LUNA CLARA

In my hand, I clutched the jacket I had spent months sewing—a labor of love, carefully crafted as a gift for my mate, Alpha Landon. With the winter season settling over the Starblaze Pack, I had thought it would be perfect, something to keep him from the cold.

Excitement filled me as I searched for him, eager to see his reaction. I finally found Landon in the kingdom's hallway, deep in conversation with Elder Danilo. I didn't intend to eavesdrop, but their voices carried, and the words I overheard froze me in place.

"Does Luna Clara know about this?" Elder Danilo asked cautiously.

Landon shook his head, his jaw tightening visibly. "I'll tell her in the coming days. For now, focus on Odette's arrival. Prepare the house she'll stay in, and make sure she has everything she needs."

"Understood, Alpha," Elder Danilo replied before walking away.

My heart sank.

Odette's arrival?

My exiled sister—the very woman who had inflicted so much pain and suffering on me, was… coming back?

Landon knew what she had done—he knew the scars she had left on my skin and heart.

So why?

Why would he accept her back into the pack?

At that moment, my knees buckled, and I unintentionally backed into a candle holder. The clatter of metal against the floor immediately drew Landon's attention.

His eyes snapped to me. "Clara! How long have you been standing there? Did you hear anything from our conversation?" His voice was cold as he towered me over.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. Lying seemed like my only escape. "I just arrived, Alpha," I said, my voice trembling. "And no—I… I didn't hear anything…"

His gaze darkened as he grabbed my face roughly, his fingers digging into my cheeks. "Then what are you doing here, hmm?"

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, yet I managed to force a fragile smile. Shakily, I lifted the jacket I had spent months sewing. "I made this for you, Alpha. Please… accept it as a gift."

Landon glanced at the jacket and let out a humorless chuckle as he snatched it from my hands. "You want me to wear this shit?" he sneered.

Without hesitation, he dropped it onto the still-lit candles scattered on the floor. The soft cotton wool caught fire instantly, consuming the jacket I had poured my heart into.

"No, thank you," he said dismissively. "Fix that mess," he added before walking past me.

Just like that, all the effort and love I had poured into that jacket was consumed by the flames—a stark reminder that my mate of five years no longer loved me. It was a proof of what our marriage had become—a suffocating, depressive union, riddled with emotional wounds and, at times, physical pain.

It had been two years since things had turned this way, and yet, I still couldn't fully understand how the Alpha who once showered me with love had disappeared, leaving behind this cold, detached man.

And yet… despite it all, a part of me—a fragile part—still clung to the hope that he would change.

I hated myself for it, knowing deep down that he wouldn't. Knowing that the man I had fallen in love with was gone, and no amount of wishing could bring him back.

— — —

The next morning, I was jolted awake by a sudden splash of cold water to my face.

"Why the hell are you still sleeping, Clara?!" Landon's angry voice boomed. Standing over me, his face twisted in irritation. "Get up and do something valuable, you lazy woman!"

"But it was just four in the morning—"

Landon cut me off by pouring the remaining contents of the glass into my head. "Who cares? I need you to prepare my breakfast, right fucking now," he ordered before storming out.

Still soaking wet, I hurried to the kitchen to prepare his food.

This has been my life's daily routine, tragically…

"Here's your breakfast, Alpha," I said softly, setting a steaming bowl of chicken stew and a freshly brewed cup of coffee on the table. After placing everything down, I bowed my head, a gesture of submission, like an Omega serving her master.

Landon took a spoonful of the stew, but seconds later, his expression twisted in disgust. He spit it out and slammed the spoon onto the table.

"Clara!" He barked. Then, his glare burned into me. "Are you trying to feed me trash? This stew tastes horrible!"

Before I could even stammer a response, he was on his feet, closing the distance between us. His hand shot out, grabbing my hair in a brutal grip. With a tight yank, he forced my face down into the still-hot chicken stew.

"Taste it yourself!" He sneered.

The heat of the stew touched my skin, and before I could react, he snatched up the cup of hot coffee and splashed it over my head.

"I'm sorry…" My voice trembled as the stinging pain sank deeper into my skin.

Just then, two maids appeared, rushing to help me clean up the mess and tend to my burns. But Landon's dark glare froze them in their tracks.

"The Luna doesn't need your help. Leave her alone," he growled.

The maids hesitated. Their eyes filled with concern as they looked at me. Wanting to shield them from Landon's wrath, I forced out a brittle smile.

"Alpha Landon is right," my voice was strained. "I can handle this."

