Do it

Lena Pov

I pushed against Julian's chest. He stopped immediately, waiting while I caught my breath. I could still walk away.

Instead, I looked at Ethan. He'd spent the evening discussing Bloodmoon while preparing to replace me with Luma. I had spent two years trying to please a man who barely wanted me.

"Don't stop," I whispered.

Something changed in Julian's eyes. When he kissed me again, I held his shirt and leaned closer. The bond still hurt, but beneath it came a strange warmth that spread through my chest. It was unlike anything I had felt with Ethan. I tried to ignore the difference, telling myself it was only nerves, but Sera seemed to notice it too.

Was I really feeling something for Julian, or was I simply relieved that someone finally looked at me like I mattered?

Sera went completely still.

'Sera?'

She didn't answer. She'd fought me over approaching him, but now I could feel her leaning toward his presence.

Then Ethan groaned.

I shoved against Julian, who released me at once. Ethan lifted his head, and I stopped breathing. If he caught us, he could reject me tonight.

"Your Majesty..." Ethan mumbled, eyes still closed. "Another drink..."

His head dropped back onto his arm.

I stumbled away, breathing unevenly. Julian looked perfectly calm as he wiped his thumb across my lower lip.

"As you wished, then."

He turned to leave.

"Your Majesty, when should I start the portrait?"

"Tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"You're the one with three days to worry about."

He walked through the terrace doors. I stood there for several seconds, then pressed my hand against my lips.

I called two servants to carry Ethan upstairs. They took him to my bedroom instead of his private room. Until his petition passed, I was still his Luna, and I wouldn't help him make me look discarded. The servants would remember where they had carried him, and I knew how quickly stories travelled through the packhouse. At least this time, I could decide which story they told.

Alcohol and Luma's faint scent clung to him. I decided to ask Amelia when he'd last seen her, then settled on the couch with a blanket.

Sometime during the night, the smell of vomit woke me.

"Lena..." Ethan groaned. "Water."

I stared at him before pulling the blanket over my head. Luma Felona could bring him water.

---

The next morning, I called Amelia while Ethan was still sleeping.

"After he leaves, change the bedding and clean the floor. Open the windows too."

"Yes, Luna."

"And find out when he last met Luma before yesterday. Quietly."

"I understand."

I went to Madam Wynne's quarters. Ethan's mother had summoned me every morning since I became his mate. She enjoyed every privilege of having a future Alpha for a son, especially ordering me around.

"You're late," she said when I entered.

I glanced at the clock. I wasn't. "My apologies."

"Come here."

An Omega handed me a warm cloth. I cleaned Madam Wynne's face, applied her rose-scented oil and began arranging her hair while she watched me through the mirror.

"I heard Ethan got drunk last night."

"He was entertaining His Majesty."

"Julian Locke doesn't need my son drinking himself senseless to feel respected."

I selected a gold hairpin, but she slapped my hand away.

"Not that one."

'Don't touch us again,' Sera growled.

I returned the pin without answering. Madam Wynne chose heavier pieces herself, then moved to the breakfast table.

"I also heard you had Ethan carried into your bedroom."

"He was unconscious."

She countered. "He has his own room."

"He's my mate."

"And yet he hasn't willingly slept in your room for months."

The words hurt, but I kept my voice steady. Madam Wynne had never bothered hiding her disappointment in me. No matter how carefully I performed my Luna duties, she always found something to criticize, especially when Ethan was involved.

"If I'd left the future Alpha drunk elsewhere, people would have talked."

"People already talk. They wonder why my son has a beautiful young mate and still finds excuses not to touch her."

My fingers tightened around the serving spoon. "Perhaps that's a question you should ask your son."

Her expression hardened. "What did you say?"

"Nothing."

"Look at me and repeat it."

I did, but she spoke first.

"If Ethan doesn't want you, perhaps you should think about what you're doing wrong. A Luna should know how to keep her Alpha satisfied."

Sera snapped inside me.

"And now Luma Felona has caught his attention, you're dragging Ethan into your bedroom while he's too drunk to object."

"I didn't drag him anywhere."

"Then what would you call it?"

"Taking care of my mate."

She scoffed. "Using cheap tricks to get a man into your bed isn't taking care of him. Perhaps he wouldn't look elsewhere if you knew how to satisfy him."

My chest tightened. Sera snarled so loudly my temples hurt.

Madam Wynne picked up her teacup as though she hadn't just insulted me.

She scoffed. "Have you no shame?"

Less than twelve hours ago, I'd begged another man to save me because her son intended to throw me out of this pack. And somehow, I was the shameless one.

I slowly placed the serving spoon on the table. This time, I didn't force Sera completely down.

"No, Madam Wynne."

Her cup stopped halfway to her lips.

"Where is Ethan?"

The sharp female voice came from outside Madam Wynne's quarters before I could say anything else.

Madam Wynne's teacup immediately returned to the table.

A second later, one of the Omegas hurried into the room. "Madam Wynne, Luma Felona is here."

The anger on Madam Wynne's face disappeared quickly I almost laughed. Only moments ago, she had been questioning whether I had any shame for bringing my own mate into my bedroom. Now she was already rising from her chair and adjusting the jewelry in her hair as though she had forgotten our argument entirely.

