Saphira
The pack attendants entered the dining hall, filling the long table with steaming dishes, the scent of roasted meats, and fresh bread wafting through the air.
I sliced into my steak, savoring the way my knife glided effortlessly through the tender meat. Just as I lifted my fork, someone cleared their throat.
I looked up.
Cassius Nightbane. My father-in-law. His sharp, calculating gaze flickered to the empty seat at the head of the table before settling on me.
"Where is Kieran?" He asked, stealing yet another glance at the empty seat. The same question every morning. As if I had an answer- I did. I didn't answer right away, chewing slowly, unbothered. Finally, after a deliberate pause, "He's out there doing whatever the hell Alphas do early in the morning instead of having breakfast with their families." I replied, not really caring where this conversation was going. It wasn't the first time this happened, and it bored me to no end.
Cassius's expression didn't change, but I knew what he was thinking. Another morning without Kieran. Another morning when the Luna dined alone. It simply wasn't good for the pack; after all, divided mates in power, such as the alpha and Luna, resulted in the downfall of a pack sooner or later. It was a well-known fact.
"Saphira dear... you know, if you tried for another child," she mused, swirling her tea as if she hadn't just thrown a dagger at me."Perhaps you'd see him more often."
She is my mother-in-law, that one. Prisca Nightbane.
The room stilled, and my hands froze in place before they started to shake, but I had to be composed, and I certainly couldn't let this woman get the better of me.
"No," I said simply
"Excuse me?" She scoffed, her voice laced with venom. "How dare you? It's no wonder he barely comes home. I bet he is tired of you and your excuses already. Stupid girl, clinging to a small matter, " she said, fuming.
Small matter?
Something in me snapped.
I slammed my fists against the table with such force the silverware rattled, Prisca flinched, a startled gasp leaving her lips. I caught the way she quickly masked her fear with a disapproving glare as if she could intimidate me. Grabbing my napkins and dabbing my lips, I stood.
So much for composure. I can't say I didn't try; the woman was infuriating.
I turned to an omega standing nearby.
"Sandra, deliver my breakfast to my room." Without another word, I walked away, leaving behind a suffocating silence. In the sanctuary of my bedroom, I let out a slow breath.
Silence. Finally.
I let my gaze drift over the room, the massive bed, the unlit fireplace, the vanity untouched since yesterday. This was supposed to be my marital bedroom, but Kieran hadn't slept here in months.
A year ago, Kieran and I had been inseparable. Love, duty, passion—we had it all. Now, he was a ghost haunting the halls of my life, absent in every way that mattered.
Every morning, he was gone before I woke. Every night, he returned long after I had fallen asleep.
I traced a fingertip along the vanity's surface, my reflection staring back at me.
We used to be so happy, your typical happy and in love Alpha and Luna of a pack, but our life didn't turn out to be all roses.
Roses, after all, have very sharp thorns.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.
"Come in, Sandra."
She entered, carefully placing my plate of steak, vegetables, and rice on the table before bowing slightly and excusing herself. I ate in silence, filling the gnawing emptiness in my stomach.
Right on cue, my personal handmaiden, Milana, entered the room. Milana Vale wasn't just a servant; she was my mentor, protector, and quiet observer of everything. Standing in her forties, thin streaks of silver run down her brown hair, and her eyes that miss nothing scan the room. When they land on me, she sighs.
"I take it there was another mishap this morning Luna"
"How can you tell?"
"Madam Prisca won't stop cussing at you"
I exhaled sharply. "That woman doesn't know when to stop; hypertension is real, you know."
Milana chuckled, gathering my dishes. But as she reached the door, I stopped her.
"Milana."
"Yes, Luna?"
"He left the pack house again this morning," my head leaned against the wall, my eyes fluttering shut. My voice felt small and tired. A single tear betrayed me slipping down my cheek.
I hadn't opened my eyes yet, but I knew she gave me one of those sympathetic looks on her face. The look of pity. I despised it.
