Moira's POV

Being alone in an apartment wasn't a good idea after everything that had severely broken my spirit over the past few days. That's how I felt today. The things I'd gone through at the office a few days ago left me lying motionless on my bed, staring up at the ceiling-so much that I unconsciously ignored Ziri, who had been talking to me for a while.

I had never been the type of woman who enjoyed spending nights with random men. I wasn't the kind of woman men coveted, so I spent every night alone.

Unlike Bella, who had always been idolized. Even back in college, everyone wanted to know what Bella looked like and what her place was in my family.

We were half-sisters, but we were clearly different in appearance.

My father had always favored her. Jude was no exception. The comments from the office staff reminded me of our college years. Everyone knew who Jude was, idolizing him for his striking looks, prowess, and intelligence. It was the same with Bella.

She was always the center of attention. Everyone talked about how well she matched Jude, just because of their meeting at the inauguration night-the same night I first slept with Jude, the night my father committed his crime and schemed to trap me in an unhappy marriage.

I had been happy with Jude, but with his constant coldness, I, ever naive, just ended up looking more foolish and realized it hurt so much.

Bella was my father's illegitimate child, yet she seemed more worthy of being the pack's heir than me. She was rich, captivating, loved by so many-even by all the pack members-without anyone considering her presence had brought pain to me and my mother, their Luna.

I hated remembering it, but the more I saw Jude and Bella, the more the pain I had endured for years grew, never fading.

If only I hadn't been drunk that night...

If only I had been more careful-had considered the realities of being my father's firstborn, who was unremarkable to most Alphas in the bigger packs-maybe my father would never have resorted to that dirty scheme.

If only... I wouldn't be in this situation now, and maybe the pack would have long forgotten me.

After my mother died, I'd been living with my uncle. You'd think that would have kept me from my father and made me cautious. But I admit, I was stupidly naive. Just as everyone admired Jude for all his virtues, so did I. The only difference was, I fell for him only after I realized I'd spent a night with him.

I admitted I regretted that mistake and would never be able to forget it.

On my wedding day with Jude, I was overjoyed. I thought that was the end of all my suffering, that I wouldn't face the same fate as my mother. I believed Jude would love me, that after our pup was born, we'd have a happy marriage, and I would be the cherished Luna. But no.

That wedding night, I was shattered when Jude said the word "mate." I thought he was speaking to me. Only after we were married did I understand.

He never touched me-until one night he came home drunk and had sex with me. Even at the climax, he whispered the word "mate" again. I was so foolish to think his indifference was just part of his nature.

When I realized his attitude was because he didn't want me, that Bella had always been on his mind from the start, that they'd probably been involved for a long time, I was paralyzed and lost myself. I never imagined things would end up like this.

It felt like even the Moon Goddess was on Bella's side. She never looked out for me and just let me suffer till it felt I would die from the pain.

My marriage was in ruins. There was nothing left to hope for, and I understood that Jude's love had never belonged to me.

I curled up, letting out the sobs and suffocating pain. It hurt. Jude must be with Bella right now, under the same blanket after sex. Even if I was not his mate, every time I imagined him with Bella, loving her the way every woman wishes for, it made me want to stab a knife in my chest. The pain was overwhelming-I didn't know what to do.

I'd lost everything. I had nothing. My mate belonged to another woman, and she'd even stolen our pup's heart. How was I supposed to heal this wound?

***

Finally, I went outside my apartment because Rhea, my best friend, had called me. She had asked if I could pick her up at the airport after her return from Greece. She was an artist. We shared similar tastes in art, and I admired her work. She also appreciated my designs.

We would exchange gifts on our birthdays-she would give me sketches or her paintings, and I would gift her handmade jewelry. She was the only person I had left since my mother died. Her long stay in Greece had left me feeling lonelier.

I waited at the arrival area, holding up a sign with her name. That's when I saw a familiar sight in the arrival gates.

Mirielle was there with Jude. I almost waved to her, but stopped when Bella appeared. Mirielle hugged her. Bella bent down so Mirielle could kiss her cheek.

My heart felt like it had been slammed hard. It hurt, but I just clenched my chest against the ache.

"Happy birthday, Aunt Bella!" Mirielle shouted, her voice faint but reaching me. Then she pulled out a moonstone necklace, and together, Jude and Mirielle fastened it around Bella's neck. Jude and Mirielle's eyes were fixed on Bella, admiring her beauty.

Bella was too beautiful, just as her name implied, and they looked just like one happy family.

No-it was wrong. I should be there. I should be the one Mirielle kissed, the one Jude huged and kisseed gently. But I had to let go of that, because this was my destiny, and that was Bella's. I would never be meant for the place among them. Again, imagining where they might go this time only made it harder to breathe.

