Aria's POV
The screaming came from the guest wing.
I ran down the hallway, my pregnant belly barely showing but my wolf protective and alert. Other pack members rushed from their rooms, confusion on their faces.
Damien got there first. Of course he did—the fated mate bond probably woke him the second Selene was in distress.
"What's wrong?" He burst through her door.
I stopped in the doorway, watching. Always watching now.
Selene sat up in bed, her silver hair wild, her face pale. "Nightmare. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake everyone."
"It's okay." Damien sat on her bed. On. Her. Bed. "You're safe here."
My wolf growled low. *That's our mate comforting another female.*
"Go back to bed, everyone," I announced to the gathering crowd. "Everything's fine."
They left, but I saw their looks. The pity. The whispers.
Damien stayed in Selene's room for twenty minutes. When he finally came back to our bedroom, I pretended to be asleep.
He slipped into bed and reached for me.
I moved away.
That was two weeks ago.
Since then, everything changed.
*Day Three*
"Aria, can you pass the salt?" Damien asked at breakfast.
I slid it across the table. Selene sat between us—the table that used to be just ours. She smiled apologetically, but she was still there.
"This food is amazing," Selene said. "Did you make it, Luna Aria?"
"Yes."
"You're so talented. Damien's lucky to have you."
The words sounded kind. But they felt like knives.
*Day Five*
I planned dinner for seven o'clock. Damien's favorite—roasted venison and fresh bread.
Seven o'clock came. No Damien.
Seven-thirty. The food got cold.
Eight o'clock. I ate alone.
At eight-thirty, he finally came home.
"I'm so sorry! I was showing Selene the territory borders. She needs to know them for safety. Time got away from us."
"You could have mind-linked me."
"You're right. I should have." He kissed my forehead. "Tomorrow, I promise."
But tomorrow came, and he missed dinner again.
*Day Seven*
Jenny brought her daughter Katie to me. The little girl had a fever.
"Luna Aria always makes me feel better," Katie said with a weak smile.
I pressed my hand to her forehead, letting my wolf's healing energy flow. "You'll be okay, sweetheart. Just needs rest and fluids."
"Thank you, Luna." Jenny's relief was obvious.
But as they left, I overheard Jenny talking to another pack mother in the hallway:
"I still came to Luna Aria for healing, but I asked Selene about Katie's school problems. She gave such good advice."
"Selene's wonderful. So wise."
My chest tightened. They were going to Selene for advice. Selene, who'd been here one week.
*Day Ten*
I walked through the packhouse and heard laughter from the common room.
Inside, Selene sat surrounded by pack members—mothers, warriors, teenagers. They hung on her every word as she told some story about the Northern Packs.
Marcus sat closest to her, grinning.
Marcus. My best friend.
When he saw me, his smile faded. "Aria. We were just—"
"Having fun. I see that." I forced a smile. "Carry on."
As I walked away, I heard someone whisper: "Luna Aria seems so cold lately."
Cold. They thought I was cold for not embracing my replacement with open arms.
*Day Twelve*
My garden was dying.
I'd built it three years ago—healing herbs, flowers, vegetables. My sanctuary. The place I went when Luna duties overwhelmed me.
But I'd been too tired lately. Too sick with morning sickness. Too heartbroken to care.
The herbs were brown. Weeds choked the flowers.
I knelt in the dirt and tried to salvage what I could. My hands shook. Everything was falling apart, including me.
"Need help?"
I looked up. Lyssa stood there, concern written all over her face.
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine. You're falling apart, and everyone can see it except you." She knelt beside me. "Talk to me."
"What's there to say? My husband has a fated mate. My pack is replacing me. I'm pregnant and alone."
"You're not alone. I'm here."
Tears burned my eyes. "You're the only one."
"That's not true—"
"Isn't it?" I gestured toward the packhouse. "They go to Selene now. For advice. For comfort. She's been here two weeks and they already love her more than me."
"That's not—"
"It is!" My voice broke. "I spent five years building this pack. Being the Luna they needed. And she waltzes in with her perfect face and her sacred bond, and I'm forgotten."
Lyssa grabbed my shoulders. "Listen to me. Something's wrong. Selene's too perfect. Too convenient. And Damien's acting weird—like he's not fully himself."
"The bond is clouding his judgment."
"It's more than that." Lyssa's eyes were hard. "I'm a warrior. I'm trained to spot threats. And Selene? She's a threat."
"She's his fated mate—"
"Which makes her convenient for hurting you." Lyssa lowered her voice. "Have you noticed how she's always around when pack members complain about you? How she 'accidentally' mentions your mistakes?"
I hadn't noticed. I'd been too busy drowning.
"You're being paranoid."
"And you're being blind!" Lyssa stood. "Wake up, Aria. Before you lose everything."
She left me in my dying garden.
*Day Fourteen - Tonight*
I made dinner again. Set the table for two.
Waited.
Seven o'clock. No Damien.
Eight o'clock. Still alone.
At nine, I gave up. Started clearing the table.
The front door opened.
"Aria?" Damien called. "Sorry I'm late! Selene wanted to see the full moon from the eastern ridge. It's her favorite—"
"Stop." I didn't turn around. "Just stop."
"Stop what?"
"Pretending." I finally faced him. "Pretending nothing's changed. Pretending you're still my husband."
"I am your husband—"
"You're her fated mate." The words tasted like poison. "You spend more time with her than me. You miss our dinners. You barely touch me anymore. You're choosing her, Damien. Every single day, you're choosing her."
Guilt flashed across his face. "It's not like that."
"Then what is it like?"
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Had no answer.
"I'm pregnant with your child," I whispered. "And I'm alone. Do you understand that? I'm carrying our baby, and you're too busy with your fated mate to care."
"That's not fair—"
"Nothing about this is fair!" I threw the plate I was holding. It shattered against the wall. "You brought another woman into our home! Into our lives! And you expect me to smile and accept it!"
"I expect you to understand—"
"I understand perfectly." Tears ran down my face. "I understand I'm being replaced. I understand our marriage meant nothing against a stupid bond. I understand I was never enough."
"Aria—"
"Get out." My voice went cold. "Sleep somewhere else tonight. I can't look at you."
He left.
I cleaned up the broken plate with shaking hands. My wolf whimpered inside, hurt and confused.
A soft knock on the door made me look up.
Selene stood there, her face sympathetic.
"I heard yelling. Are you okay?"
"Go away."
"I know this is hard—"
"You know nothing!" I stood. "You've destroyed my marriage, stolen my husband, and taken my pack. Don't pretend to care."
"I never wanted this—"
"But you took it anyway." I stepped closer. "Stay away from me. Stay away from my husband. Or I swear—"
"You'll what?" Her voice changed. Went harder. Colder. "You're an omega, Aria. I'm his fated mate. Chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. Who do you think wins that battle?"
The mask slipped. Just for a second. But I saw it.
This wasn't an innocent woman caught in circumstances. This was something else. Something calculating.
Before I could respond, she smiled sweetly again. "I should go. Get some rest, Luna. You look tired."
She left.
I stood frozen. Lyssa was right. Something was very wrong.
I needed proof. Evidence. Something to show Damien that Selene wasn't who she pretended to be.
But where would I find it?
My hand moved to my stomach, protective. "I'll figure this out," I whispered to my baby. "I promise."
A sound outside made me look up.
Through the window, I saw Damien and Selene standing in the moonlight.
He was holding her hand.
And she was smiling like she'd already won.