Chapter 3

Another day passed in a blur, and Alpha Nathan’s efforts to locate my mother continued to yield nothing. His warriors returned to the packhouse empty-handed, their shoulders slumped in defeat. Frustration etched deep lines into Alpha Nathan’s face as he barked orders, his Alpha tone reverberating through the halls. Finally, he turned his attention to me.

Weak from days without food and still reeling from the previous night’s ordeal, I lay on the cold floor of the packhouse, my body trembling. Alpha Nathan stood tall, his imposing figure casting a shadow over me. In one arm, he cradled Trey, his supposed heir, and in the other, he held Jasmine close, the picture of a perfect family. But Jasmine’s eyes, sharp and calculating, betrayed her malice as she looked down at me.

Leaning into Alpha Nathan with practiced ease, Jasmine spoke in a voice dripping with feigned sorrow. “Alpha, do you think Frances isn’t coming back because she hates me?”

Her words were like poison, carefully crafted to wound. “If only she’d return, I could leave you both in peace. But… our son is suffering at school, being mocked as a bastard.”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Jasmine knew my mother was gone, yet she played this twisted game, tarnishing her memory and keeping Alpha Nathan’s disdain alive. Her act of fragility seemed to unravel Alpha Nathan, who pulled her closer as if she were the most precious thing in the world. He gently kissed her tear-stained cheeks, his voice soft and tender.

“Jasmine, don’t say that. Frances has no grounds to hate you. Once I find her, I’ll divorce her and make you my Luna.”

His words cut through me like a blade. I remembered a time when Alpha Nathan had looked at my mother with that same tenderness. Now, she was nothing but a ghost in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Jasmine,” Alpha Nathan continued, his gaze hardening as it fell on me. “You’ll be my Luna, and our son will inherit the Blue Moon Pack. As for that other child…”

He approached me, his boots clicking against the floor. I flinched as he nudged me lightly with his foot, the pain shooting through my battered body. Alpha Nathan’s anger flared. “Stop the act. I barely touched you; how is it so painful?”

I curled into myself, my forehead slick with sweat, my lips dry and cracked. Alpha Nathan’s expression shifted slightly as he knelt beside me, lifting my shirt to examine my injuries. His eyes widened at the sight of the scars marring my frail body.

“Luna,” he said, his voice softer now, though still laced with suspicion. “How did you get these injuries?”

I hesitated, my eyes darting to Jasmine. She stood nearby, her face a mask of innocence, but I caught the flicker of panic in her eyes. Before Alpha Nathan could press further, Trey let out a sharp cry, drawing his attention.

Alpha Nathan scooped Trey into his arms, his worry for the boy evident. “What’s wrong, buddy?”

Trey’s hiccupping cries continued despite Alpha Nathan’s attempts to soothe him. Jasmine stepped in, her voice careful and measured. “Alpha, I think… Trey is scared you’ll leave him.”

She paused, her gaze darting to me before continuing. “It’s my fault. I mentioned to Trey that Luna is also your child. You know Trey adores you. If he thinks you’re splitting your attention, he won’t handle it well.”

Alpha Nathan’s concern melted away as he chuckled, pinching Trey’s nose playfully. “Is that it? You little rascal, imagining nonsense.”

He held Trey close, his voice warm and reassuring. “I swear, our Trey has all of Daddy’s love. No one will take even a tiny bit.”

Trey’s tears turned to laughter, and he looked up at Alpha Nathan with adoration. “Really? Promise me you’ll be my dad alone and never let Luna call you Daddy.”

Alpha Nathan’s laughter filled the room as he agreed without hesitation. “I promise.”

The sound of his laughter, so full of joy, was a stark contrast to the coldness he showed me. I remembered a time when he had laughed like that with me, before Jasmine and Trey had entered our lives. Now, I was nothing but a burden to him.

While Alpha Nathan was occupied with Trey, Jasmine approached me, her steps deliberate. She knelt beside me, her face a mask of false concern as she examined my injuries. Her lips curved into a malicious smile as she turned to Alpha Nathan.

“Alpha, on closer look… Luna’s injuries don’t appear as bad. They seem… self-inflicted.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy and accusatory. “Do you think she’s like Frances, purposely hurting herself to get your sympathy?”

Alpha Nathan’s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. The flicker of worry I had seen earlier was gone, replaced by cold suspicion.

I wanted to scream, to tell him the truth, but the words stuck in my throat. Jasmine’s lies had woven a web around him, and I was trapped in the center, powerless to break free.