Chapter 1
Chapter 1
I LOVE THE SMELL of the orchids in my room each morning, I love the smell of the oil massaged into my skin each day, but I particularly love the smell of the scent my maids put on me tonight. I just hope Adam loves it too.
My maids, Lea and Brie, worked so hard to prepare me tonight. Tonight might just be the night, I can feel it.
It’s my three-year wedding anniversary today.
And even though I haven’t seen Adam all day, I certainly hope to surprise him tonight.
He doesn’t come home all the time at night.
Sometimes he has to settle pack conflict, so he stays out all night. But tomorrow is the pack’s annual gala, and he needs to show up with me.
The Luna of the Blood Diamond pack.
I ensure things run smoothly around here, and no one knows this— “Well, except for Adam and I.” My wolf, Siha, responded.
“Shut up, Siha.”
I do most of the paperwork, and I make the alpha decisions. I basically run the pack, I do it to help Adam.
Everyone thinks he runs the pack. And they all love him for it.
So tonight he has to come home. He needs me for the festival tomorrow.
I had the castle dressmaker specially make this nightdress. It’s meant to allure and trap a man’s attention.
“Not that we’ve ever been successful trapping Adam’s attention.”
“Siha, that’s enough.”
She’s not wrong, though. Adam and I have been celibate since our joining three years ago.
That’s why this night is so important to me. I hear the whispers; everyone expects me to start showing any moment from now. But how can I provide an heir without consummation?
I waited patiently in my room for Adam to come home. I have heightened sense of hearing because of my Luna powers. This close to the festival, my senses are always heightened. Adam and I don’t have the normal mate bond, so I don’t have access to his location, mind, or feelings.
I didn’t have to wait long, though, because soon after I heard Adam coming down the passage.
We have different rooms, but they’re located beside each other, at the end of a narrow passage.
In my excitement, I ran out of my room to welcome Adam home in my revealing nightdress.
Wait, is that another person I smell?
In shock, I tried to run back to my room, but before I could run back to my room, Adam and Morgana turned round the passage and saw me in my revealing nightdress.
I just stood there as my face turned really red. Adam just froze there, staring at me in varying degrees of shock and disgust.
“Why on earth are you dressed like a cheap hooker?” Adam asked with disgust in his eyes.
I had put in so much effort to make tonight special, I couldn’t reply to him.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I used my hand to cover my mouth as I choked and tried to hold back the sobs threatening to rack my body.
I can’t give up this opportunity, though. I need an heir, and I need it fast. So I swallowed my pride.
“Today is a special day. Do you remember what it is?” I asked, trembling slightly.
“Tomorrow is the pack’s big day, and the Lycan is coming to our pack. Cover yourself up and go to bed. I have to discuss security details with Morgana. Don’t disturb us.”
Morgana just stood there looking at me with triumph in her eyes. She smiled at me as she and Adam went into the study and shut the door in my face.
The maids waiting outside our rooms just looked at me with pity in their eyes.
I tried so hard not to crumble right there in the passage, and suddenly coming out to greet Adam seemed like such a foolish idea.
As soon as I was safely beside my room, I crumbled with my back to the door and just cried for a very long time.
Morgana again, always Morgana.
Right from childhood, I have always had to deal with her ruining my life.
My father, the alpha of the Moon Crystal pack, adopted me when I was five years old. I don’t remember much before I was adopted; I just remember my joy and the love that
surrounded me.
But that joy was short-lived. As I soon discovered, my new sister was not happy to have me join her family.
Morgana made my life hell. She bullied me at every turn and made me dread coming home.
That was one of the reasons I was so happy to join with Adam.
Adam represented a lot for me: freedom, power, and a chance to finally have my own family.
Although soon after our joining, I discovered Adam and I didn’t share the same hopes and dreams.
He didn’t want a wife, only a Luna.
I remember how hurt I was after our joining when he didn’t want to consummate our marriage.
The way he would switch so fast. From the attentive alpha in the office during the day to the cold husband at night.
Over time, I learned to shield myself from expectations and feelings.
But now, my position is not stable. I need an heir; it took me so long to find my own family.
And yes, it’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and I need to secure it.
I wiped my tears and my ruined makeup away and washed my face in the bathroom. I took a bathrobe, and I wore it over my nightdress.
I don’t care what Adam said; no matter how much Morgana scorns me, I will consummate my marriage tonight, even if I have to drug Adam to do it.
With a new motive in mind and a strengthened resolve, I stepped out of my room and went to Adam’s study.
But before I could open the door, my heightened sense of hearing picked up sounds of lovemaking.
My heart pounded in my chest. The only person in the study with him is Morgana, so what does that mean?
Siha was so angry, and I could feel her threatening to let loose. I held her back as I went closer to the door to confirm.
I mean, I know Morgana hates me, but sleeping with my husband is a bit much; she’s still my sister.
Even before I peeped through the door, I already knew that Morgana would sleep with Adam in a heartbeat if it would mean causing me pain. In all the 20 years of knowing each other, Morgana has never considered me a sister.
I peeped through the door, and I saw both Adam and Morgana entangled in each other’s arms on the study couch.
The entire study was a mess; their clothes were scattered everywhere, and they were having a conversation.
“You know, this is the first time we’re having sex in the study.” Morgana said as she lazily drew circles on Adam’s chest.
My heart broke even more hearing that; this means all this has been going on for a while.
“I want to do it on India’s bed next time.”
“India is so boring; her bed must be boring too, there’s no need to do it there.”
“But that’s where I want to do it next,” Morgana said, pouting her lips.
“Fine, next time we’ll do it on India’s bed. Are you happy now?” Adam asked, amused.
“Very,” Morgana replied as she resumed kissing Adam.
Siha was so angry she was practically growling. I just walked back to my room in a daze.
I felt like I was underwater, and I couldn’t hear the sounds of the activities around me.
The worst part about it all is that I have to pretend.
I have to beat them at their own game; if I let on that I know about the cheating before the festival, then Morgana has won.
I would lose my position as Luna and the power and family I gained.
I have to make sure the festival runs smoothly; after the festival, I can confront them, but not before.
I wiped my tears, took off my robe and nightdress. I crawled into bed naked and crying silently. I allowed myself that much.
Because come daylight tomorrow, I will put on my brightest smile at the festival and carry on being the best Luna this pack has ever had. No mistakes, No excuses, or I could lose it all.