Reluctantly, the maids nodded and stepped away, casting one last glance at me before leaving the room…

— — —

Night had fallen, and from the sanctuary of my bedroom window, I found myself gazing at Alpha Landon as he stood by the luxurious car that had just parked in front of the Starblaze Kingdom's grand porch.

My eyes stayed glued to the scene as a woman stepped gracefully out of the vehicle. Landon moved toward her, taking her hand with a tenderness and care that he hadn't shown me in years. My heart clenched painfully at the sight, but I couldn't tear myself away.

I watched as he pulled her into a warm embrace, his hands lingering as though she were someone precious.

That was all I could take.

I turned away, tears streaming down my face.

My mate, the man the Moon Goddess had chosen for me, looked truly happy for the first time in years. But his joy wasn't with me.

It was with her.

It was with my sister, Odette Sawyer.

Could it simply be him welcoming her back as an Alpha, or was there something deeper going on between them?

I guess only time could tell…

LUNA CLARA

That night, sleep eluded me as my thoughts spiraled back to Odette—knowing she was close by, lurking just around the corner. The fear that she could repeat what she had done before—or worse, surpass it—gnawed at me.

A shiver ran down my spine as memories of her past cruelty resurfaced vividly.

— — —

Even as children, our parents noticed something unsettling about Odette. She carried an innate streak of jealousy and vengeance.

If I had something she desired, she would demand it for herself, throwing tantrums or resorting to threats if denied.

At first, our parents dismissed it as childish behavior. But as the years passed, her actions turned darker…

I still remember the time she poisoned my food with magic after I was recognized as the best student at our magic university.

On Valentine's Day, when I received more flowers and admiration than she did, Odette crept into my room while I was asleep and cut my hair short.

There were countless times she ruined my clothes, stole my jewelry, or even hurt me physically. I let it all slide, convincing myself it was just who she was. Over time, I became numb to her cruelty.

But everything changed when our parents died. They left me a larger share of the inheritance, trusting me more than her. When Odette learned about this—and that I was Alpha Landon's mate, destined to become the Luna of our pack—her jealousy transformed into something darker.

She tried to end my life more times than I can count. And once… she almost succeeded.

That night remains etched into my memory. She dragged me into the dark woods, her face a mask of evilness. From her pocket, she pulled out a sword, its steel glinting under the moonlight.

I felt its cold edge bite into my skin, again and again, as I screamed for help. But my cries dissolved into the night, swallowed by the silence, and by her merciless laughter.

As she raised the sword for what was meant to be the final blow—aimed straight at my chest—Landon appeared, just in time to save me.

That night, he didn't hesitate. He ordered Odette's immediate exile.

— — —

The next day, Alpha Landon barged into the room. "Get ready. Dress decently, fix yourself—whatever it takes. You need to meet and officially welcome someone back," he said in a briskly tone.

I shot him a sharp glare as I slowly rose, refusing to break eye contact. "Odette Sawyer, isn't it? My sister." My voice was steady. "Landon, you know what she's done to me. Why would you—"

He cut me off before I could finish. "Where did you hear this?" His eyes narrowed.

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I shook my head. "That doesn't matter! I'm asking you why you'd let someone like her return!" My voice cracked under the weight of disbelief and betrayal.

Landon's hand struck my cheek with a sharp slap, the sting spreading instantly as my skin flushed red. Just as quickly, he slipped back into his composed demeanor, as though his outburst had never happened.

Taking a deliberate step closer, his cold gaze bore into mine. "You have no right to question my decisions, Clara. And I certainly don't owe you any explanations. If anything, you owe me—your life. Or have you forgotten how I saved you from Odette?" His tone was filled with menace.

"If I'd known you'd become like this, I would've wished you'd never saved me—"

"Silence!" He roared.

Tears streamed silently down my face, but I bit back any retort. I didn't want to fan the flames of this chaos further.

In an unsettling twist, Landon's hand shifted to a gentle caress on my cheek. "Go fix yourself, my Luna," he murmured. "You'll be seeing your sister again soon. When that happens, I want you to act normal—no, more than normal. You'll show her respect, make her feel that, as Alpha and Luna, we're gracious enough to welcome her back. To forgive her for her past mistakes." His lips curled into a wicked smile.

I still couldn't make sense of this charade, but defiance wasn't an option. I had no choice but to obey.

So, after many years, the moment I never thought would come arrived.

I stood face to face with Odette once more.

I hadn't expected to see her again, yet here we were…

Odette approached me with an unexpected gentleness, her bright smile lighting up her face as she stepped forward and wrapped me in a tight hug. The gesture caught me off guard, but the sharp glare from Landon reminded me to play along. Hesitantly, I returned the hug.

