The Jilted Luna

Tori's POV

"Luna! Luna Victoria! We've just received a report from the frontlines. The war is over!!!"

Gamma Sylas's heavy footsteps rang through the hallway as he hurried toward my office, where I was buried in the grain production report from our farm. His excited voice echoed from down the hall even before he reached the door.

My hand trembled, and my heart seemed to stop in an instant as the news sank in.

The war is over?

At that moment, a face flashed across my mind, causing my heart to skip a beat as a wave of happiness and disbelief washed over me. I sprang up from my chair, the heavy wooden seat crashing to the floor with a resounding thud behind me. Yet all I could hear was a ringing in my ears, my Gamma's words echoing in my thoughts.

A wide, unguarded smile spread across my face one that hadn't appeared in months, revealing a youthful gleam beneath my tired, gaunt face. Though still in my early twenties, the trials of war had aged me beyond my years, making me look much older than I actually was.

"Is it true?!" My face lit up with an excited, warm smile as I eagerly awaited my Gamma to reach me, holding a sealed letter one that had come from the frontlines via our messenger birds.

Gamma Sylas didn't speak. Instead, he handed the letter to me, allowing me to read the news myself. His eyes softened as he watched me the woman he had worked with this entire three years to keep the pack afloat while our Alpha and most of our warriors were fighting in the frontlines.

Although it sounded glamorous to hear that I became the rock of our pack, in reality, none of the pack members actually respected me.

After all, aside from my managerial skills, my wolf is weak; I can't even shift into my wolf form and am labeled as an omega. However, my status is actually lower than an omega since I can't even shift, which nearly makes me wolfless.

And what's worse is that my Alpha left immediately after the marking ceremony was completed; he didn't even stay to mate with me, which only shows how much he detested me.

But I can't do anything about it; this is a marriage of convenience. For the entire three years, I stayed in the pack, picking up the broken pieces and slowly supporting everyone while being ridiculed and looked down upon.

I didn't have anyone to turn to; the only person who treated me fairly well was my Gamma, who kept me sane through all the hard work and pain I had to endure.

Not once did my mate, my Alpha, send me a message to inquire about what I was up to. Every message he sent was directed to Gamma Sylas, asking for provisions to support the war against the vampires who were terrorizing the borders and killing the werewolves like livestock.

As I read the letter confirming their victory in the war and the retreat of the vampires to their lands, my eyes lingered on the words that sent a rush of emotions through me Carlisle, my mate and Alpha, was returning.

I ran my fingers over the words that read 'Returning' and felt my heart beat faster, happiness surging within me like a wave crashing down before I lifted my gaze to my Gamma.

"Carlisle is coming back," I murmured softly, my voice breaking as tears welled up in my eyes.

I can't really hate my mate despite all the neglect I endured. After all, he's my mate, and the mate bond will bind us together, making our hearts long for each other and love one another.

I believe that once we meet again, I'll have a chance to melt his cold heart, and we can slowly resolve our differences and the misunderstandings between us.

"Gamma Sylas, let's prepare for a banquet to welcome back our Alpha, our hero!" I said excitedly as I made my way out of my office.

My strides were almost turning into a sprint; I calculated that since the letter was arriving now, the Alpha and his entourage weren't far off and would be arriving any minute too.

I wanted to be the first to welcome them back with a smile and the most glamorous, heartwarming welcome I could offer for my mate and my pack.

After receiving my order, Sylas left almost immediately to help the omegas prepare the banquet hall for the Alpha's arrival. Meanwhile, I headed to the entrance of our pack border, where people had already gathered, waiting for the Alpha. Everyone was excited and hopeful to see their loved ones.

I pushed my way to the very front of the group. Not far from us, I saw the silhouette of the werewolves running toward us, dust swirling behind them. My heart trembled as I sensed my connection to my Alpha.

He's there!

My eyes sparkled with hope and anticipation, my heart hanging by a thread.

As the entourage drew closer, I raised my hand in the air to wave at my mate, but then I stiffened, halting my action midway. I noticed long golden locks swaying in the wind behind my mate's wolf form and delicate legs.

W-Who's that woman?

My heart constricted as my eyes widened.

"That should be my place," I muttered softly. A werewolf's back is meant to be reserved for their mate, and allowing someone of the opposite gender to sit on their back signifies that they acknowledge them as their mate.

