Chapter 1
Astrid's POV
The moon shade pack was bursting with activity. It was no news to any member of the pack that each alpha from the region was meeting here. Everyone was getting things ready for the visitors. It wasn't often we got visitors like these. Especially people who had contributed in one way or another to our world. I for one was swamped with work. Being the fact that my mate was the alpha of the moonshade pack, I had a lot of things to do.
Things in the moonshade pack were run a bit similar to how my father ran his pack, the wild thorn pack. I wasn't sure if they'll be present today. I had not seen any names from the wildthorn pack in the list that had been given to me. I had to prepare rooms for each of the alphas and their subordinates. I did not know what they liked or preferred so I suggested going for something neutral that could appeal to anyone but as always, Mary who was in charge of the pack finances disagreed. It wasn't a surprise to me. Most things I did in the pack didn't sit well with the members. Have been here for five years and I still am not recognised as the mate to Leon, the alpha.
But I didn't care. It's not like anyone else could boast that they were mated to the most powerful alpha our world has seen. Not only was Leon influential, he was famous and handsome. I liked his voice and his blue eyes. I had met Leon when I was eighteen, after leaving my father's pack. At first I couldn't believe it but that unique scent from Leon was unmistakable neither was the hunger for him.
A hunger that was never satiated till date. We hadn't done the mating ritual so I wasn't officially recognized as Leon's Luna but it was a known fact that I was his mate. I also know how protective the members of the moonshade pack are. When Leon had first brought me, everyone had ignored me. And while it took years, no one ignored me now. Although they did laugh and point fingers. There were rumours that I was forcing myself on Leon and that I wasn't his mate but I ignored them. The only thing that matters was him.
Which was why I was going to have a talk with him. This morning, I had woken up and found out that all my plans for receiving the visitors had been overruled. When I had asked Mary why, she ignored me and said to speak with Leon myself if I wasn't satisfied.
I hated that I always had to run to him but given the situation, there was nothing I could do. Leon had been extremely busy this period. I had no idea with what because I wasn't privy to it. He kept his schedule private and not even me had access to it. I knew he would be in his office. It was located inside the main house where pack meetings were held. Immediately I got into the house, I noticed that a meeting was being held. Every notable person in the pack was present. The only person missing was Mary.
I felt a sharp pang in my chest at the fact that I wasn't even informed about this meeting. All eyes turned to me, most with irritation and bland disinterest. I ignored them, letting the feeling roll off me as I made my way to Leon.
"Can we talk?" I asked him.
He frowned. "We are talking right now." He said to me,
His voice was cold and detached. I mean it wasn't like Leon spoked with much affection for me before but this was worse.
"In private." I said to him,
Just then, the door opened and Mary walked in.
"I apologise for coming late." She said, "I just had to make sure Luna's instructions were carried out."
I frowned, confused. She wasn't carrying out my instructions. What was she talking about?
Just then, Leon spoke up. "No, you made it right on time." He said. "I have an announcement."
I was quiet since this seemed like something important. I wasn't going to make a scene about him ignoring me.
He stretched his hands out to the person next to him. A person I had missed entirely. I had no idea she was even standing next to him. He placed a loving kiss on her lips and gave her a smile before turning to everyone.
"This is your Luna." He said.
I felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured on me. All the air had disappeared from my lungs. He was joking right? I was right here and he was calling someone else his Luna?
"Leon." I said softly, unsure of what was going on.
He gave me a glare. "What is it?"
"I don't ...I don't understand." I said to him with a shake of my head.
"It's obvious isn't it?" He asked me.
"But.." I turned to everyone who seemed interested in what I wanted to say and decided that speaking in private was best. "Can we speak in private?" I asked him.
"We either speak here or don't speak at all." Leon said to me harshly.
I swallowed in shock. Someone snickered and tried to cover it with a cough but it was obvious the person was laughing at me. I felt out of place.
"What is going on?" I asked him. "Why are you doing this? Did I do something wrong? If I did..."
"I don't love you, Astrid. Isn't this enough for you to understand?" He asked me coldly.
"But we..we are..I'm your..I'm Luna. Your Luna." I said in a whisper as my throat clogged with emotion.
"You were." He said with a dark smirk. "Not anymore."
"Oh honey, don't speak like that to the poor girl." I heard a voice say.
The voice sounded awfully familiar, like my twin sister's voice. But it couldn't be because she was dead.
I turned towards the direction of the voice. How did I miss it? The shape of her eyes. The shape of her lips. The unmatched beauty and that golden blonde hair. It couldn't be but she was right in front of me.
"Clara?"