ELIZA’S POV
I had one last meeting today, and it was with the pack’s financial officer, Lily.
I leaned back in my seat and watched her highlight the returns of some of the pack’s recent projects. One of them was the new mall recently erected in the city’s capital, and so far, I didn’t like what I was hearing or seeing.
“They’re underperforming severely, and it’s quite clear what the reason for that is…” I was mostly speaking to myself, but Lily nodded and replied quickly.
“Mostly staff’s incompetence,” she replied. “So far, the mall hasn’t generated as much as we estimated. It’s below average even.”
I nodded, then leaned forward to study the documents once again, and with a short sigh, I made my decision. “Replace the management team. We can’t afford any losses. Much less ones of this size.”
"But..." Lily hesitated. Without waiting for my inquiry, she provided the reason. "This is the uncle of the alpha, overseeing the research and development department."
"I don't care. I need someone who can deliver actual results," I pointed at the report. "I'll explain it to Derek's mother."
"Of course, Luna," Lily bowed deeply and then left my office.
Derek is my husband and the alpha of our wolf pack. On the night of our mating ceremony, a border conflict erupted in the Wolf Kingdom, which was only our second encounter despite our lack of affection or a mate bond. However, after witnessing my father and brother perish defending the Wolf Kingdom, my mother believed I needed a husband's protection. Considering my substantial dowry and our pack's far greater wealth compared to Derek's, he did not object.
Soon after, I was marked as Derek's luna. He passionately grasped my hand, ensuring our mate-less relationship would not affect our marriage. I immediately agreed. At 25 years old, Derek had yet to find his mate, and neither had I. Derek's strength and integrity made me abandon the idea of finding a mate altogether. I would strive to become the best luna for the New Moon Pack.
Even if it meant offending anyone, I believed Derek would understand upon his return. However, some explanation was necessary, so I quickened my pace to find Derek's mother.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced my chest. I gasped for air, my hand flying to the source of the ache. Leaning forward, I closed my eyes, giving it a moment to pass.
‘You should get that checked out,’ my wolf’s voice deep in my head spoke up, clearly agitated. ‘The wolf doctor is around. You should go and see her.’
I didn’t reply. The pain increased briefly before simmering down into nothing like it always did.
My wolf quieted down as well because she knew, as usual, that I wouldn’t heed her words.
I wasn’t sure what exactly caused the pain, but all I knew was that ever since my father and brothers died protecting the Lycan Kingdom’s borders, I was hit with random bouts of chest pain on particularly stressful days.
Most of the time, my wolf insisted that it could be something more, but she tended to lean on the edge of overprotectiveness, so I learned to brush off her concerns.
When I straightened up and was about to move my footsteps again, a servant came in hurriedly, his eyes wide and he could hardly keep still.“Your Majesty. Alpha Derek has returned.”
My eyebrows rose, and I immediately shot out of my seat. My husband wasn’t supposed to return for another week or two, so this was a very welcome surprise.
I hadn’t seen my husband since he left six months ago, the night of our binding ceremony. The moment the priest had proclaimed us husband and wife, he was gone.
A grin spread across my face, and I let the servant lead me out of the office, where a few maids were already waiting for me.
As I walked, they fussed around with my hair and clothes, joking when they noticed my eager expression.
“Who knows? Tonight might be the night she and the Alpha finally produce an heir!” one of them teased.
I laughed, but the sound died in my throat when I reached the entrance hall. The maids stilled behind me, and all eyes zeroed in on the tired-looking man standing there, but it wasn’t Derek’s rumpled appearance that got me—it was the woman at his side.
My eyes dropped to their intertwined hands. “Leave.”
The maids hesitated, and I snapped, “Leave, now!”
They ran off, and I turned my full attention to my husband, trying to appear calm in case I was overreacting. Holding hands didn’t mean anything; they could very well be…
My breathing stopped, and it felt like a suffocating weight came to rest at the centre of my chest. It wasn’t like the pain I felt in my office, but it was a close contender, and I didn’t have to be a genius to realize the source of this heartache.
My mate’s betrayal.
Of all the cards I’ve been dealt in this life, this was the last one I expected. The Moon Goddess must be playing a cruel joke on me.
“Derek,” I started harshly. “What the hell is this? Why is she here?”
“Eliza, this is Maya,” he said, then looked down at the woman at his side with a tender expression. “And she’s my mate.”
My eyebrow quirked in astonishment, both at his words and the utter shamelessness he had while saying them. “No, I’m your mate, Derek. I’m your wife.”
“You’re not my true mate,” he said calmly, not knowing the effect his words had on me. “Maya is.”
My eyes darted to the extremely self-satisfied woman at his side, and I resisted the inane urge to attack her. The anger that rose within me didn’t come from the place of a spurned lover, but more of indignation at their blatant disrespect for who I was.
I was his wife, the Luna of this pack. And he didn’t hesitate before bringing some woman home and claiming her as his mate.
I eyed her again, not random, because I knew who she was, but that certainly didn’t help.
“And you know,” Derek continued, completely unbothered by the death glares I was sending his way, “as my true mate, Maya is the rightful Luna of this pack. I’m not going to deprive her of her rights.”
Maya looked touched, but I was even more disgusted now.
“What the hell are you saying?” I spat. “Do I look like some sort of disposable rag you can just toss out?”
“I’m not tossing you out,” he said with a shrug. “In fact, I have a proposition for you. You can stay in the pack but as my mistress.”
