The Luna He Never Wanted

You’re listening to The Luna He Never Wanted, a Fabled Audio original. This story is intended for mature listeners.

Episode 1 - The Sacred Marriage

One hundred years of war would end today. Today was the day when I would be sacrificed to keep the treaty. I was the bastard Omega daughter of the Star Wolf Pack Alpha, the one chosen to be sacrificed to seal the peace. No one cared about my hopes and dreams. I would be used to spare the real heiress. Today, I would be married to the infamous Alpha of the Stone Moon Pack. Ezra Stone. I stood in the middle of my room when a couple of Omegas entered. They held a white lace wedding dress, fit for a princess. “Miss Claire,” one of them said as she bowed. I answered with a bow, and then silence filled the room; no one dared say a word. We all knew what this wedding meant. For most of them, this would have been an honor. For me, it was just trading one cage for another. They finished dressing me with one final touch: a lace veil that covered my face. Slowly, I walked out of the pack house. A black car was waiting for me, ready to take me to the Council. The drive was quiet; there was nothing more to be said. The driver looked at me from the rearview mirror. “Miss Claire, thanks to the Accords and this wedding, we will finally be at peace.” I nodded and looked out of the window. Whatever came next, it couldn’t be worse than what I had lived in this pack. I stepped out of the car. The tall mahogany doors opened to the cold gray room of the Council chamber. Every pair of eyes looked in my direction as I walked down the aisle, slowly, like a lamb to slaughter. No one dared speak; the only sound I could hear was the click of my heels. Right there beside the Council elder and my father was a young Alpha with dark hair, deep blue eyes, a chiseled jawline, and handsome features. The Moon Goddess must have spent extra time carving him to perfection. The elder started the ceremony. He pulled out the golden dagger and the sacred chalice. Alpha Ezra offered his open palm, and the elder sliced through it, drawing blood. Then he took my hand and sliced it too, pouring our blood into the chalice. A white beam of light shot out from it. Warmth coursed through my veins, and I heard my name being whispered into the breeze. The Moon Goddess had sealed our fate. A bond was forged. The elder nodded, satisfied. The deal was fulfilled except… “Now, you may kiss the bride,” the elder said. A kiss. My very first kiss, and it would be with this stranger I now had to call my husband. Ezra slowly removed the veil, meeting my eyes. His rough, calloused hands cupped my cheek and his lips crashed against mine. It wasn't soft. It wasn't tentative. It was searing and overwhelming. My body instantly reacted to his touch, to his lips roaming mine. It was exciting and scary at the same time. I gasped for air, which brought him back to his senses. He held out the crook of his elbow for me to take and gave me a stern look. It was not an offering; he was daring me to refuse him. “Smile, my dear wife,” Ezra taunted me. I laced my hand through his arm. Together we walked out of the Council chamber. A luxurious black car was waiting for us. A man with a soft smile greeted us. “Alpha. Luna.” He bowed. The Beta standing by the door addressed me by the title this charade had given me. “Beta James,” Alpha Ezra greeted the man. Beta James drove away. It was a long drive. I dozed off until we stopped before a gated mansion. A long driveway cut through beautiful gardens towards the impressive white stone mansion of the Stone Moon pack. Inside, high ceilings, golden chandeliers, tapestries, and artwork greeted me. “Follow me.” Ezra's baritone voice left no room for argument. I lowered my gaze and followed. I knew better than to object to the mighty Alpha. He led the way down a long corridor into his office. “Claire, as of today, you belong to the Stone Moon Pack.” Ezra paused. “You may carry the title the Council gave you. But you will never be my Luna.” Luna was the title given to an Alpha’s wife. But Ezra had made the distinction painfully clear. The pack might respect me because I carried his name, but I would never