I thought that I wouldn't feel more pain, but when the entourage came a little closer, I noticed that the woman sitting behind my mate was actually pregnant, and her belly was already bulging.

This meant that she had been pregnant for quite some time and would be giving birth in a few months. My heart shattered, even more so when I heard my pack members whisper excitedly after seeing this.

"Our Alpha must have found his fated mate! Soon, we'll witness the first heir of the Red Moon Pack!"

"Ha ha ha! She must be our future Luna, not some omega who only knows how to exploit the situation!"

"It will only be a matter of time before the Alpha dissolves his mate bond with the omega and rejects her. After all, the woman riding behind him must be his fated mate, his true mate!"

The people around me sneered, not even trying to hide their mocking glares as they openly talked about their Alpha in front of me.

My whole body trembled as my calm facade cracked bit by bit while I listened to their words.

My heart was shattering into a million pieces, but I needed to be a gracious host. As a Luna, it was my responsibility and my job.

Soon, Alpha Carlisle reached us, and I stepped forward with a smile that was uglier than my crying.

"Welcome back, My Lord!"

However, he just walked past me as if he didn't even see me. The warriors behind him mirrored his attitude toward me, and they all ignored me as they made their way to the packhouse.

When we reached the front door of the hall, Alpha Carlisle stopped, and with the help of his Beta, they gently lowered the pregnant woman from behind him.

"I'll just take a quick wash before I return. Please look after her for me; she's heavily pregnant with a pup. If anything happens to her, you'll face serious consequences!"

His voice that came through the mind link was menacingly threatening, as only a mate would sound.

With his cold, indifferent eyes, he looked at me for the first time. My breath caught in my throat with anticipation, but the words I heard shattered my heart even more as he sent a private mind link.

"Look after her and my pup."

His tone was laced with a mocking sneer as he casually mentioned that the pup inside the woman's belly was his, only to watch me break.

And he indeed succeeded in breaking my heart into a million pieces. I tried to hold myself together, but everyone ignored me as they welcomed the woman; even Carlisle didn't look at me a second time after turning his back to leave.

In that moment, I felt more alone and lonelier than in the three years I had worked for this pack.

Is it really that hard to melt their cold hearts? Is it truly impossible for them to accept me? Is it because I am weak? Or is it simply hatred, still blaming me?

I felt like a heavy stone was pressing on my chest; I wanted to cry, but sadly no tears were coming out of my eyes.

Tori's POV

Hearing it straight from his mouth, I felt my world crash down, but I couldn't even let out a whimper as pain consumed my body.

After being away from each other for a long time, our mate bond was weaker, but even then, I could still feel the pain in my heart as a lone tear fell from my eyes.

However, no one was paying me any attention; even my mate had already turned around in his wolf form as he made his way up.

To make matters worse, the former Luna, who hated me as much as Alpha Carlisle did, strutted toward the pregnant woman with open arms and a welcoming, gentle smile plastered on her face.

"Hello, are you my son's fated mate? Come in! Let Mom escort you inside," the former Luna said excitedly as she gently pulled the woman toward the banquet hall.

Everyone surrounded her, and the woman kept gently stroking her belly while smiling beautifully at everyone.

Her golden locks matched her honey-brown eyes, which seemed to glow in the sun, and everyone adored her even more because of this.

As everyone wanted to be near the woman, they didn't even care if they pushed and shoved me out of the way. Because of this, I fell to the ground, and the gravel embedded itself under my skin, making me wince in pain.

Everyone smelled the metallic scent of blood and momentarily stopped to look at me, but instead of concern, their expressions turned mocking.

"What a weak werewolf."

"How can a weakling like her be a werewolf, let alone a Luna?"

"Do you think she's doing that on purpose to get our attention?"

"Ha! Dream on!"

After a moment, everyone returned to catering to the pregnant woman as the festivities resumed around them. The woman's gaze lingered on my face for a moment before she smiled brightly, a glint of triumph passing through her eyes before she allowed everyone else to guide her, ignoring me as I remained on the ground.

I winced; my knees and palms were scraped, and I could feel the gravel lodged in my skin.

"L-Luna!"

Gamma Sylas's heart nearly leaped from his chest as he saw me lying pitifully on the ground, my wounds healing far too slowly. His expression darkened as he extended his index finger, his nail sharpening into a claw. With slow, deliberate care, he picked out the gravel embedded in my skin, causing fresh blood to seep from the wounds.

