Rebecca, with a distinct air of displeasure, raised her brow at Alpha Luciano, who attempted to justify himself after being cornered about his recent nuptials.
"Luciano, five long years, and you couldn't summon the patience to wait for me?" Rebecca scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain as she glared at him, clearly unimpressed by his hurried plunge into matrimony.
The Alpha, attempting to salvage the remnants of their strained connection, fumbled through an explanation. "Rebecca, you have to understand—I was under intense pressure from the elders. The circumstances were not in my control."
Rebecca, far from mollified, retorted, "Pressure or not, five years of commitment, and this is how you repay me? Marrying someone else a few days ago? Seriously?"
The revelation hung heavily in the air, Rebecca's disbelief transforming into an accusation. "Did you sleep with her? Tell me!" she demanded, her eyes drilling into Alpha Luciano
Alpha Luciano, reluctantly admitting his transgressions, stammered out, "Yes, on a few occasions."
Rebecca's disappointment was palpable. She took a step back, processing the betrayal. "Can you even hear yourself? You've shattered the very foundation of our relationship by being with someone else. How could you do this to us?" Her voice, a mix of hurt and anger, echoed through the space between them.
She narrowed her eyebrows, creating an atmosphere charged with tension. "I didn't expect this," she hisssd.
"I'm sorry, Rebecca. What should I do?" He questioned, and she looked at him.
"You know the answer. There can't be more than one Luna. It's either you choose me or that other person," she uttered.
"Don't make this hard on me," he pleaded, trying to hold her hands.
"Do you love her?" She questioned, noticing Katherine hiding behind the door. "Tell me the truth, Luci"
"I don't. I've never felt anything called 'love' for any wolf or human except you. You're the reason I'm alive, your touch," he held her shoulder, looked into her eyes, and kissed her deeply. "I can't do without them," he whispered.
"Then, kick her out," Rebecca responded.
"I can't, not when I've presented her to the moon goddess," he excused, but Alpha Lucinao couldn't fully restrain himself. A part of him was happy Rebecca was back, while another part yearned for Katherine's touch.
"Luci," she groaned, feeling annoyed.
"It's okay. I'll make sure she doesn't cross her limit," he assured, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. She smiled in return.
"I missed you so badly." He tightened the hug.
"Rebecca, my heart has always belonged to you," he confessed, gazing into her eyes with sincerity.
She softened, a hint of doubt lingering in her expression. "Then prove it. Make a choice – me or Katherine."
He sighed, torn between duty and desire. "I can't abandon her, but I won't let her come between us."
Rebecca pulled away slightly, studying his conflicted face. "If you're truly mine, find a way to resolve this."
"I will, for us," he promised, determined to mend the fractures in their relationship.
As Katherine turned away, an unexpected cascade of tears streamed down her cheeks, prompting a deep exhale. "Why am I even crying?" she pondered, sniffing in and wiping away her tears as she strolled away. Unluckily, she collided with a maid who ended up on the floor.
"Ouch! Oh my goodness, my dress," the maid exclaimed, inspecting her stained attire.
Concerned, Katherine inquired, "Are you okay?" The maid looked up.
"Luna, I'm deeply sorry. I should have been more careful," the maid apologized, standing up and lowering her gaze.
"It's alright. I should be the one apologizing," Katherine reassured him.
The maid sighed, "It's alright, just that the First Lady is going to be mad at me for not serving her food at the right time."
Understanding the predicament, Katherine empathised, "Why don't I help you out? By the way, what's your name?"
"I'm Matilda," the maid replied.
"Alright, you can go and change while I help you deliver," Katherine suggested.
"Thank you so much, Luna. You are really a kind woman," Matilda expressed gratitude, bowing as Katherine smiled before she left.
Left alone, Matilda muttered, "So naive and stupid," as she noticed Katherine's departure.
As Katherine navigated her way to the First Lady's Villa, an unsettling mixture of nerves and emptiness lingered within her. Politely, she knocked on the grand entrance, and the door creaked open to reveal the maid , who promptly bowed.
"Hello, this is for the First Lady," Katherine handed the tray of food to the maid, who nodded in acknowledgment.
"Luna" She bowed and Katherine smiled.
"Thank you very much, but where is this from?" the maid inquired.
"It's from Matilda, a maid here, I believe," Katherine replied.
"Matilda? I've never heard of such. Anyway, I appreciate it, Luna," the maid said before disappearing behind the closed door.
Katherine exhaled, her thoughts returning to the complex emotions stirred by witnessing Alpha Luciano's kiss with Rebecca. "Why soften my heart when he knows he doesn't love me? He's a jerk!" She rolled her eyes and walked away, leaving the scene behind.
Meanwhile, back in the First Lady's Villa, the maid served the dishes in the dining room. As the First Lady descended the grand staircase, she inhaled deeply, savoring the aroma.
"I love the smell of this," she declared, taking her seat and nonchalantly placing her phone on the table.
"I heard the old Luna has returned after five years," she chuckled. "Strange, isn't it?" she mused while beginning to eat.
"According to the rumors, the old Luna is not human," the maid whispered into the First Lady's ear, eliciting widened eyes.
"What?" The First Lady's eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and fear. "Tell me more about it."
"Well, you know, she smells of blood and decayed bodies," the maid disclosed, and the First Lady nodded while continuing to eat.
"This is strange. What if she's a ghost?" The First Lady's imagination ran wild.
"Ghost?" The maid chuckled slightly. "There's no such thing as a ghost, Milady."
