2

CHAPTER TWO 

ANDREA 

When next my eyes snapped open, it was to the sight of the pack doctor. “Y-you're finally awake?” Her fingers stretched forward. The warmth of her palms braced my cheeks as she examined me with a stiff gaze.

“T-this is a miracle. The moon goddess really has greater plans for you. This is good news.”

Her voice floated into my ears, steering me out of sleep. My vision remained hazy but I could still see the bright gleam in her eyes. It bit past he hazy fog floating over my eyes.

“I get that your vision might still be unclear. Your wolf is hurting and staying calm is the b—”

I tried to recollect the memories of last night. I remembered. I felt the pressing weight of Michael's betrayal on my chest. I remembered the look he shot me when he opened the door. 

Disgust.

A sob rippled through my lips. I tried my best to bite it back but it came out anyway. And she heard it. Jean’s voice sliced through the air line a blade. “I know it must be hard for you. I mean after—”

I interrupted her. “How long have I been here?”

I felt the haze over my eyes fade slowly. I began to see more of her once it was all fully gone. Her crimson red eyes scanned through the room before landing on me. “It's been two weeks.”

“T-wo weeks.”

Tears stung my vision. It had been two weeks since the mating season. Two weeks since they betrayed me. If someone had told me Madeline was the other woman, I’d laugh into their faces.

I trusted her more than I did to myself. She was the closest thing I had to a best friend. I scanned the room for a quick second while trying my very best to hold back the tears. I couldn't break down in front of the pack doctor.

Lunas weren't meant to show any signs weekness. I had to keep up the image of the fierce lady I'd put over the years. I dug my nails into my palms before steering restlessly on the bed.

“Did he ever visit through the two weeks?”

Silence.

I wasn't sure which hurt more between Jean's silence and the fact that I'd been at the pack hospital for two weeks and he didn't even bother to check up on me. 

Was that how much he hated me?

“A-and Madison?” 

My breath quivered in the fear of the response I was going to receive. Silence bridged in the air for a series of seconds. I thought like all the other times, Jean would allow silence be my response but this time, she actually replied me.

“After you passed out and was rushed here, the alpha announced her as his compnion in front of everyone. Rumors going around says he's trying to get the elders to accept her as the luna after he rejects you. That also triggered your wolf as the bond you shared was severed. It caused you to go into a coma. I feared you wouldn't make it but you did.”

Jean's voice remained heavy in the air. Her words haunted me. I clutched a handful of the blanket and used it as a stress ball. I wasn't sure which scared me more between the fact that I was no longer Micheal’s mate and the fact that he'd left me for her. 

My breath hitched. 

“The rumours are always true. I've learned the hard way.”

The tears that'd been gathering in my eyes grew to it's filling point and started trickling down my cheeks. I sniffed softly, trying my best to wipe it quickly but she'd already seen me. 

“It's okay to be vulnerable, Luna. The pain of an impending losing a mate to another wolf is great. Most people's wolves don't get to live through it but you did. Cheers to that.”

I tried my best to muster up a smile. Nothing came up. For years, I tried my best to be the perfect Luna for him. I lost a whole lot of weight, grew my hair out and followed each and every one of his needs. I dedicated years of my life to pleasing him but now, it dawned on me that I would never be enough for him.

As a young she-wolf, I used to think being the Luna meant being loved and cherished by not just the pack members but also my mate. Clearly, I was wrong. It was nothing like I'd imagined.

I was just about to speak when a sound blared through the air. I knew that sound. It was the pack's trumpet. It was used in summoning all members of the pack for imprortant announcements— announcements they mustn't miss.

“You can stay behind. If Alpha Michael asks, I'll tell him you're not strong enough to be—”

I interrupted her. “No. I want to go.”

I stepped down from the bed slowly. My legs quivered as blood washed into my veins. It took a while before I was able to stand firmly but I scaled through. Jean helped me out of the hospital and into the pack hall. 

We were already late when we got there. The guards were just about to close the gate when we arrived. They flashed Jean a warning frown as thty opened the gate for us to strut in.

Thea announcer’s voice was heavy in the air. “Let us all welcome Alpha Micheal and Lun—”

A thin silence hung in the air. Mumblings rose in the air. The guests all paused to look at each other in shock and confusion. Jean and I did the same. 

I fixed my gaze on the announcer like my life depended on it. I waited to hear his next line of words. An assistant immediately hurried up the stairs to his cubicle and whispered something in his ears. 

“I apologize for the mistake. Since the current Luna isn't available due to medical reasons, we will continue the mee—”

I was just about to grace out a sigh of relief when a voice beamed in. “I'll stand in for her. I'm obviously going to get the position after all.”

The crowd gasped in shock. Micheal and Madison stepped onto the high platform. Micheal, dressed in a dark suit with hair let down, walked to his throne and took a seat. Madeline was just about to do the same when I yelled.

“I don't think that will be needed. I'm here.”

Several gazes flung in my direction. I limped towards the stairs and was helped up to the platform by a guard. When I was finally settled into my seat which was beside Micheal, I didn't even bat an eye at him. 

Instead, I stared at her. Madeline. Before the meeting started, I whispered to her. “W-why?”

Her cold eyes shimmered under the soft lightning. “Why? That must be the stupidest thing I've heard all week. I've alwatst wanted to be Luna. I've always knew how to get what I want. You see I am skinnier, stronger and more beautiful than you. I just manage to tick all of Alpha Michael’s boxes and now, we're exclusive.”

Akasha thrashed at my insides. I clenched my fists, trying my best to hold in my emotions. I couldn't afford to have them see me like this. A Luna shouldn't break down, that was the rule.

I watched as she locked hands with my mate. Michael gripped her neck with his free hand and pulled her close, claiming her lips in a hot fiery kiss. Madeline's hands moved down to his pants to feel the bulge in them. 

My breath hitched. 

I tried to fix my gaze on something else but I couldn't bring myself to do that. “Cone sit here,” he murmured, tapping his palm against his lap. Madeline hopped into his legs and started grinding her ass over his bulge whole he teased her with his fingers.

I tried to overlook it. To act as if it was all normal. It wasn't. I managed to hold in my emotions through the first half of the meeting. The instant the announcer announced the short break, I snapped.

“How could you do this to me?”

Michael's gaze only intensified with an emotion that were as clear as day. Hate. It burned like a fire in his eyes.

“How could I? You don't compare to Madeline. I can't have a weak wolf as my luna. Moreover, you're—”

I interrupted. “Fat? Incompetent? Is there any insult that's new to me. All these years, I've done my duty as your mate and luna. I have followed the rules, abided by each and every single one of them to please you, to be the perfect Luna but nothing I can do can get you to ever appreciate my efforts.”

“That's just pathetic, sweetheart.” Madeline's voice revved softly though the air. “Micheal, right here, is going to make me Luna soon. Isn't that right?”

Michael's lips brushed over hers again, this time, making all the air in my lungs fade away quickly. I struggled to catch my breath, “You might have successfully taken my mate but I won't let you have my position. I worked for it through blood and sweat. I'm not going down without a fight.”

Michael lolled his head back in laughter. “Fight? Madeline is already with child. Making her Luna should be the easiest thing to do now.”

My brows twitched. “Pregnant?”