Someone tapped my shoulder, jolting me back into the reality of the busy airport. I tore my gaze away from Jude to Rhea, who was looking at me with furrowed brows. She asked something, but I couldn't hear her over the noise and my chaotic thoughts.

Rhea turned and saw what I'd been watching. She rubbed my shoulder, and from her face, I was sure she understood exactly how I felt.

"You can get through this, Moira. I know you can. I'm back now. Let's go back to before Jude. We were happy kids who always supported each other," she said. I nodded and helped with her luggage. My gaze inadvertently fell back on Jude. They were still there-this time with one more person who seemed to be traveling with him.

Maybe it was a business trip to the Netherlands, as usual, but this time he brought them as Bella's birthday present.

Brukk!

I cried out softly as I landed on the floor, my butt stinging. I checked my elbow, which I'd hit pretty hard, but found no serious injury, just a bit of pain. Where had Rhea gone?

I was about to get up and fetch Rhea's things when a hand reached out to help. In the other hand, he was holding Rhea's luggage I had been carrying.

I accepted the helping hand and looked up after I stood. There he was-a man I knew-standing before me, opening his mouth as though to say something, but waiting for the right moment. I didn't want to let him have the chance, so I left before he could say words I might not ever want to hear.

Moira's POV

I put Rhea's things in the room and sat comfortably without waiting for an invitation. I was used to spending time at her house, talking about the men who caught our interest and became our crushes, and Jude was one of them.

Rhea used to admire Jude so much back then. Of course, it was because of his intelligence and agility, especially since he was the youngest Alpha in the northern region, and his pack was the strongest under his leadership.

Rhea and I lay on the sofa. Before long, she drifted off and fell asleep, while I stayed awake, thinking again about Jude and Mirielle at the airport. Where were they going? Why did I still want to know? I shouldn't care anymore, considering they had hurt me so deeply.

Mirielle didn't look sad after I left; she even seemed excited. She had completely forgotten about me.

I sat up and looked at Rhea, who was still asleep, still in her clothes. I got up, took a blanket from her room, and spread it over her.

I wasn't used to sleeping in someone else's bed, so I had trouble closing my eyes. I decided to check Rhea's refrigerator and make something for her. It was already five in the morning, and I didn't think I could sleep. I would sleep all day once I got home, but at that moment, I decided to prepare breakfast for us because I hadn't eaten properly since yesterday.

I took all the leftover ingredients from the refrigerator and cooked something I thought Rhea might like. As far as I remembered, she was a bit picky about food.

A serving of steak and a glass of milk were ready for Rhea. She liked to have protein for breakfast and avoided eating at night. Meanwhile, I was the opposite. However, my eating habits had become messy in the last few days.

While waiting for her to wake, I checked what I could do. Since I hadn't started my new job at Blitz AI yet-because of Jude's careless interference that kept delaying my resignation-I had dared to take on freelance design work.

I was working on several requests when I realized Rhea was already sitting beside me at the dining table, enjoying the meal I had prepared.

"Hmm... this is so delicious, Moira. I really need this kind of protein. You know, in Greece I couldn't eat properly. They eat more vegetables and fruits than to meat. I'm not used to that." Rhea commented, then put another piece in her mouth. "Thank you for breakfast, Moira. You're the best. I'm sure Jude will realize you're the best wife he's ever had and come back to you."

Rhea kissed my cheek and then focused on the food on the table. After finishing everything, she grabbed her phone and started scrolling, looking at what people were posting on social media.

One post made Rhea gasp. And she showed me what she was looking at.

"Isn't that Jacob? He was with Jude last night, right? Where were they?" Rhea pointed her screen at me, but I was reluctant to look at it. "Oh... they're on vacation in Miami to celebrate Bella's birthday. Not interested."

"I already suspected that," I replied, and she seemed sympathetic toward me.

"Are you okay, Moira?"

I shook my head and didn't say anything. Fortunately, Rhea ignored my reaction, but she became even more curious about Jude and Bella. She scrolled further and found another post where Jude and Bella were cutting a cake together. Their fingers were intertwined, showing they were the perfect match, in love, and happy.

"That bastard! If anyone says they're a perfect match, I agree. Bastards like him deserve cheap women, sluts like her!" Rhea grumbled as she slammed her phone on the table and looked closely at me. "I didn't expect this to be your life. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, Moira. I promise from now on, I'll stay by your side. If necessary, I'll teach that bastard a lesson."

I didn't know how to respond to Rhea's words except with a nod. The more insults Rhea and I threw at Bella, the more perfect she and Jude seemed, and the more compatible they looked.

I became even sadder and could only look away from the screen and pretend everything was fine.

"Come on, Rhea. Let them do whatever they want. I've decided to leave Jude. I've sent my resignation letter and divorce papers."

"Then why are you still coming to work?"

