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Chapter 2

Penulis: Soda
I slammed the screen off and turned.

Liam stood in the doorway of the bathroom, his hair still dripping, his robe loosely tied.

His Alpha pheromones hit me, the scent of cedar, a scent that once captivated me.

"Why did you take my phone?"

"Couldn't sleep, wanted to check the financial reports. Grabbed it by mistake in a rush." I put the phone back on the nightstand. "Remembered a couple of accounts didn't match up."

He let out a soft laugh and walked over, sitting down behind me.

"Workaholic." He murmured, his breath brushing the side of my neck. "It's already late."

His hand landed on my shoulder, warm and damp.

Five years of marriage, this gesture was all too familiar.

But right now, I felt a wave of nausea I couldn't control.

I stood up, avoiding his touch.

"I'm too tired."

"Selena?"

His voice held confusion.

I walked to the window, the city lights bright in the night.

"Liam," I said without turning around. "Ever since I became Luna, you've never let me attend any pack celebrations."

Silence stretched behind me for a few seconds.

"Didn't we just discuss this?" His tone grew a little annoyed.

"Yes." I turned to face him. "But I want to know the real reason."

"Tradition—"

"Don't talk about tradition again." I cut him off. "Tell me the truth."

Liam's expression turned cold.

He stood up, his Alpha dominance unleashed without restraint.

"Selena, are you questioning me?"

"I'm exercising my Luna's right to be informed." I didn't back down. "I have the right to know about any major pack decisions."

"Celebrations fall under Alpha decisions." His voice was hard. "A Luna's duty is to stabilize the pack, manage internal affairs, not to get involved in sensitive pack matters."

"What sensitive matters?"

"The power balance on the Elder Council." Seeing I wouldn't budge, he sighed. "Selena, you weren't raised in the pack. Many factions have opinions about that. I keep you away to protect you."

What a noble excuse.

If I hadn't seen those photos, I might have been convinced again.

I gave a sarcastic smile. Even now, he was still making excuses.

"Got it. I'll sleep in the studio tonight."

Liam frowned. "Why?"

"I have some files to sort out." I got up and grabbed my jacket.

"Selena—"

"Don't you also work late often?" I looked at him. "I never question pack business."

This silenced him.

He was quiet for a moment, then nodded.

I picked up my car keys and left the bedroom.

The studio was a standalone building on the edge of pack territory.

Liam had gifted it to me as a wedding present, saying I needed my own space.

Looking back now, maybe it was just to make it easier for me to leave the main house.

I sat at my desk and opened my laptop.

The screen's glow lit up the dark room.

I began a systematic search—pack activity logs, attendance lists for celebrations, minutes from Elder Council meetings.

As Luna, I had permission to access these files.

I just never thought to look before.

PDF files opened one after another.

At every Elder Gathering, Sophia's name was on the participant list.

The note said: "Special Advisor to Alpha Liam."

Advisor.

She's an outsider wolf, advising our pack on what?

I kept scrolling and found even more absurd things—

During the Spring Hunt, she attended as a "cultural exchange envoy."

On Oath Day, she was a "ceremonial guest."

During Lunar Eclipse Night, she became a "blessing representative."

And I, the actual Luna, hadn't attended a single one in five years.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

It was a message from Margaret, the pack housekeeper:

"Luna, Alpha instructed to have a car ready at six AM. He has to handle an urgent matter."

Sending a message like this at three in the morning.

So urgent it needs a three-hour advance notice?

I replied, "Understood."

Then I set my alarm for five.

The pack territory was shrouded in mist in the early morning.

I sat in my car, parked in the shadows of the trees outside the main house's side entrance.

At five forty-five, Liam's black SUV pulled out of the garage.

He didn't drive towards the pack administrative area, but headed for the city center.

I followed, keeping a safe distance.

It was Luna instinct—to track, to sense, to protect the territory.

Except this time, I was tracking my mate.

The car stopped in front of a private club in the city center.

I knew this place; pack leaders sometimes held meetings there.

But at six in the morning?

Liam got out and walked into the club.

I waited for ten minutes, preparing to follow him in—

A silver sedan pulled up next to mine.

Sophia got out.

She wore a light grey knit dress, her hair loosely pulled up, looking like she had just woken up.

She pressed the doorbell for the club.

The door opened.

Liam stood there.

He took her hand and pulled her inside.

The door closed.

My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.

My Luna senses screamed—danger, betrayal, invasion.

I took a deep breath and got out of the car.

The club had a side entrance leading to the backyard.

I had come here with Liam once before, so I knew the layout.

I circled around to the side, hiding behind the bushes.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the first floor, I saw them.

In the lounge, a fire burned in the fireplace.

Sophia sat on the sofa, and Liam handed her a cup of coffee.

They were talking, but I couldn't hear.

Then Sophia stood up and walked to him.

She stood on her tiptoes.

Liam lowered his head.

They kissed.

First, a tentative touch, then a deep kiss.

The kind of intimacy only between mates.

Sophia's hands wrapped around his neck, and Liam's hands clasped her waist.

My wolf stirred restlessly, my chest feeling like it was tearing apart, a pain deeper than any wound.

I turned and leaned against the wall.

The cold morning wind hit my face.

I felt like throwing up.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Liam:

"Had to attend a last-minute meeting. Won't be back until noon. Thanks for handling pack affairs today."

I stared at the words.

He said he was in a meeting.

But through the window, I saw him holding Sophia close against the sofa.

