Chapter 2<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s POV<\/p>\n
I stood there, staring blankly at him the moment I forced my way in, my wolf tense beneath my skin, heart pounding louder than it should. His hand held the picture of Maurine like it was a sacred relic. His other hand\u2026<\/p>\n
Gods.<\/p>\n
There was a visible bulge in his pants. He didn\u2019t even flinch when he realized I was watching. His movements were calm, composed, like this wasn\u2019t the least bit humiliating. He slid the photo behind his back, stood straight, and looked at me with that same blank, professional face he always wore.<\/p>\n
As if I hadn\u2019t just caught him lost in thoughts of her.<\/p>\n
I should\u2019ve ripped his throat out right then. But I didn\u2019t. Instead, I smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want me to help you with that?\u201d My voice was mock-sweet, tinged with the venom of betrayal only a she-wolf can carry.<\/p>\n
His eyes didn\u2019t flicker. No shame. No fear. Nothing. \u201cNo need, Young Miss,\u201d he said coolly. \u201cThis is a private matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course it is.<\/p>\n
He still called me \u201cYoung Miss.\u201d Like we hadn\u2019t live up under the same roof. Like I wasn\u2019t the one who vowed to protect me like a perfect wolf knight he was. But she came along\u2014Maurine, with her moon-blessed smile and scent of sugar and manipulation\u2014and he forgot everything.<\/p>\n
I turned on my heel and walked off, my wolf snarling in my chest. I\u2019d had enough of chasing validation.<\/p>\n
Enough of trying to be chosen.<\/p>\n
Let Maurine be the innocent flower. I\u2019d be the poison beneath it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n
I smirked. \u201cNothing,\u201d I lied. \u201cJust accompany me at the fashion gala tomorrow,\u201d I told Lucas to accompany me, even told him Maurine would be there.<\/p>\n
His ears twitched ever so slightly at the mention of her name. That\u2019s all it took.<\/p>\n
And God, he didn\u2019t even hide it.<\/p>\n
The next evening, he was waiting at the foot of the stairs. Black suit. Silver trim. Clean-cut. Eyes unreadable.<\/p>\n
I walked past him without a word for the first time in years. His expression shifted\u2014just a twitch\u2014but I caught it. I always do.<\/p>\n
In the car, silence hung like fog. Thick. Suffocating. My wolf paced inside me, restless and furious. But I kept my face blank as stone.<\/p>\n
I arrived at the Limited Edition Fashion Gala not just as Rebecca Aethon, heir of the Aethon bloodline\u2014but as the future Luna of the Thane Pack. Well, they would find out soon. Even if my soon-to-be mate was in an enchanted slumber, I would carry myself like his equal.<\/p>\n
Heads turned the moment I stepped in. I heard the murmurs.<\/p>\n
And then\u2014she arrived.<\/p>\n
Maurine. Draped in moonlight silk, lips red like cherries, smile sweet and poisonous. She greeted me with that fake giggle of hers, a flutter of lashes. \u201cSister,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
I turned, narrowed my eyes, and let the ice in my voice cut her down.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t call me that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas, standing just behind me, stiffened. I saw it. The tension in his jaw. The softening of his gaze the moment she looked his way. It was her again. Always her.<\/p>\n
And then I saw the dress.<\/p>\n
A masterpiece of craftsmanship\u2014midnight blue fading into silver at the hem like starlight dripping from the heavens. The bodice was encrusted with moonstones, the neckline edged with the finest wolf-thread lace. It was perfect.<\/p>\n
I attended the Limited Edition Fashion Gala for one purpose alone\u2014not for show, not for status, not even to impress the social elite\u2014but to find the perfect dress for my upcoming arrival at the Thane Pack. The wedding may still be weeks away, but as the soon-to-be Luna of one of the most revered packs, every detail mattered. The Thane Pack was proud, ancient, and steeped in tradition. Though their Alpha remained in a deep slumber due to the poison, our union had already been decided by the Elders.<\/p>\n
And I found the dress.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want it,\u201d I told the designer.<\/p>\n
She smiled. \u201cIt\u2019s one of a kind. Many have tried to bid on it. Offers in gold, rubies, even blood-oaths.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll offer double in gold.\u201d<\/p>\n
And then\u2014Maurine\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I like this one too,\u201d she said, touching the sleeve with those dainty fingers of hers.<\/p>\n