"He disagrees. It seems he's deliberately showing off his affection for Bella so I can see it. I don't know what his purpose is."

"Disgusting! I don't know what I saw in him back then that made me so infatuated," Rhea said, remembering the past.

In my opinion, there were so many reasons to like Jude, and it would be hard to find his flaws. No one could compare to him. Jude even graduated from the academy three years earlier than others, making him not only attractive but also intelligent.

No one believed Jude was married. No one knew. Even though he was so proud of Mirielle's birth and even showed her off, I remained the dark secret he kept locked away.

"By the way, are you sure you want to divorce Jude? You should fight to win his heart, Moira. You can't survive without him, I'm sure of it. Remember how you did silly things to win him before, and now you're giving up like a loser!"

I was startled by Rhea's words, which hit my ego quite a bit. She was right. I did look like a pathetic loser. But I didn't care. Rather, it didn't matter because seven years wasn't a short time to sacrifice for him, to give him everything, even my dignity. But what I got in return were only insults and wounds. Rhea's words might have been harsh, but I believed she was always on my side.

The next day, I returned to the office, as Jude had ordered, and he began treating me like just a regular employee, scolding me, being cold, setting ultimatums, and even threatening to fire me whenever I didn't meet his expectations. However, his attitude toward me was more like that of a stranger. It was painful, but I didn't want to waste time thinking about his behavior.

After the break, I went to my cubicle to work on the task Jude had given me, but my phone rang, and I answered it when I saw who was calling.

My grandmother's name appeared on the screen, and she sounded excited when she heard my voice.

"How are you, dear?" my grandmother asked from the other end. What else could I say? News about Jude finding his mate and about me, his wife, sending him divorce papers, must have spread through almost the whole pack. However, the words "I'm fine" came out of my mouth.

"We're having a family dinner tonight. I hope you can come," she said, making me hesitate. Before, I would have been excited to attend every family event because Jude was my pride and joy. But now...

"Alright. I'll see if I can make it."

"Moira, please..." Grandma's voice started to shake, and I didn't want her to cry just because I hadn't tried to come, so I softly answered,

"Okay, okay. I'll try to come," which made Grandma sigh in relief. Our conversation ended, and I was again occupied with the work that had taken up so much of my time.

The clock showed five o'clock, and I packed my things to head to Grandma's house. However, a pack's gamma arrived with a stack of files and handed them to me. I glanced at them briefly. The files were sales data that needed to be entered immediately, no doubt at Jude's request.

"You have to do it ASAP because I don't like waiting," he ordered, I just shot him a lazy glance. "Why? Didn't you hear me?"

I sighed heavily. In the past, I would have done anything for Jude to win his heart and love. I thought that if I did everything to make him happy, he might give me his heart without hesitation. However, I was wrong.

It had never happened. Even after seven years of marriage, he still chose Bella. Now, I refused to do anything he commanded.

I pushed the files aside without saying much, put on my coat and grabbed my bag, leaving the gamma who kept calling my name. But I would never turn back and become the person I once was. I was so hurt, and I promised myself this pain would make me a different Moira someday.

Moira's POV

"Stop, Moira!" snapped the Gamma as I walked away. I stayed where I was, waiting for the cruel words he would throw at me, and sure enough, that was exactly what he did. "You're starting to disrespect Alpha Jude, it seems. This was his order, and you're just ignoring it."

I didn't respond, but I didn't turn around either, not until he approached and stood right in front of me, pointing his finger at my face.

"Stop doing the same thing, Moira," he said, which finally made me look at his face.

I frowned at his words. "The same thing? What do you mean?"

"You always use your position as Luna to avoid work and get what you want. Don't you realize that you are unwanted? So, don't be arrogant and do whatever you want. I want the job done, no matter what your reasons are."

I stared at him sharply until he finished speaking, but the desire to respond to his every sarcastic remark had faded.

He had always been like that. Almost all the pack members thought I was an opportunistic Luna, always using my title as a weapon to get what I wanted, when that wasn't the case at all.

I knew I had nothing, not even the position of Luna. No one wanted me. So why should I act as if I were important? They would hate me even more. Besides, fighting to keep my position in the pack and as Jude's wife was a waste of time. I was tired of it.

I wasn't bothered by the Gamma's words and didn't want to respond. But I had to clear up the problem so I could leave this place as soon as possible.

"This isn't about whether I'm taking advantage of my title as Luna. You know the truth - I was never worthy of being Luna in your pack and... I've already submitted my resignation. So there shouldn't be any more tasks like this."

"If that's true, then what are you doing here, and why is Alpha Jude insisting that I check your performance?"

"Well, not everything he does is right. I don't know his reasons, but you might want to have your head checked by the pack doctor to see if it's still functioning properly, because even though I've resigned, you're still terrorizing me with new tasks," I said. I immediately left for my grandmother's house without responding to his ranting.