They were as familiar with each other as if they had done this a thousand times.

Watching this scene, I felt a chill run through me.
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  • When the Luna Awakens   Chapter 8

    Three years later."Luna, the list of important guests is compiled."I took the file from my assistant and scanned it quickly.The Moonlight Festival was approaching, and as the pack's Luna, I needed to ensure every detail was perfect."Very good, you may go.""One more thing," the assistant hesitated, "There's a gentleman at the entrance asking to see you. He claims to be an old acquaintance."I looked up.Through the floor-to-ceiling window, I saw a familiar figure standing at the courtyard entrance.Liam.Three years had passed in a flash. He looked much more worn, his suit rumpled, his stubble unkempt, and his eyes held undeniable fatigue."Let him in."A few minutes later, Liam stood before me.He opened his mouth, but no sound emerged."Did you need something?" My tone was calm, as if speaking to a stranger."Selena, I..." His voice was hoarse, "I've been looking for you for three years.""And?"He took a deep breath, "I want you to come back."I smiled.Bringing up those old mat

  • When the Luna Awakens   Chapter 7

    Liam fell silent.He couldn't deny it; he had felt something for Sophia these past five years.That sense of familiarity, that easy understanding, the feeling of being understood without needing to explain.But it wasn't love.At least, not the kind of love he should have felt for Selena."Sophia," he took a deep breath, "From today, you don't need to come to the pack lands anymore. Your advisor position is terminated, and all related duties are being reassigned.""You're kicking me out?""I'll give you a sum of money, enough for you to start over anywhere you wish."Sophia shook her head, her eyes growing frantic. "I don't want money, I want you!""That's impossible.""Why? Because of her?" Her voice turned sharp. "What is she? Some outsider who doesn't understand pack traditions, who's never even attended an elder's council—""She's my mate," Liam cut her off. "No matter what I've done, that fact doesn't change.""But she gave up on you!" Sophia pointed to the document on the tablet.

  • When the Luna Awakens   Chapter 6

    Liam stormed out of the meeting room, heading straight for the parking lot.He waved his driver away, getting into the Rolls-Royce alone.The engine roared to life, and the car sped away.He fumbled for his phone while driving, dialing Selena.First try, no answer.Second try, the phone was off.Third try, it went straight to voicemail.He gritted his teeth, flooring the gas pedal.He covered in fifteen minutes what usually took forty.The car screeched to a halt at the main house. He didn't spare the vehicle a glance, bursting inside."Selena?"Only the hollow echo of his own voice answered him.He went upstairs, pushing open the bedroom door.The closet was half-open, its contents sparse.Selena's skincare products were gone from the dresser.On the nightstand, the book she always flipped through before bed had vanished.Liam stood frozen, his breathing growing ragged.He rushed to the study, Selena's usual space for handling pack matters as Luna.The ancient texts were still on the

  • When the Luna Awakens   Chapter 5

    The banquet hall buzzed with the clinking of glasses.Elders, each with a glass of whiskey before them, were gathered around the long oak table.Besides intricate documents, the table was laden with delicious food, its aroma made mouths water.Thanks to Sophia's suggestion, this year's elder Gathering felt more like a family gathering than the usual serious affair.Yet, Liam, seated at the head of the table, seemed lost in thought.He had been distracted ever since Selena's call that morning.His fingers tapped idly on the tabletop.Selena was never one to lie. That urgent call must mean something had happened.He glanced down at his phone, but there had been no new messages from her since then.He had meant to head back that afternoon, but Sophia had been so persistent that he had lost track of time.What could possibly be happening?"Alpha," the elder in charge of the hunt cleared his throat, "that's the proposed plan for this year's Spring Hunt. Do you have any suggestions?""It's f

  • When the Luna Awakens   Chapter 4

    The two of them left, got into the car, and hadn't emerged from it since.Their intertwined silhouettes spoke of their intensity.I stood there a moment, then turned and walked away.When I got home, I dropped my bag and sank onto the couch.My phone vibrated.A message from my friend Riley popped up:"Got it. Sent the files to your email."Riley is a private investigator specializing in discreet investigations within the werewolf community.I'd hired her three days ago to look into Sophia's background.Her speed is top-notch in the business. I hadn't expected results this quickly.I opened my email.A PDF file, thirty pages long.It detailed Sophia and Liam's history.The file stated that though they weren't from the same pack, they had known each other since childhood and grown up together.If she hadn't insisted on breaking up seven years ago, everyone believed they would have been true mates.I flipped to another page, detailing Sophia's past.An East Coast migratory wolf. Her pare

  • When the Luna Awakens   Chapter 3

    I leaned against the wall, watching them.Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, two people succumbed to their desires. His hand gripped her waist, and they kissed deeply.My wolf howled inside me, a tearing sensation spreading from my chest to my limbs.The mate bond felt like it was fraying.Not a sudden break, but bit by bit, like a rusty chain slowly pulled apart.I turned and walked away, my steps feeling strangely light.Back in the car, I didn't start the engine right away.I just sat there, staring at the club doors.It was six thirty in the morning, and the streets were empty.The city hadn't woken up yet, but betrayal had already taken root.My phone buzzed again.Liam: You don't need to pick up the custom suit for me. I'll go myself.I stared at the message, not replying.After a while, they drove away, heading toward the upscale shopping district downtown.I parked far down the street, watching them walk hand-in-hand into a luxury boutique.They looked like any real couple,

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