The next day came in a blur, filled with endless obligations. As the Luna, I had a full plate- meetings, decisions, and the constant hum of responsibilities pulling me in every direction. Just as I finished the morning briefing, Preston’s voice pushed its way through the mind link, laced with irritation.
“Marcia, why didn’t you wake me? You left without saying a word, and now I’ve overslept.”
The frustration I felt was all too familiar. Since our bond was sealed, I’d poured everything into caring for him–setting out his clothes, making his meals with care, gently waking him each day so his mornings started smoothly. It had been an act of love, at first. But now, the affection behind it had gone unnoticed. To him, it was just part of my job, not something I chose to do out of devotion.
A long breath escaped me. I wasn’t his maid. I was his Luna, not someone bound to his every whim.
“If you’re late, I suggest you get up quickly,” I replied, letting some of my displeasure show.
“What should I wear?” he asked, as if picking his own outfit was beyond him.
“Your wardrobe is full, Alpha. Just grab whatever suits you,” I said, my patience wearing thin.
“But I don’t see it…” he mumbled, that helpless tone creeping in like it always did.
A nearby Omega called for my attention, giving me the perfect excuse to end the conversation. “I’ve got work to do. You’ll have to manage without me,” I said, turning away.
But he wasn’t finished.
“The shirts are wrinkled! Didn’t you iron them? How am I supposed to attend a meeting like
this?”
And of course, the next complaint followed.
“You didn’t make breakfast?”
Each word hit me like a reminder of everything I had given up. I had silenced my wolf for this man. I had once believed in a shared future-love, children, leadership. But now, that dream felt more like a cruel joke. The life I had envisioned no longer seemed possible.
Overwhelmed, I left the pack house and wandered into a neighboring town. There, I checked into a modest inn that catered exclusively to female wolves–those who needed space, healing, or just a break. It felt like a safe pocket of peace, far removed from the life I had entangled myself
- in.
Lying on the bed, I stared up at the ceiling. The stillness around me brought a storm of memories. I remembered every moment I wished I could change. Then, through the silence, a soft voice reached my mind.
“My daughter…”
My mother’s voice–gentle, full of love and concern–wrapped around me. As the Moon Goddess, she had always guided me, warned me, cared for me. And yet here I was, aching with regret.
She had tried to protect me. Now her voice was a bittersweet comfort, reminding me that even if I had made mistakes, I wasn’t alone. But it also reminded me of the cost of my choices–ones I
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would carry with me forever.
Flashback
My eighteenth birthday had finally arrived, the day I would discover my destined mate–an event every wolf waited for.
“Are you excited to meet him?” my mother asked, her smile laced with something deeper.
“Yes, Mama! Can I see who it is?”
She nodded and summoned the sacred orb. As the image formed, I saw him–Alpha Preston from Westbrook Town’s Cold Moon Pack. Even through the orb, his presence felt strong and magnetic. My heart soared. But my mother’s smile faded, her gaze dimmed.
“Your mate…” she began, hesitation clear in her voice.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my excitement starting to falter.
“There’s something you need to know. His bloodline carries a curse, Marcia. One that’s endured for generations. It’s dangerous.”
My heart dropped. “What kind of curse?”
She sighed, her eyes sorrowful. “Long ago, an Alpha in his family rejected his mate because she had no wolf. He mocked her, hurt her deeply, and eventually pushed her to end a pregnancy she didn’t want to lose. Heartbroken, she sought help from her best friend–a powerful witch. Together, they cast a curse. Every Alpha born of that line would cause their mate to become wolfless.”
A chill ran through me. My wolf–my spirit, my strength–would be lost if I chose him.
But when I looked back at the orb, I didn’t just see a cursed man. I saw Preston. The boy I had loved for years, even before fate had confirmed it.
“But I love him,” I whispered. “Even if it means losing my wolf, I want to be with him.”
My mother’s face tightened with grief. “Think about what you’re giving up. Your wolf is your essence. Without her, you’ll never feel whole.”
‘I can’t let him go. I’m sorry, Mama. I choose him.”
End of Flashback
Even now, the memory stung. That young girl had no idea what she was giving up. I had believed ove would be enough. But love without respect, without support–it wasn’t love at all.
The sun had disappeared, and I still hadn’t responded to my mother. I didn’t know what to say. Guilt held me silent.
Then, once again, Preston’s voice barged into my thoughts.
‘Why aren’t you back yet? Where’s dinner?”
The thought of returning to him filled me with disgust. I stayed put, wrapped in the comfort of stillness.
‘I had something important to handle,” I replied, calm and cool. ‘Let the maids prepare your meal.”
His reaction was instant. “What?”
Preston had always refused food from anyone else. Only what I made was good enough. I had
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fed him day after day, believing it was a way to show love.
“Is there an issue?” I asked, a challenge hidden in my tone.
He hesitated, “No. Just… take care of yourself.”
“Thanks,” I said plainly.
Silence followed–long, strained, heavy.
Eventually, he reached out again, his voice uncertain.
“Marcia… are you upset with me?”
I should have been. Once, I would have cried, screamed, begged him to see how he hurt me. But now? Now I only felt numb. Either he hadn’t noticed or he simply didn’t care.
“I’m not angry,” I said softly. Not to reassure him, but to acknowledge the truth within myself. Anger had faded. What remained was emptiness.
And perhaps, something stronger waiting to rise.
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