Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Tessalyn's POV

I was hot. Every cell in my body burning as my grip on my bag tightened and I struggled to stay still.

“T-thank you.” Selin sniffled, still holding Kaan and gazing at him with adoring eyes.

He moved to stroke her hair, and I lost it.

Composure be damned, I was going to drag Selin by her collar and throw her as far away from my husband as I could get.

But before I could move, I felt a pair of eyes on me.

Everyone was watching them, but Lucas. My husband’s Beta was watching me. His eyes, full of unbridled concern as he cleared his throat loudly and stepped forward. “Selin. That’s enough.”

“W- what?” She stuttered.

But Lucas was firm. His voice, unyielding as he spoke out. “I understand that you’re upset, but this is not appropriate.”

Selin didn’t lift her head. If anything, she burrowed deeper into Kaan’s chest, trembling pitifully and sniffling. “I know. I’m sorry. I- I just can't help it.”

I bit my tongue, barely able to stop myself from scoffing. She still didn’t pull away from my husband.

Lucas’s face clouded, and he moved as though to pry her off, but Kaan stopped him with a warning look. “Beta.”

Lucas just pressed harder, his jaw tightening. “Selin. The Luna is right there.”

The atmosphere in the bar curdled instantly. Even the faint music in the background going off as a tense, awkward silence stretched around us. 

Her cheeks flushed, and she finally lifted her head.  

“I- I didn’t mean to make a scene.” She trembled, wiping away a stray tear as she ducked her head shyly. “But losing my husband... the pain is just so unbearable. I’m completely alone. I just– “ 

She turned, letting her tear-filled eyes sweep over the crowd before deliberately landing on me. “Tessy, please don’t think I meant any disrespect. The Alpha is my only family. The bond we share—growing up together—"

She let out a bitter laugh and shook her head. “I guess you wouldn’t understand. You didn’t grow up or learn with us.”

What??

For a second, I went blind. My vision, tunnel red as I felt the fire I’d been holding back consume me.

 “You’re right," I hissed. With a cold smile so icy, the entire bar went silent. “No one ever taught me that growing up together meant treating another woman’s husband like your own.”

Selin’s face turned crimson. “Tessy I didn’t mean— “

“My name is Tessa.” I cut her short. “Tessalyn. And I didn’t realize childhood friendship meant you could enter his bedroom, wear his wife’s lingerie, or bury yourself in his chest whenever— “

“Honey.” 

I froze, my head whipping fast to stare at Kaan. He never called me that. Only rarely. Yet now, he was smiling at me. His eyes, so warm, they disarmed me.

Selin had baited me, and I took it. If anything, knowing my husband’s protective nature. I expected him to chide me.

Instead, he stepped closer to my side and slid his hand around my waist. 

“Kaan—" I whispered, bewildered. But he simply turned back to the warriors with a jovial smile.

“Alright, everyone. Drinks on me tonight!”

The bar immediately erupted in loud cheers and table banging. 

“Hey.” Kaan lowered his lips, brushing my ear. “Are you ready to go?”

Maybe it was the softness of his voice. Or the tender way his fingers traced along my waist. But different thoughts and excuses raced through my mind as my traitorous heart flipped and I let Kaan gently pull me from the crowd.

We were alone in the hallway. A distance away from the music and the noise, when I noticed the strange expression on my husband’s face.

The warm affectionate smile from a minute ago was completely gone. His face, now unreadable as his eyes turned cold. 

“I’m disappointed. Tessa.”

I blinked, not quite understanding, but he wasn’t done. His jaw tightening with every word.

“I expected more from you. A Luna should be broad-minded, not petty. You just embarrassed a grieving widow in front of the entire pack. For what?”

My stomach dropped violently as my lips parted, closed, and opened again. “Petty?”

The walls of the hallway suddenly seemed too close. “Is that how you see me?” My voice shook, but I could barely control myself. “Selin went into our bedroom and wore MY lingerie, Kaan! She clung to you shamelessly in public and threw insulting jabs while you remained silent. But because I responded, I’m petty?!”

“You’re the Luna—“

“Am I?!” I snapped back, my voice breaking as tears fell for the first time down my cheeks. I swiped at them furiously, not willing for him to see me break. “Because you seem to think I’ve failed in my duties.”

My heart lurched as my husband remained silent. His eyes, still hard and unreachable.

“Kaan.” I found myself asking. “Have I failed as your Luna?”