When I arrived, Grandma hugged me at once and kissed my cheek. Uncle was there too. Considering how they had treated me all this time, I should have felt lucky. They were my only source of strength and had always been there for me, no matter what. If they hadn't supported and cared for me when my mother passed away, my life might have ended up just like Cinderella's.

"How are you, my dear?" asked my grandmother, noticing that I had come alone. "Where is Mirielle? Didn't she come with you?"

I fell silent. I couldn't tell her I no longer had a daughter because she had chosen to stay with her father. Not to mention the bond between her and Bella, which still made me feel suffocated.

Mirielle and Grandmother had always loved each other deeply. In the past, Mirielle would get excited whenever I promised to take her to Grandma's house, and vice versa. So telling the full truth - even though they already knew a little - would definitely be very painful.

"I came straight here after work. It would have taken more time to go home first. How are you all?" I replied, following it with a question for them.

"Well... your uncle's been having some issues at his company. So he often comes to me with his problems," Grandma replied, then laughed. "That's business and life. Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. I hope you'll see your problems the same way, Moira. Don't give up. The Moon Goddess will always bless those who with good hearts."

The Moon Goddess... I hadn't believed in Her for a long time. Whatever purpose She had in doing this to me, I didn't want to hear much about Her kindness, unless She gave me a much better life.

"What happened, Uncle?" I asked, responding to Grandma's comment about his business. He sighed, then, while enjoying the food on the table, he began to tell his story.

"The designs we created seemed outdated. People started leaving the store after browsing just one or two items. We began to lose revenue. It dropped dramatically, by as much as 20%."

"Wow! That's quite a lot."

"Yes. And I've tried hiring a well-known designer, but it did little more than increase our losses. The cost alone was huge, while the designs they created still failed to attract customers," Uncle said with a sigh. "I don't know how my business will continue. You know this boutique has always been my lifeline, even for taking care of you. I was grateful that the boutique's revenue was extraordinary when I was caring for you. You were like my lucky charm. Now that you're no longer with us, everything has become... well, you know."

I fell silent and thought about what Uncle had said. I felt so valued because Uncle thought so highly of me. I looked at him with gratitude and appreciation. Maybe my life hadn't been fortunate, but having them was a blessing I'd always be grateful for.

"Actually, I have an old sketchbook filled with many designs I made in college that you might be able to use. I've kept it safe in my apartment and will send it to you soon."

"Really? Don't you want to use it? Maybe you want to create a sex robot with beautiful dresses," my uncle joked, reminding me of Dillan's offer. I laughed at his witty remark, which made me love him even more. He had always been a humorous man who knew how to entertain everyone.

Now it was my turn to help them-uncle and grandmother. Considering how much they had supported me and that I had nothing to help them with, I thought I should find a job immediately, as soon as possible.

***

Jude's POV

"You shouldn't have been rude and accused her of exploiting her title," a voice, loud enough to be heard outside my room, said.

I didn't move immediately because Bella was still leaning against my chest and telling me about everything, including her interview schedule at a famous design company.

"But, you were too kind to her, so she became arrogant and dared to defy Alpha Jude's orders."

Hearing that, I immediately got up, asking Bella to wait whileI resolved the problem. Kevin and the Gamma were silent but nearly got into a fight when I arrived. It was clear their conversation was not meant for my ears.

"What's going on? Do you deliberately want everyone to hear your arguments?" I asked Kevin, who said nothing, then turned to the Gamma, who was equally silent, offering no answer to my question. I was about to speak again when the Gamma finally responded.

"Moira isn't doing her job well, Alpha Jude. Even though she's Luna, that doesn't mean she can act however she wants. I'm just saying she's a regular employee in this company," the Gamma explained, from a perspective I could accept. Then I turned to Kevin, my Beta, who seemed eager to give his side.

But was it truly his perspective, or just bias?

"That's not true. We know she's already submitted her resignation letter. Her presence here means we still need her. Why mistreat her?" Kevin's explanation and his attitude, clearly siding with that woman, irritated me. Since when had he been on Moira's side? Were they really that close, or was it-as the Gamma said-that Kevin always seemed to defend her?

"No need to defend her, Kevin. I don't want to hear anything else. If she isn't doing her job properly, threaten her with dismissal. Or fire her outright. No more questions. End this commotion immediately!" I ordered, making Kevin give me a look I didn't understand.

Whatever he was about to say, I didn't want to hear it. Moira's arrogant attitude needed to be stopped before it affected other employees' performance, or even worse.

One thing I didn't understand about myself and kept thinking about, after Kevin's response: what was my reason for ignoring Moira's resignation letter and making her come back to work, when I hated her so much?