Reborn of the Luna novel Chapter 20

“What exactly is the problem?” I asked, giving him my best, though obviously fake, smile. “You need to take care of your wolf, and to do that, you need to give that poor girl a good time tonight.” I gestured at Becca, who was standing behind Maximus looking confused. “Meanwhile, I need to take care of our pack since you’re busy. For that, I need to actually talk to people, Maximus. Build relationships and all that.”

“Is that what you’ve been doing? Building relationships?” he snarled through his teeth. “Why are you only talking to men when there are plenty of Lunas here?”

“The Lunas are already on my side, trust me,” I smirked. “But the men need to get to know me better. Besides, what if I meet my mate here? Imagine how strong our pack would be if both our wolves suddenly increased in strength because of that. Wouldn’t that be amazing?”

His grip on my arm tightened so much I knew it would leave bruises. Not that I cared. It was oddly satisfying to see him squirm.

A few people around us laughed, appreciating my joke, but Maximus didn’t find it funny at all. He was used to being the center of attention, and this wasn’t how he planned to be seen tonight. He thought he could have it all: the best wife and Luna, and a mate who could be his mistress over time. He only held back out of respect for me, but it was just a matter of time before he gave in to his desires.

He believed tonight’s ball would prove to everyone that he could have it all. Other alphas would be jealous, and his closest supporters would praise him. Wasn’t it every man’s dream to have two perfect women?

He always saw me as perfect. At least, that was what he told me, something that I have long since started to doubt.

He once said to me that the moment he saw me, he knew I’d be his Luna. I had everything he wanted: beauty, intelligence, strength, and kindness. I’d been his partner in every sense, leading our pack in perfect sync. He fell in love with me almost instantly and pursued me relentlessly. We dated for years in school and married soon after graduating. He gave me everything he thought a Luna deserved.

But when he met Rebecca, everything changed. He wanted to reject her immediately, but he couldn’t. It happened so fast when he visited a neighboring pack. She was running out of the woods, chased by wolves, while he was talking to the Alpha. He froze when he realized she was his mate. He never thought he’d find her, especially not after he’d already chosen me. He wanted to know what having a mate felt like, but he was also in love with me, so he decided to abandon the idea of his mate. When we married, he marked me as his chosen mate.

He told me in one of the rare moments we spoke during my last life. Of course, the conversation did not end well.

The reason he fell in love with Becca, he said, was because everything was easier. Simple things made her laugh. She was grateful for even the smallest of gifts. A bit of his attention would make her smile. She depended on him entirely, afraid to take a step without him.

He liked the way she looked at him, how weak and fragile she was. It made his instincts sharpen, especially the urge to protect her. That’s why he couldn’t leave her outside his pack anymore. It wasn’t safe. That’s why he couldn’t reject her when I demanded it, and she fell at his knees. He wasn’t that cruel. He couldn’t do that to a little omega.

He told me that he’d work something out so that all three of us could be together. His mate didn’t have to be his wife or Luna. She could stay in his pack, live comfortably, and satisfy his wolf when needed, while I would remain his queen. Our relationship could survive anything. He thought I wouldn’t be happy at first, but eventually, I’d adjust for the pack’s sake. My rational side would win. I could handle anything and still do it with dignity.