My breath was shaking, but we both knew I was daring him.

Daring him to tell me how I failed after toiling for his pack for three years. After running his throne and even doing his own duties. Covering his shame publicly and growing his small pack to a major stronghold.

“How did I fail?” I breathed through gritted teeth, and the next moment, my husband was in my face.

His eyes, colder than I’d ever seen them. Flashed gold as he lowered his voice icily. “Don’t test me, Tessa. You’re only on that throne because I put you there. I fought the elders and made you my fated mate. Or else, talent or not. You’d still be a wolfless orphan struggling to survive at the very bottom of society.”

I could not breathe.

“Wolfless orphan.” Kaan’s words reverberated, tearing through my soul. He’d never called me that before. And I’d deluded myself into thinking it didn’t matter to him.

“Why did you marry me?” I asked, half laughing as my tears flowed freely. “Or was the Luna you actually wanted never even me?”

A small part of my heart waited in vain as Kaan never responded.

“You’re the Luna now, aren’t you?” He sneered instead, moving closer until he was a breath away. “You enjoy the privileges well enough. So I expect you to learn how to act with dignity. Stop embarrassing me in front of my warriors and throwing a tantrum over every little thing.”

I turned my head to the side, trembling as I bit my lip to hold back the force of my tears.

Kaan stretched a cool finger under my chin and firmly turned my head back to face him.

“Do you understand what I expect my Luna to be?”

I couldn't speak. The air in my throat, thin as he dropped his hand and stepped back fully.

“Wipe your tears. Smile, nod, and don’t embarrass me again.”

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

"Well, look at you two!” One of the older warriors cheered, lifting a glass. “Must be a wonderful relationship. I just saw the Alpha pinning our Luna against the wall down the hallway—still going strong after all these years!”

A few warriors laughed knowingly while I just forced a tight, bitter smile onto my face.

“A husband is allowed to steal a moment alone with his wife, is he not?” Kaan joked back as more good-hearted laughter went round the table.

“Oh, leave them alone,” Selin cut in smoothly before anyone could continue teasing us. “Can we finally start eating? All this excitement has me starving.”

In the same beat, she turned to Kaan. “Alpha... could you help serve me some food?”

“Of course.” Kaan nodded without a single beat of hesitation.

My hands curled into fists under the table as I watched my husband naturally reach across the table and pick out all her favorite dishes.

“You always know exactly what I like, don’t you?” Selin chuckled with a pleased smile.  Accepting the plate and looking up at him through her lashes. “It's almost like you can read my mind.”

The food I was eating suddenly felt tasteless. Turning to ash in my mouth.

As though to test me further, Selin suddenly squealed, letting out a sharp gasp. “Oh! Oh, goodness!” 

She had spilled her glass of bright orange juice all over her chest.

Even the blind could see through her desperate tactics at this point.

The juice pooled between her breasts, sticking the low-cut material to her cleavage.  Even in the dim light, it was impossible to ignore.

All eyes turned to her immediately. I noted the way Kaan’s eyes widened slightly. And the minute she opened her mouth to call for Kaan, I snapped.

“Let me help you.” I grabbed the napkins and moved to her. Selin’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “Oh—no, Luna, it’s fine, I can just—you don't have to bother—”

“It’s no bother at all,” I interrupted, stepping closer and blocking Kaan from moving. 

My voice, saccharine sweet as I looked in Selin’s eyes and smiled. “After all, it wouldn’t be appropriate for the Alpha to do it. No wife in her right mind wants to watch her husband touch another woman’s chest right in front of her, right?”

She flushed crimson, then forced a watery, trembling smile. “I’m so sorry, Tessy. Before you and Kaan got married, he’d always take care of me like this. I just didn’t think you’d mind.” With an awkward laugh, she shook her head. “I guess I should be more careful. My figure develops a little too well— these accidents always happen. Honestly, I even envy you, Tessy.”

Selin paused, letting her gaze drop to my chest. “You don’t have to deal with these problems.”

Dignity be damned, I was putting a final stop to this nonsense.

“Ce— “ I opened my mouth to give her the tongue-lashing of her life when a heavy hand gripped my palm.

“It’s time to go, baby.” 

Kaan’s voice was soft enough. But the force of the warning when he squeezed my hand had me swallowing my tongue.

“You don’t look well at all.” He squeezed my hand again. Taking his napkin as he turned to his Beta with a command. “Lucas, take my wife home. She needs rest.”