Damian 

After my mom called about Ariana, I was worried all day. Something doesn't feel right, and I have been feeling it all day. 

I had to leave Lily alone for some time so I could have some time to myself to actually think about everything on ground. 

Have I really been ignoring Ariana since Lily returned with her pup because why would Mom call me?

No, I'm certain it was Ariana playing her usual mind games. She just loves attention too much and would do anything to get it. She's always been a little whiny she-wolf.

I gulped the alcohol in my cup and signaled someone to get me another bottle. I was in a private bar I sometimes come to when I get stressed and overwhelmed.

Whenever the pack business becomes too much to handle and I need to clear my head or when I have an issue with my mate, I come here.

"Alpha", you're here. I heard a voice say and I turned around to see it was my Beta Cassius.

I didn't say anything, instead, I turned the contents of the bottle into my cup and began drinking slowly from it.

"Tough day?" He asked and I just hummed.

He paused for a while and just kept looking at me like he was trying to figure out what I was thinking.

"You know, Riley called me, she told me what happened to Ariana. Why haven't you gone home man? That's your Luna in question." He said and I shot him a serious glare that forced him to keep quiet.

"Riley and her big mouth. And you, don't say what you have no idea about. Nothing's wrong with Ariana, she's just being her dramatic self." I replied and lit a cigarette.

It's been a long time since I smoked but since the drink wasn't calming me down, the smoke should do the job.

"But Alpha I still think you're not being fair to Ariana if we're going to be serious. She's your mate after all and her family has also proved their loyalty to this pack countless times."

"Heck even her mother is still at the pack's infirmary till this day because she got seriously injured while trying to protect some of our warriors during the last wolf attack."

"She's been healing much slower because her wolf got seriously injured. Even Ariana has proved herself to be a devoted Luna all this while, what more do you want?" He questioned.

"Her mother is fine and will be discharged by tomorrow. I'm paying for the treatment anyway and I saved them from penury, the least they can do is be grateful." I responded ignoring the surprised look on his face. 

We sat in silence for a while and honestly, I was grateful for the silence because I was really tired of his rambling.

Was he trying to make me guilty of something or what? As if reading my mind, Cassius asked me a question that stunned me next.

"This is about Lily right? You treating Ari like this, missing your anniversary is all about Lily right?" He asked me and I could feel the veins almost popping out of my neck because of anger. 

"Don't you dare speak on Lily." I lashed out.

"But why though? Even though you're my Alpha you're still my friend and I'll speak on issues concerning you when I feel you're not treading the right path." 

"This is because of Lily right?" He asked again and I shot him a cold glare.

"It's complicated," I replied and he smirked. 

"There's nothing complicated Damian. You know Lily came back to be with you and she didn't come back alone, she came back with a pup, how would you explain this to Ariana if she finds......"

"She can never find out. You can never tell her anything about Lily or her pup. Never mention the name Lily anywhere close to her." I replied with a hint of urgency in my voice. 

"I wasn't going to tell her in the first place, but what if she somehow gets to find out. Do you think she'll forgive you?" He asked.

"She loves me too much, she can never live without me. She said so herself but to answer your question, I've been covering my tracks neatly." I said.

"Lily might confront her and you and I know too well Lily came back for you. Set a clear boundary now or you might regret it later. Unless you missed what you guys had and now want to rekindle it." He retorted.

"You got it all wrong. Lily can never confront Ariana, she knows better than to do that. After all, she's a weak, fragile she-wolf and an omega, she can't dare to confront the Luna. 

"You should know things are not always the way they seem. I'll see you later." He said and got up to leave.

I stayed there for some time and then my phone started ringing again. I looked up and saw the caller ID was Riley. Why was he calling me again? 

"Damian, is it true that you brought your mistress and her pup to the pack to be under our protection..." she tried asking and I just hissed. This damn girl. 

"Ariana won't like this." She won't..."

"I do not want you speaking to Ariana about another woman. You'll keep quiet and stay out of my business, do you understand?" I spoke coldly into the phone. 

I was sure she could feel the ice in my tone because she was too stunned to speak.

"You cheated.... You really cheated. You've been cheating on my friend, I'm going to tell Ariana. I only wanted to confirm." She threatened.

"Unless you no longer like the privilege of belonging to a pack. You'll do no such thing." I fired back and dropped the call.

I drank the last contents in the bottle and threw the cigarette. Since they were going to try to make things difficult for me I needed to talk to my mate.

I already knew Ariana wasn't going to leave me but I needed to pacify her at least so she would stop whining. At least if she were happy she wouldn't make trouble for Lily and her pup if she got to know about them.

I left the bar and drove straight home. 

I entered the house and went straight to our room and there she was sitting quietly lost in thought.

Her back was facing me and I stood at the door for a few seconds staring at her. Her scent hit my nostrils and I closed my eyes as it made my wolf and me calm again.

She always had that effect on me.

"Hey," I greeted without looking at her. 

