Chapter 2

"Rowan."

I turned to face him as I felt the stabbing pain from our mate bond.

The whisperings of our pack only hurt me further. They were looking at me with pity and confusion. Some could not even hide the condescending look in their eyes.

No Luna had ever been publicly humiliated by her Alpha in the history of werewolves.

"I'll ask for the Moon Goddess' permission to annul our union as mates." My voice was calm. Every word could be heard clearly.

Rowan turned pale. "You're crazy. You can't do that."

"Yes, I can." I looked him straight in the eyes. "And that's exactly what I will do."

"You should calm down, Stella—"

"I am calm," I interrupted him. "I have never been so calm."

He quickly shook his head. "No, you're just saying this out of anger. Let's talk when we get back—"

"There's nothing to talk about."

I turned to walk toward the parking lot, and Rowan followed quickly behind me.

"Wait!" He grabbed my arm. "Riley has nowhere to go. I can't just leave her and her son behind."

I stopped and turned to look at him. "So?"

"So, I'm taking her back to the villa," Rowan said matter-of-factly. "She needs to stay somewhere safe."

She needed somewhere safe.

I laughed coldly. "When has our villa become a refuge for homeless werewolves?"

"Stella!" Rowan was warning me. "Riley was abused by her Alpha. She escaped with her pup and has nowhere to go now. I have a responsibility to protect her. It's an Alpha's responsibility."

An Alpha's responsibility. It was just another one of his grand excuses.

"Your responsibility is to protect your mate," I replied. "Not a stranger who keeps crying for help."

"She's not a stranger!" Rowan retorted. "She needs help!"

"What about me?" I asked.

"I just didn't want you to make a mistake…"

"Make a mistake?" I repeated his words. "How is it a mistake to sentence her according to the pack's rules?"

Rowan turned silent.

That was when Riley walked over to us timidly while holding her pup.

Her voice was trembling, "Alpha, I'm willing to leave if my presence is causing a conflict between you and your Luna."

"No," Rowan replied immediately. "You're not going anywhere."

He looked at me. "Get in the car. We're going back together."

Riley looked at Rowan hopefully. There were still tears in her eyes.

"Fine," I replied.

Rowan sighed with relief.

We got into the car. Riley sat in the back while hugging her pup tight.

Rowan started the car and drove toward the villa.

"Luna," Riley suddenly spoke up. She sounded so frail that I could hardly hear her voice. "I'm really sorry to have caused you so much trouble. I know you must really hate me now, but please believe me when I say that I have no malicious intentions."

She paused before continuing, "I'm just a pitiful woman with a pup. If it weren't for the kindness of the Alpha, we would have died in the wilderness."

Kindness…

I sneered silently.

"If only I weren't a burden, a damaged Omega… I would pray to the Moon Goddess for a chance to be with you because you're a true Alpha!"

Riley's words made me turn to look at her in shock. She was idolizing Rowan with passion in her eyes while ignoring me completely.

It infuriated me further to see a flash in Rowan's eyes that told me he was swayed by her words. He was seriously considering her offer!

"Stop the car," I said coldly.

The car stopped slowly by the road. I opened the door and walked to Riley's side in the car.

"Get out," I said.

"Luna?" Riley acted like she did not understand what was happening. "What's going on?"

"I said, get out," I repeated. "You and your pup should get out right now."

"What are you doing, Stella?" Rowan got out of the car as he questioned angrily.

"I'm fulfilling both your wishes," I sneered. "Since she's so grateful to you, idolizes you, and thinks you're a true Alpha, I'm giving her a chance to repay you."

Riley's face turned red. "Y-You've misunderstood me, Luna…"

She stammered and could not say anything else.

"If you don't have anything else to say, get out." I opened the car door. "You can find yourselves a nice cave to comfort each other. Your chosen mate has approved it, Rowan."

"Are you crazy?" Rowan said angrily. "This is the wilderness!"

"That's even better." My voice was cold. "No one will interrupt your passionate words for each other."

Riley was forced out of the car. The pup in her arms started to cry. She stood pitifully by the side of the road.

"Alpha, please…" She sobbed.

Rowan walked to her right away. He grabbed my wrist furiously after that. "She's just a homeless Omega. How can you be so cruel?"