The air shifted. I squared my shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI already claimed it,\u201d I said flatly.<\/p>\n
Maurine\u2019s smile remained sweet, but her eyes were sharp. \u201cSurely the designer wouldn\u2019t mind a little competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before I could tear her to pieces, someone else stepped forward\u2014a tall male in a charcoal-black suit, the kind that whispered power without speaking. I saw how he glanced at Lucas before talking to the designer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take the dress,\u201d he said to the designer. \u201cName your price.\u201d<\/p>\n
The designer blinked. \u201cAnd you are\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n
He bowed slightly. \u201cReid. Beta of the Silvana Pack. Our Alpha instructed that anything Miss Maurine Aethon desires tonight shall be hers. At any price.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murmurs echoed around the room.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Silvana Pack?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy her?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my goodness, their Alpha had taken a liking to the second daughter of Aethon Pack?\u201d<\/p>\n
Maurine blinked, feigning innocence. \u201cI\u2019ve never even met him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca,\u201d she turned to me with syrupy sweetness, \u201cwill you still try to fight for this? I\u2019d hate for you to go bankrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n
My fists clenched.<\/p>\n
Lucas didn\u2019t even look at me. His eyes never left her. Of course, everything was happening because of him and his hidden wealth.<\/p>\n
And then the parade began.<\/p>\n
Dress after dress. Necklace after necklace. A pearl white wedding gown, an emerald dress that shimmered like envy itself, a ring with a moonstone large enough to blind.<\/p>\n
Each time, Beta Reid stepped in. Bought it all. For her.<\/p>\n
I finally turned to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs your Alpha planning to leave anything for the rest of us?\u201d<\/p>\n
He glanced at Lucas\u2014just for a second. \u201cOur Alpha only cares that the Second Miss enjoys herself. The rest of you\u2026 don\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n
It stung more than it should.<\/p>\n
Lucas smiled at Maurine like she was the Moon Goddess herself. I had to remind myself not to bare my fangs.<\/p>\n
The night ended with Maurine surrounded by stylists and nobles, basking in adoration.<\/p>\n
And me? I slipped away. Quiet. Alone.<\/p>\n
I got into the car and told the driver, \u201cBloodmoon Club. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n
I needed to feel something. Anything. The burn of liquor. The thrum of music. The anonymity of shadows.<\/p>\n
Before we could drive off, Maurine opened the car door and jumped in beside me, grinning. \u201cSister, I\u2019m bored! Let\u2019s go together!\u201d<\/p>\n
I almost shoved her out. But before I could, Lucas held the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cDrive,\u201d he ordered calmly.<\/p>\n
I seethed.<\/p>\n
On the way, she chattered. \u201cIsn\u2019t it crazy how the Alpha of Silvana Pack is so nice to me? I don\u2019t even know him! But they say he\u2019s the most good-looking Alpha!\u201d<\/p>\n
Lucas chuckled. \u201cBecause he likes you.\u201d Then, he added more, \u201cYou\u2019re\u2026 special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then came the question.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you like me too, Lucas?\u201d<\/p>\n
He hesitated. I could feel his answer forming in his chest.<\/p>\n
But I didn\u2019t let him finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you two want to flirt,\u201d I said coldly, \u201cget the heck out. This is my car.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maurine pouted, whispered, \u201cSorry\u2026\u201d like the innocent thing she\u2019s not.<\/p>\n
I looked out the window. And in the reflection\u2014I saw it.<\/p>\n
His gaze, soft and full of warmth, on her.<\/p>\n
Then it shifted to me. Cold. Empty. Disgusted.<\/p>\n
I smiled bitterly. So this is what men love\u2014sweet voices, fake tears, and the delicate whimper of a she-wolf who knows how to act fragile.<\/p>\n
Nothing like me.<\/p>\n
When My Alpha Ex-Husband Came Looking for Me by Mark Twain 2 Chapter 2 Rebecca\u2019s POV I stood there, staring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-unclaimed-luna-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23870\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}