"Are you calm now?" I asked as I placed my wrist watch on the table before turning to finally face her.

Ariana

I watched as he removed his watch and placed it on the table before turning to look at me.

"Why are you here?" I asked, staring back at him without blinking or shying away as usual. 

He looked a bit surprised but his expression quickly turned unreadable. "You're questioning me why? I own this house in case you forgot."

Hmmmph, always so arrogant. Before I used to excuse his corkiness and arrogance as something he got from being raised in the number one family of the pack and finally getting to lead the pack himself.

But now, I can't make any excuses for him. This was the kind of person he was.

"You should return to wherever you've been spending all your time and day," I said and turned to lie on the bed. 

He stayed quiet for some time and I thought he wasn't going to bother me again but soon he joined me in bed.

He slid his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. I stayed still. Too scared to breathe or move. 

"You've been cranky a lot lately, what's wrong? Is this still about the anniversary?" He spoke softly into my ears.

A tone I had never heard him use before. 

I shook my head, not daring to answer. He kissed my nape and slipped his hands into my nightie.

I knew what was coming next and I dreaded it, I couldn't afford to be intimate with him after all he had done. He'd been with another she-wolf and that was an insult to Nara. 

"Don't pull off such a stunt again. Scaring my mom and sister like that wasn't a nice thing to do, that wasn't very mature of you".

"They called me in between council meetings to tell me about you passing out, thankfully I already knew you were faking." He said and kissed my neck.

I heard a loud bang on my head and I quickly turned to look at him. Was he really serious right now? He thought I was faking it???

He called me fainting due to the emotional stress and turmoil he put my wolf and me in a stunt? He thought I'll stoop so low to get the attention of his family?

"Are you being for real right now? You thought I was faking?" I scoffed and glared at him.

"Of course, you were faking. What would make a she wolf as strong as you faint for no reason?" He asked.

He wasn't actually joking, Damian was serious, he was really being dead ass. He actually thought so low of me.

"To answer your question, a she wolf as strong as me can actually faint if she's been facing severe emotional distress caused by her mate." I fired back and turned my back on him.

He didn't say anything else, I didn't know if he was too stunned to speak or irritated by my guts but I didn't look to check if it was either.

I simply closed my eyes and pretended to sleep. He must have thought I was really asleep because he didn't try to touch me again thankfully. 

I woke up the next morning and I turned to the other side of the bed to see that it was empty. From the faint smell of his scent, I could tell he had left a long time ago.

Maybe his lover must have called him again. I sighed.

I freshened up, had my breakfast, and got ready to leave the house. I wanted to get some moonstone jewelry for my mom since she was going to be discharged later today.

She needed it for protection since her wolf was still very fragile. 

I got outside and bumped into Riley waiting for me.

"Riley...what are you doing here?" I asked, looking pleasantly surprised.

I came to help you run some errands, I can see you're going out already so can I tag along? 

I've finished my training today.

"Are you sure? You know you really need to start training more seriously if you actually want to win the Gamma contest. It'll be a blessing if you clinch the title of first female Gamma of our pack." I said and she beamed.

"Trust me Luna, I'm more ready than you can ever imagine." She replied, smiling widely.

Luna..... the title tugged at my heart. The same title I was going to lose in the coming days. 

We left for the market and we were still shopping when a she wolf that looked rather unfamiliar bumped into us.

"I'm so sorry Luna", she rushed to pack the contents that had fallen from her bag and that was when something caught my eye.

It was a watch, clearly Damian's watch, and this she-wolf, she had bumped into me on purpose so I could notice her. This must be the famous Lily. 

"I'm really sorry Luna, I wasn't looking and I just mistakenly bumped into you. You know I was shopping for my pup, he's so precious and I got lost in my motherly role." She said.

I could sense the mockery in her voice but I wasn't going to give her the attention or satisfaction she craved.

"Riley let's go.." I said and meant to leave but she held my hand back.

"I'm really sorry Luna and I just got back to the pack so I'd really love it if we can be friends. My name is Lily, Lily Maxwell." She said offering her hands for a handshake. 

I took one glance at her hands and wriggled free from her grasp. 

"Don't you ever touch me again," I warned.

"You useless bitch seducing my brother wasn't enough for you and now you're trying to harass his mate and Luna." Riley thundered.

"Well, well, well, well. So you knew who I was from the start. I must say you're very good at pretending, Luna." She retorted laughing mockingly.

She stood in front of me and began whispering in my ear. "Since you already know who I am, there's no need to hold back any longer."

"As you know, I am back now with my pup. He's Damian's only son and heir, so I'll advise you to step away and let us be."

"You and I know he doesn't love you, he loves only me and he has been in my bed every single night since I came back."

"He can't seem to get enough of my body, he told me he loves how tight I am and how I grip him nicely. He also said you're very boring in bed and..." 

I pushed her with all my strength before she could complete her words and she came crashing to the floor. 

