CHAPTER 20: UNMASKING ANASTASIA

On the way back to the pack house for a shower, a few of the women stopped me.

"Luna, over here," one woman says, waving to me.

I walk over to the three ladies who look like they're up to no good. I love it! I stop a few paces away.

"Just a warning, I stink. I just got done training," I warn them.

"That's okay, we just wanted to run something by you that we were thinking of asking the Alphas. Since you were walking by, maybe you could help. I'm Sherry, by the way, and this is Maggie," she says as she points to a tall brunette.

Sherry then points to a short blond woman and says, "And this is Phyllis."

I shake each of their hands as they are introduced.

"It's nice to meet you, ladies," I say with a friendly smile.

"Do you see that large open area behind the playground?" she asks as she points to an area behind me.

I turn around to see what she's talking about. "Yes, what do you normally do in that area, and what do you have in mind?"

"See, ladies, that is why she is Luna. She asks the right questions," replied Sherry in approval. "Nothing anymore. Before the Alphas took over, it's where we held events, but since they built the ballroom, this area is not used anymore."

The ladies are silent as if they are waiting for me to say something.

"Okay, and what do you want to do there?" I ask my second question again.

"A pack garden," she says, and I give her a nod to continue. "Why purchase so many fruits and vegetables when we can just grow them here? It teaches the young ones to garden, teamwork, hard work, and responsibility. Plus, it is something that they can be proud of," says Sherry proudly.

"I see. What is the layout plan?" I ask, and they all look around, confused. So, I make a suggestion.

"You could do it lengthwise this way and have the trees beside it, but the garden would be shorter but wider. If you turn the garden this way and the trees behind it, then you will have a bigger garden," I say as I use my hands to show them how it would be laid out.

The first option would be to have both the garden and the trees run north and south from the playground, which would be a little wider but shorter. Whereas, if we had them run parallel to the playground, they would be longer, which would allow for more overall space.

"Definitely the bigger garden option," says Sherry.

"With the bigger garden, we could have one end be vegetables and, on the other end, have flowers. Then on the side here, we could plant different fruit trees," I suggest. Hopefully, they like the idea of adding flowers too.

"That is a brilliant idea. The second option would maximize the area better, so we can get more out of it. I also love the idea of adding flowers. I know we have flower lovers here who would be willing to help group plants based on sun and water needs. Will you take this to the Alphas?" asks Maggie excitedly.

"Yes, but first I need a few things from you." They all nod their heads yes so much that I'm surprised they're not dizzy.

I chuckle, "I need you to make some plans," they look confused, so I clarify, "Take the layout we just talked about and make a drawing of it along with the playground for placement reference, make a list of all the materials you will need, get a list of specialized labor like irrigation and construction, and list some risk factors of the different areas of the garden. Then I will bring it up with the Alphas," I say.

I really do like the idea and am happy to bring it to them. Since this is their project, I thought it would be a good experience for them to learn this side of project management.

They ask what risk factors are, so we talk about some and how we would fix the risk to turn it into a benefit. After talking to them for a bit longer, we say our goodbyes, and I head home.

As soon as I step through the door, I accidentally run into one of the Omegas, knocking her to the ground.

She is a little over 5 feet tall with dark hair and brown eyes. She has water drops all over the front of her clothes.

Looks like she's been having a rough day already, and here I am making it worse. I notice feeling bad.

"It was an accident," Cece says, trying to make me feel better. I appreciate her trying.

"I am so sorry, I was not watching where I was going." I apologized and helped her up.

"No, it's okay. It was my fault for being in a hurry," she replies in a sweet, soft voice.

As soon as she sees me, she stutters, "Lu-Luna, I am so sorry. P-p-please forgive me."

I continue to look at her, puzzled. She drops her head and looks down at the floor. She folds in on herself, cowering to make herself feel small.

Something isn't right here.

"Why do you say that? Maybe she didn't expect to see you, or is intimidated by you," asks Cece.

Looking at the floor would be a common reaction. It's the cowering and making herself seem small that are the red flags. She was smiling until she saw who bumped into her. Then her whole body language and mood changed. We need to figure out who is responsible.

"Look at me," I say softly. I wait until she does before I continue, "I promise it was my fault, not yours. I didn't check to see if anyone was in the room before I ran into it. What is your name?" I ask.

"Maria, Luna," she answers quietly with a gulp.

"Maria, are you okay? Are you hurt?" I ask softly.

"No, Luna. I am not hurt," she says, looking down again and holding onto her arm.

