Romeo Garcia was a promising scholar from the outskirts of the Silver Moon Pack territory, a Beta who had worked his way up through sheer determination. His relentless spirit was something I had always admired. That same determination eventually won me over during his third year of pursuing me, and I agreed to be his mate.

We marked each other, had a pup, and everything seemed to fall into place naturally. As the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, I helped him refine his image—a sleek watch, a sturdy SUV, a spacious den in the heart of the pack’s territory. In return, he provided emotional support, understanding my needs better than most. Like the nanny we hired, he knew I didn’t want his mother, Shelby, involved in raising our pup. He also understood that I didn’t want a traditional caregiver who clung to outdated pack customs, so he found someone practical and sensible—Everly Watson, a rogue who seemed to fit the bill.

However, Everly seemed to misunderstand her role. I’d need to keep an eye on her.

After finishing nursing, I called for someone to help burp Amaya. I waited, but no one responded. Despite the lingering weakness from childbirth, I made my way to the living room, where Romeo was organizing some boxes.

"Everly went to get you some coffee. You can burp the pup yourself; it’s a small task," he said without looking up, anticipating my request before I could speak.

"Mate, you can’t rely on others for everything," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

"When the nanny leaves, you’ll need to handle these tasks yourself, so why not start learning now?"

I frowned, confused. "If the nanny is occupied, why can’t you, as the father, help out?"

"I just gave birth four days ago, and you expect me to hold the pup already?"

The conversation was making me more irate, but Romeo turned to me with a look of genuine concern. "I’m preparing you in advance," he said softly.

"Soon, my leave ends, and I’ll be back at the pack’s headquarters. What will you do if you haven’t learned by then? I can’t always come home to do everything."

"Mate, you’re a Luna now. You can’t continue acting like you’re still finding your place."

"You should take a page from Everly. She can care for pups, manage the den, and prepare meals. Why is there such a gap between two females?"

His words stung, and I could sense the dissatisfaction in his tone. Yet, when I glanced at him, his earnest gaze confused me. Did he truly believe this was for my benefit?

"Hey, stop standing there. I’ve been helping these past few days since you’ve just been discharged and are still recovering," he said.

"Soon enough, you should learn from Everly."

He brushed past me, went straight to the bedroom, and picked up Amaya from the bed, expertly burping her. He was indeed more adept than I was; while I was still figuring out how to hold the pup, he had already mastered burping her. It was clear he had prepared quite a bit.

Reflecting on his words, they almost made sense to me. Perhaps I had been too self-indulgent before, always doing as I pleased. Now that I’m a Luna and a mother, I certainly need to step up and take responsibility for our pup.

As I watched Amaya peacefully fall asleep after being fed and burped, a suspicion crept into my mind: Where had he learned such skilled techniques?

Before I could question my mate, the nanny’s voice called us to dinner from the doorway.

Romeo, ever the dutiful Beta, urged me gently as he set our daughter down in her crib. “Luna, let’s eat. Everly’s been working hard since dawn. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

I chuckled to myself, curious what kind of meal required hours of preparation, and followed him to the dining hall. The long wooden table was adorned with an elaborate spread: pulled pork, roasted asparagus, deviled eggs, scrambled eggs with chives, sautéed zucchini, and beef stew. Five dishes and a soup—it was a feast fit for a pack celebration, not a new mother recovering from childbirth.

Romeo, seemingly at ease, gestured for me to sit. “Luna, this top-tier nanny really is something, isn’t she? Look at this spread. You love deviled eggs and pulled pork, right? Go ahead, try some.”

I didn’t reach for the food, but Everly slid into the seat between us, comfortably serving Romeo a bowl of stew.

“Beta,” she said, her voice sweet and laced with false humility, “try this stew. It’s made with chicken and beef, packed with nutrients. Perfect for replenishing your energy after all the stress.”

She then added, her tone dripping with sympathy, “Everyone talks about how hard childbirth is for women, but no one mentions the toll it takes on the men. They endure it silently, without recognition.”

“Don’t worry, I understand. Beta, after dinner, you should rest. I’ll handle the cleanup.”

She meticulously skimmed the oil off the stew, clearly expecting praise. Romeo, visibly moved, accepted the bowl. “Everly, you really do understand me.”

“I was so exhausted watching over things at the pack clinic these past few days, and everyone just said my mate had it rough.”

“What was tough for her? She just ate and slept while I managed holding the pup, feeding, and dealing with my mother-in-law’s constant criticisms.”

Romeo glanced at me, his irritation thinly veiled. “Luna, I’m not trying to criticize your mother, but her role as a retired Gamma doesn’t compare to your duties as Luna. She should’ve stepped down entirely to help us, not just taken a few days off.”

“Thankfully, there’s someone here who understands. Otherwise, I’d be completely drained.”

Everly shot me a smug glance before placing her hand on Romeo’s, her touch lingering. “Beta, don’t worry. You can share all your troubles with me.”

“This is part of my job. You’re paying me to solve your problems.”

Romeo seemed relieved to have someone to vent to and finally took a big gulp of the stew, nodding in satisfaction. “Thank you, Everly. I feel much better now.”