be his Luna. Not truly. “We both know this marriage is to appease the Council,” he continued. I slowly nodded. I didn’t expect a love story, I never imagined being dismissed so quickly, without him even caring to get to know me. “You will have authority, but don’t mistake that authority for privileges. An Omega will take you to your room in the Alpha wing; clothes are already in the closet. She will show you around,” he paused. “My room?” I mumbled. “Yes, your room. Were you expecting to share a bed with me?” he asked, amused. I lowered my gaze, my cheeks turning red. He closed the distance and, with his rough hand, tilted my head to meet his eyes. “What, Claire? Scared of me?” Ezra asked with a smirk. “You don't have to fear me. I won't touch you unless you want me to.” My breath hitched, and words got stuck in my throat. His eyes briefly shifted colour as his wolf surfaced, just as someone knocked on the door. A petite blonde Omega in a maid's uniform walked in. “Beatriz, this is Claire. Show her around, and as of now, you will be under her command,” Ezra said. Beatriz showed me to my room. The room was massive compared to the small shoebox I was living in; this was a real improvement. “This is beautiful,” I said, smiling. “You must be tired. Should I draw you a bath?” she offered. I nodded. “Please.” I had run a bath a million times for my stepsister; it felt strange to have someone doing it for me. Beatriz walked back into the bedroom. “Let me help you out of the dress,” she said, lowering the zipper, removing my dress, and helping me step into the tub. Ezra wasn't what I expected. He was intimidating, arrogant, and devastatingly handsome, but he had made one thing clear: he didn't want me as a woman. He might not be able to offer me love, but he had offered me something I had never had. The freedom to become who I had always dreamed of being. The next morning, I awoke early. Once Beatriz helped me dress, I asked her to introduce me to the house staff. A place this grand required a small army to keep it running. During the day I noticed that Ezra had been absent from both lunch and dinner. I entered the kitchen and decided to prepare his dinner. “Please, send this to my husband,” I asked a butler. I had no idea where to take the food myself; besides, I didn’t think he wanted to see me. I was still around the kitchen when the butler returned with a smile on his face. “He ate it all.” The pack loved this ruthless man; perhaps there was more to him I needed to discover for myself. Days passed, and with every day, I realized I was finally in a place I might be able to call home. Little by little, I started getting to know people. Being a good listener helped me understand what people needed. I didn’t see Ezra often but from time to time, I felt his eyes on me. I called to my lady-in-waiting, Beatriz, who by then was becoming what I considered a friend. “We need to take these books to the daycare,” I urged. Turning around with the books in my arms, I immediately bumped into Beta James. “Careful, Luna. What are you two up to?” he asked. I smiled. “I noticed that the books in the daycare had torn pages, so we are replacing them with new books.” After delivering the books, we stopped by the hospital. Ezra was a ruthless Alpha and had kept it running, but war can create unsuspected problems and I wanted to see it myself. By lunchtime, Beatriz and I returned to the packhouse. “Alpha,” Beatriz bowed. “Claire, we need to go,” he commanded. I silently followed him into the car. We drove out of the mansion. “Where are we going?” I dared to ask. “The Council has summoned us.” His face was stern; his eyes looked into the distance, while his hands curled into fists. The entire drive, my mind reeled with scenarios about what this meeting could be about. As soon as we entered the Council chamber, the head of the Council greeted us. “Alpha. Luna,” an elder greeted us. “Cut the crap, Elder Weiss,” Ezra said. The smile faded from the elder’s face. He nodded. “We have discussed this alliance, and most of the Council believes it is unstable and fragile.” Elder Weiss said menacingly. “Unless both bloodlines unite into one. Unless you produce an heir.” An heir.

