WHEN SILENCE BREAKS

At the Pack meeting the next day, the meeting room smelled faintly of paper and polished wood. Long tables gleamed under bright lights, and the sound of low voices filled the air. Elena sat near the end of the row, her hands folded neatly in her lap, wishing she could disappear.

The Luna Council meetings were supposed to make her feel important…respected, even…but instead, they only reminded her how small she felt.

Across the table, the other high-ranking pack women spoke easily, their voices calm but commanding.

“Security on the northern border is tightening,” one Luna said.

“Our trade agreement with Crescent Moon needs review,” another added.

They talked about finance, territory, defence-things Elena barely understood. She tried to keep up, tried to look interested, but every word felt like it floated above her head.

Her gaze shifted toward Sophia.

Sophia looked radiant even in something simple…a cream silk blouse, her long blonde hair cascading down her back. Every time she spoke, the room seemed to listen. Her voice was clear, confident, and sweet enough to make even the elders lean forward.

Elena’s stomach twisted.

She didn’t want to compare, but it was impossible not to.

***

“The meeting will now move on to pack welfare,” Elder Patricia announced, adjusting her glasses. “Specifically, the new childcare proposal.”

Elena sat up a little straighter. This, she thought, I can do. She loved children. Maybe she could finally say something useful.

But before she could gather her courage, she noticed Sophia’s seat. Directly across the room…in Damien’s line of sight.

Every time he looked up from his notes, his eyes went straight to Sophia. Every time Sophia moved, his gaze followed.

They weren’t even trying to hide it.

Elena’s fingers tightened around her pen.

“The meeting droned on,” Elder Patricia’s voice blended with the shuffle of papers. Elena tried to listen, but her mind kept drifting—back to Damien’s quiet distance, back to Sophia’s easy laughter.

“Luna Elena?”

Her head jerked up. “I’m sorry…what?”

Disapproval radiated from Elder Patricia. “I asked for your input on the new childcare proposal.”

Elena blinked, her thoughts blank. “I… I think we should consider what’s best for the pups,” she said softly.

Someone snickered. Another whispered something under her breath.

“That’s very… insightful,” Elder Patricia said dryly. “Anyone else?”

Sophia raised her hand gracefully. “If I may, I’ve prepared a detailed plan that balances education and safety. I took the liberty of consulting a few teachers and caregivers.”

Of course she had.

As Sophia spoke, confidence radiated off her. Her ideas were organized, her voice clear, her smile charming. Even Elena had to admit…it was a good plan.

When Sophia finished, the room erupted in polite applause.

Damien looked up from his seat at the head of the table. His eyes warmed…for Sophia.

“That was well thought out,” he said, voice calm but approving. “We’ll move forward with your plan.”

He hadn’t looked at Elena once.

The meeting moved on, but Elena didn’t hear another word.

Later, outside the council hall, the cool air hit her face. She walked quickly, head down, hoping no one would stop her. But of course, Sophia’s voice followed.

“Luna Elena!”

Elena stopped, forcing a smile as Sophia approached, her heels clicking against the floor.

“You seemed distracted in there,” Sophia said sweetly. “I hope everything’s alright.”

Elena’s throat tightened. “Just tired, I guess.”

Sophia tilted her head, all sympathy and softness. “You know, these meetings can be overwhelming for someone who’s not… used to leadership.”

Elena froze. “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, nothing bad.” Sophia’s smile widened. “You just have such a gentle energy. Not everyone’s meant for politics, right?”

The words sliced sharper than they sounded.

Elena forced a laugh. “Maybe not.”

Sophia’s eyes gleamed. “Don’t worry. The pack is lucky to have someone like you. You’re… comforting.”

Elena didn’t reply. She just nodded, waiting for Sophia to walk away before exhaling shakily.

***

When she finally got home, the house was empty and quiet. Damien was gone. Theo was at school. Elena was alone.

She went to her computer, the one place she felt competent. The one thing she was actually good at.

Elena had been teaching herself to code for the past six months. She'd started on a whim, taking free online courses late at night when she couldn't sleep. And she'd discovered something amazing: she was naturally good at it.

Programming made sense to her in a way that nothing else did. The logic, the problem-solving, the way everything fit together perfectly if you just understood the patterns.

She opened her laptop and logged into her coding class. Today's lesson was on advanced algorithms. Elena dove in, losing herself in lines of code, in problems that had solutions, in a world where things made sense.

For two hours, she forgot about Damien's coldness. Forgot about Theo calling Sophia "Mommy." Forgot about the pack mothers' cruel words.

She was just Elena, solving problems, creating something beautiful with her mind.

When her phone buzzed, she almost didn't check it. But it might be Theo's school, so she picked it up.

It was a text from Damien: Won't be home for dinner. Don't wait up.

Elena stared at the text. No explanation. No apology. Just another night alone.

She texted back: Okay.

Then she set her phone down and went back to coding, her fingers flying over the keyboard, creating order in the chaos of her life.

Outside, the sun was shining. Inside, Elena was drowning.

But she didn't know that in two years, she would look back on this moment and realize it was the beginning of her transformation. That every night spent coding while her husband was gone was building the foundation for her future empire.

That every cruel word from pack members was making her stronger without her knowing it.