The maid watched as the first lady ate and when she gulped down the drink served alongside the dish. She cleared her throat, feeling itchy and dry.
"Get me water" She coughed out and the maid rushed to get water from the fridge.
When she returned, the first lady quickly gulped down everything, but yet her throat felt really dry and itchy.
"Ah! My throat hurts!" She screamed loudly, falling on the ground. "Water! get me water now!"
The maid frantically rushed to fetch more water, her hands trembling with fear. The dimly lit room cast eerie shadows as the first lady writhed on the floor in agony, her screams echoing through the empty halls.
The maid's pleas for help intensified, reverberating with desperation as she realized the chilling silence that surrounded her. "Someone, please help! Milady is in pain!" Her voice quivered, echoing through the desolate mansion.
"Help me..." she gasped, crawling desperately towards her maids.
"Anna, I'm terrified. What if someone discovers this?" whimpered the youngest maid, earning a stern glare from her companion.
"Nobody will find out. Besides, Luna was the one who served the meal. End of story," chuckled Anna, the elder maid.
Amidst the chaos, the first lady's transformation commenced, her bones crunching and morphing into unimaginable shapes.
"Help!" The first lady transformed into an unsightly creature, her flesh rapidly drying up.
"Shut it already," Anna hissed, wielding the table to strike her head, forcefully propelling her out through the window.
"Ah!" The maids downstairs shrieked loudly at the sight of the first lady's lifeless body. The chilling aftermath left them paralyzed with fear.
The maids rushed out, panic etched on their faces, and as they stumbled over each other in shock, Alpha Lucinao appeared on the scene.
"What happened?" Alpha Luciano inquired as he entered the chaotic scene.
The maids frantically explained, recounting how Luna Katherine had delivered the poisoned food, and they, unaware of its deadly nature, unwittingly gave it to the First Lady.
Alpha Luciano's gaze narrowed as he listened to the maids' account. Shifting his attention to the senior maid, Anna, he inquired, "Is this accurate?"
Anna hesitated, fear taking hold of her. "Yes, Alpha. Luna Katherine persuaded us it was harmless. We had no inkling."
A fierce growl emanated from Luciano's chest. "Guards, locate Luna Katherine and bring her to me," he commanded.
The guards swiftly moved to carry out the Alpha's directive.
As the guards escorted Luna Katherine onto the scene, she quivered at the sight of the First Lady's emaciated, skeletal figure.
"What happened?" Katherine stammered, realizing the gravity of her situation.
"What happened? Really? After taking someone's life, you have the audacity to pose such a question?" Rebecca scoffed, delivering a severe slap across Katherine's cheek.
"Rebecca!" Alpha Luciano retorted sharply, but she defied him with a roll of her eyes.
"What happened? Clarify the situation for me immediately!" he demanded, his voice thunderous. However, Katherine could only muster tears and a trembling body.
"I... It was Matilda, the maid. She requested food and drink from me!"
"Lies! There is no such person," Anna shot back, her words slicing through the tense atmosphere. Katherine opened and closed her mouth, unable to articulate a coherent response.
"I didn't do it! Please, I would never commit such an act," Katherine pleaded desperately.
"Clean up the mess, Katherine, return to your room. You're not allowed to step an inch until I say so", he ordered, leaving.
"Just watch, I will get rid of you" Rebecca warned, leaving as well.
Katherine, still crying, returned to her room. She shut the door and went to take a bath. The scene couldn't leave her head.
"I didn't do it" She cuddled herself in the bathroom, crying out loud.
ALPHA LUCIANO'S VILLA
Why? Why didn't you remove her or, even better, punish her?" Rebecca exclaimed as she entered Alpha Luciano's room.
"Because she's not just anyone, she's Luna," he replied, and Rebecca scoffed.
"I'm Luna, I'm your wife, and anyone else is a counterfeit," she barked.
"This is not the time for this, okay? I need to think, and the best thing you can do is give me space or..."
"Or what? Disappear once more?" A tear rolled down her eyes. "You're the reason I suddenly disappeared. It's because you never truly loved me!" She yelled.
"I loved you. I yearned for your touch every passing day—morning, afternoon, and night! No one under the sun and moon could ever replace you. That's how madly I'm in love with you," he said, and tears streamed down Rebecca's cheek.
"Then let Katherine go! Is it that hard? You're the Alpha, for crying out loud! A king! No law is greater than a king!" She retorted.
"It's not as easy as you think. Rebecca, please, please take it easy on me!" He held her hands and kissed them slowly.
Rebecca's anger softened, her eyes meeting his. "But you have to understand, my love, this pain is tearing me apart. I need you to make things right."
"Do you think she's the one who poisoned the First Lady? I mean, what's your plan?" Rebecca inquired.
"I'm not certain at the moment, but I'll investigate and find out," he assured her.
Rebecca leaned in, her eyes searching his. "You need to get to the bottom of this. If she's responsible, there must be consequences."
He nodded solemnly. "I won't let any wrongdoing go unpunished, Rebecca. I promise you that."
"I'm hungry". She pouted her lip and Alpha Lucinao smiled.
"What would you like to have?"
"Let's eat outside, I'm tired of eating here in the pack" She hissed, while Alpha Luciano held her waist, his eyes on her deep blue eyes.
"Don't ever disappear from me again". He kissed her forehead and she nodded.
"I would never do such a thing, every living day was hell to me. I can't imagine not seeing your face and smile". She cupped his face.