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Chapter 3: A New Luna

-Brendon-

Something wasn’t right. I had never liked Celeste’s mate, but it was hard to fight against a true bond. Not even her brother had said anything, though we were all worried when she informed us about finding her mate in Zack Evans. He had always been an arrogant alpha, and we could not understand how someone as kind as Celeste could ever find her mate in him. Nonetheless, this is how things are now. However, the look on her brother’s face made my heart beat with worry.

“What?” I asked after he had escorted his sister out and watched her drive away. She was not happy, which was understandable, but I needed some answers too.

“My father knows nothing of the meeting,” Jason informed me.

“Nothing?”

“There isn’t supposed to be one.”

“I don’t understand,” I said as we spoke in the entrance, away from the others.

“I don’t either. That’s why we need to investigate.”

“And… Celeste?” I asked, glancing at the door, feeling even more worried.

As I turned back, I saw Jason looking at me with a smile.

“What?” I snarled.

“Trust me, I had hoped you two were mates as well, but that did not turn out that way.”

I groaned.

“Why are we even discussing that? She is an annoying little wolf who listens to no one,” I snarled, yet I tried to ignore the disappointment I always felt remembering Celeste never turned out to be mine.

“I won’t argue against that,” Jason chuckled before patting my arm. “But we will have to leave Celeste out for a while for now.”

“She won’t give up that easily.”

“I can’t let her know yet. If her mate is planning to expand without other alphas knowledge, you know what that means.”

“War?”

“Most likely, and you know who always pays in wars. It is always the innocent.”

“Does that mean we might have to go get her without Zack’s knowledge?” I asked, yet we could both hear the hopeful tone in my voice.

“Perhaps. But for now, we will lie low.”

“Someone should keep an eye on her,” I demanded.

“We can’t. She doesn’t live with us anymore. Under the old laws, she is Zack’s to protect. We just have to be patient.”

While I normally wouldn’t have a problem being patient, I felt very concerned for Celeste. I truly hoped we could save her from whatever plans her mate had.

-Celeste-

I was more than frustrated. I thought my brother might let a few days go by before he informed me about his weird behavior and what he had spoken to our dad about. Instead, almost two weeks had passed, and it wasn’t just my brother who was acting strange. Zack had been gone all morning, been more distant, and when we did talk, he seemed snappy. I didn’t know what to think, but I certainly wanted an answer. So one morning, after I had gotten dressed, I asked around to hear if he was home. To my luck, some pack members informed me that he was working in his office on the highest floor.

I walked there, feeling a bit anxious. We had never had problems, and if we had any fights, we were always able to talk about them and quickly work them out. This time, everything was so confusing. Zack hadn’t let me know what was bothering him, and I couldn’t figure out if his sour mood had anything to do with me.

It made my hands clammy.

Do not worry. He must be stressed, my wolf tried to assure me.

“He has been stressed before. He has never acted this way.”

He is our mate. The moment we talk about things, everything will go back to normal.

I truly hoped she was right. I didn’t want there to be anything bad between us we couldn’t work it out. So I continued onto the next floor, walking down the hallway, and slowly crept closer to the dark brown door that led into his office. However, I stopped right in front of it, taking deep breaths.

What are you waiting for? my wolf asked.

“What if I am interrupting?” I whispered.

Why would you be? We just want to talk.

“He has been acting so weird,” I reminded her.

Which is why we have come to talk. Just open the door.

I sighed, taking another deep breath, then reached for the handle. But the moment my skin touched it, I heard something. It made me freeze once more as I held my breath and tried to listen for the sound again.

Did you hear that? my wolf asked.

I did, but I didn’t answer her. Instead, I continued to hold my breath as I waited for the sound again—it happened. Another giggle echoed from the other side of the door. I didn’t want to draw a fast conclusion, but everything in me screamed something wasn’t right.

Open the fucking door! my wolf growled in my head, shifting suddenly to pure fury.

“Why?” I whispered.

Open the door, right now!

I didn’t understand her sudden change, but I did as she commanded me and opened the door. To my shock, I saw another she-wolf in there. A very beautiful one was coming around the table, nearing Zack. However, as I opened the door, she heard me and turned to me, a cruel smile spreading on her lips. Zack turned as well, seeing me standing there, yet he looked more surprised.

“Celeste,” he said, yet his voice was cold.

“What is going on?” I asked.

He sighed, looking as if he had trouble finding the words.

“So this is your other mate?” the she-wolf asked.

“Other?” I questioned, glancing at her before focusing on Zack, but he did not meet my eyes. “Zack, what is going on?”

He sighed, but then the she-wolf came closer to him, placing her slender hand on his shoulder. I growled, but it was quickly cut short as I saw him placing his hand over hers. That small gesture was like a knife cutting into my heart.

“Zack?” I called.

“Some changes are going to be made, Celeste,” he informed me.

“Changes?”

“If this pack will ever have a shot at being great, it can’t be dragged down by a no-good luna.”

“W-What?” I stammered, feeling so confused.

“You will learn to share.”

“Share?” I exclaimed.

“I cannot get rid of you because of our true bond, but I need a better luna by my side.”

“What are you talking about?” I shouted.

“Celeste, this is Serena, and she will be my new luna.”

It felt as if the world crumbled beneath my feet, and I began shaking my head.

“I am your luna!” I shouted.

“You are, but you will no longer have any control over this pack or me. I have already arranged for a new room to be set up for you, and we will slowly be working less and less together.

“Zack! We are mates!”

“Unfortunately, but I cannot let you drag me down anymore,” he told me, my heart breaking into pieces as tears filled my eyes.

“W-What?”

“You’re dragging me down. No more.”

I shook my head, not understanding anything. I wanted to scream, hit something, and yell, but instead, I turned on my heel and stormed out of there, finding the nearest door to let my wolf free, so I could try to outrun the pain in my heart.

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