"Years have passed, my sister," she murmured, her voice soft and warm. "I hope time has healed your heart. I hope you've forgiven me. I've regretted my actions for so long. All I'm asking for is a second chance."

Her words hung in the air, but something about them felt insincere. Slowly, I disentangled myself from the embrace, forcing a polite smile to mask my unease. "Of course… You're still my sister, after all."

Landon's approving smile flickered into view. "It's good to see you two reconciling. I'll leave you alone now so you can catch up in private."

The moment Landon left the room, Odette's demeanor shifted abruptly. The gentle facade vanished, replaced by aggression. Her gaze sharpened into a burning glare as her hand shot out, gripping my arm with force. Her nails dug into my skin sharply.

"You're a fool if you think I'm truly being kind to you," she sneered.

I met her glare with as much strength as I could muster. "Don't worry," I replied coldly. "I've already sensed that. Besides, I never expected someone as evil as you to change."

Her dark chuckle filled the air. "Oh, how clever!" She pressed her nails deeper into my skin, making me flinch. "Then I hope you've also sensed that my desire to get rid of you has never faded. And this time, my dearest sister, I'm more determined to pull it off!"

LUNA CLARA

While scrubbing away at the endless pile of laundry—yet another maid task Alpha Landon had commanded me to do—my mind wandered, replaying how quickly everything had spiraled out of control. Even now, none of it made sense.

What was Landon's true purpose in letting Odette return?

What did he stand to gain?

The unanswered questions gnawed at me until my knees suddenly buckled. My wolf howled within, her cry filled with agony that felt… brokenhearted. Betrayed.

Overwhelmed, I lowered myself onto the floor, trying to steady my mind and soothe my wolf's anguish. But the moment of peace was fleeting. The wooden door creaked open, and Landon's presence filled the room like a storm. His fiery gaze landed on me, and I knew I was in trouble.

I scrambled to my feet, but it was too late. He reached me in two strides, grabbing a fistful of my hair before his hand clamped around my neck. "Who told you to rest?" he roared.

"I was only sitting for five seconds, Landon. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—" My words tumbled out in desperation, but his grip only tightened.

As usual, he silenced me with violence. This time, he shoved my face into a deep tub of water. The cold, suffocating darkness enveloped me, and I could feel it—he wanted me to drown.

When he finally yanked my head out, I gasped desperately for air, but he gave me no reprieve. With a cruel determination, he plunged my face back into the water, holding me there until panic surged through my chest.

Nearly a minute passed before he pulled me out again, only to throw me onto the ground. Soaked, and gasping for breath, I lay there, too weak to move.

"Get up!" He barked before kicking my leg hard. "Finish the laundry. You've got plenty of chores left to do."

Tears streamed silently down my face, but my heart felt numb.

After completing the laundry, my hair still a tangled mess and my clothes damp, I had the misfortune of crossing paths with Odette.

She was a stark contrast to my disheveled state—dressed to perfection in a vibrant red dress that hugged her figure elegantly. Her hair was styled neatly in a high bun, and a matching red hat perched atop her head. She wore makeup that enhanced her facial features, and her red high heels clicked sharply against the floor as she moved.

Odette smirked as she stepped closer. Without hesitation, she planted her heel firmly on my foot. "Did you take a swim in a pond? You look utterly disheveled, my dearest sister," she mocked.

I glared at her, my patience hanging by a thread. "Step back, and don't call me your sister."

Her brows arched, and her smirk widened. "Whatever you say, Clara," she sneered, pressing her heel down harder on my foot, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

This time, I refused to flinch. "Luna. Luna Clara. Let me remind you, I am this pack's Luna, and you are merely a member. Showing respect won't cost you anything."

Odette let out a mocking laugh, as if I'd just told her the most absurd joke. "Respect? Do you think anyone would respect that appearance?" She gestured toward me with a sneer. "Look at you. Between the two of us, I look far more like the Luna. And you? An Omega—no, worse, a rogue!" She leaned in. "Oh, how the tables have turned."

Something in me snapped.

Without a second thought, I grabbed a nearby bucket of water and flung it at her, drenching her pristine red dress and perfectly styled hair. Water dripped from her shocked face as I refused to back down.

"There you go, Odette. Now we're both drenched. Fair and square." My voice was calm. "But let me make one thing clear—no matter how much you polish your appearance, it won't change your position in this pack. You're still an ex-rogue. An attempted murderer. Never the Luna. And never higher than me."