"Okay, well, if you start to feel soreness later, please see the pack doctor," I say, and she looks at me with fear in her eyes.

"Luna, we are not allowed to see the pack doctor," she says, frightened.

"Why not?" I ask a little, upset.

"Miss Anastasia said that Omegas are not allowed to see the pack doctor because we are needed in the house. She said we can bandage ourselves and wear them as long as it doesn't interfere with our work," she says quietly, and I am pissed, but I don't let it show.

When I speak again, it is with the same softness. "Well, Maria, I don't care what Miss Anastasia says. If you need to see the pack doctor, you have every right to. If she has a problem with it, tell her to come find me." She nods, uncomfortably.

I start picking up the cleaning supplies she dropped and change the subject. I ask, "Have you seen the Alphas?"

"Yes, Luna, they are in their office," she says as we pick up the last of the towels. She adds a small thank you, then turns and practically runs away.

I am still thinking about the interaction when, as I reach the top step, I hear yelling.

"I wonder what the yelling is about," Cece says, exactly what I am thinking.

Let's go find out, I reply. I walk quietly so we can do a bit of eavesdropping.

"Investigating, not eavesdropping," chuckles Cece.

The closer we get, we are able to make out the words.

Zane sounds mad. "What have we told you about calling us by our first name?" Zane demands in his deep, growly voice. His voice is even sexier than his sleepy, sexy voice.

Jason then says in an equally sexy timbre, "You are to call us Alpha. Only our mates or parents can call us by our first name. You are neither, and you never will be." Jason puts an emphasis on "never."

Then I hear Dean quickly say, "Don't touch me."

Then I hear a sensual female voice say, "Oh, you don't mean that."

Then I hear a fake squeal and walk into the room. There is a petite woman sitting on Dean's lap. She is beautiful with curly, long blonde hair. She is wearing a short, spaghetti-strap red dress with heavy makeup and bright red lips to match her dress. He looks at her with anger in his eyes and his hands up.

When he looks up and sees it is me who has entered the room, the anger turns to fear. The woman is smirking as if to tell me he chose her, and she had staked a claim on him.

"Mi alma, it is not what you thi-" Dean starts to say, but stops as soon as he sees the blank look on my face as I walk over to them.

As soon as I step up to Dean and this woman, she starts to open her mouth. I don't give her a chance to make a sound as I grab her by the throat, pick her up. I take a couple of steps and slam her against the bookshelf. I look her in the eyes with death in mine, and she shuts her mouth.

I calmly say, "I am only going to tell you this once. You will never touch the Alphas or look at them again with anything other than respect. You will address them by their title or keep your mouth shut. Also, you will not touch my mates in any way, shape, or form. I am not a woman who shares her mates, and I will not tolerate disrespect to them or myself. Do I make myself clear?" She is turning red, so I loosen my hold a little so she can suck in some air and answer.

She chokes out, "I challenge you... for the right... of Luna and... to mate with... the Alphas."

I immediately let her go and take a step back. Somehow, I know what she just said is important. I just don't know the reason.

"It means that you fight until submission, first blood, or death. The winner is mated to the Alphas and becomes Luna. The other becomes an Omega or is banished. I have no idea about her fighting capabilities," explains Cece.

Remember lesson number one. Never underestimate your opponent. Treat every fight like it's your last, I reply.

"It would be in your best interest to rescind your challenge. I will accept no other outcome than death. I will not have you keep trying to go after my mates. I am not a weak and frail human," I tell her.

"I will not take it back; they will be mine," she says with venom in her voice.

I need to calm down my anger, so I take a deep breath and freeze.

She smells like a mixture of roses and pear with undertones of grapefruit and vetiver.

She is Mousy.

The Alphas are still frozen in shock at my actions. My vision goes red, and I react without thinking. I grab her by the hair and begin dragging her out of the room and down the hall, kicking and screaming. This brings them out of their shock and they burst into action.

What do I do, Cece? I can't let the challenge continue. What if she wins? She cannot be the Luna of this pack. She has no respect for the Alphas, so how do you think she will treat everyone else? I ask in fear for the pack.

"She betrayed the pack, the challenge is forfeit," says Cece with glee and a little bloodthirsty.

Thank God, I say with a sigh of relief.

She thrashes violently, screaming as she claws at my hands and arms—anywhere her nails can dig in. Tears spill down her face, streaking her cheeks as I drag her by a fistful of hair.

