The Nightmare

Maddie pov's

“Why is she here?” I mumble as I see her standing so close to him.

An uneasy feeling creeps inside me, as if I’ve lost my footing the moment her figure reappears before me. She is my nightmare, the one who terrifies me the most. It’s her, Emma.

The ex-lover of my mate and my husband.

Emma was Aaron’s lover before we were declared mates. Their love story once burned so passionately, and then something happened between them, something I was never able to fully understand.

Without realizing it, my hands clenched tightly at the edge of my jacket when I caught Aaron’s gaze—so soft, directed at her.

Those things tore me apart. I felt both anger and sorrow at the same time. It felt so unfair.

He has never looked at me that way, no matter what I do for him. Even when I told him I loved him, he only looked at me with irritation in his eyes. But with her, he is completely different, like someone who truly knows how to treat another with gentleness, warmth, and love. My heart shattered into pieces knowing I don’t deserve that kind of treatment from him.

Why, all of a sudden, is she back?

And why on earth does Aaron make that face when he sees her, but never for me? I am his mate, the one who should be his priority.

Perhaps he is still in love with her? And if that’s true, I can’t even imagine it. Just remembering that she was once the woman Aaron loved already makes my heart throb painfully. I don’t have the confidence to be compared to her, especially in front of Aaron.

Even though I’m his Luna, I can’t deny the anxiety I feel because of her presence.

Everyone knows they used to be lovers. They shared a deep bond, and everyone acknowledged it. They became a couple back in high school, and even though Aaron’s family opposed their relationship, it never tore them apart.

Aaron showed deep affection and care, making his warrior, the Beta, and the others treat her with kindness. They respected her more than they respected me, as if accepting her as his lover was far more reasonable than recognizing me as their Luna.

I bit my lips, torn between anger and pain. The ache in my heart was beyond words. Still, I forced myself to stay calm and entered the room. Everyone looked at me with cold eyes, their gazes shifting between Aaron and Emma. 

They didn’t even bother to hide their contempt for me.

“What are you doing here?”

Those warm, gentle, caring eyes instantly turned sharp and cold the moment they landed on me.

How cruel. My heart felt like it was being pierced, and the pain was unbearable. I clenched my fists tightly and tried to smile.

“I heard what happened to the pack, so I thought I’d come to help.”

It was just an excuse.

As a Luna, I had pride and feelings. It crushed my ego to be treated this way, but still, I wanted to give him my best. I would do anything, anything—just to make him look at me with pride in his eyes.

“Aaron, you shouldn’t speak to Maddie like that.” Emma’s voice softened as she boldly scolded him for his attitude.

She gained their sympathy so easily, and it infuriated me.

“It’s fine, Emma. You don’t need to interfere.” I answered calmly, not wanting her involved in our conversation.

“I… I was just trying to calm him down, Maddie. I’m sorry.” she stammered, clinging tightly to Aaron’s arm.

Aaron’s sharp glare burned into me as he pulled her even closer. “Watch your attitude, Maddie.”

How could he be so blind to my feelings, yet so sensitive about hers? I wasn’t even trying to hurt her, yet I was the one being scolded.

When the Luna herself is treated with disdain by the Alpha, then no member of the pack will ever respect her. Aaron knew that, yet he didn’t even bother to restrain himself in front of them.

That’s why everyone there started gossiping about me. Everyone knows that Aaron is not into me. No, completely not into me. They suspect it’s because I lied about being his fated mate, since I had so openly shown my love for him ever since I was a teenager, only holding myself back when he and Emma became lovers.

At first, all the people praised me. They showered me with sweet words for being his mate. But now… I don’t even get a single greeting. Their eyes turn toward me filled with annoyance, with a contempt I could never have imagined.

But the truth is different. On my eighteenth birthday, I knew that Aaron was my fated mate. I felt it, even if it wasn’t as overwhelming as the stories people always told. I just couldn’t defend myself in front of them, because Aaron didn’t feel the same way. This bond became ambiguous to others, something questionable that I could never fully explain.

“Why did you come? You’re not needed here. I don’t want you interfering.”

My eyes burned as I held back my tears.

“Aaron, please don’t be so harsh to her. You’re hurting her feelings…” Her voice was soft and frail as she pleaded with Aaron.

As if her words were some spell cast upon him, his glare melted into sympathy for her. He showed just how much he cared for her, and the more his sympathy grew, the more something inside me boiled.

Aaron’s brow furrowed, his anger directed at me instead. “She doesn’t deserve your defense, Emma.”

I never once hoped for his protection. Unfortunately, none of them knew what Emma truly was. A few years ago, I had an accident that injured my legs. It was Emma who caused it. She was furious with me, and she pushed me down a hill. As I fell, she warned me that Aaron was hers, not mine.

But of course, no one would believe what I said.

That kind of dolly-eyed girl would never hurt anyone.

In their eyes, she is so pure, delicate, and weak to the point that she needs their protection.

Aaron turned his gaze toward me sharply. “She’s nothing like you, Maddie.”

Something inside me twisted, he knew exactly how to hurt me.

It made me hide a bitter smile while I stood still, staring at his face that was full of disgust for me.

“I’m so fed up with you. Stop acting innocent, because I already know what you did!”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice trembling.

Emma panicked, grasping desperately at Aaron’s arm, but he shook her off and stepped toward me. “No, Aaron. Don’t do this! Don’t tell her anything! Please, it’s not her fault.”

I clenched my teeth, my cold eyes fixed on her.

“No. Tell me clearly—what did I do?”

I don’t understand. I’m so confused right now.

Aaron grabbed my chin roughly and forced my face toward him.

“Say nothing to her. Right now, your business is with me.”

Moon Goddess, please! Please, I can’t take this. His hatred toward me, it hurts so much.

There’s something in his eyes that feels like heartbreak.

I trembled in his grip, shaking my head as tears streamed down my face. “Aaron, what did that woman tell you? Trust me! I never lied to you.”

“Stop that bullshit, Maddie. I won’t be fooled by you.”

His cold eyes bore into me, sharp and merciless, like there was nothing left inside him but disgust for me.

“You act innocent in front of us,” his bitter, icy face stared me down,

“while you’re the one who threatened her, and the reason Emma disappeared all this time! You made her afraid of you!”

His voice was furious, but I still didn’t understand.

But, I did nothing to her, I swear!

“Aaron, you misunderstood.” I tried to justify myself. “Aaron, listen to me first, shouldn’t we at least try to—”

“Enough, Maddie.” Aaron turned to me. For a moment, I saw his eyes twitch, as if he realized something. But then, he brushed it off. He rolled his eyes toward the others and gave them a gesture.

“I don’t want to see her anymore. Take her to the crypt.” I swear, Aaron felt colder than ever before. He didn’t look at me like someone he had known for a long time, but like a criminal who needed to be judged.

They moved quickly the moment they received his order.

“Aaron! Please, tell them to let me go! I beg you, Aaron! Aaron, please!” I tried to kneel in front of him, begging for his mercy, but it was useless. He didn’t even look at me.

It felt like hell. I was burning, mad, and tortured by him. I will never forget how he turned his back on me and walked away.