The Luna Is Not Dead

Selene

The sharp crack of the slap sounded across the room as pain exploded across the left side of my face. I whimpered, staggering back as my vision blurred in one eye. My hand flew up to touch my burning cheek, tears stinging at the corners of my eyes.

“I warned you to get off my back, didn’t I?” Liora, my sister-in-law snarled, her voice dripping with venom.

My body trembled with the effort it took not to react. I swallowed the bitter taste of humiliation and spoke softly. “I only asked a simple question…”

“And what makes you think I would steal your cheap classless jewelry?” Liora snapped, folding her arms. “Do I look like someone who would wear the pathetic things you own?”

I opened my mouth to respond when my mother-in-law swept into the room, her sharp eyes narrowing at the scene.

“What is going on here?” she demanded.

“Mother!” Liora cried dramatically, rushing to her side and clutching her arm like a helpless child. “She accused me of stealing her jewelry!”

My mother-in-law's cold gaze snapped to me, filled with irritation and disgust. “Is that true, Selene? Did you accuse my daughter of theft?”

I swallowed hard, taking a step back. The necklace around Liora’s neck looks exactly like mine. Alpha Elias had given it to me on our third anniversary. There was even a matching piece sitting in his drawer.

“It’s nothing,” I said quietly, trying to avoid escalation.

But Liora wasn’t done. “No, Mother. She kept screaming, saying that I was a big thief! Why would I even want to enter her pathetic little room in the first place?”

What? I didn’t scream. Why would she lie about that and make the situation worse?

My mother-in-law expression darkened. “Did you accuse my daughter of being a thief?”

The words stung deeply. I took a shaky breath. “The necklace she’s wearing… it looks exactly like the one Elias gifted me. I only asked—”

“This necklace?” my mother-in-law cut me off, her voice rising. “The one I bought for Liora? How dare you lie and claim it’s yours!”

Before I could defend myself, her hand flew across my face in a second brutal slap. Fresh pain bloomed across my already tender cheek. I gasped, tears finally slipping free despite my efforts to hold them back.

Liora smirked, giving me a satisfied “you see?” look.

“But it is mine…” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Elias—”

“You still dare speak?” my mother-in-law spat, her face twisted with contempt. “A barren Luna has no right to speak so disrespectfully in my house! Five years with my son and you still haven’t given him a pup. Useless!”

The words sliced through me like claws. My chest tightened painfully. ‘Barren’. That single word never stopped hurting, no matter how many times they threw it at me.

Liora laughed softly. “Exactly. Five years and still no heir. What kind of Luna are you?”

The humiliation burned worse than the slaps. I lowered my head, blinking back more tears. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, forcing the words out even though they tasted like ash. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

My mother-in-law scoffed. “Apology not accepted.”

She stormed past me, deliberately slamming her shoulder into mine. Liora followed, doing the same while letting out a mocking laugh.

The moment they were gone, I let out a heavy, broken sigh. I retreated to my room, where the empty jewelry box on my vanity stared back at me accusingly. With trembling hands, I picked it up and threw it into the trash bin.

I collapsed onto the bed, curling into myself as silent tears soaked the pillow.

How much longer can I endure this?

That evening, when Elias finally returned from his meeting, I gathered what little courage I had left.

“Elias?” I called softly as he began removing his clothes. “Can we talk?”

He sighed, sounding exhausted and irritated. “What is it, Selene? Goddess, I’m so tired right now.”

His voice was cold and harsh. The warmth I once knew in him had slowly disappeared over the past year, replaced by this icy indifference that broke my heart a little more each day.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “It’s about your mother and sister—”

“Come on, Selene,” Elias cut me off, rolling his eyes as he unbuttoned his shirt. “This again? Aren’t you tired of this yet?”

“This is different,” I insisted, my voice cracking. “Can you just listen to me for once?”

He let out a heavy sigh, clearly exhausted. “Selene… can you just let it go?”

“Elias!” I yelled, tears spilling down my cheeks. The hurt and frustration I had been holding in all day finally burst out.

He grunted in annoyance. “Fine. I’ll talk to them. Happy now?”

“Talk to them?” I repeated, disappointment flooding my chest. “You don’t even know what they did to me.”

“Damn it, Selene!” he snapped. “What did they do now? Did they kill someone? Why is everything always so dramatic with you?”

I scoffed bitterly and shook my head, the fight draining out of me. “Never mind.”

“Don’t waste my time with things like this ever again,” he muttered coldly before disappearing into the bathroom.

I didn’t reply. I simply climbed into bed, pulled the duvet over my head, and bit down hard on my bottom lip to stop myself from sobbing out loud. Silent tears slipped down my cheeks anyway, soaking the pillow. I heard the bathroom door open and close, but Elias didn’t say another word to me.

I really needed that jewelry, at least one piece. Tomorrow night was the Full Moon Celebration, and I had nothing nice to wear. The pack would be gathered in the grand ballroom with the opened ceiling, everyone dressed beautifully, dancing with their mates under the moonlight.

And soon… my heat would come.

I sighed heavily, closed my eyes, and let exhaustion pull me into a restless sleep, desperate to forget the pain of today.

***

The following evening came too quickly.

I stood in front of the mirror, gently touching the new necklace resting against my collarbone. A small, satisfied smile touched my lips. I had managed to buy a few simple but elegant pieces this morning, and I felt pretty for the first time in weeks. The deep emerald gown hugged my figure perfectly, and my hair fell in soft waves down my back.

Maybe tonight will be different, I thought hopefully. Maybe Elias will finally look at me the way he used to.

A knock sounded on the door.

“Luna,” a servant called urgently, “you must hurry! The full moon is about to rise!”

“I’m coming,” I replied with a smile.

I slipped on my dancing shoes, excitement bubbling in my chest. After the moon ritual, everyone would dance with their mates. I couldn’t wait to tango or sway in Elias’s arms. Maybe tonight we could reconnect.

I stepped outside into the beautifully decorated courtyard leading to the ballroom. Pack members bowed their heads respectfully as I passed.

“Luna.”

“Good evening, Luna Selene.”

I smiled and nodded, but my steps faltered when I spotted Liora and my mother-in-law whispering to each other, throwing sharp glares in my direction. Anxiety twisted in my stomach. I quickly looked away.

“Where is Elias?” I whispered to myself.

I was about to call him when the entire crowd suddenly gasped and cheered.

“There it is!”

I lifted my gaze to the sky. The full moon had risen. It was so big, bright, and breathtakingly beautiful. Soft music began to play, and couples started pairing up, moving gracefully across the dance floor.

My eyes searched eagerly for Elias.

And then I saw him.

He was already dancing… with another woman in his arms. Her body was pressed close to his, and he was smiling down at her. The kind of smile he hadn’t given me in months.

My heart shattered.