Chapter 2

The burning pain on my skin still hadn't faded as I thought about my past life. The pain was so intense, it almost made me lose my balance.

I stared at the man before me.

A man like him… I was determined to send him to hell.

Amy only cried harder when I stayed silent, looking even more pitiful. I turned and met her eyes, letting out a cold chuckle.

"I'm not going to punish you, and I won't kick you out."

The moment I said that, a smug, almost arrogant, look appeared on Johnny's face. "You've finally learned how to act like a proper Luna! If you had figured this out sooner, I wouldn't have pushed you away for so long. But it's not too late to change. I'll find time and give you a pup."

Hearing Johnny say that would have made me happy—if this were in the past. Having a pup would have meant securing my place in the Pack and proving that I mattered to Johnny.

But now, I was grateful I hadn't had a pup yet.

I looked at Johnny and said coldly, "It's fine. I don't want a pup."

Confusion flashed across Johnny's face before turning into rage. "You really don't know what's good for you, do you?! Don't you care about your status and reputation the most? Me offering you a pup suits you perfectly, doesn't it? I'm warning you. If you turn me down now, don't ever dream of having a pup with me again!"

Listening to him, I could only give a bitter smile.

Johnny and I were mates chosen by the Moon Goddess.

Back then, Johnny's pack was small and weak. My parents were firmly against me suffering in a small pack like that. But I believed the Goddess wouldn't make a mistake, so I stayed.

I applied everything I had learned about management, managing the pack step by step.

Johnny used to say I was too rigid, but as the Blackfang Pack grew stronger, he stopped complaining and firmly supported me. I thought things would keep continuing just like that, but Amy came into Johnny's life about a year ago.

Amy was always clumsy, always messing up important pack plans. The most serious incident occurred when she mixed up Johnny's speech notes, causing everyone to lose respect for him.

She sobbed as Johnny yelled at her with eyes full of anger.

To keep things on track, I handed Johnny the backup copy. After the banquet, Johnny angrily forbade Amy from taking part in any more planning.

No one could've guessed that all that irritation would, with enough attention, turn into affection. Johnny was willing to kill his own wife and pup for this woman.

Seeing the determination in my eyes, Johnny started to panic.

He couldn't understand why the woman who used to care so much about having a pup now seemed completely unmoved and even rejecting him.

He tried to come closer, wanting to hug me, but Amy pulled his sleeve with all her strength.

"Alpha Johnny, don't hurt Luna Carla because of me! I'll leave on my own. Please don't fight because of me."

Johnny looked at Amy, her eyes red from crying, before gently patting her head. Then he turned and yelled at me, "Fine! Have it your way! But don't come begging me for forgiveness days later!"

I nodded calmly, showing I understood.

As the two of them were about to leave, Amy suddenly leaned in close, and her eyes turned vicious. "Johnny will only ever love me. The title of Luna will be mine, too. You can look forward to the day you're kicked out of the pack!"

After they left, I forced myself to calm down and walked to the manor covered in thorny vines.

It seemed Johnny had forgotten something. Whoever I chose to be together with would be the pack's Alpha.

Three years ago, my parents repeatedly refused to let me become Luna of such a weak pack. However, the elders of the Blackfang Pack kept assuring me and even signed a contract stating that whoever I chose would be Alpha. They promised I would never suffer any injustice here.

The first time I arrived, the elders recommended Zack, the most respected member of the pack at the time.

But I had refused. I still chose the mate the Moon Goddess had destined for me.

After we became mates, Johnny was so afraid Zack would threaten his position that he locked Zack away.

As I stood at the entrance of the manor, I crushed the only blooming rose at the gate with my hand.

Zack was nearby, leaning against the doorframe, a charming and cunning smile on his lips. "Looks like you're in trouble, Honored Luna?"

I nodded lightly, crushing the petals in my hand.

"It's time for the pack to have a new Alpha."

When Johnny returned from his trip, I would give him a surprise he would never forget.