"Why didn't anyone tell me she had arrived?"

"We only just received word from the guards."

Madam Wynne hurried toward the door. I followed more slowly, although every instinct inside me told me that seeing Luma this early in the morning couldn't mean anything good.

We had barely stepped into the main hall when she entered.

Luma wasn't alone.

Four warriors followed behind her, all wearing the Bloodmoon crest, while a tall she-wolf walked directly beside her. The silver Delta insignia at the woman's collar immediately identified her as one of Bloodmoon's high-ranking officials.

Sera became alert. 'Five wolves for a morning visit?'

I wondered the same thing.

Luma wore black riding trousers tucked into knee-high boots and a fitted red jacket. Her dark hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and she carried herself with the confidence of someone who had spent her entire life knowing exactly how powerful her family was.

Even without the Alpha blood in her scent, no one could have mistaken her for an ordinary she-wolf.

"Luma." Madam Wynne hurried toward her with a welcoming smile. "You should have told us you were coming."

Luma barely looked at her. "Where is Ethan?"

Madam Wynne's smile faltered. "He's..."

"I wasn't asking you." Her eyes had already found me.

The words were cold enough to silence the entire room. Luma's eyes had already found me. Sera growled quietly inside me, but I ignored her.

"Luma," I greeted.

Her gaze travelled slowly over me. She had never liked me, and she had never bothered hiding it either.

"Where is he?"

"My mate is sleeping."

A small crease appeared between her eyebrows. "Sleeping? At this hour?"

"He drank too much last night while entertaining His Majesty."

Concern immediately crossed her face. "How much?"

"Enough that two servants had to help me carry him upstairs."

Her eyes sharpened. "Carry him where?"

I knew exactly what she was asking. "My bedroom."

The room went quiet.

Luma's expression barely changed, but her scent did. Jealousy sharpened it before she managed to control herself.

Sera noticed too. Then I caught something else beneath it, that same strange bitter trace Sera had noticed before.

"He spent the night in your room?" Luma asked.

"He is my mate."

Her jaw tightened.

Apparently Luma could attend council meetings beside Ethan, accompany him to pack events and behave as though my position already belonged to her, but one drunken night in his own mate's bedroom was too much.

"He hasn't woken yet?" She asked again, already getting on my nerve.

"No."

Her gaze moved toward the staircase. For a moment, I thought she might go upstairs herself.

"Don't worry," I said. "Nothing happened."

Her eyes snapped back to mine, the bitterness in her scent sharpened.

Sera shifted uneasily. 'That smell again.'

I didn't answer her. Luma's gaze travelled over me once more before stopping at my wrist.

"Where is your mating ring?"

My stomach tightened, I hadn't put the scent blocker back on. I didn't understand why she was asking all of this, but I had to answer because she was the daughter of Bloodmoon Pack, and proving stubborn would do more harm than good.

"I took it off." I said finally.

"Why?"

"It was bothering me."

Luma stepped closer, her nostrils flared slightly.

Without the blocker, there was nothing hiding my natural scent, or whatever trace Julian might have left on me last night.

Her eyes narrowed. "You were with His Majesty."

My heartbeat jumped. "So was Ethan."

For several seconds, Luma simply stared at me. Then she turned toward the staircase. "I'm going to see Ethan."

She had barely taken two steps before I moved in front of her.

"No."

Luma stopped. Her eyes slowly returned to mine. "Excuse me?"

"Ethan is sleeping." I repeated.

"I heard you."

"Then you also heard me say he's in my bedroom."

Madam Wynne immediately stepped forward. "Lena, don't make this difficult."

I ignored her.

Everyone here knew Luma was Ethan's lover, even if they preferred pretending otherwise. Knowing he was betraying me didn't mean I had to stand aside while his mistress walked into my bedroom to see him.

Luma stepped closer. "Get out of my way."

"No."

Her scent sharpened. "You think being Luna gives you the right to block me?"

"From entering my bedroom without permission?" I held her gaze. "Yes."

Madam Wynne's face tightened. "Lena, Luma is a guest."

"Then she should behave like one."

Luma's expression changed, she shoved my shoulder. Before I could think, I caught her wrist.

The hall went silent, I realized my mistake almost immediately.

My hand was wrapped around Alpha Felona's daughter's wrist in front of four Bloodmoon warriors and her Delta. Luma looked down at my fingers before slowly meeting my eyes.

"Take your hand off me."

I released her. "You pushed me."

A cold smile appeared on her face. "And you put your hands on the daughter of Bloodmoon's Alpha."

My stomach tightened.

There it was, the excuse she needed.

"I didn't attack you."

Luma turned toward her Delta. "Did you see her put her hands on me?"

"I did."

Of course she had.

Luma looked at Madam Wynne next.

Ethan's mother said nothing.

I understood then. Luma had arrived angry because Ethan had spent the night in my room, and smelling Julian on me had only made it worse.

But jealousy wasn't enough to punish Shadowfang's Luna.

Now I had given her something she could twist into disrespect against Bloodmoon.

Luma turned toward her Delta. "Hold her."

I frowned. "What?"

Two Bloodmoon warriors stepped forward. I moved back, but they caught me before I could get far. One grabbed my left arm while the other seized my right.

Sera surged forward.