I suddenly felt a heavy gaze pressing down on me. Instinctively, I looked up toward the fourth floor of the packhouse only to meet the cold, indifferent eyes of my mate.

For a brief moment, he stared at me, emotionless. Then, without hesitation, he turned away and drew the curtains shut.

He must have thought that the one who got hurt was the woman he brought, I thought, but just the idea of it made my heart constrict with pain. It felt like torture, and my whole body trembled as I sensed pain crawling through me as the mate bond slowly deteriorated.

It didn't have to take physical cheating for the mate bond to decay; without enough emotional and physical connection, it would gradually rot and become torment.

Let alone when a partner physically cheated, it would be severely painful enough to drive someone insane, not to mention possibly causing death, especially if they marked someone while still having a mate bond connection with another person.

For three long years, I was plagued by this pain, and unlike Alpha Carlisle, who could endure it because of his Alpha blood, I wasn't as fortunate. My body was only slightly stronger than that of a human, so this torment almost took my life more than once.

The only person aware of my struggle was Gamma Sylas, and it was only thanks to him that I managed to get through those nights, as it was a Gamma's specialty to heal their Luna.

"L-Luna, don't cry..." Gamma Sylas's gentle voice resonated in my ear.

Unbeknownst to me, I was already shedding tears as I recalled all the suffering I had endured.

Just when I thought I might finally have a chance to start anew upon my mate's return, it turned out that he would bring back a pregnant woman instead.

"Sylas..."

Even before I could say anything, a whimper escaped my lips as I felt my heart constricting again. The familiar torture I experienced almost every day for the last three years I had been mated to Alpha Carlisle.

Gamma Sylas stroked my back to comfort me, but it did little to alleviate my pain. Only after some time did the pain subside, and Sylas finished removing the gravel from under my skin.

As we made our way to the lively banquet hall, everyone was already toasting the pregnant woman, who was only sipping orange juice. Beta Marcus served her with respect and attention while the former Luna chatted with her, holding her hand.

I felt weak from the pain, and with my reddened eyes, I wanted to sit down quickly.

However, the Luna's place beside the Alpha had been given to the pregnant woman.

I bit my lower lip, trying to hold back tears as I made my way to the end of the table. Only Gamma Sylas sat with me while the others ignored me.

I choked back the lump forming in my throat as I could clearly feel like the outsider at the main table who was unwelcome there.

When Carlisle returned, now in his human form and dressed all in black, he entered the hall and noticed me sitting alone. His expression darkened in disapproval, but he merely walked to his seat without a word.

It wasn't clear whether his displeasure was because I was seated at the main table, still near him, or simply because he had to see me there.

What is she trying to pull now? Acting pitiful for sympathy? Carlisle scoffed internally, his gaze narrowing.

But his wolf, Roque, growled in defiance, unsettling him further.

What do you want now, Roque? Carlisle demanded, frustrated as his wolf's mood rippled through him, intensifying his irritation.

But Roque remained silent, only growling in defiance before retreating into the deepest corners of Carlisle's mind.

Carlisle's eyes briefly met mine, and in that fleeting moment, his cold, unfeeling gaze pierced through me, leaving me breathless.

I felt a wave of weakness flood my body as if every ounce of strength had been drained away. My heart clenched painfully. It had been years, yet he still treated me with such coldness, filled with hatred and indifference.

That single, heart-wrenching glance didn't last long, but its impact was enough. His eyes quickly shifted elsewhere, turning to the woman beside his chair.

His eyes softened with warmth as he acknowledged her a stark contrast to the coldness and indifference he had shown me.

The sharp sting of pain struck again, and my eyes blurred with unshed tears, but I refused to let them fall, holding them back with all my will.

I lowered my head to hide the pain in my eyes as I pretended to eat, but my hands were trembling as I clenched my jaw to hold the sob that was about to escape my lips.

Carlisle sank lazily into his chair, his posture relaxed. No sooner had he settled than a fork laden with meat was pushed in his direction.

His eyebrows arched in mild amusement, and for a fleeting moment, his indifferent expression softened. A rare gentleness flickered in his eyes. A warmth that was almost doting.

I caught a glimpse of it from the corner of my eye as I hesitantly lifted my gaze. It was a look I had never seen from him, one I had only heard about from others.

