Chapter 2

It was late when I got back to the pack house.

But I didn't rest. I went straight to clearing things out.

Ethan’s Alpha ceremonial robes, the cubs’ wolf toys, family scent markers…

I threw them all into boxes, one by one.

“Aria, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind?” Ethan’s low voice came from behind me.

I turned. He was standing in the doorway with the two cubs.

His golden wolf eyes looked particularly cold in the moonlight, his brow furrowed.

“Why is Mother throwing away our hunting practice dummy!” Maya ran over, her little legs pumping.

When she saw her favorite little deer, woven from wolf-tail grass, tossed into a basket, her face flushed red with anger, her wolf ears even perked up warily.

Mason also bared his pup fangs at me, snarling, “We just went to Auntie Isabella’s place for a little while. Do you have to challenge Father’s authority like this?”

Ethan’s sharp gaze landed on me, like he was examining a disobedient, lower-ranking wolf. “The cubs like being close to Isabella. As the pack’s Luna, are you going to cause a scene over something so small and disturb the whole pack?”

“I’m not causing a scene,” I replied calmly, my voice flat.

“Liar!” Maya shrieked. “You’re just jealous that Auntie Isabella gets Father’s attention! That’s why you threw away my toy! You’re a bad mother!”

“After my coming-of-age ceremony, I’m moving to Auntie Isabella’s place,” Mason said, grabbing his sister’s hand and growling fiercely. “And I’m never coming back to see you!”

Ethan didn’t stop the cubs’ rudeness, just frowned slightly, his deep wolf eyes sweeping over me. It was the look he’d give a strange, petulant wolf.

“Enough.” His lips barely moved, his low voice carrying the natural authority of an Alpha.

His long fingers idly adjusted his wolf-tooth necklace. “The council of elders has an important meeting. Throw away whatever you want, just don’t make too much noise and disrupt the pack’s harmony.”

The moment the door closed, my tears finally fell, silent.

My heart felt like it was being ripped apart by wolf claws. Every breath was a stab of pain.

I wiped my tears and looked at the mess all over the floor.

Suddenly, I laughed.

Don’t worry, I won’t bother him.

Not for the rest of my life.

…

Ever since Ethan had put his mark on that contract, I’d stopped taking care of any pack business.

I no longer got up at dawn to mix herbal juices with morning dew to strengthen the cubs.

I no longer waited up late for Ethan to return, to prepare moonflower dew to restore his energy.

All those things I used to see as my Luna duties were now neglected.

At first, no wolf in the pack noticed anything wrong.

Not until Mason was late for cub combat training because he was out of energy, and got a harsh scolding from the Beta instructor.

Not until Maya couldn’t find her special prayer bone at the Moon Goddess' sacrificial ceremony.

Not until Ethan’s Alpha mark, the totem representing his power and authority, somehow started to dim, losing its usual shine.

The Omegas in charge of daily pack life were scrambling, but they just couldn't meet the previous Luna's standards.

The kitchen sink was piled with unwashed dishes. The cubs’ toys were scattered around the living room.

Even Ethan’s Alpha ceremonial robe, which needed to be scented with special herbs, always carried a strange smell.

This pack house, once so orderly under my care, filled with my healing Omega scent, gradually became a mess, thick with chaos and anxiety.

When Ethan pushed open the wooden door to my side bedroom, I was by the window, reading an ancient werewolf herbal guide.

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on me.

“How long are you going to keep testing my limits?” He stood in the doorway, his voice low.

I closed the book and looked up at him, my eyes calm and empty. “I’m not testing your limits.”

“Then why aren’t you doing your duties as Luna anymore?” He took a few steps closer.

His familiar Alpha scent filled the air, but it just made me feel suffocated. “Still sulking about Isabella?”

“I’m not sulking.” I put the guide aside. “I just don’t want to do it anymore.”

Ethan narrowed his dangerous golden wolf eyes, his long fingers tapping lightly on the stone windowsill. “Reason.”

“I’m tired,” I said calmly. “There are plenty of Omegas in the pack. If I don’t do it, someone else will be willing to.”

I remembered my past life, how I’d get up before dawn every day, using my healing wolf ability to harmonize the pack's energies.

Ethan’s drinking water had to come from the place where the moonlight was strongest. His roasted meat had to be the tenderest elk heart.

The cubs’ fur had to be washed with specific flower and herb juices. Even the grass they played on had to be purified with my scent to ward off evil spirits.

And what did I get in return? Ethan’s undisguised gentle scent for Isabella.

The cubs’ complete reliance on "Auntie Isabella’s" sweet Omega scent.

My lonely death on a full moon night at sixty-two, my wolf soul scattering.

“Aria.” His voice turned cold, carrying an Alpha’s warning. “If you have a problem, solve it the werewolf way. Don’t act like an immature cub throwing a tantrum.”

I curled my lip in a sarcastic smile. “I’m not throwing a tantrum. I just want… to rest.”

Before I finished speaking, the door was thrown open violently.

Mason and Maya stormed in, their little faces full of anger towards me.

“Mother is too lazy!” Maya shrieked, her voice almost a howl. “We want Auntie Isabella to take care of us! Her scent is the most comfortable!”

Mason chimed in, “Auntie Isabella is nicer than you, stronger than you, a million times better than you! She’s the real Luna of our pack!”

Ethan’s eyes stayed locked on my face, as if waiting for me to give in, to release my calming Omega scent again.

But I just took a deep breath and said softly, “Since you think she’s so great, then bring her to the main house. I have no objection.”

The air instantly froze.

Even the moonlight seemed to stop moving.

Ethan’s face darkened completely.

The Alpha’s pressure was almost suffocating.

“Are you sure?” he asked, one word at a time, a storm brewing in his golden wolf eyes.

I fought against the pressure, taking a difficult but firm deep breath. “Very sure.”

“Father, let’s go!” Maya tugged at Ethan’s clothes impatiently. “I want Auntie Isabella to come over right now! Her place is too small!”

“With Auntie Isabella, we don’t need you!” Mason made a snarling face at me. “You can leave! Leave this pack! Our pack has no use for a worthless Omega!”

Ethan gave me one last look.

Seeing I was still unmoved, not even batting an eyelid, he finally turned and strode away with the two cheering cubs.

I stood there, listening to their retreating footsteps and the cubs’ excited yips, and gently closed my eyes.

Soon, I would give them what they wanted.

I would leave them completely, leave this pack, leave this suffocating mate bond.