Vera

Kara, a tall woman with a scar across her jaw and muscles that could probably snap me in half, raised an eyebrow. "You want to train? No offense, Luna, but you're human. You'll get hurt."

"Then I'll heal and train again." I met her gaze steadily, channeling every ounce of the false confidence I'd felt in Darius's office. "Unless you're saying that Luna isn't strong enough to train with her own pack?"

It was a challenge, and everyone knew it. Around us, the other females had stopped their exercises to watch.

Kara's lips curved into a slow smile. "Alright, Luna. Let's see what you've got." She gestured to the sparring circle. "Basic self-defense. Show me how you'd handle an attack from behind."

My heart was pounding as I stepped into the circle. I had no idea what I was doing. I'd never thrown a punch in my life, never learned to fight. But I was tired of being helpless. Tired of being the weak link.

Kara moved behind me, and I felt her presence like a weight. "Someone grabs you from behind. What do you do?"

Before I could answer, her arm wrapped around my throat in a chokehold.

Panic flooded through me. I clawed at her arm uselessly, my vision already starting to blur.

"Wrong," Kara said calmly, releasing me. I stumbled forward, gasping. "You freeze up. You panic. That'll get you killed." She moved back into position. "Again. This time, think. Where are your attacker's weak points?"

We went again. And again. And again.

By the tenth time, I was covered in bruises and my throat was raw. But I'd managed to stomp on Kara's instep hard enough to make her grunt, and when she'd loosened her hold for just a second, I'd driven my elbow back into her ribs.

It wasn't much. But it was something.

"Better," Kara said, and there was approval in her voice. "You're learning. Maya, you're up next. Show the Luna the proper stance for blocking."

For the next hour, I trained. I was terrible at it. Slow and clumsy and weak compared to the female wolves who moved like lethal dancers. But I didn't quit. Even when my muscles screamed. Even when I could feel Selene's eyes boring into my back.

Even when I looked up and saw Darius standing at the edge of the training grounds, watching me with an expression I couldn't read.

Our eyes met across the distance. I didn't look away. Didn't stop. I let Maya correct my stance, listened to Kara's instructions, and threw another punch at the training dummy.

I might not be a wolf. Might not have supernatural strength or speed or any of the advantages the others had.

But I could be strong in other ways.

And for the first time since I'd arrived at Shadowcrest, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I deserved to be here.

When the training session finally ended, I was limping, covered in sweat and dirt, and pretty sure I'd pulled something in my shoulder. But I felt more alive than I had in months.

Kara clapped me on the back hard enough to nearly knock me over. "Not bad, Luna. You've got guts, I'll give you that. Same time tomorrow?"

"Same time tomorrow," I agreed.

As the other females dispersed, I finally let myself look at where Darius had been standing.

He was gone.

But Selene remained, watching me with an expression that was equal parts guilt and something else. Jealousy, maybe?

Good.

I walked past her without a word, my head held high despite the pain radiating through every muscle.

Three months. I had three months to prove that I belonged here. Three months to become the Luna this pack deserved.

And if, at the end of it all, Darius still chose Selene?

Well, at least I'd know I'd fought for it.

At least I'd know I'd finally fought for myself.

I woke up the next morning feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.

Every muscle in my body screamed in protest as I tried to sit up. My shoulders were stiff, my legs were sore, and there was a particularly nasty bruise blooming across my ribs where I'd taken an elbow during training.

But beneath the pain, I felt... alive.

For the first time in six months, I'd done something for myself. Something that had nothing to do with trying to win Darius's approval or competing with Selene. I'd trained because I wanted to be stronger. Because I was tired of being weak.

I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom, wincing with every step. The hot shower helped, but not much. By the time I was dressed, practical training clothes instead of the soft dresses I usually wore, I could barely lift my arms.

This was going to be a long three months.

I made my way downstairs, dreading another encounter with Selene. But the dining room was empty except for a few pack members grabbing breakfast before heading out for patrol. They nodded at me respectfully, which was new. Apparently word had spread about yesterday's training session.

I was pouring coffee when I heard his voice behind me.

"You're limping."