Gamma Sylas, in particular, often spoke of Carlisle's warmth and how the Alpha had been loved by the pack, his charisma and leadership drawing people to him. He was always kind and caring to those around him, but to me, that gentleness had always seemed distant, something I could never quite imagine.

But now, watching the way he interacted with the woman beside him, there was no mistaking it, the tenderness he showed her was so evident, so natural.

His eyes sparkled with amusement and affection, and my heart twisted with pain. It felt as if I were invisible in that moment the Luna who had been overlooked and dismissed.

I, who should be sitting beside my mate, was now left in the background while he openly showered the woman with attention. The cruel contrast felt like a slap to my face in front of everyone.

A tight knot formed in my stomach, a heavy, painful sensation that felt like a punch to the gut, uncomfortable and suffocating. My heart ached with every passing second.

Even Gamma Sylas seemed to hold his breath, his eyes flickering nervously toward the head seat as the scene unfolded before us.

It was clear that everyone around Carlisle was unfazed by the sight, as though they had grown used to it. Laughter filled the air, accompanied by playful teasing directed at the Alpha for being so attentive to the woman.

"Stop just feeding me. How about giving the pup more?" Carlisle teased the woman.

"Are you tired? Would you like to rest in the alpha's suite?" he added, his gentle gaze never leaving her face.

However, I, who overheard his offer, paled and looked up at them.

Tori's POV

It was as though they were making no effort to hide their actions, openly flaunting their connection in front of everyone, intentionally deepening my hurt.

The mockery in their voices was unmistakable, and it stung sharply in the silence that followed.

Carlisle's subordinates seemed to take pleasure in the way he doted on the woman, and the woman herself eagerly fed him, her gestures almost too eager, as if they were both trying to show off for everyone to see.

Every word and action felt like a deliberate jab at me, making the truth painfully clear.

The woman's voice, soft yet filled with playful reproach, rang out, "Carlisle, you should eat. You've been carrying me all the way from the frontlines to your pack, and I know you're exhausted."

"You even gave up more than half of your rations to make sure I and the pup were well-fed."

Her words, laced with a subtle yet unmistakable meaning, hung in the air. Every syllable seemed to speak volumes, unsaid thoughts making it clear to everyone present.

"Regarding resting in the alpha suite, I should avoid that. It's situated on the top floor of your packhouse, and being there would be inconvenient since I am heavily pregnant."

The woman then paused as if she was thinking hard about something before she continued, "But I would love it if you could put me on a floor that was not too high or too low for me to be able to see the land where you grew up."

All the pack members looked at each other with knowing glances before smiles spread across their faces.

If they were just speculating earlier, now that the words came from Raquel's lips and with Carlisle never disagreeing, it truly meant that the pup inside her belly was the future heir of our Red Moon Pack. Everyone's mood turned joyous as they continued to toast to Carlisle and Raquel.

As a werewolf, like everyone else in the hall, I have sharp hearing. I could hear every word she spoke.

Each sentence felt like a blade to my chest, and the tightness in my throat grew unbearable. My heart twisted in agony, a heavy weight settling in my chest as the truth hit me with painful clarity.

I couldn't even pretend to be stupid now and not understand what was being said at the table.

I also couldn't turn a blind eye; my whole body trembled as I struggled to breathe while trying to process all these bombshell revelations thrown my way.

I gripped the hem of my clothes, my knuckles turning white, but the pain in my palm was nothing compared to the decaying pain coming from my mate bond that was attacking my whole being.

"Raquel, don't worry about me," Carlisle said, his voice soft but firm. He speared another piece of roasted chicken, slicing it with precision before placing it gently on her plate. "Just eat and take care of the pup."

He continued to lean on his chair as he added, "I'll have your room prepared. Later, someone will take you there to relax, and tomorrow, I'll take you out to play."

His eyes sparkled with warmth.

"Alright, I'll listen to you then," Raquel replied, her voice light with affection. "I'll eat more too, so the pup will be born healthy and strong."

She giggled softly, the sound melodious and warm.

To everyone watching, she was glowing like the sun because of her love for the pup in her belly and for Carlisle. She wasn't even trying to hide it; she enjoyed his care for her, and her intention to be with him was clear.

She even openly declared her sovereignty over him to me.

Although no one mentioned me to her, she could tell that I was Carlisle's chosen mate. After all, she could see his mark on my neck, which almost covered my entire neck.