"I know I'm right in this situation, but I feel so lonely and strange like I'm doing everything wrong. Do I call off the plan and endure this, or do I go through with it and risk everything?" I mused, still covering my eyes. Another tear slipped.
I felt a presence beside me, but I still kept them closed.
"Luna," Milana's voice was softer now, "what do you think your mother would do if she saw you like this?"
A breath of laughter escaped me, the memory of my mother flashing in my mind.
"Oh, she'd march up to my father-in-law, call him a limp dick with a very vivid hand gesture, tear into my mother-in-law's terrible posture, then drag me by the ear and scold me for letting them speak to me like that."
I laughed some more and opened my eyes, Milana was smiling whilst staring at me.
"Do you feel better?"
"I do, thank you,"
Her hand covered mine, her expression turning serious. "Don't stop the plan. You've come too far and for a good reason. "The pack's mating ceremony is tonight," she reminded me. " I will come by soon to prepare you for the night," heading towards the door, she turned to look at me, " And as always, you've truly outdone yourself, Luna. The decorations, the lightning, every detail - it's absolutely exquisite. "
"Naturally," I replied with a small, satisfied smile. "I don't settle for anything less." With that, she excused herself to attend to pending duties.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror; my eyes looked red from crying, my cheeks all too rosy than I'd like, my hair as red as blood cascading wildly down my back, my cheeks tear-stained and lips red and unnecessarily pouty, this...not my best look.
A soft tap at my window made me turn.
The brown owl again, and with another letter.
Sending messages to a stranger started two months ago when things went downhill in my life and when I lost ...her.
This person came through to me that day in the form of an owl. Her owner wrote in the first letter that her name is Gia, I think she likes me now. Gia is three months old. She was very snappy at me at first, like she hated the job, but some days she warms up to me; on other days, you can just tell she's dying to bite me, but she stops and cringes like she was threatened, and would be punished if she bit me.
Is it possible for an owl to visibly cringe? It didn't make sense until after a month of receiving and sending her letters, when we had bonded enough for her to get comfortable sleeping in my arms, that i spotted an octagon under her talons.
Communicating with someone I barely knew was risky, don't I know it, but just this once, I chose to ignore it, I allowed myself to be careless. The letter was sealed with wax and a rose right on top of it. Beautiful.
Personally, I don't believe handwritten letters could ever go out of style. I opened it, and it read:
I'll be at the ceremony tonight, can't wait to see you. VA.
No name. Only the writer's initials - VA. As it has always been. At long last, I will get to see my anonymous pen pal."
Gia wasted no time in making her escape and flew like the wind. It was obvious she did not like being here, but I wasn't one to complain.
---
The ballroom was grand, with gold chandeliers and marble floors; wolves dressed in luxurious gowns and tailored suits filled the space, laughter, and excitement echoing through the room.
I wore a long purple gown with minimal jewelry and a little makeup– which Milana and Esther–my other handmaiden told me I didn't need, but it was a special night, so I made an exception. The night was meant to be a celebration of unity and love. One night where as Luna of the Blackthorn pack, I was expected to stand beside him, my mate, my Alpha.
Kieran Nightbane.
Lately, he has been very distant. He barely met my eyes, his touch absent. When I reached for him, he dodged, covering it up with a forced smile.
Pack members and visiting wolves had gathered, some already having found their mates glowing with joy. I used to be like that once.
But tonight… something was different, My wolf, Celia, would not stop pacing around in my head.
As the night progressed, Kieran stepped onto the grand stage, a microphone in hand. It wasn't the first time he made a speech at gatherings like these, but I felt so unsettled, so unedge. He took a deep breath, his gaze flickering to mine, but his eyes didn't hold love. Only obligation.
Then he looks to the crowd and calls a woman's name. "Alina." The room stilled, and my heart stopped.
"Tonight is a night of celebration." Kieran declared, his voice steady, ringing through the hall. " And what better way to honor this night than to introduce my true mate?"