Chapter 4<\/p>\n
Rebecca\u2019s POV<\/p>\n
Three days. That\u2019s how long it had been since Maurine bore the punishment meant for Lucas\u2014punishment I delivered with my own claws. Yet somehow, Maurine had taken his place. And now, everything felt off. My shoulder had been shredded by that vampire hoodlum\u2019s bite, yet the wound healed\u2026 too fast. Faster than any wolf\u2019s regeneration should allow.<\/p>\n
Something was wrong with me. I didn\u2019t tell anyone. Not my father, not my pack, not even my friends. My wolf was restless lately, pacing in the back of my mind, and I couldn\u2019t even speak to her clearly anymore. I felt foreign in my own body.<\/p>\n
So, I drove myself to the Moon Monastery. The sky was overcast, and a chill hung in the air. I parked just outside the high stone wall that wrapped around the sacred grounds, the spires of the Moon Priests\u2019 haven stretching up toward the grey heavens.<\/p>\n
As I stepped out, gravel crunching beneath my boots, I caught a strange scent in the air\u2014sage, pine, and\u2026 decay?<\/p>\n
\u201cChild,\u201d a raspy voice called.<\/p>\n
I turned sharply. An old woman stood just outside the gates, hidden beneath a long, hooded cape the color of ash. Her scent was\u2026 hard to place. Not wolf. Not human. Not vampire either.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeware,\u201d she said, grasping my hand with ice-cold fingers. \u201cYou are the light, but the dark is hungry. It has tasted you now. And it will not stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I yanked my hand back, my instincts prickling.<\/p>\n
\u201cDanger follows you,\u201d she murmured, eyes glazed with a sight that went beyond this realm. \u201cHeed this, daughter of moonsilver. The shadows know your scent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before I could question her, she turned and disappeared into the woods. Creeped out and frustrated, I shook it off and climbed the monastery steps. But just as my hand touched the ancient door handle, something struck the back of my head\u2014and everything went black.<\/p>\n
It was all darkness.<\/p>\n
I came to with the sharp burn of ropes against my wrists, my arms numb and bloodied. Blindfolded, my senses were in chaos, and my nose was filled with copper, sweat, and musk. Wolf musk. Claws tore across my skin. Again. Again. Again. Ninety-nine times.<\/p>\n
Each slash seared. Each one peeled back more than just skin. It peeled my dignity, my strength. My wolf whimpered. She couldn\u2019t even rise.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have punished her,\u201d a gravelly voice said. \u201cShe\u2019s precious. You\u2026 you offended the wrong person.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2026 are you\u2026\u201d I rasped, spitting blood.<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t answer me. Just made a call.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s done,\u201d he said, and I heard the voice clearly on the other end. [Leave her now.]<\/p>\n
It was Lucas. I knew that voice. Even through static and pain. My wolf knight.<\/p>\n
He ordered this. The person who was supposed to protect me, who took an oath to sacrifice his all for my life. He hurt me.<\/p>\n
By the time I was dumped on the side of the road like a discarded animal, I was drenched in blood and half-conscious. Yet I crawled. I shifted halfway and hailed a taxi, growling when the driver screamed at the sight of me. \u201cJust drive,\u201d I snarled. \u201cHospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the emergency room, I lay in a sterile bed while the scent of antiseptic overpowered my senses. I overheard nurses whispering.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you see him? That man who brought the girl with a claw mark? Gorgeous. Held her hand the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPoor thing. And that other girl? Looks like a dog mauled her. Wonder if she was rogue.\u201d<\/p>\n
That was when I ripped the IV from my arm. I knew exactly who they were talking about.<\/p>\n
Even though my whole body felt numb, and I felt like dying, I limped into the hallway and saw them. Lucas\u2026 and of course, Maurine.<\/p>\n
He held her hand. He kissed her forehead like she was the most important person in the world. I turned before they saw me and slipped into the night, my heart numb and bleeding just as much as my skin.<\/p>\n
The next day, Lucas came. He didn\u2019t say much. Just stared, his eyes clouded with something like guilt. Or was it even guilt? And yet, I didn\u2019t speak. I didn\u2019t snarl. I didn\u2019t even slap him\u2014though I should have.<\/p>\n
Before I could ask why, my phone rang. It was my Alpha father. Nothing came good whenever he would call me, and I was right.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will attend the art banquet tonight,\u201d he barked. \u201cMaurine\u2019s exhibit. The entire council will be there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said flatly. Why would he expect me to be there after what happened years ago? She was the reason why I stopped my passion! The only thing that made me happy.<\/p>\n
