Four

Chapter four

The banquet hall looked more magnificent than ever.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, their warm glow reflecting against polished marble floors while musicians filled the air with elegant melodies. Distinguished Alphas, respected elders, and influential guests from neighboring packs occupied nearly every table, exchanging polite conversations while servants moved gracefully between them carrying expensive wine and carefully prepared dishes.

Under normal circumstances, I would have enjoyed watching everyone admire the celebration because I had spent the past two weeks planning every detail myself. Every flower arrangement, every seating chart, every decoration, and every course served during the banquet had passed through my hands before receiving approval.

Today, however, none of it brought me any satisfaction.

My wolf, Lily, had remained unusually quiet since yesterday.

Usually she filled my mind with cheerful remarks whenever we attended important gatherings, but now I could feel nothing except the sadness she was trying to hide from me.

"You're hurting," she whispered.

"So are you."

"I'll be alright."

"You've been saying that for years."

I forced a small smile as I entered the hall with Darius walking beside me.

The moment we appeared, everyone stood to greet us.

"Hail Alpha Darius."

"Hail Luna Valerie."

I smiled politely at every guest while keeping my back straight and my shoulders relaxed because no matter how broken I felt inside, I refused to embarrass the Blood Moon Pack in front of the entire werewolf community.

Darius leaned slightly toward me.

"You look beautiful today."

I turned to him in surprise.

"Thank you."

"I told you smiling suits you."

For one foolish moment, hope returned to my heart.

Maybe everything really could become normal again after today.

Maybe once the banquet ended and we were finally alone, I could tell him about our baby.

Maybe yesterday had simply been unfortunate timing.

The master of ceremonies stepped onto the stage and officially welcomed every guest before inviting Darius to deliver his annual speech.

As the Alpha walked toward the podium, loud applause filled the hall.

I watched him proudly.

No matter how complicated our marriage had become, I had never stopped admiring the leader he had grown into.

His speech was confident and inspiring.

He thanked the elders for their guidance, praised the warriors for protecting the pack, welcomed our allies, and promised that the Blood Moon Pack would continue growing stronger under his leadership.

When he finished speaking, another round of applause echoed throughout the hall.

He returned to my side.

"You've done well," I told him sincerely.

He smiled faintly.

"I couldn't have organized today without you."

Before I could answer, another voice interrupted us.

"Alpha."

We both turned.

Selena approached wearing an elegant silver gown that immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Several young warriors openly admired her beauty while many female guests smiled warmly at her.

She carried herself with effortless confidence, as though she had never truly left this place.

"Darius," she said with a bright smile. "Congratulations on another successful year."

He returned her smile.

"Thank you."

She stepped forward before embracing him.

The hall became strangely quiet.

Although the hug lasted only a few seconds, I noticed countless pairs of curious eyes watching the three of us.

Then the whispers began.

"So that's Selena."

"I heard she was Alpha Darius's first love."

"They still look good together."

"I almost forgot Luna Valerie was standing there."

My fingers slowly tightened around the glass in my hand.

Lily whimpered softly inside my mind.

"They're staring at us."

"I know."

"They're comparing you."

"I know."

I forced another smile because I refused to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.

Selena finally released Darius before turning toward me.

"Luna Valerie, thank you again for allowing me to stay at the mansion. You've been so kind."

"You're welcome."

"I hope I'm not causing any inconvenience."

"Not at all."

She smiled sweetly.

"You truly deserve the title of Luna."

The compliment sounded sincere.

Somehow it hurt even more.

Dinner continued peacefully for another hour before the musicians stopped playing.

Everyone turned toward the center of the hall.

Selena suddenly looked around with a confused expression.

"My necklace..."

She touched her neck again before her smile disappeared.

"My Moonstone necklace is gone."

Several guests immediately began looking around.

"The one your mother gave you?" someone asked.

"Yes."

Her voice trembled.

"It was here just a few moments ago."

Darius frowned.

"Search the floor first."

Several warriors immediately obeyed, but after several minutes, the expensive necklace was nowhere to be found.

One of the elders slowly stood.

"If it has not fallen inside the hall, then someone must have taken it."

Silence filled the room.

Selena quickly shook her head.

"I'm sure it was only misplaced."

Another elder spoke.

"We cannot ignore the possibility of theft."

Darius's expression hardened.

"Search the hall."

Within seconds, guards began respectfully checking tables, chairs, and personal belongings after obtaining permission from the guests.

No one complained.

Everyone understood pack law.

When the search produced nothing, Selena slowly raised her hand.

"There is... one place that hasn't been checked."

Every eye turned toward her.

She hesitated as though she regretted speaking.

"I noticed a handbag near my seat earlier."

She lowered her gaze.

"I think it belongs to Luna."

The hall became completely silent.

