My True Luna

Lyra stared at the necklace around Selene's throat.

For five years, she had imagined wearing it.

Not because it was beautiful.

Not because the ancient silver was worth more than most wolves would earn in a lifetime.

But because Darius had once held that necklace before her and said, "Only the Luna of Blackthorn will wear this."

Back then, Lyra had been foolish enough to hear a promise in those words.

Now the necklace rested against another woman's skin.

Selene touched the crescent pendant with two fingers.

"You've been staring for quite some time."

Lyra finally lifted her gaze.

"Take it off."

Selene's eyebrows rose.

"What?"

"You heard me."

For the first time, Selene's smile slipped.

Then amusement replaced it.

"You really don't know."

A cold sensation crept down Lyra's spine.

"Know what?"

Selene stepped closer.

She wore a floor-length crimson gown, the traditional color worn by a woman about to be presented to a pack.

Lyra had noticed the dress when she'd entered.

She simply hadn't allowed herself to understand it.

"The council meeting ended two hours ago," Selene said. "The elders approved the alliance."

"What alliance?"

"Blackthorn and Ashford."

Lyra's heart gave a hard thump.

Ashford.

Selene's maternal family controlled three of the southern trade routes. They had money, warriors, and enough political influence to turn a minor Alpha into a powerful one.

Darius didn't need their strength.

Blackthorn was already powerful.

But the southern council seat...

Lyra remembered Darius mentioning it weeks ago.

She swallowed.

"That doesn't explain why you're wearing his mother's necklace."

"His mother's?"

Selene laughed softly.

"Oh, Lyra."

The pity in those two words cut deeper than mockery.

"That necklace doesn't belong to Darius's mother. It belongs to the Luna of Blackthorn."

"I know."

"Do you?"

Lyra's wolf stirred beneath her skin.

Enough.

She had endured Selene's little games for years. The accidental touches whenever Darius was nearby. The private jokes. The stories about the childhood Lyra hadn't shared with him.

Lyra had ignored all of it.

Because she was Darius's mate.

The Moon Goddess herself had chosen them.

Whatever Selene wanted couldn't change that.

Lyra stepped forward.

"Darius gave you permission to wear it?"

"He didn't stop me."

"That isn't what I asked."

Selene's eyes hardened.

Then she smiled again.

"Why don't you ask him tonight?"

"I will."

"Good."

Selene moved to walk past her.

Lyra caught her wrist.

Selene looked down at her hand.

"Don't touch me."

"Then answer me."

The music from the ceremonial hall drifted through the corridor.

Hundreds of wolves were already gathering downstairs.

Tonight was supposed to mark Darius's fifth year as Alpha.

Lyra had spent weeks preparing for it.

She had selected the flowers.

Approved the guest list.

Negotiated personally with three neighboring packs when two Alphas threatened not to attend.

She hadn't done any of that because she wanted recognition.

She had done it because Blackthorn was Darius's life.

And Darius was hers.

Or so she had believed.

"What happens tonight?" Lyra asked.

Selene slowly removed Lyra's fingers from her wrist.

"The council expects Darius to announce our union."

Silence.

Lyra actually waited for her to laugh.

To admit it was another cruel joke.

Selene didn't.

Lyra's wolf surged violently.

Mate.

The word echoed through her.

Mate.

Darius was hers.

She could feel him even now, somewhere in the enormous estate.

The faint pull beneath her ribs hadn't disappeared.

A political union?

Impossible.

"He wouldn't."

Selene tilted her head.

"No?"

"No."

"How certain are you?"

"Completely."

Something flickered through Selene's expression.

Almost satisfaction.

"That's what makes this so embarrassing."

Lyra's nails bit into her palms.

"Darius would have told me."

"Perhaps he tried."

"He didn't."

"Then perhaps he didn't believe you needed to know."

The blow landed cleanly.

Lyra hated herself for feeling it.

Selene saw that.

Of course she did.

"You're lying."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

Lyra stepped closer until only inches separated them.

"My relationship with Darius is none of your concern. Whatever fantasy you've created because the council wants Ashford support ends tonight."

She reached toward the necklace.

Selene caught her hand before she could touch it.

Her smile vanished.

"Be careful."

Lyra looked at Selene's fingers around her wrist.

"Or what?"

For several seconds, neither woman moved.

Then Selene released her.

"You've always been strange, Lyra. You barely have a family name. No influential bloodline. No territory. No army. Yet you've walked around Blackthorn House for five years as though you're already Luna."

Lyra's jaw tightened.

"I never asked anyone to treat me as Luna."

"No. You simply performed the duties while waiting for Darius to give you the title."

Selene leaned closer.

"Didn't you?"

Lyra couldn't answer.

Because that was too close to the truth.

She and Darius had found each other five years ago.

She had expected him to announce their mate bond within weeks.

Then his father died.

Darius became Alpha.

There were border wars. Council disputes. Rogue attacks.

Every time the subject of formally recognizing her arose, there was another crisis.

Wait for me, Lyra.

Just a little longer.

After the council settles.

After the border negotiations.

After winter.

After the Alpha summit.

She had waited.

Because she loved him.

Selene's voice softened.

"Five years."

Lyra looked at her.

"You gave him five years, and he still hasn't made you Luna."