We were both art students back in the day, but Maurine stole my artwork and accused me of copying hers. I tried so hard to prove to everyone that she was lying but no one believed me. In the end, I quit painting. I never held a brush since.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will,\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n
Before I could argue, Lucas leaned closer. \u201cWas about Maurine\u2019s exhibit?\u201d he asked. \u201cJust show up. For me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him. For her, you mean.<\/p>\n
Still\u2026 I went. It would be the last time anyway.<\/p>\n
The banquet was hosted at the Luna Gallery. Moonlight filtered through the glass ceiling, casting silver across the polished floors. Maurine stood at the center like some divine muse in a pale gown, soaking up praise.<\/p>\n
I stood in the corner in a deep crimson dress\u2014one I used to wear when painting. It was now darker from the bloodstains I couldn\u2019t scrub out. No one talked to me. No one looked at me. I was the ghost sister.<\/p>\n
Maurine smiled at the crowd. \u201cIt\u2019s a shame the Thane Alpha is\u2026 well, not waking up,\u201d she sighed dramatically. \u201cBut I need a stronger male anyway. Someone worthy of me, that\u2019s why my Alpha father ended our engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n
And that Alpha would soon be wedded to me.<\/p>\n
I scanned the paintings behind her. That was when I was suddenly stoned to where I was standing. What on earth is this?<\/p>\n
My art. It was not even copies of my creations. The paintings in the hall weren\u2019t imitations either. Those were my original pieces! Paintings I stored in the attic of our pack house. Every brushstroke, every bleeding color\u2014I knew them like I knew my own heartbeat.<\/p>\n
She had stolen them.<\/p>\n
My claws itched to come out, and I was about to confront her but commotion happened.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Lucas\u2019s Beta entered with gifts\u2014designer supplies with embedded moonstones, dresses, jewels, all for Maurine. Murmurs filled the room. Heads turned. I felt like I was drowning in front of them.<\/p>\n
I staggered out for air. She stole my art. She even dared to invite me here, for what? To show me how thick-faced she was?<\/p>\n
Maurine followed me to the balcony.<\/p>\n
\u201cStill breathing?\u201d she said sweetly. \u201cPity your mother isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stilled. Did she just mock my mother?<\/p>\n
\u201cMaurine\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Before I could finish, she poured wine down her dress and screamed.<\/p>\n
\u201cRebecca! Why would you\u2014!\u201d<\/p>\n
It all happened to fast, I couldn\u2019t even react. And in that scene, Lucas arrived, looking at me like I had sinned against him again.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough!\u201d he growled at me.<\/p>\n
I stared at him\u2026 then smiled bitterly. Then I took my own glass, gripped it tightly, and threw the wine into her face. This time, I was the one who did it for real.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s for mocking my mother, you lying vulture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bursts rang behind us as I walked off, my heels clicking like thunder. While I was walking away, Lucas caught up, grabbing my arm. \u201cWhy do you always attack her\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to know why?\u201d I hissed. \u201cShe killed my mother. She framed me. She stole everything I loved\u2014my art, my home, and now you. And you still protect her.\u201d<\/p>\n
He blinked. \u201cYou\u2019re lying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you\u2019d think that.\u201d<\/p>\n
I ripped my arm away. \u201cTake your space, Lucas. I\u2019m done giving you chances.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later that night, I was inside the cab when I saw them heading out using Lucas\u2019s car. My instincts took over.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollow them,\u201d I told the driver.<\/p>\n
Maurine and Lucas were together after the exhibit. Of course they were. But they weren\u2019t just going out for a walk. They were heading into the butterfly garden. Her dream place. The place she said she wanted to mark her mate. It was one of her ridiculous wishes. She wanted the man she would marry to do ridiculous things for her. As if she was living a fairytale.<\/p>\n
Through the glass, I saw them.<\/p>\n
Slowly, Maurine bit his neck. Not in a playful way. She marked him as if she was claiming him for real. Her teeth sank deep, and Lucas\u2014he didn\u2019t fight it. He tilted his head to the side, welcoming it. Eyes glowing. Body shivering with connection.<\/p>\n
However, she didn\u2019t let him return the mark.<\/p>\n
But he pointed to his neck, touched the bleeding wound, and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m yours,\u201d he uttered.<\/p>\n
When My Alpha Ex-Husband Came Looking for Me by Mark Twain 4 Chapter 4 Rebecca\u2019s POV Three days. That\u2019s how […]<\/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-23872","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\/23872","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=23872"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23872\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}