Heat

I don't even remember how I shuffled the soldiers out the door after the party, but I did it like I was supposed to — keeping my head high while they glared and muttered behind my back. That's what a Luna does, right? Smile while they stab you in the gut with their side glances.

Of course, Lina unfortunately had to stay with us. The Moon only knows why she wanted to live here — right under my roof, curled up beside the Alpha like she was always meant to be here.

It was clear enough now: everyone in this house hated me. For what, exactly? Did they think I'd stolen him? Or was I just not good enough yet? Maybe if I worked harder, they'd finally see me as the real Luna. Maybe I just needed to be... more.

When I finally made it back to my room, I nearly dropped my jaw when I saw Jason sitting on the edge of my bed. For a heartbeat I almost felt relief. Stupid.

"Can you please leave," I said to the servant fussing over him, her fingers still buttoning his shirt like she owned him. She didn't even look at me — just scowled, hands moving slow and deliberate like she wanted me to watch every second.

"You can go," Jason sighed, barely lifting his head. The servant practically floated out the door, all sweet smiles for him — not even pretending I was there. Fuck my life. I was so tired I could feel the ache in my bones.

"Explain." I crossed my arms, refusing to sit down. He wouldn't even meet my eyes. His mouth twisted up, guilt dripping off him like rot. The silence stretched so long I started to wonder if pushing him was even worth it. But I did it anyway. "Tell me something at least."

He rubbed his jaw, eyes flicking away. "I met her at the other pack and there was this instant connection between us. When I heard her singing, I felt something I'd never felt before — so we just kind of started talking. Before I knew it, we were at that pack's oracle, and she confirmed that Lina and I are soul bonded. I really don't know what to do about it."

A soul bond. The strongest kind. Unbreakable. I felt my stomach twist. Of course. Of course the Moon would give him something stronger than me.

"Then what do you want me to do?" I asked, voice flat. "Should I give up my position and let you and Lina be together? Let her be the Luna of this pack?"

"No! I absolutely can't lose you." His words fell out too quickly, too rehearsed. He pulled me close, arms heavy and awkward around my shoulders. I wanted to vomit. "Lina is a good girl. She just wants a home. We can treat her as a sister — you will always be my mate, the Luna of this pack." He pressed his lips to my forehead. It felt like ice. "Besides, how would it look if we disobeyed our pack's oracle?"

So that was it. Optics. Not because he gave a single fuck about me.

"Now make up for our mating night, okay?" Jason's voice dropped lower — warm, almost teasing. It made my skin crawl.

"We did something right before the wedding," I said, trying to sound steady.

"Nothing before the wedding counts, Bonnie. Besides, that was just a quickie since you'd never had your first time. Now let's get official."

Right. A Luna wasn't really a Luna until the mating was consummated. Everyone in this pack knew I'd never been touched after the wedding. But Jason had found his soul bond — Lina. Did that make her Luna now too?

My stomach twisted again — not jealousy, exactly. Something nastier. Like rot.

"I've seen Lina before in—" I started, the words slipping out before I could bite them back.

"Oh god, I was warned about this." Jason's eyes hardened into something sharp. "Listen, your fake delusions won't get my attention. Only witches have visions — and you're just some human the oracle made Luna." He yanked me closer, breath hot against my cheek like I was supposed to melt for him.

Before his lips touched mine, a loud knock at the door cracked the moment. Relief flooded me like air after drowning. Jason huffed and pulled away, striding to the door like he couldn't get away from me fast enough.

The moment the door swung open, I smelled something rancid-sweet — like rotting flowers. Then her blonde hair spilled through the doorway, her perfect smile snapping shut around my ribs. Lina. She walked in and sat on my bed like it was hers.

"What are you two talking about in here?" she asked, like a cat asking why the mice were whispering.

That wasn't her business. I forced my lips to move. "Do you want to be sisters? I'm willing to have one." I didn't miss the unwilling flicker in her pretty eyes. Of course she didn't want to share. But the pack's health came first — always.

"We will find a house for you to live in outside," I added, as gently as I could. Privacy. She'd get to play concubine in peace. But instead of gratitude, she burst into tears — sharp, sweet little sobs that made my teeth ache.

"Jason, are you going to drive me away?" she wailed.

"No." Jason shot to her side like a dog on a leash. He took her hand in both of his and turned to me, eyes pleading. "Have a heart, Bonnie. Lina just came to unfamiliar territory with no family. I'm afraid she's not used to it yet — can you just let her live in our house for a while?"

He was begging me to let another woman stay in my home — one he'd already been with, who wore my bracelet like a trophy. But whatever. I was the Luna. I had to protect the Alpha — even if it meant swallowing this poison.

"Fine," I said. The word burned in my throat.

"Thank you, Jason."

I was about to ask Lina to leave when she suddenly collapsed to the floor. The smell hit me harder this time — thick, cloying, unmistakable. She was in heat.

I pressed my palm to my forehead. Of course. A werewolf who found their soul mate and didn't consummate the bond would go into heat like this — dragging everyone else down with them. Pain bloomed under my ribs, sharp and twisting.

"Call the doctor!" Jason barked into the hallway.

In seconds, the doctor skidded in — and went straight to Lina. Of course he did. I wasn't even here, apparently.

"Alpha Jason, you also know the situation," the doctor said, voice grim. "A werewolf in heat cannot end it by itself. For now we can only inject inhibitors."

They all watched her roll around on my bed — my bed — crying and moaning.

"Please, Jason, come and hug me. It hurts so much," Lina whimpered, voice breaking.

Jason turned to me, eyes wide with that same silent plea. I nodded before I could stop myself. He crawled onto the bed and pulled her into his arms. Her cries stopped instantly.

I turned and walked out with the doctor, nausea swirling in my gut. "Why is there a second mate? Has there been such an example before?" I asked, my voice hollow.

The doctor frowned. "I have only heard that after a mate dies, you may have a second chance."

I clenched my jaw. "Is there any way to suppress it? It's impossible for two people to share a mate, right?"

"I need to study this too," he said.

"The oracle can't be wrong."

"Well she was this time." He shrugged, not even trying to sound sorry.

"One more thing. I'm in pain—"

"I only take care of the Alpha and Luna." His mask slipped — his scowl said everything he really thought of me. You're not either. He turned on his heel and left me alone in the hallway.

Inside, I could still hear Jason's voice, soft and low as he coaxed Lina like she was a child. That ugly pain spread under my skin, my whole body aching and too hot. My own heat was here — like the universe wanted to see how much more I'd take.

I dragged myself to the doorway. "Jason, I need some help."

He didn't even look at me. "Oh yeah, wait a moment — you know the situation now. I can't leave."

He didn't smell me. He didn't see me. My only redeeming quality, they'd said, was my scent — and now that was gone too.

Was I really just her replacement? A decoy? Was the oracle wrong? Or was it all some cruel joke, one everyone else was in on but me?

I feel like a fucking idiot. Maybe if I were to just leave, it'll be better for everyone.

I slapped my own cheek, hard enough to sting. No. I'm the Luna. My position is unshakable — it has to be. The optics, the tradition — it all matters. I have to stay. I have to be perfect.

I can do this. I've powered through worse.

I staggered into a spare room, grabbed an inhibitor, and forced the needle into my thigh. My stomach roiled as I lay down on the cold bed. The smell of Jason and Lina seeped under the door, mixing into something foul.

They were mating now. They were fucking! On my bed.

But I can't lose my head. I can't break. I'm the Luna — I'm the Luna.

Dammit.

I'm the Luna.