As Everly comforted my mate, my heart sank. This wasn’t the Romeo I knew before we decided to have a pup. Back then, I’d suggested we wait until my mother retired before planning for a child, given his mother’s preference for her secluded cottage. But Romeo had insisted that delaying would make it harder for me to recover, pushing to move up our timeline. He’d promised to step up after the pup was born and find a nanny who met our needs.

His words today revealed just how hollow those promises had been.

“Are you finished?” I asked, my tone icy as I looked at the two of them, their camaraderie nauseating.

“If you have so much to discuss, take it elsewhere.”

“Everly,” I said, my voice firm, “you can settle today’s payment with the Beta. Pack your things and leave. You’re fired.”

Everly’s eyes widened, tears welling up instantly. Her voice trembled with feigned innocence. “Luna, what did I do to deserve this? Don’t you see how much effort I put into this meal? I cooked according to your preferences.”

“This beef stew with chicken is excellent for boosting milk production. You’re a first-time mother; you wouldn’t understand. I have experience, so you should trust me.”

She hastily ladled a bowl of stew, placing it in front of me with a look of grievance before turning to Romeo, her expression shifting to one of realization.

“Is it because you’re jealous of my rapport with the Beta?”

“You’re mistaken. This is part of a nanny’s duties, and it’s all in my contract.”

She scrambled for her bag to retrieve the contract but stumbled, falling into Romeo’s arms. He quickly helped her onto a chair, checking her for injuries before turning to me, his voice sharp with reproach. “Luna, are you serious?”

“Everly’s just the nanny, and you’re jealous of that?”

“I signed that contract myself. I know its terms inside and out, and there’s nothing inappropriate about it.”

“Do you think everyone is as petty as you?”

“Luna, apologize to Everly, and let’s move on.”

“Otherwise, if you really fire her, who’ll look after the pup when she’s still so young?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity. Did he really think I was clueless? Even if I couldn’t find a nanny quickly, couldn’t we take the pup to the pack’s daycare center? Besides, we’d managed the three days at the clinic without a nanny, hadn’t we? Was this household truly incapable of functioning without Everly?

Just as I was about to retort, the sound of our daughter’s cries echoed from the nursery.

It seemed like they were challenging me, as neither made a move. My daughter, Amaya, had been crying for less than 30 seconds, and I could already feel the dampness spreading across my chest. Her cries triggered an instinctive reaction, and I began to lactate. But I didn’t want to go. I had just been discharged from the maternity center, and my body was still far from recovering. The Silver Moon Pack’s Healers had warned me to take it easy, but here I was, already pushed to my limit.

I had hoped that with the nanny at home, I could finally get some rest. But now, Everly, the rogue werewolf Romeo had hired, was comfortably nestled in my mate’s arms. They were expecting me to give in and attend to Amaya. If I conceded now, everything that had just happened would be dismissed, and Everly would continue to dominate the situation, step by step.

Before all this, Romeo, my mate and former Beta of the Silver Moon Pack, had been so considerate. But now, I was baffled by his sudden change. Was he truly interested in this rogue, or was she pushing my limits? My wolf stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, sensing the tension in the air.

Swallowing my heartache, I confronted the two of them. Everly, however, jumped up indignantly, pointing a finger at me and sneering, “Luna Cynthia, you’re honestly the most heartless mother I’ve ever seen.”

Her use of my title felt like a mockery, her tone dripping with disdain. “Can you really be a good mom like this?” she continued. “The pup’s crying, and yet you can still sit here eating dinner rolls? Go check on her and feed her already.”

I trembled with anger and looked at Romeo, who nodded in agreement, clearly displeased with my lack of action. “Cynthia, just look at your clothes,” he said, his voice cold and dismissive. “Even your body is telling you to check on the pup, and yet you’re sitting here sulking?”

He didn’t even address me as Luna, a subtle but deliberate slight. “Don’t use the fact that you’ve just given birth as an excuse. It’s been three days; the pack Healers cleared you to leave. What more excuses do you have?”

His words cut deep, but I refused to let them see my pain. “You didn’t want Everly to stay, did you?” he continued, his tone laced with accusation. “Let’s see how you manage without a nanny.”

He was convinced I would relent.

Amaya cried for two minutes, neglected, and her voice was starting to grow hoarse. Despite the frustration gripping my heart, I couldn’t overpower the instinctual maternal love. I rushed to the nursery, changed her diaper, and fed her until she fell asleep. Then, I collapsed onto the bed in tears, the weight of the situation crushing me.

It was the fourth day postpartum, and both my body and spirit were exhausted. I was in a vulnerable state, lacking the energy to fight back. A sense of helplessness welled up from deep within, and my wolf’s quiet whimper echoed in my mind.

My mother, Jacqueline, a respected elder of the pack, had been sent to Europe for a month-long assignment and couldn’t be there for me. Now, I was left to face this ordeal alone, with no one to lean on except my own resolve. The Silver Moon Pack’s hierarchy was strict, and as Luna, I was expected to maintain my composure. But tonight, in the privacy of my room, I allowed myself to break, if only for a moment.