"That was our decision."

"Was it?"

"Yes."

"Then tonight shouldn't bother you."

"It doesn't."

The lie tasted bitter.

Selene smiled.

"Good."

Lyra turned away.

She needed Darius.

Not Selene's poison.

She took three steps before Selene spoke again.

"You won't find him in his office."

Lyra stopped.

"He's with the elders."

She kept walking.

"Lyra."

Something in Selene's voice made her turn.

Selene was holding a folded document.

Lyra hadn't seen where she'd gotten it.

"What's that?"

"The reason you should stop calling me a liar."

Lyra stared at the paper.

"I'm not interested."

"You should be."

Selene extended it.

Lyra didn't move.

Selene gave a tiny shrug.

"Fine. Go downstairs. Smile at all the guests. Stand beside him when the ceremony begins."

She lowered the document.

"And hear it from his mouth."

Lyra's stomach twisted.

She hated this.

Hated that some tiny part of her was afraid to walk away.

Darius couldn't betray their bond.

He couldn't.

Could he?

Lyra crossed the space between them and snatched the document from Selene.

The Blackthorn seal was at the top.

Her heartbeat slowed.

No.

She unfolded it.

AGREEMENT OF POLITICAL UNION.

The words blurred for a second.

Lyra forced herself to continue.

The agreement described an alliance between Blackthorn and Ashford.

Shared trade routes.

Military cooperation.

Voting support within the Moon Council.

Then she reached the fourth clause.

Her fingers went cold.

To cement the alliance between both bloodlines, Alpha Darius Blackthorn shall formally unite House Blackthorn with Lady Selene Ashford,

Lyra stopped reading.

"This could be forged."

"Of course."

Selene sounded bored.

Lyra looked further down.

Elder signatures.

Council witnesses.

Blackthorn's official stamp.

None of those mattered.

She searched for one thing.

And found it.

At the bottom of the page was a signature she knew better than her own.

Darius Blackthorn.

Lyra stared at it.

She had seen that signature thousands of times.

On treaties.

Letters.

Birthday cards.

Notes he'd left beside her pillow on mornings when Alpha duties dragged him away before she woke.

She would know every stroke anywhere.

Darius had signed this.

Her mate had signed an agreement promising himself to another woman.

Something inside Lyra became very quiet.

Selene took the document from her numb fingers.

"Still think I'm lying?"

Lyra said nothing.

"Don't look so devastated. Political unions happen all the time."

"I'm not devastated."

Her voice sounded strange even to herself.

Selene studied her.

Then she smiled.

"Of course not."

Lyra looked again at the necklace.

"When?"

"What?"

"When did he sign it?"

"Three weeks ago."

Three weeks.

Lyra almost laughed.

Three weeks ago, Darius had come to her room after midnight.

Exhausted.

He had rested his head in her lap while she ran her fingers through his hair.

She remembered asking what was troubling him.

Council business, he'd said.

Then he had pulled her into his arms.

Three weeks ago.

Lyra curled her fingers.

"Does he love you?"

For once, Selene seemed surprised.

Then her expression softened into victory.

"Would it change anything?"

"Yes."

Selene waited.

Lyra met her eyes.

"If he loves you, I'll know exactly what to do."

"And if he doesn't?"

Lyra glanced at the document.

"Then what he's done is worse."

Selene's smile disappeared.

Footsteps sounded at the end of the corridor.

Both women turned.

Beta Adrian approached quickly, dressed in ceremonial black.

His gaze moved from Selene to Lyra.

Then to the agreement in Selene's hand.

All the color left his face.

"Lyra."

She looked at him.

Adrian rarely seemed afraid.

He seemed afraid now.

That told her more than she wanted to know.

"Where is Darius?"

Adrian hesitated.

"Lyra, maybe you should,"

"Where?"

"The council chamber."

She walked past him.

Adrian caught her arm.

"Don't go in there."

Lyra slowly looked at his hand.

He released her immediately.

"Why not?"

Adrian's jaw flexed.

"Because there's a discussion happening that you don't have the full context for."

Behind her, Selene laughed softly.

Lyra didn't turn around.

"What discussion?"

"Darius needs to explain it himself."

"Wonderful."

She started toward the council wing.

"Then I'll give him the opportunity."

"Lyra."

She ignored him.

Her heels struck the marble floor faster with every step.

The mate bond burned beneath her ribs.

For five years, Lyra had believed that bond meant Darius could hurt her but never truly abandon her.

Now she understood how dangerous certainty could be.

She reached the council chamber.

Two guards stood outside.

They exchanged nervous looks.

That was enough.

Lyra walked toward the doors.

One guard stepped forward.

"Lady Lyra, Alpha Darius ordered that no one-"

She heard Darius's voice from inside.

Lyra froze.

The heavy doors muffled most of the conversation.

But not his voice.

Never his voice.

An elder said something she couldn't make out.

Then Darius answered.

"This decision has already been made."

Lyra's heartbeat slammed against her ribs.

Another voice spoke.

"What about Lyra?"

Silence followed.

Long enough to hurt.

Then Darius spoke again.

Low.

Controlled.

Unmistakable.

"Keeping Lyra beside me was never part of the future."

Everything inside her stopped.