I turned slowly. Darius stood in the doorway, dressed for a run in athletic pants and a fitted shirt that showed off every carved muscle. His hair was damp, like he'd just showered, and his gray eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made my breath catch.

"Good morning to you too," I said, proud that my voice didn't shake.

"You overdid it yesterday." It wasn't a question. He moved closer, and I caught his scent-pine and rain and something wild that made my wolf mark tingle. "Kara said you trained for over an hour. You're human, Vera. You can't keep up with wolves."

"Watch me." I took a sip of coffee, meeting his gaze over the rim of my cup. "I'll be at training again this afternoon."

His jaw tightened. "You're going to hurt yourself."

"That's my problem, not yours." The words came out sharper than I intended. "Or have you forgotten? You want a divorce. What I do with my body is no longer your concern."

Vera

Something flashed in his eyes. Anger? Frustration? I couldn't tell.

"For the next three months, you're still my wife," he said, his voice dropping to that Alpha tone that usually made wolves drop their heads in submission. "That makes your safety my concern."

"Then maybe you should have thought about my safety these past six months." I set down my coffee cup with enough force to make it clink against the saucer. "Maybe you should have thought about it before you marked me and then left me to figure out pack life on my own. Before you paraded your affair with my sister in front of the entire pack. Before you made me feel like I was invisible in my own home."

The words hung between us, sharp and cutting.

Darius's expression was unreadable. "Vera..."

"Save it." I picked up my coffee and moved to walk past him. "I have things to do. Luna things. Since you finally decided to let me act like one."

He caught my arm as I passed, his grip gentle but firm. The touch sent electricity through me, the incomplete bond flaring to life. I saw him feel it too, the way his eyes darkened, the slight intake of breath.

"Let go of me," I said quietly.

"Not until you listen." His thumb brushed against my inner wrist, right over my pulse. Could he feel how fast my heart was racing? "I know I haven't been... fair to you. I know these six months have been difficult."

"Difficult?" I laughed, the sound bitter. "Darius, you broke me. Every single day, you broke me a little more. And the worst part? I let you. I made excuses for you. Told myself you were just stressed, just adjusting, just..." My voice cracked. "But you weren't any of those things. You were just cruel."

He flinched like I'd struck him. "I never meant..."

"Yes, you did." I pulled my arm free. "You meant every cold look, every dismissal, every moment you chose her over me. So don't stand here now and pretend you didn't know what you were doing. You knew exactly what you were doing. You just didn't care."

I walked away before he could respond, my hands shaking so badly I had to set down the coffee cup before I spilled it.

Behind me, I heard him say something under his breath. It sounded like my name. But I didn't turn around.

I couldn't.

I spent the morning in the pack's administrative office, going through files that Elder Moira had told me I should have been managing all along. Financial reports. Territory boundaries. Alliance agreements with neighboring packs.

It was overwhelming. And infuriating.

Because all of this, all of this should have been explained to me months ago. Instead, Darius had shut me out of every important decision, every meeting, every aspect of actually running the pack.

I was neck-deep in a particularly confusing treaty document when someone knocked on the office door.

"Come in," I called, not looking up.

"Well, well. Look at you, all officials."

I glanced up to find Kara leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.

"Elder Moira gave me about a thousand things to catch up on," I said, gesturing at the mountain of papers. "Apparently I've been neglecting my duties."

"You've been neglecting them because a certain Alpha has been keeping you in the dark." Kara walked in and sat on the edge of the desk. "Don't beat yourself up about it. Most of us assumed he was filling you in during your private time together. It wasn't until recently that we realized he wasn't spending any time with you at all."

Heat crept up my neck. Of course the pack knew. They probably all knew about the unconsummated marriage, the separate bedrooms, everything.

How humiliating.

"I'm surprised you're all still speaking to me," I muttered. "I'm sure I'm the laughingstock of Shadowcrest."

"Are you kidding?" Kara snorted. "Vera, half the females in this pack want to be you right now."

I stared at her. "Why?"

"Because you're finally standing up for yourself. Because you walked into that training ground yesterday and demanded respect instead of waiting for someone to give it to you. Because..." Kara leaned forward, her voice dropping. "Because you're the first person in four years who's made Alpha Darius look rattled."

