3. Under the Alpha’s Shadow

Night enveloped the grand mansion, but for Luna Rayna, the palace now felt cold and silent.

"Hahh … I have to be strong, and I will not appear weak," Rayna resolved before stepping through the mansion doors.

But her steps faltered as she walked across the marble floor, the biting night air seeming to add weight to her shoulders. Along the corridor, whispers from the maids reached her ears, some full of ridicule, some with lingering sympathy.

“Hey, look. She’s here.”

“Where?”

“That’s Luna Rayna … she looks so weak and fragile,” one murmured, staring at Rayna.

“She shouldn’t be like that. Look at Alpha Darius. He’s so strong, and handsome. Surely many like him,” another added.

“Of course Alpha Darius is admired by many. His wife is stylish, yet she can’t seem to hold his attention,” another maid countered. “Look now, Alpha Darius is close to Laura. They’re perfect together, unlike weak Luna Rayna,” she added, stifling a soft laugh.

Not everyone agreed. One maid defended Rayna, though she trembled.

“Enough. Stop talking about Luna Rayna. Poor girl … look at her face, she looks exhausted. Especially after losing her child, she must still be grieving and in pain,” she whispered, though her voice was drowned out by the others’ taunts.

Rayna swallowed the ache and forced her steps toward her room. Each step reminded her of the bitter loss of the child she never got to hold. When she reached her room, she immediately sank onto the edge of the bed, hugging her knees as tears streamed down her face.

The emptiness in her womb was unbearable. The silence shattered with a loud opening of the door. Alpha Darius entered, his steps steady, his Alpha aura pressing down over the entire room.

“Stop crying, and stop showing weakness!” he barked. “You are not sick—you are my strong Luna. Show it, or at least stop being pitiful!” Darius’s anger cut sharply.

Before Rayna could respond, a folded invitation card was thrown onto the bed. The dim light reflected off it, as if forcing her to look.

“You will accompany me to the Alpha and Luna gathering,” Darius said coldly, stepping closer.

“Smile. Show your strength. Be my beautiful Luna at the party!”

Rayna bit her lip, deliberately refusing. “I … I can’t. I am still grieving, and my body isn’t strong yet,” she said, anger and sadness swirling in her chest.

Darius stared coldly, firmly. “Enough. You need to know your position, damn it! Do not oppose me,” he snapped. “As Laura said, perhaps I’ve spoiled you too much all this time. Now you act on your own. Do you think I will stay silent?” Darius’s words echoed with comparison to Laura.

Rayna held her breath. The memory of her child gave her courage, but her body was still weak. She tried to resist, but it was useless.

“You will go,” Darius continued, his voice low yet threatening. “Become my Luna. Act as if nothing happened. Understood?” he said, then left without another word.

Leaving Rayna in utter despair.

Tears welled again in Rayna’s eyes, her body trembling. She knew defying her Alpha was impossible, yet her heart remained defiant.

“Why did he change, Goddess? Why?” she cried in anger. “He’s all I have, and if he keeps hurting me … who else can I lean on, hic!” Rayna’s sobs broke, leaving her frozen alone in the room, with no one to comfort or strengthen her.

-----

Rayna bit her lip, staring at the invitation, then bent down and forced herself to rise. She donned the party dress Darius had prepared—bright in color, contrasting with her pale face. She swallowed the pain and tears, realizing she had no other choice, aside from letting out a rough breath.

Darius watched Rayna from a distance, his Alpha gaze demanding. “Why aren’t you ready yet, and what is this?” he asked, pulling her chin.

“I want you to smile. My Luna must look happy, my Luna must show a strong smile. Don’t appear weak, understand?” Darius reminded her again.

“Yes, I understand!”

Rayna bowed her head, holding back her anger, pain, and heartache. She knew this was not just a party—it was a test for the Luna expected by the world, even by her husband himself.

Soon, Darius guided her out of the mansion to the car. On the way to the party, the atmosphere remained silent, only the engine and wind roaring softly.

“Who is he texting, why does he look happy?” she wondered, watching her husband’s beaming face.

Rayna lowered her head, holding her dress, suppressing the burning jealousy in her chest. Beside her, she could clearly see Darius smiling at his phone, replying to messages she was sure were from Laura, his twin sister.

“That must be from Laura … how can you be tempted by her, Darius? She’s cunning, haven’t you realized yet?” she thought, wishing she could warn him. But she knew he wouldn’t believe her.

Rayna held her breath, glancing out the window. Her chest eased slightly as she focused on the passing buildings, houses, and trees.

“I hope I don’t see you at the party later, Laura. I hope you won’t disturb me when I’m with Darius,” she whispered, full of hope.

Yet, one thing blazed in her heart: even broken, sad, and jealous, she believed Alpha Darius, her husband, still loved her. She would rise, becoming a Luna who could not be ignored, a Luna who could display her courage and strength—even in front of her husband and her twin sister.

-----

Arriving at the party, exactly in the lobby, the chandelier’s lights dazzled. The other Alphas and Lunas had already gathered.

Darius walked ahead, his face upright and firm, yet he didn’t glance at Rayna once. He ignored his Luna, as if she were not part of the same world as him.

“Alpha Darius, could you wait for me?” Rayna said, hoping he would hear.

But she was mistaken. Darius focused on the car in front, visibly startled as he noticed its license plate.

Degh!

“That car?”

Rayna swallowed, holding back sobs, scanning her surroundings. Darkness may lurk, yet her heart kept one unwavering truth alive: she would not surrender—not to her husband, not to her twin sister, and not to the cruel fate.

“That’s the family car … I’m sure Laura is inside it!”

“I won’t let her take Darius. He’s mine, and forever, he will remain my husband!”

Luna Rayna would rise from betrayal and pain. She would reclaim everything that was rightfully hers—whether anyone gave permission or not.