Chapter 0005

•LEO•

“Hmm. Yes, ah...” Mary’s moans were music to my ears, and I thrust faster inside her as I felt my release approaching. I exploded inside her, releasing every drop into her.

She wrapped her legs tightly around my waist and rolled her eyes to the back of her head before she released me from her grip.

“Ah... fuck.” I slowly pulled out and collapsed next to her on the bed, trying to catch my breath. We had been making love since morning, and I enjoyed every second I spent inside her.

Even though the pleasure of being with her could never compare to what I felt with Catherine since we never had the pull of a mate bond. But I didn’t care.

The woman I loved had finally come back. And I was finally on the verge of escaping this marriage that had trapped me for so long.

After a little while, Mary nestled her head on my chest and giggled. “I can’t believe we can be together now with no one standing in our way. I had grown tired of waiting for a chance for us to be together, and now that will happen. Once Catherine signs the divorce papers, we will be free to get married and be a family together with our son.”

My heart broke a little when I remembered the look on Catherine’s face when I told her about the divorce and Mary being Brian’s biological mother.

But I got rid of that thought as soon as it crossed my mind because everything that happened led me back to Mary, the woman I loved and could not be with because of my father.

After he passed away five years ago because of heartbreak from losing my mother in the rogue war fourteen years ago, I made plans to get back with Mary.

Nothing was standing in our way except Catherine, since she was raising our sick son, and we didn’t want to tell her the truth so early — that Brian’s mother was alive, and had come back into my life.

She was so good with Brian, and he got better because of her. He clung to her more than anyone in the pack house, including me.

“That’s true,” I sighed, sitting up and pulling on my shirt. “Anyway, I’ve got a council meeting today. If your proposal makes it onto the shortlist before the festival, the council will start trusting you, and the pack won’t fight it when you take over as Luna.”

“Ugh.” She slammed her head back on the pillow with a groan. “I gave you a son, Leo. Isn’t that enough to earn their trust?”

“Catherine stood by Brian when he was sick, and the pack praised her for her endurance and love for her family. They saw that as a vital quality for a Luna, to care for her children and the pack.”

“So what do you want me to do? Go nurse a sick pack member just to make them like me?” she scoffed. “Come on, Leo.” She got up and wrapped her arms around my neck from behind, her chin resting on my shoulder. “I’ve done more than enough. Every warrior at the Omega Academy trained under me, and you said it yourself—they’re stronger than ever. That’s all because of me.”

“Then prove it to the council,” I answered. “Show them you’re the right choice when Catherine steps down.”

I kissed her forehead and headed out to check on the farmers before the meeting.

Unlike other pack houses, we depended on our own supply for food and used the remaining excess supply to make extra money for the pack by selling the products to the human territories.

Beta Luke handled the agricultural workers. He ensured we met our yearly production targets and that our sales brought enough money for the pack’s budget.

We used the money to strengthen our borders and buy training equipment for our scouts and hunters.

The Gamma ensured that they were all efficient in their fields by overseeing the Guardian’s duties.

“If we survive the storm this coming month, we will have produced more than we did the previous year, and that means we will have enough money to open another school for the pack. This will save us the cost of funding their tertiary studies in the human territories,” Luke suggested as we walked around the fields.

“That’s a smart suggestion, Beta. Luna handles our funds, so we will talk with her about it and see if we have the money to build another school next year.”

He nodded. “Thank you, Alpha.”

As usual, we shifted into wolf form for our final rounds across the fields before heading back to the pack house.

By the time I got to the council hall, both Mary and Catherine were already there. Catherine was presenting her proposal, and she didn’t even look at me.

Her voice stayed steady as she presented her idea.

“If we open a training facility for healers to develop their abilities and learn new treatment methods, we can reduce our reliance on human hospitals and keep healers from burning out after battles.”

“Over the past six months,” she went on, “I reviewed every healer log and every casualty record from the last decade. Forty-three percent of preventable deaths came from healer exhaustion. Another twenty-one percent happened because treatment was delayed while we transported the wounded to human facilities.”

A few elders exchanged uneasy glances.

“This wouldn’t just be a school,” Catherine continued. “It’s a long-term plan to make our pack self-sufficient—training new healers, strengthening our current ones, and easing the pressure on our warriors. If we don’t build this now, the next rogue attack—or even a harsh winter—could cost us more lives than we can bear.”

She lifted a stack of neatly organized papers.

“I’ve already outlined a five-year budget, redirected unused resources, and arranged preliminary knowledge-sharing agreements with two neighboring healer clans. This proposal is practical, sustainable, and offers immediate benefits.”

For some reason, I couldn’t help but be drawn to her — she looked as if she were glowing.

She gave a polite smile, then sat back down, hands folded in her lap. From the outside, she looked composed — but I could see the tension in her shoulders.

The room was silent for a moment until one of the elders cleared his throat. “Thank you, Luna Catherine, for your proposal. And now…” He turned to Mary. “Miss Whitlock, please step forward.”

Mary glided to the front of the room, her smile polished, her confidence blinding. “Thank you, Elders,” she began smoothly. “As you know, our housing structures are unstable during heavy weather. I propose constructing a fortified wall around the residential area to prevent flood damage and snow collapse. It will protect our homes and give us space for future expansion.” She curtsied, and several elders nodded appreciatively.

I could already sense the decision before it was spoken.

“Well, Elders,” the council head said with a satisfied sigh. “We’ve heard all the proposals, and none surpasses the one Miss Whitlock presented. The housing budget will be transferred to her care immediately.”

My chest tightened when I saw Catherine stiffen. She rose slowly from her chair.

“That’s… interesting,” she said evenly, her tone calm but cutting. “I presented the same idea three months ago, and you dismissed it as unnecessary. What’s changed since then?”

The elder gave a dismissive wave. “Perhaps your presentation lacked the conviction of Miss Whitlock’s. That will be all, Luna. You may return to your seat.”

Catherine’s lips trembled for half a second. Then she smiled, thin and sharp. “Of course,” she murmured. “Conviction. That must be it.”

She reached for her proposal papers, stacked them neatly — then paused. 

For a moment, everyone thought she might throw them or shout. But instead, she folded them once, precisely, and placed them back on the table. “I’ll see to it that the budget is transferred,” she said softly. “Congratulations, Miss Whitlock.”

Her voice was so calm it made the room uncomfortable. Without another word, she turned and walked out, the echo of her heels the only sound in the hall.

Behind her, Mary gave a satisfied smile.

But even after Catherine slipped out the door, my eyes lingered on the empty seat she left behind.

For the first time that day, I found myself thinking that something about her felt…different.