Chapter 4

“I see. Thank you, Alpha Kane,” I said and put down the phone.

That was the fourth Alpha who had cancelled business dealings with us in the last week.

All of the social standing I had worked to build among the Alphas and Lunas had disappeared overnight.

It was not anything new for Alphas to have mistresses and illegitimate children here and there.

But this was incest.

No one wanted to be associated with an Alpha who did not honour his family.

“Joan,” I yelled, leaning back in my seat.

There was no response for a few seconds, then the door cracked open slowly. A maid I had never seen before entered my office.

“Who are you?”

“U-Um. Pamella. I was told to wait on you from today.”

“Where is Joan?”

“She was moved to another station.”

My eyes narrowed. “Who the hell is rotating my maids without my permission?”

“M-Miss Lillian. She was the one who moved us.”

A new wave of irritation flared up inside of me. Even Asher would not touch my maids without asking me.

But I was not crazy enough to attempt to confront Lilliana.

The last few days had proved that she had more sway over Asher’s judgment than I ever did.

“You may go,” I said, standing to go make my sandwich myself.

Turns out that it was not just my maids but the whole house. ‘Miss Lillian’ had changed our entire rotation.

“Who did that bitch think she was?” I muttered to myself, stomping to the kitchen.

“Someone looks mighty upset.”

My hand paused on its way to the fridge and I turned.

I should have known something was up when the kitchen was quiet at one in the afternoon.

She was reclined on a seat I was sure was not in the kitchen this morning, sipping juice out of my wine glass.

I wanted to jump forward and rip my claws into her face.

“Good to see you, Lillian,” I said and returned to my rummaging through the fridge.

“You have far more self-control than I thought,” she remarked, dropping the sweet girl act she was pulling in front of everyone.

“What did you want me to do? Beat you up?” I leaned back from the fridge to look her in the eyes. “Some of us still have class.”

Her eyes were hard and angry.

She slammed the glass hard enough on the counter for it to crack. “You talk big for a barren woman.”

“I would rather be barren than sleep with my brother-in-law.”

Lilliana snorted. “Aww. Is the orphan mad that her husband found someone better? Don’t worry. I will put in a good word for you so he does not completely abandon you.”

“Think, Lily. Why do you think Asher has not sent me away yet?”

Her mouth snapped shut as her brows furrowed in thought.

Yes.

“He needs a Luna. Someone to rule the pack beside him. If that–” I glanced down at her belly. “–was enough to make you Luna, he would have done it on the Full Moon Festival.”

I had finally gotten the last word.

Before I could blink, she darted forward, grabbed a knife from the pile, and sliced her arm from elbow to palm.

My eyes widened in horror as I snatched the knife from her. “Are you crazy?”

She pushed me away from her and fell on the ground, screaming. “Elara. Leave me alone.”

It took a total of four seconds for me to realize what she was, but by then, it was too late.

Her guards were already in the room, their claws extended as if looking for a fight.

As if the situation could not get any worse, Asher entered the room.

His smile vanished as he assessed the situation. Silently, he walked to Lilliana and held her wounded arm gently.

“Wait a minute.” I dropped the knife from my arm, reaching for Asher. “I did not–”

I fell to the ground before I felt the stinging on my cheek.

My hand lifted slowly to my cheek, my entire body frozen in shock.

Did Asher just slap me?

“I did not hurt her,” I whispered, my voice cracked.

He lifted Lillian into his arms easily. “That is enough out of you. Mason, lock her in the dungeon.”

Mason, his beta, took a step back. “Alpha, she is our Luna. I cannot–”

“Cannot what? You want to be locked up with her?” Asher said, his wolf slipping out. The atmosphere in the room filled thick with his Alpha energy.

Mason bared his neck in submission.

Asher gave me one final look, his jaw ticking in anger as he saw me still staring at him.

I had never felt the urge to submit to him, but today, I lowered my head. Just so he would get out of my face.

He clicked his tongue and stormed out. “Insolent bitch.”

“Luna, Alpha said–”

“I heard him,” I replied to Mason and got up, letting him lead me to the dungeons.

The journey across pack lands was the hardest.

From the way the guards were positioned around to the grim silence as we walked, it was enough to spark the people talking.

“I will escort Luna inside alone,” he said to the guards and led me in, closing the heavy doors behind him.

He led me to the last cell before speaking.

“Luna, do you think the pack can come back from this?”

I chuckled. “He just allowed me to be led to the dungeons like a criminal. Even if I were let out in an hour, I would never come back from it.”

Once a pack loses its respect for its Alpha and Luna, the pack is as good as dead.

“Do you think you could ever forgive the Alpha?” he asked quietly.

“After the stunt he pulled today. Fat chance.”

“I see. I will bring your dinner myself,” he said and walked away.

The moment the doors shut behind him, I let out a sigh, my decision suddenly feeling easier.

I slipped out my hairpins, letting my hair tumble down my back. The lock was rusted enough to work.

I was no longer needed in this pack.