Reborn of the Luna novel Chapter 3

“I—” I started, but a loud growl from Maximus stopped me.

“Enough!” he roared, his eyes glowing red—his wolf was taking over.

“Calm down,” I said firmly, but another growl erupted from him, fueled by rage.

“I said enough!” Maximus appeared next to Rebecca in an instant, scooping her into his arms. “She’s staying! We’ll find a way around everything!”

He carried her up the massive staircase, taking her to one of the guest rooms. I knew exactly which one—the one in the farthest corner of the mansion, where my husband would soon practically move in. Rebecca’s head was tucked into Maximus’s neck, her breath brushing against his collarbone, right where a mark should be.

Automatically, I touched the mark he gave me when I was nineteen and caught the omega’s gaze. Rebecca was watching. I knew then that today, just like last time, I had lost.

Nothing had changed. My words and actions played no part in the outcome. It was like watching a terrible movie on repeat.

“Kat!” Ava approached me once Maximus was gone, “Are you okay?”

I looked at my best friend, the one I had lost before. Without thinking, I threw myself into her arms. After my parents’ deaths, she was the only person I could trust with everything.

“There, there,” she patted my long blonde hair. “It’s going to be all right. He’ll reconsider, I’m sure.”

Reality set in, and I realized how everything looked to the people around me. I pulled away, already having lost my husband. There was no need to lose my dignity too.

“I’m fine,” I said, catching the Beta’s gaze.

Ash nodded and gave me a soft, sympathetic smile before shouting, “I feel like everyone’s forgotten what they were supposed to be doing! The work is waiting!”

“Let’s go to your room,” Ava suggested. “We can talk there.”

“No,” I replied. I didn’t need that conversation. We’d already had it.

What I needed was some time alone to process everything, to strategize, and to come up with a new plan. I couldn’t save my marriage, but I could still save Ava, the others who died because of Becca, my pack, and myself.

“I just can’t right now,” I offered, smiling at my friend and squeezing her hand. “Let’s talk another time. I have a lot of work to do.”

“Work?” Ava’s eyes grew wide, “Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I smoothed out the creases on my dress. “Now that our Alpha is… busy, I have to step in. The pack comes first.”

I gave her another warm smile and added, “Everything’s going to be all right, Ava. We’ll be fine. All of us.”

Without wasting another second, I slipped underwater and swam to the shore as fast as I could, then bolted for safety. A loud howl echoed behind me.

Back in safe territory, I found my clothes where I had left them. I hurriedly pulled on my dress but struggled with the zipper at the back.

“Let me help,” a familiar voice said. Beta Will was suddenly there, assisting with the zipper. I wondered if he had been watching me the whole time, but it didn’t matter. Werewolves were used to nudity, and it wasn’t the first time he’d seen me without clothes. Probably wouldn’t be the last.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, turning to face him.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” he replied, his expression unreadable. “Found your clothes and figured you were out for a run. Why didn’t you shift?”

“I did,” I lied smoothly. No one could know I couldn’t shift. If they found out, my fate would be sealed. I needed time. “But that’s not important. There was an intruder at the Silver Lake. Send wolves to check it out.”

“Of course, Luna,” he said, his eyes glazing over for a moment as he relayed the orders through the mind link.

I didn’t wait for him and started walking back to the house. Will quickly caught up, opening the door for me with a gentlemanly gesture.

“It’s going to be alright,” he suddenly blurted out. I stopped. He used to say that all the time, back when things were simpler. But when tough decisions needed to be made, he always sided with Maximus. That betrayal hurt the most because I thought our bond was stronger. Yet he didn’t even object when they stripped me of my title. There were so many things I wanted to say to him, but I couldn’t.

Instead, I just placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eye, offering a sad smile. “You knew, didn’t you?”