Chapter 2

Vanya's POV

The moment I finished speaking, Cliff's eyes widened in shock. 

Until now, I had always followed his decisions without question, executing his wishes flawlessly. So this time, he had merely given me a casual explanation, never expecting me to challenge him. 

"I already told you, this is a necessary choice for the stability of my wolf. You are still my Luna..." Cliff frowned, repeating the same excuse he had used countless times before. 

I had heard this reasoning too many times. Right now, he might not love Melinda, but no werewolf can resist the pull of a true mate. He had promised that once his wolf stabilized, he would reject her. But as time passed, their interactions only deepened, and eventually, he fell completely in love with her. In the end, he even marked her. 

Yet, he knew I was a capable Luna, so he never rejected me. Instead, every time he wanted to be with Melinda, he would use his wolf as an excuse. 

I closed my eyes slowly, trying to escape this cruel reality, but the pain surged over me like an unstoppable tide. 

Once, I had devoted everything to the prosperity of this pack—working tirelessly, sacrificing my time and energy. But who would have thought that my dedication would become my greatest weakness? 

I will not make the same mistake again. 

Melinda, the woman who had brought me so much pain and suffering, must be removed from my life—immediately. 

I thought back to the past. Cliff had once given me the right to choose, but I had been too naive, making a foolish decision. I had allowed Melinda to exist between us, weakening my wolf in the process. 

Cliff waited a few seconds for my response. When I didn’t answer right away, he lost patience. 

"Beta Elliot, find a guest room for Melinda," he ordered. 

"I did not agree to this," I said firmly. 

The room fell silent as all the pack members turned to look at me. 

"What?" Cliff sounded as if he hadn’t heard me correctly. 

"I said no," I repeated, locking eyes with my mate, my gaze cold and unwavering. 

"We discussed this before, and we had an agreement," I continued. "She can be your student, but she cannot stay here. And that was under the condition that you would reject her. Or is this just an announcement, rather than a discussion? Does my opinion as Luna not matter to you?" 

A question had been lingering in my mind—why was Cliff bringing this up in front of everyone? 

But now was not the time to dwell on it. There was something more urgent at hand. 

"Vanya..." Cliff’s tone softened as he called my name, stepping forward slightly to shield Melinda behind him. 

"I am discussing this with you, but you have to understand—I am the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. If my wolf weakens, it will have a significant impact on the pack." 

"We are in Seattle," I countered. "This is a modern city, and the Silver Moon Pack runs a well-managed business. The company won’t crumble just because your wolf is struggling. I know rejecting your true mate is painful, but we consulted the witches. The pain and weakness are temporary. I will be by your side." 

Because we had sworn our bond before the Moon Goddess, my wolf, Selena, had the power to influence our mate—at least to some degree. 

Cliff hesitated, mumbling, his tone less firm than before. "Of course, I understand... I just want what’s best for the pack." 

I remained silent, watching him quietly. Then, ever so slightly, I released my Luna aura—a calming presence that affected all pack members. 

"Melinda, you see how things are," Cliff said, turning to her. "You can’t stay in the Silver Moon Pack. I’ll have Beta Elliot find you an apartment in Seattle." 

"I, Cliff, Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, reject—" 

Before he could finish, Melinda collapsed to her knees, sobbing. 

"Please, don’t do this," she cried, tears streaming down her face. Then, she turned to me. 

"Luna Vanya, please forgive me! I never wanted to steal your mate! But I am just a rogue. If I am rejected, I will grow weak and die. I swear, I only want to stay here for a short time to learn. Then, I will leave Seattle—I’ll even go abroad!" 

Cliff froze, unable to bring himself to reject his fragile, pleading mate. 

In that instant, I knew—it was over. 

"Please, Alpha! Luna!" Melinda sobbed desperately. 

I met her gaze and saw it—the hatred she tried so hard to hide. 

Her acting wasn’t even that convincing. But Cliff was already ensnared. 

Silence filled the room, broken only by Melinda’s pitiful cries. But for my own survival, I had to stand firm. 

"Beta Elliot, escort her out," I commanded. 

"And arrange for her housing—" 

Before I could finish, a furious roar cut through the air. 

"That’s it!" Cliff's voice thundered. His eyes glowed red—his wolf on the verge of losing control. 

"You need to chill down," I said sharply. 

But he roared again, his rage boiling over. 

"Enough is enough!" 

In a blur, he was at Melinda’s side, lifting her into his arms. 

"She stays!" he declared. "We’ll figure it out!"