That every tear she cried alone was watering the seeds of the woman she would become.

Right now, Elena just felt broken.

But broken things can be rebuilt.

And sometimes, they come back stronger than before.

PART II

Elena stood in front of the mirror, hands trembling slightly as she applied a final touch of lipstick. The soft crimson colour brightened her pale face just enough to make her look alive.

Six years.

Six years since the day she’d said yes to the man who was supposed to be her mate, her partner, her forever.

She smoothed the wrinkles from her simple navy dress, the only nice one she owned. It wasn’t fancy like the gowns Sophia wore, but she hoped it was enough.

“Tonight will be different,” she whispered to her reflection. “He’ll remember.”

The restaurant had taken nearly all her saved money, she had planned out their anniversary, hoping this time he’d show up. She wanted to believe…just this once…that maybe Damien would smile when he saw her effort. That maybe he’d see her.

By seven o’clock, the table was ready. Candles flickered softly, two glasses of wine waiting untouched.

Elena checked her phone again. No message. No call.

She tried not to panic. He’s busy. Something came up. He’ll be here.

Eight o’clock.

The waiter came by with a polite smile. “Will your husband be joining you soon, ma’am?”

She swallowed hard. “Yes. Any minute now.”

The waiter nodded kindly and walked away, but she could feel the pity in his eyes.

Nine o’clock.

The wine had gone warm. Her makeup had smudged. The candles had burned halfway down.

Her phone remained silent.

When she finally stood up, the waiter gently took the still-full wine glasses away. “Would you like me to pack your meal, ma’am?”

“No,” she whispered. “Just cancel it.”

She walked out of the restaurant with her head held high, even though her vision blurred. The night air was cold, biting against her skin, but not as cold as the emptiness spreading through her chest.

The house was quiet when she arrived home. Too quiet.

Then she heard it…the soft click of the front door.

Damien walked in, phone in one hand, jacket slung over his shoulder. The faint scent of floral perfume drifted from him, too familiar to ignore.

He looked up briefly, surprised to see her standing there. “You’re still awake?”

Elena’s heart dropped. “Still awake?” Her voice came out small. “Damien, it’s our anniversary.”

He frowned, confused. “Our what?”

“Our wedding anniversary.”

There was a pause. A heartbeat of silence before he sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “Right. I forgot. It’s been a long day, Elena. Can we not do this right now?”

Her lips parted. “You forgot?”

“Things slip my mind sometimes,” he said flatly, walking past her toward his office.

“That’s all you have to say?” Her voice rose despite her efforts. “No apology? No explanation?”

He stopped at the doorway, shoulders tense. “I’m tired. I’ve had meetings all day.”

She took a shaky breath. “Meetings that smell like her perfume?”

That made him turn. His expression hardened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You come home late every night, smelling like flowers I don’t wear.”

“You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?” Her voice cracked. “Because I see how you look at Sophia during meetings, Damien. Everyone does. You don’t even try to hide it.”

“That’s enough.”

“No, it’s not!” The words spilled out before she could stop them. “Do you even realize what it feels like to be invisible in your own marriage? To sit across from your husband and watch him pretend you don’t exist?”

Damien’s jaw clenched. “You’re being dramatic.”

“I waited for you tonight,” she said quietly. “I made a reservation at the place we had our first date. I sat there for two hours.”

Something flickered in his eyes…guilt, maybe…but it vanished as quickly as it came.

“Elena…”

She laughed bitterly. “Don’t. Don’t say my name like that. You don’t get to soften it when you’ve spent years breaking me down.”

His brows drew together. “You’re overreacting.”

“Am I?” she shot back. “You ignore me in public, you avoid me in private, and our son can barely stand to be around me. You’ve made sure I have nothing left.”

Damien sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re tired. Let’s talk when you’re calm.”

“I am calm,” she said, voice trembling. “That’s the problem. I’m calm because I stopped expecting anything from you a long time ago.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

She took a step closer, eyes glistening. “Do you remember when we used to laugh? When you couldn’t stop touching me? When you called me your Luna like it meant something?”

He looked away. “Things change.”

“No,” she whispered. “People do.”

For a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them was heavy with all the words they hadn’t said in years.

Finally, she let out a slow breath. “You know what, Damien? I’m done waiting for you to see me.”

He stared at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’m done begging for your attention. I’m done shrinking myself just to make you comfortable.”

She turned away, her voice barely a whisper. “You forgot our anniversary. But I’ll remember this night forever.”

Elena walked past him, straight to the stairs. Her legs shook with every step, but she didn’t stop.

Behind her, Damien called out, “Elena.”

She didn’t look back.

When she reached their bedroom, she closed the door and leaned against it, her breath trembling. Then, for the first time in years, she let herself cry, not quietly, not neatly, but loudly.

Tears soaked her sleeves as her body shook.

And when she finally lifted her head, the glow of her laptop still blinked softly from the corner of the room.

The coding course page was open.

Lines of numbers and commands stared back at her, waiting.

She walked over, wiped her tears, and sat down.

If Damien couldn’t see her worth, she’d create her own.

Her fingers began to move across the keyboard again, steady this time. The words appeared, one by one…her rhythm, her control, her voice returning.

For the first time that night, she didn’t feel powerless.

She felt awake.