Thankfully, my mate came back victorious.
The doors shifted open with a heavy THOOM, the sound vibrating through the floor.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty!"
Heads bowed in reverence as he stepped in. I smiled as he moved past the doors, his magnetic presence making me shiver.
"Um... who's that with the King?"
Faint whispers followed, and that was when I finally noticed the lady beside him.
She was frail and delicate, silver hair framing her soft features.
She was... angelic.
I held my breath when Janova stopped in front of me. A strange scent clung to him, metallic and cold.
"Luna Queen."
He had never called me Luna-at least not like that-with such an intimidating, cold gaze.
"Ja-"
"You look well. Good. Maybe this time, that body of yours might yield something fruitful." He said it almost in a whisper, yet everyone heard it.
My legs shook as his shoulder brushed past mine.
Only one thought clung to my mind-
What happened to Janova?
Was one year enough to change someone so completely?
Where was the loving mate who once told me that having a baby did not matter, because every pregnancy I had ended in miscarriage? Tears threatened to fall, but I clenched my fists as the whispers grew.
"Janova!" I called, taking a step forward before they could move further away.
He turned swiftly, almost as if he had been waiting for me to call him. "Is there a problem, Luna?"
Even though everyone's eyes were on us, I flicked my gaze from him to the girl clinging to him. When she noticed my stare, she shifted like she feared I would attack her.
If I still had my wolf, I would have clawed that face.
"Who is she?" I asked softly, taking a deep breath.
The lady whimpered, hiding her face against his arm.
My nails sank into my palm, leaving crescent marks, the sting doing nothing to compare to the burn in my chest.
"Don't worry. She won't do anything to you, dear." Janova hushed her, placing his hand gently over hers.
In the presence of the entire pack... he was coaxing another she-wolf.
Because I lost my wolf and haven't been able to produce an heir, the entire pack already looks down on me. The elders even once petitioned to replace me, but Janova had insisted I would remain his only mate.
But now... with this public humiliation... how was I supposed to hold my head high?
"Who is she?" I snapped. He paused.
"Her name is Blossom-someone I saved from the Chaldeans. She will be living with us now." He said it bluntly. "And please, I'll need you to take care of her. She's very fragile."
"Why would I take care of her?" The air suddenly went chilly. Janova's face hardened, as though he didn't expect me to challenge him.
"As Luna, it is your duty to care for your people. Have you forgotten?"
"Like you said-" My heels clicked closer until we were inches from each other. "My people. Not rogues. And whatever thing you pick up from the streets."
The rogue shifted. Her soft whimper sent chills down my spine as she pressed behind Janova, "I'm scared. I don't think she wants me here." Her eyes lifted almost hesitantly towards mine, and for a moment it hardened. Her soft exterior seemed to vanish.
"I shouldn't be here."
"Nonesense, with me here. No one will bully you." Janova's gaze shifted towards her, hands moved to tuck her hair behind her ears.
The lump in my mouth painfully pressed hard against my throat, no matter how hard I forced it down. Everyone was watching, so I had to stay calm. "Can we talk without her?"
"Blossom needs to get settled in properly? such important tasks, only you can do it properly."
A scoffed escaped my lips, eyes rolled over the ceiling before I bit my lips. "I am your Luna Queen. Not a nanny. I'm your mate, Janova or have you forgotten."
Gasps rippled through the hall as guests shifted against each other uncomfortably.
Janova's face darkened, but he said nothing.
"Whatever is going on-we need to talk after this."
With the little dignity I had left, I lifted my gown and turned away.
As if being called sterile wasn't enough... now my mate brought another woman into our home.
I thought of my sister, Lydia, for the first time in longer than I could admit-we hadn't spoken since she married into her own pack. I wondered if she'd even heard.
She was the smart one, the loved one-what would she do in a situation like this?
Moon Goddess, what was I thinking.
A few wolves from high society approached, attempting to converse, but all I saw was Janova-hovering over that wolf. One could even mistake her for Luna. I was still here, yet he had brought my replacement.
All our years together, did it really mean nothing to him?
Even after what he just did, I found myself longing for the warmth from his scents. His touches....
Every night, I went to bed with his names on my lips, praying to the moon goddess to bring him back safely and he does this? Moon goddess, is this my fate-to be constantly cast aside by those I care about.
CRASH!
I whipped my head toward the sound. My heart plummeted against my ears.
What's going on, I wondered, making my way towards the front.
A crowd had gathered. A maid knelt, trembling. Janova stood, holding Blossom protectively-tenderly.
"How dare you touch her?" he roared, fury radiating from him, his body curled around Blossom like a shield.
My breath stopped.
"Your Highness," The maid sobbed at his feet. "please forgive me!"
He kicked her away, eyes already lightened with a faint red glow. "You deserve death."
What!
Janova had a bad temper, but he would never harm his people recklessly.
I moved to speak, but the maid trembled back to her knees.
"Your Highness, please... I swear on my life... someone made me poison Lady Blossom."
"Who?" he snarled.
Slowly, her gaze lifted, and the moment her finger pointed at me, every eye in the hall turned.
"I-It was the Luna Queen. She made me do it."
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