My heart skipped a beat.

Slowly, I turned toward Darius.

Surely he would refuse.

Surely he would never allow anyone to search his own Luna in front of the entire werewolf world.

I searched his face, silently begging him to protect me just this once.

My eyes remained fixed on Darius, silently begging him to protect me without forcing me to speak a single word.

He knew me better than anyone.

He knew I had never stolen so much as a coin from another pack member.

He knew I personally approved compensation for widows, paid medical expenses for injured warriors, and often spent my own allowance helping orphaned pups without ever asking for recognition.

If there was one person in this room who should have believed me without hesitation, it was my own husband.

For several long seconds, Darius remained silent.

The entire banquet hall waited for his decision.

An elder slowly stepped forward before bowing respectfully.

"Alpha, no one is above pack law, including Luna."

Another elder nodded in agreement.

"If we refuse to search for her simply because she is the Alpha's wife, people will question the fairness of your leadership."

The whispers around the hall grew louder.

"They're right."

"The Alpha has to remain impartial."

"This is a difficult decision."

My heart pounded painfully inside my chest.

"Darius..."

I called his name so quietly that I wasn't even sure he heard me.

His eyes finally met mine.

For a brief moment, I saw hesitation in them.

Hope immediately bloomed inside me.

He believes me.

He's going to stop this.

He's going to tell everyone his wife would never do something so shameful.

Instead, he slowly looked toward the guards.

"Search for Luna's belongings."

The words struck me harder than any physical blow ever could.

I stared at him in complete disbelief.

"You... what?"

His expression remained calm, almost unreadable.

"This investigation must be fair."

My breathing became uneven.

"You actually believe I stole from her?"

"I didn't say that."

"Then why are you letting them humiliate me in front of everyone?"

"The search will prove your innocence."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"My innocence?"

I looked around the banquet hall.

Hundreds of eyes were already watching me.

Some were curious.

Some were suspicious.

Others looked almost excited, as though they had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to watch Luna fall from grace.

Even if they searched my bag and found nothing, the humiliation would remain.

The damage had already been done.

One of the guards approached me cautiously.

"Luna... forgive me."

He lowered his head before reaching toward my handbag.

I instinctively stepped back.

"Darius."

I looked at my husband one last time.

"If I ask you to stop this... will you?"

His jaw tightened.

"No."

That single word shattered something deep inside me.

I slowly closed my eyes.

"So be it."

I loosened my grip on my handbag before handing it to the guard myself.

"If this is what my Alpha wants..."

The guard accepted it with trembling hands.

Everyone inside the hall became silent.

He carefully opened the handbag.

The first thing he removed was a small wallet.

Then a handkerchief.

A notebook.

The tiny pair of white knitted baby shoes.

A few guests frowned in confusion.

I immediately reached forward.

"Please be careful with those."

The guard nodded respectfully before placing them aside.

He reached into the bag again.

My pregnancy test.

Before anyone could look closely at it, I quickly picked it up and slipped it into my dress pocket.

No one seemed to notice.

The guard continued searching.

Then his hand suddenly stopped.

His expression changed.

Slowly, he pulled out a glittering necklace.

A collective gasp echoed throughout the banquet hall.

My entire body froze.

It was Selena's Moonstone necklace.

I stared at it without blinking.

"No..."

The guard looked completely horrified.

"Elder... I found it."

The necklace dangled from his fingers, sparkling beneath the chandelier lights while every person in the hall looked at me as though I had suddenly become a stranger.

"It... that's impossible."

I shook my head repeatedly.

"I've never seen that necklace before."

Selena covered her mouth with both hands as tears filled her eyes.

"Valerie..."

Her voice trembled.

"If you liked it that much... you could have asked me."

"I didn't take it."

I looked desperately toward Darius.

"I swear on our mate bond, I didn't."

The elders' expressions immediately darkened.

"The evidence speaks for itself."

"What a disgrace."

"A Luna reduced to stealing out of jealousy."

"I cannot believe this."

One elderly council member struck his staff against the marble floor.

"The Luna has shamed the Blood Moon Pack before distinguished guests and allied Alphas. According to pack law, she should immediately be stripped of her title."

A wave of agreement spread through the elders.

"Strip her title."

"She is unworthy."

"Remove her as Luna."

Each word landed like another stone crushing my chest.

I looked toward Darius again.

I no longer expected him to defend me.

I only wanted him to look at me.

To see the tears I could

no longer hold back.

To remember the woman who had spent three years standing beside him through every hardship.

Instead, he slowly stood.

His powerful Alpha aura immediately silenced the entire hall.

"The investigation is not yet complete."

For one brief second, hope returned.

Then he continued.

"Until the truth is fully uncovered, Luna Valerie will be confined according to pack law."

I felt the last piece of my heart break.