sighted Ethan's familiar blonde head the moment I entered.

His eyes lifted up, searching the room with a confused look. I waved and an equally bright smile spread across his lips. 

Ethan and I had grown up together. His dad had been a warrior in my father's pack up until he died. His mom moved them away soon after but we still kept in touch.

 

He stood up and pulled me into a hug when I got to his booth. 

"Taylor." His warm voice called.

Emotion unexpectedly caught in my throat.

"Ethan."

He pulled back, eyed me up and down with a confused look, smile faded.

"You look terrible."

I burst out laughing.

"You always know exactly what to say." I teased.

"I'm serious." His expression darkened. "What happened to you?"

I shoved my shaking fingers into the pocket of my jeans, avoiding his eyes. "What do you mean?"

He stared at me with pity before he shook his head. "I almost didn't recognize you."

A sad smile replaced my bright one. 

Ethan leaned forward. "Taylor you can't continue living like this."

 

I ducked my head, staring down at my legs. 

His hands caught mine with a sad smile.

"Do you remember when Mike Duville in highschool said your lack of a wolf made you a weaker being?"

I rolled my eyes with a smirk. "Yeah."

"You broke his arm and proved him and every other doubting Thomas wrong."

A strange ache formed in her chest. The memories of who I used to be before I married Brandon seemed so far away, even though we've only been married for two years.

Ethan continued. "And then when you were sixteen, you built trade agreements between three territories that had been at war for more than thirty years."

I bit down on my lip. 

"You were seventeen the Western Alliance almost went to war. The council spent six months trying to find a solution. You solved it in three days."

I bit down harder.

"Hell, you spend your teenage years negotiating peace talks and drawing up war strategies for Alpha's twice your age." His voice turned softer."You had people traveling from other packs just to ask for your opinion Taylor."

 

"Brandon is trying." I squeaked.

Ethan growled loudly. He and Brandon had never quite gotten along. 

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. His thoughtful gaze remained on me.

The booth was quiet for a minute.

"Remember the Silver Summit?" He asked, breaking the silence.

I laughed despite myself.

"Oh Goddess. I really didn't mean to," I started humorously.

I shot him a bright smile, thankful for the change in topic.

"You humiliated six council members." He laughed.

"They deserved it." I smirked. 

The council comprised of the strongest wolves in the world. They were the most respected circle and were responsible for overseeing the general protection and well-being of the werewolf kingdom.

They'd visited my father's pack for some random ball five years ago and made it a point to challenge my war strategies.

Safe to say, I was a prideful nineteen year old. 

"They never recovered." He continued laughing harder.

We laughed until tears ran down our face. 

After we'd calmed, I wiped the tears away with a smile. There was no dull moment when Ethan and I were together.

I looked up to see Ethan's smile disappeared.

"Come back home Taylor."

I sighed. "Ethan we've talked about this. I'm married now."

"You're not happy here." He bit out.

I looked away. "No."

"They miss you."

"I said no." I barked.

Ethan sighed, looking disappointed."Is he really worth all that you're giving up for him?"

My jaw tightened. "I made my choice."

"You abandoned your career."

I said nothing.

"Your influence."

"Your work."

"Your friends."

I remained quiet 

Ethan's expression grew sad. "You're abandoning yourself Taylor."

Heat crawled up my spine. "My husband needed me."

Ethan laughed, harshly. "Does he?"

I flinched.

He expression shifted into regret. "I didn't mean—"

"Yes you did."

He leaned forward with a sombre expression and whispered.

"Your father has been sick."

The world around us seemed to freeze. 

"What?" I stammered. "Since when?"

"Last year." He answered.

My pulse jumped. "And you're just telling me now?" I shrieked.

"I just found out yesterday. When I asked, the elders told me they've been sending letters for you or Luna Clara to come be with him for the past six months. My guess is your 'Husband' has been ignoring them."

 

What? 

I  stood up abruptly. "I need to go."

Ethan grabbed my wrist. "When was the last time you visited the pack, Taylor?"

I couldn't answer. It's been almost a year since I visited my father's pack last.

The realization made me sick.

************************************

I practically ran to Brandon's office. 

He looked up immediately. Annoyance flashed across his face.

"I'm busy."

My blood boiled. "Have you been ignoring any letters from my father's pack?"

His eyes narrowed at me. "What happened?" 

"Ethan just told me he's been very sick and the elders have been sending me letters." I forced in a breath. "Did you get any?"

Brandon leaned back, staring at me.

His silence was enough answer.

Horror washed over me.

"How could you?." I yelled. My eyes welled up with tears.

" Relax. They're probably exaggerating." He waved, nonchalantly.

"Exaggerating?" I echoed, dumbfounded.

"Yeah." He answered.

I stared at him, trying to wrap my head around the words coming out from his mouth. 

"Let me get this straight, you've been getting letters that my father has been sick for  more than six months and you think they were exaggerating."

"You're being dramatic Taylor. He'll recover." He said.

My pulse began ringing. "You don't know that." I shouted, tears blurring my view of him. "You had no right."

"I know we have more pressing concerns." He bit back.

The words stunned me. "More pressing than my sick father?"

Brandon sighed, like i was being difficult.

"Taylor—" he trailed off.

"No." I stepped backward.

"No. This ends now."

His expression hardened.

"I'm going to see my father." I said.

"Later." He answered.

"Brandon—" I started, choking on a sob.

"I said later." He thundered.

Something in me snapped. 

"No!" I screamed at him.

The office fell silent. For a moment Brandon simply stared.

Then his voice exploded.

"ENOUGH!"

I physically flinched.

The room suddenly felt much smaller. Brandon rose from his desk.

"I have pack matters to deal with and you will go back to your room. You are my wife and you will obey me."

My voice shook, "Br..andon please."

His expression closed. "No."

I stood frozen for a second. My eyes widened as I took him in.

"I—"

"Leave my office." He ordered, focusing back on the paperwork in front of him like I hadn't just spoken.

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "What?"

"You're dismissed."

I stood there motionless. 

An hour later i sat alone in my room, staring unseeing into the distance. 

How had I never seen it? 

How could I have been so blind that I couldn't see that I'd married a monster? 

How could I had let love turn me into this?

I'd given up everything for him. I'd blindly followed him even when it was uncomfortable. Even when it was unbearable, I'd obeyed. I gave him everything I had. 

The tears were pouring now. 

The shrill sound of my ringtone pierced through the silent sombre of the room. I picked it up immediately.

"Hello?" The voice on the other end was shaking. "Taylor."

Fear exploded in my chest. "Ethan?"

"Your father slumped fifteen minutes ago."

A loud ringing roared in my ears. Ethan's voice sounded like it was coming from a dar distance.

"They don't know if he's going to wake up."