Kontrak Rahim Pengganti untuk Sang Pewaris

Chapter 1

I stared at the table that had already been set out before me. The dishes had been ruined by the rain. The scented candles and confetti I had meticulously arranged during the day were also ruined, washed into nothing but a messy blur beneath the downpour.

“Luna, you need to leave now so you do not catch a cold. I don’t think the Alpha would still be coming,” my servant said to me.

There was a shrill tone in her voice, as if she was truly bothered about me, as if she was scared I might fall sick from the huge downpour I had been sitting under for hours now.

“I’ve repeatedly gone to call the Alpha, but his guards won't allow me to meet him. They always keep giving the same excuses,” she continued, but I stopped her with a flicker of my hand.

I didn’t want to bother her with my problems. I had already decided to leave once the moon was out.

Today was my fourth anniversary to Alpha Dante. I had informed him some days ago about it, but he always seemed to forget. And he was always busy with the pack for us to even decide how to celebrate it.

So I had spent the day cooking, informing him beforehand to meet me here, where we were to dine together. Under the cozy weather before the downpour would begin.

But four hours had passed since then, and he still wasn’t here. I knew today was the pack’s New Year ceremony, which Dante was hosting and had invited other alphas to, but was spending such little time with me too difficult for him?

“Luna…” she whispered again, softer this time, but I stood up before she could continue. The moon was slowly glowing, rising into the sky, and I couldn’t be found here like this.

“We should return and prepare for the ceremony tonight. The Luna shouldn’t be found missing,” I added.

I turned back towards the scattered table, my eyes lingering for a brief second longer than necessary, and asked her to have the other servants clear it while I walked back to my room.

A dress was already waiting for me by my bed. My servant had prepared everything.

Quickly, I changed into it, getting ready for the ceremony.

I wasn’t fully ready when the door opened, and two servants walked in, carrying a box which they handed to me.

“The Alpha asked us to bring this to you, Luna,” they said at the same time.

My face lit up with a smile, something warm and hopeful blooming in my chest. Finally, I thought. He hadn’t forgotten about our anniversary, and neither had he failed to send a gift. Perhaps he had been busy with pack matters, which was why he had only resorted to sending his gift across now.

I opened the gift box happily, ignoring the card that fell off as I admired the dress inside. Beside it was a necklace. It had no box, but I didn’t mind. Perhaps, in his rush, he had forgotten to ask the attendant to package the necklace as well.

My servant bent down to pick up the card that had fallen, but I noticed the way the look on her face changed the moment her eyes skimmed through it.

“What is it?” I managed to ask, my voice quieter now, as I stared at her.

She seemed reluctant to answer, her fingers tightening around the card, and I had to force it out of her hand.

My face immediately dulled the second I read its contents.

“Who gave these gifts to you and asked you to send them to my chambers?” I snapped at the two girls before me.

They hadn’t left my chambers, as I hadn’t given them the orders to.

They fell to the floor, pleading, their bodies trembling.

“I’m sorry, Luna, but we were called by the Alpha to his chambers and he…”

“How dare you still lie to me!” I snapped as I held out the card to them, my hand shaking despite myself.

I love you, Veronica. Accept these gifts as a token of my affection.

That was what was written on it. My name was Alba, not Veronica. Were they going to pretend not to know that?

“I’m so sorry, Luna!” the second suddenly shouted, touching her companion as if asking her to keep silent, fear flashing across her face.

“Although we were called by the Alpha, the gifts he bought had been originally meant for Miss Veronica, but she asked the Alpha to bring these ones to you. She didn’t like them and so…”

“Get out!” I thundered, my voice breaking as I threw the box in front of me away, the contents scattering across the floor.

“Out!” I added, my chest heaving as I watched them scurry away from my chambers like frightened mice.

“Luna, you should calm down. The…” My servant tried to pacify me, stepping closer, but I didn’t listen to her nor stop as I stood up abruptly and began walking out of my room.

I needed to meet Dante. I needed to confront him. What manner of insult was this? How dare he send me his first love’s rejects?

It was ironic. She had only returned to the pack a year ago, and yet he was always thinking of her, putting her first before I, who was his Luna—spending time with her while neglecting me as though I didn’t exist.

He hadn’t just forgotten that it was meant to be our anniversary. Hadn’t just set the date of the ceremony he was hosting to be on that same day. Hadn’t just disrespected and humiliated me before the pack for years—but now he was sinking deeper into this humiliation, all just to satisfy his first love’s demands.

“Out of my way!” I snapped at the guard who tried to stop me from approaching Dante’s room.

“The Alpha is in a very important meeting and wouldn’t want to be disturbed by anyone. I am only following orders, Luna.”

“Orders? Anyone?” I repeated after him, a bitter bile rising in my throat, burning just as painfully as the humiliation in my chest.

“I am the Luna!” I snapped, my voice sharper now, but even to my own ears, it sounded hollow.

“Would you want me to take up this disrespect of yours with the Alpha Council?” I added, using that as my excuse, since I already knew that Dante would do nothing even if I were to tell him.

I was the Luna—but only in name. Most of the pack didn’t even respect me. After all, I was still the same wolfless mutt their Alpha had been forced to mark four years ago because she was his fated mate.

A searing pain shot through my body, sudden and merciless, and I fell to the floor before I could hold myself from doing so.

Dante’s mark burned against my neck, scorching and pulsing with something I didn’t want to name—and I didn’t need anyone to tell me why.

How much longer, Alba? I asked myself, my fingers trembling as they pressed against the burning mark.

For how much longer were my going to endure all this from him?