Finally, Zane cuts me off, stepping between us. He seizes my wrist, the one tangled in her hair, and forces me to a halt.

“What the hell, Max? Let her go—now! You can’t lay hands on a challenger, accepted or not,” he snaps, prying my grip loose.

“There won’t be a challenge,” I snarl, jaw clenched. “She’s the one who was outside the room that night—the one who took the pups.”

A chorus of growls rises behind me—four voices, thick with fury.

"How the fuck do you know that?" She screeches, then she slaps her hand over her mouth. She just admitted to what I could not prove other than by scent.

My mates all let out another menacing growl as Beta Marcus walks up the last step hesitantly.

Jason quickly gives Marcus instructions, "Beta Marcus, it would be in everyone's best interest if you took her to the dungeons. We will tell you why afterwards."

Marcus nods his head, then takes her away. She continues to scream that she is innocent and that I must have set her up, blah, blah, blah.

I turn and walk back into the office and head straight to the window. I look out across the forest to calm my boiling rage. I do what I told Summers to do when he lost control, and take a couple of deep breaths to calm myself down. It was stupid of me to react like that. I knew better.

I stare out the window, my voice sharp as I demand, “Who is she?”

Dean hesitates before answering, “Her name is Anastasia, she—”

“Fuck!” The curse tears from my throat louder than intended, cutting him off mid-sentence.

Whirling around, I face my mates—their expressions a mix of amusement, concern, and something far worse. Luke and Jason are smirking, clearly entertained by my outburst. Dean looks uneasy, likely thinking he’s next since Anastasia had been sitting in his lap.

But it’s Zane’s reaction that cuts the deepest. The disappointment in his eyes hits me like a physical blow. I’d take his anger any day over that silent judgment.

Steeling myself, I lay out the truth. “Did you know Anastasia forbade the Omegas from seeing the pack doctor?” My voice is low, deliberate. “I saw the signs—classic indicators of abuse. And I wouldn’t put it past her to hurt them, then ban them from getting medical care. No doctor means no proof. No evidence to back up their claims.”

Zane’s growl rumbles through the room. “How do you know this?” His eyes burn with rage—good. At least it’s not that damn disappointment.

I exhale, recalling the encounter. “I ran into Maria—literally. Knocked her down. I asked if she was hurt, but she insisted it was her fault, even though I was the one who slammed into her. One second, she was smiling—happy—until she realized it was me. Then she shut down. Head down, shoulders hunched, making herself small. That’s textbook abuse behavior.”

I pace, my frustration bleeding into my words. “She doesn’t act like that around the others—just me. And since this is the first time we’ve met, it’s not personal. Which means whoever hurt her was someone like me—a female in authority. She doesn’t react that way around Amelia, so who else could it be?”

The temperature in the room drops as my words sink in. Their anger simmers beneath the surface, a storm waiting to break.

“I told Maria if she felt pain later, to see the doctor,” I continue. “That’s when she admitted Anastasia banned them from medical visits. Said their time was better spent working. She said they can bandage themselves and wear them as long as it doesn’t interfere with their work.”

Silence. Then Zane’s voice cuts through, deadly calm. “Bring Maria in. We’ll hear it from her.”

Dean moves first, heading for the door. The others exchange grim looks—any amusement long gone.

This isn’t just about Anastasia’s cruelty anymore.

It’s about justice.

“Can you tell her to see Doc about her arm?” I ask, my voice tight with worry. “She fell hard on it, and I don’t think she’ll go unless it comes from you. I don’t want her in pain because of me.”

Luke nods, his usual easygoing demeanor gone. “I’ll check in with the other Omegas too,” he says before striding out.

When Maria arrives, she keeps her head down the moment she sees me—just like before. The others watch closely, finally witnessing the behavior I’d described. Their eyes flick between her and me, unspoken understanding hardening their expressions.

I step forward, careful not to startle her, and lightly brush my fingers beneath her chin. She flinches and remains tense but doesn’t pull away as I gently lift her face until our eyes meet—mine soft, reassuring.

“Maria,” I say quietly, “I’m going to step out so you can talk freely with the Alphas. Don’t be afraid to tell them the truth. You—all of you—deserve respect. This pack wouldn’t function without the work you do. Trust them. They won’t fail you.”

I pause, making sure she hears the next part. “And I want you to tell them exactly what happened earlier—how I made you feel. Your voice matters here.”

With a small, encouraging smile, I turn and slip out the door, closing it softly behind me.

This was her moment. And I wouldn’t interfere.