My eyes were red with anger. Zara was threatening to tear her apart. How dare she come to mock us to our face? 

I raised my hand to slap her but someone stopped me and pushed me violently to the ground.

I raised my head to see it was Damian who pushed me and he looked mad with anger.

"How dare you lay a finger on her" he asked his voice laced with fury.

Ariana 

I looked at the man I called my mate holding another woman and comforting her. He was talking to her and treating her with such kindness and softness I had never experienced from him before.

Even though it really hurts and it breaks my heart, if anything she was right earlier. 

Indeed he didn't love me and she was the love of his life. If it wasn't clear before, it was clear now.

He didn't love me, he pushed me to the ground because of another woman. He didn't help me up and he was comforting another woman right in front of me.

I stood up, dusted my clothes, and tried to leave. I wasn't going to stand here and watch him humiliate me in front of everyone. 

"Don't you dare move. Apologize to Lily." He said and I turned to look at him.

"Apologize to her why? You want me to apologize to your mistress?" I fired back with tears in my eyes.

I couldn't hold it back any longer. I knew she must be happy since I've given her the satisfaction of seeing me cry but I didn't care any longer.

Damian looked confused and almost panicked realizing I had caught on to his infidelity. For a moment I thought he was going to apologize but he didn't.

"Apologize to her, I saw you push her down, that was very rude of you." He said not batting an eyelid.

"Over my dead body. You heard me right, over my dead body will I apologize to your mistress." 

"She harassed me first, she came after me to tell me how you've been banging each other since the day she came back to the pack. I would rather die than apologize to her." I said.

"Is this true?" He asked looking at her lovingly.

"No I didn't, she and Riley came unto me first and attacked me. You clearly saw her push me. She's lying against me." Lily replied and started crying.

"Sshhh, I believe you." He whispered, rocking her back.

I couldn't take it any longer, I couldn't watch them display their love before me. 

"I curse the day I met you," I said and spat at them.

I turned and left with Riley. A large crowd had already formed around us in the market but if I still knew Damian well, I knew nothing that happened here would make it to the news, he valued his reputation that much.

I sent Riley away and went home alone. I needed to be alone. Damian had humiliated me in front of everyone.

He has chosen his mistress over me in Luna in the presence of everyone in the market today. That was a big slap to my face and shame was overwhelming.

My heart was threatening to explode. I couldn't bear the pain any longer. 

My wolf was in agony, she was right to say we should leave before he kills us, because this felt like I was being stabbed with a thousand knives.

"Arrggghhhhhhhhh" I screamed and things came shattering in the room. 

I didn't care about the mess, I only cared about the rejection notice I was going to serve Damian if he got back today.

I rushed to fetch it from where I had hidden it. I couldn't wait any longer, I had to get him to reject me today so he could live happily ever after with his lover.

I needed to get away from him. I no longer wanted to be anywhere near him. 

My hands trembled as I looked at the notice. I was looking at my freedom. I'd be free from this cursed mate bond and this tainted love. 

My phone rang and I picked up without looking to check the caller ID.

"Ari dear, are you fine? Riley told me what happened." Luna Loretta's voice blared into the phone.

"I'm fine mother but I'm seeking a rejection from Damian today. I'm tired of this sham of a marriage and this damned mate bond." I dropped the bombshell and she gasped.

"Please Ari, don't do anything rash, think this through." She pleaded.

"My decision is final Mom and the only reason this has been delayed this far is because I'm constrained by the blood oath. I'm seeking a rejection from Damian today." I responded and dropped the call before she could respond further. 

I sat on the floor crying for hours before I picked myself up and went to shower. 

I arranged the house since it was a mess and packed away the broken glass on the floor. 

"It doesn't have to be messy, I'd just make a clean break from him and we'll go our separate ways. He'd be grateful I'm giving him a chance to be a family with Lily and their pup." I told myself.

After a long while I heard the door to our bedroom open and he walked in gracefully. 

He didn't say anything to me and I didn't say anything either.

I was actually now nervous to bring up anything about rejection. 

"What you did in the market today was very disgraceful. It doesn't say well about you as a Luna. As my mate and Luna, you must learn how to conduct yourself properly outside."

"I already had my men clean up your mess but never repeat such disgrace ever again." He warned. 

"Your mother is out of the hospital, Ryker and I helped her settle in." He said after I didn't respond.

I heaved a sigh of relief. Now that I knew my mom was out of harm's way, I wasn't scared of anything.

"I bought you your favorite chocolate." He said and handed it to me. I collected it but I didn't open it.

"Who was that woman today? The one you held so lovingly in front of me, your mate." I questioned and he froze. 

"She's no one you should be worried about, come here." He cooed and tried to kiss me but I dodged it. 

I pulled away from his embrace and brought out the rejection notice placing it right in his palms.

"Damian, I want a rejection. This is the rejection notice, reject me and free me from this torment." I requested and his eyes darkened.