"Rattled?"

"Completely unhinged." Kara grinned. "He came to training this morning, he never comes to morning training, and he was distracted the entire time. Snapped at three different wolves for minor mistakes. Then he shifted and ran into the woods for two hours. When he came back, he looked like he'd been fighting ghosts."

I tried to ignore the small flutter of satisfaction in my chest. "That doesn't mean anything. He's probably just annoyed that I'm making things difficult."

"Maybe." Kara's eyes glinted with amusement. "Or maybe he's finally realizing what he's been throwing away."

Before I could respond, another knock sounded at the door. This time, it was one of the younger pack members, a boy who couldn't have been more than sixteen.

"Luna," he said, slightly breathless. "Elder Moira asked me to tell you that Alpha Kieran from Ashwood Pack has arrived for his visit. He's asking to meet with you."

My stomach dropped. Ashwood Pack. That was the pack from the neighboring territory, the one we had that complicated alliance with. And Alpha Kieran...

I'd met him once, briefly, at a pack gathering three months ago. He'd been kind. Warm. Had actually treated me like a person instead of an inconvenience.

"Why does he want to meet with me?" I asked.

The boy shrugged. "He said something about discussing the upcoming Summit. Elder Moira said you should meet him in the formal receiving room."

I looked at Kara, who was trying very hard not to laugh.

"What?" I demanded.

"Nothing. Just... this should be interesting." She stood and headed for the door. "For what it's worth, Luna? Kieran's a good Alpha. Fair. Honest. And he's been unmated for three years since his Luna died. The pack gossip is that he's finally ready to start looking again.”

Vera

Oh no.

"Kara..."

"Have fun!" She disappeared before I could protest.

I took a deep breath, smoothed down my shirt, and headed for the formal receiving room.

This was fine. It was just a political meeting. Nothing to worry about.

Except when I opened the door, I found not just Alpha Kieran waiting for me, but Darius as well, standing on the opposite side of the room with his arms crossed and murder in his eyes.

And Kieran, tall and golden-haired with warm hazel eyes, smiled when he saw me like I'd just made his entire day.

"Luna Vera," he said, his voice rich and genuinely pleased. "You look well. I was hoping we'd have a chance to talk."

Behind him, I heard Darius make a sound that was almost a growl.

This was going to be a disaster.

"Alpha Kieran," I said, forcing a smile. "Welcome to Shadowcrest. It's... good to see you again."

And as I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me, I couldn't help but think:

Three months suddenly felt like a very long time.

The tension in the formal receiving room was thick enough to choke on.

I stood just inside the doorway, acutely aware of both Alphas watching me. Kieran with open warmth and interest. Darius barely contained hostility that seemed to roll off him in waves.

"I apologize for the impromptu visit," Kieran said, his easy smile never faltering despite the death glare Darius was giving him. "I was passing through the territory on my way to the Summit planning committee and thought I'd stop by to discuss the seating arrangements."

"Seating arrangements," Darius repeated, his voice flat. "That's what you came here to discuss."

"Among other things." Kieran's gaze shifted to me, and something in his expression softened. "I also wanted to check on Luna Vera. The last time we met, she seemed... uncomfortable. I wanted to make sure she was settling in well."

Three months ago, at that pack gathering, I'd been a mess. Barely holding myself together, trying to smile while Darius spent the entire evening at Selene's side. Kieran had found me hiding in a garden, close to tears, and had sat with me for twenty minutes. Just talking. Being kind.

I hadn't realized he'd noticed how miserable I was.

"I'm fine," I said, moving further into the room. "Thank you for your concern, Alpha Kieran."

"Please, just Kieran." He gestured to the seating area, plush chairs arranged around a low table. "And I hope you'll join us for this discussion. The Summit seating is partially your responsibility as Luna."

I glanced at Darius, expecting him to dismiss me like he usually did. But his jaw was clenched so tight I was surprised his teeth didn't crack, and he gave a sharp nod.

"Of course," he bit out. "My Luna is involved in all pack business."

The lie was so blatant I almost laughed. But I kept my expression neutral and took a seat. Kieran sat across from me, and Darius positioned himself between us, his body language screaming possession and warning.