Even though the pack held great respect for the mate bond and werewolf rules, the knowledge that an heir would be born soon overtook any lingering thoughts they had about these rules and the mate bond.

After all, Carlisle was the last heir to the Red Moon Pack after his father's death, and his absence for three years made everyone on edge, knowing that his life would always be in danger while he was fighting on the front lines.

Everyone in the pack knew that we had never mated after our marking ceremony. He had left for the battlefield almost immediately after, not even staying for my Luna inauguration.

His haste to leave had been a clear signal of his intentions.

Now, hearing that he would be a father brought a sense of relief and even happiness to the pack, but it also overshadowed my feelings and the mate bond that still lingered between us.

From their perspective, my sacrifices were just a natural part of my role within the pack, yet the pack's future remained their top priority.

They started to consider the possibility that he could dissolve the mate bond and officially reject me.

And they believed that this would only benefit the pack, as they viewed me as too weak to be their Luna.

Moreover, it had become painfully obvious that he had no intention of mating with me. He refused to touch me, and the distance between us had only grown over time.

Carlisle's mother, the former Luna, cast a brief glance at her son after hearing Raquel's words. She observed him silently, but he made no response. He remained slouched in his chair, his posture lazy as Raquel continued eating without interruption.

Carlisle's POV

I closed my eyes, the exhaustion evident even to myself. I wasn't fully tuned into her words; I caught only fragments of what she said.

My responses were based on the pieces I'd heard, but my mind was elsewhere. The weariness of battle weighed heavily on me.

"Alpha, you okay?" Marcus mind-linked me as he noticed my eyes were a bit unfocused.

"Yeah, just the old issue," I replied through the link, my voice sounding weary.

After months of nonstop fighting, I had little time to rest. The nights were particularly challenging, with ambushes from the vampires; their attacks were brutal and often came just as I was beginning to catch a few moments of sleep.

Some of them even toyed with us, playing cruel games before launching their deadly strikes.

Just recalling those moments caused my mood to drop instantly.

A persistent ringing echoed in my ears, drowning out much of the world around me. That was why I hadn't truly absorbed everything she said I merely pretended to listen, offering the same responses as always.

Yet, despite everything, there was a strange sense of calm whenever I looked at her.

Perhaps it was the life growing inside her that brought me peace a symbol of hope for the future, for both me and the pack.

Tori's POV

While the other side of the table was filled with laughter and light-hearted teasing, my side remained heavy with gloom and isolation.

No one dared to sit with me, except for Gamma Sylas, and that's when the painful truth settled in. People's hearts were fickle.

Yet maybe I was wrong; I hadn't been accepted by this pack from the very beginning, and they all believed I was undeserving of this position.

To say that I wasn't hurt by this would be a lie. I did everything I could to help this pack through the hard times.

I didn't expect them to revere me, but a little respect was all I wanted, yet even that wasn't given to me. Everything happening at the table now was filled with disrespect.

This is something I owe their pack, I repeated to myself, trying to hold onto the last shred of resolve I had left.

The pain in my chest was unbearable, but I couldn't just walk away. Not now, not when I owed so much to Carlisle and the pack.

At that moment, I felt more alone than ever.

Even the connection to my wolf was gone.

I couldn't shift, and worst of all, I couldn't speak to my wolf.

I had no one to turn to, no one who could understand the agonizing ache that was slowly pulling me into a suffocating darkness. Every breath felt heavier, each heartbeat a reminder of the isolation I was trapped in.

"Luna Tori, please don't overthink it. There must be more to this than we know. Let me find out what's really going on..." Gamma Sylas said softly, offering a reassuring pat on my back.

But as he spoke, a sudden, menacing presence pressed down on him, and he stiffened. He instinctively looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Yet the unease gnawing at him didn't go away. Cold sweat began to form along his spine, a deep, invisible threat pressing down on him.

He shook it off, determined to do what he could to help me, even if it meant standing in the middle of the widening rift between his Alpha and Luna.

My heart could no longer endure the pain of seeing my mate so close to someone else while ignoring me, pretending I did not exist.

I bit my lips and excused myself. "Please excuse me, I have work to do."

Yet even then, no one responded, as if no one had heard me.

Carlisle continued to care for the woman he brought over, gently caressing her head while throwing a smug glance at me.