It would have been flattering if it wasn't so hypocritical.

"So," Kieran pulled out a document from the leather bag he'd brought. "The Summit is in six weeks. All regional Alphas will attend, along with their Lunas. The seating arrangement is critical for maintaining pack alliances and preventing conflicts."

He spread the document on the table, a detailed seating chart with dozens of names I didn't recognize.

"Traditionally, the host pack, Nightshade, this year sits at the head table with their closest allies. Shadowcrest is listed here..." he pointed to a spot near the center, "...along with Ashwood, Ironbark, and Silverpine."

I leaned forward, studying the chart. "Why are we positioned between Ironbark and Silverpine? Aren't they rivals?"

Both Alphas looked at me with surprise.

"You know about the Ironbark-Silverpine conflict?" Kieran asked.

"I've been reading through the alliance documents this morning." I tapped the chart. "Three years ago, Silverpine accused Ironbark of poaching on their hunting grounds. The dispute was supposedly settled, but according to the treaty notes, there's still tension. Putting them at the same table seems like asking for trouble."

Kieran's smile widened. "I'm impressed. You're absolutely right." He glanced at Darius. "Your Luna has a good eye for politics."

Darius said nothing, but I could feel his gaze burning into me.

"What would you suggest?" Kieran asked, directing the question to me, not Darius.

I studied the chart, thinking. "Move Silverpine to the secondary table, next to Moonridge. They have a positive trade relationship. Put the Redwood Pack between Shadowcrest and Ironbark instead, they're neutral with everyone."

"Smart." Kieran made notes on the document. "That could actually work. Darius, what do you think?"

"Fine." Darius's voice was clipped. "Is that all?"

"Not quite." Kieran set down his pen and looked directly at me again. "There's also the matter of the Luna's Council meeting. It happens the day before the main Summit. All Lunas gather separately to discuss pack welfare, territory concerns, things of that nature."

My heart skipped. "I didn't know there was a Luna's Council."

"Most young Lunas don't, their first year." Kieran's expression turned gentle. "It can be intimidating. The older Lunas have been leading their packs for decades. But I think you'd find it valuable. My sister usually attends as Ashwood's representative since I'm unmated. She mentioned she'd be happy to introduce you to the other Lunas if you'd like."

It was such a simple offer. Such a kind gesture.

And it made me realize, with painful clarity, that Darius had never once offered to help me navigate pack politics. Never introduced me properly to other Alphas. Never even told me about the Luna's Council.

"I'd like that," I said quietly. "Thank you."

"Excellent. I'll have Lyssa reach out to you." Kieran gathered his papers. "I should get going. I have two more packs to visit before the planning committee meeting tonight." He stood, and I rose with him. "Luna Vera, it was a pleasure. As always."

He took my hand and brought it to his lips, a  formal gesture, nothing inappropriate. But the way Darius shot to his feet made it clear he didn't see it that way.

"Kieran," Darius said, his voice carrying a clear warning. "A word. Outside."

Kieran's eyes glinted with amusement. "Of course, Alpha Blackthorn."

They left me standing in the receiving room, and I heard their voices carry from the hallway, too low to make out words, but the tone was unmistakable. Darius was furious.

I was still standing there, trying to process what had just happened, when the door opened again.

But it wasn't Darius or Kieran who walked in.

It was Selene.

She looked perfect, as always. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders in glossy waves, and she wore a dress I recognized, one of the expensive ones from the pack house collection, the kind Darius had told me I could wear whenever I wanted but somehow they always looked better on her. But there was something sharp in her expression today, something calculating.

"So," she said, closing the door behind her with a soft click. "Kieran Ashwood. Interesting."

"Selene..."

"Don't." She held up a hand, but there was no guilt in her gesture. No apology. "I'm not here to fight with you, Vera. I'm here to talk. Sister to sister."

"We're not sisters anymore," I said quietly. "Not really. Not after everything."

"We'll always be sisters. Blood doesn't change." She moved closer, and I saw the determination in her eyes. "And because I'm your sister, I'm going to be honest with you. You're making a mistake."

I almost laughed. "I'm making a mistake? I'm not the one sleeping with someone else's husband."