Episode 2 - The Woman Between Them The Council's demand was clear: as the chosen sacrifice, I was expected to be intimate with my new husband. “A blood pact must be consummated,” Elder Weiss repeated. I looked at Ezra; his eyes darkened. I could see the storm behind them. “The treaty required a marriage. It never required me to breed with my wife.” His voice was cold enough to silence the entire room. The Elder's expression hardened. I expected Ezra to argue again, but instead, he turned toward me. “Claire, let's get the hell out of here.” I followed him, too shocked to say a word. James was waiting by the car with the back door open. I climbed inside, and Ezra sat beside me. I stared out the window, trying to hold back my tears. I thought I could be free, but everything about this marriage made me feel trapped all over again. Ezra's voice softened. “Claire, I will stand by my promise.” I nodded. I had no idea why, but I believed him. Then his hand covered mine. I flinched. “I promised,” he reminded me. I finally looked at him, and his eyes were fixed on mine. “I believe you,” I whispered. Soon enough we arrived home, and as we stepped into the foyer, someone threw her arms around Ezra. “Ezra!” I froze when I saw him wrap his arms around the woman instinctively before realizing what he was doing. “Vanessa,” he said. She smiled at him. “I’m back,” she said, her voice sultry.. “It’s good to have you back.” Ezra smiled. I didn't wait to hear more, so I walked away down the corridor. I had no reason to care who she was - obviously someone important, and I was his forced wife. That should have been enough to remind me where I stood. Over the next few weeks, the pack prepared a celebration for the soldiers returning from the war. I spent most of the day helping wherever I could. There were hundreds of people to feed, injured soldiers to check on, children running through the halls, and elders who needed supplies. Serving them gave me a purpose I hadn't expected to find in the Stone Moon Pack. I carried a tray through the main hall when Beatriz stopped me; the chef needed me to check on the pastries. I smiled at her, handing her my tray. As I turned around, I noticed Ezra sitting at the main table, Vanessa beside him. She was beautiful, more beautiful than I could ever be, and very comfortable around him. Too comfortable. I didn’t know why, but it hurt, so I immediately looked away. I didn't notice Vanessa watching me until I heard her voice. “That is your wife?” She said it loud enough for me to hear it across the crowded hall. I glanced toward the table. Vanessa sneered. “She is a maid.” Heat climbed up my neck. had never been ashamed of serving others. I had found pride and purpose in it, yet Vanessa used it to mock me. “A maid is the position you deserve. It's good that you know your place,” she said, pointing her finger at me and making a spectacle out of it. Something inside me snapped. I was tired of being the punching bag for stronger wolves. I had come here as the Alpha’s wife, and if I didn't stand my ground now, I would lose the pack’s respect. I straightened. “I must disagree.” The room went silent; no one expected me to take a stand against the woman who sat beside the Alpha. “The Alpha is the strength of the pack, and the Luna is its heart.” I kept my voice calm. “The heart is the organ that serves the whole body. My function in this pack is one of service. If you think serving others is degrading, then you don't understand anything.” Nobody spoke. Vanessa's face hardened, but I was done with her, so I turned away. I needed to remind myself that being an Omega didn't make me less than anyone else. The celebration eventually ended. I dragged my tired body back to the Alpha’s wing when I sensed someone behind me. It was Ezra. “You took care of the pack the entire dinner,” he said. I waited. “Everyone but me.” I blinked twice. Did he want my attention? “It didn't look like you needed my help,” I replied. His eyebrow lifted. “Is that jealousy?” he asked with a smirk. “No.” I didn't know why the question irritated me so much. He stepped closer, making it impossible for me to think. He was standing only a few feet away. “You're making that promise very difficult to keep.” My heart skipped. I knew exactly which promise he meant. My eyes met his, and his expression changed. For a moment, I thought he might step closer, but he stopped. “Good night, Alpha.” I slipped into my room before he could say anything else. Once the door closed, I leaned against it and released a breath. What was happening to me? The next morning, Ezra was already waiting at the breakfast table. “Good morning,” he greeted, taking a sip of his coffee. He watched me for a moment. “Starting today, we'll share our meals.” I nearly choked on my breakfast. “And we'll take a stroll around the grounds every night.” I stared at him. I had no idea where all of this was coming from, but I was still too uncertain of my position here to argue with him. “If the Council is forcing us to breed, at least we should know each other.” My fork hit the plate. “You promised me.” My voice trembled. He nodded. “Yes. I promised I would not touch you unless you wanted me to.” He seemed completely certain that eventually I would change my mind. The days that followed were strange. But slowly, I began to relax around Ezra. It was easy to do so when we talked about the pack. When I talked, he listened, asked questions, engaged with me, and even asked my opinion on how to handle certain things. One night, he looked up at the Moon. “Do you know what started the war a hundred years ago?” he asked. I shook my head. “We are called the Stone Moon Pack for a reason.” He paused. “Because you are Alpha Stone?” I lifted my eyebrows. “No, because the Moon Goddess gave us a gift. The Moon Stone.” He smiled. “It is our pack’s greatest treasure.” “The Moon Stone?” I mumbled. I had heard legends about this magical stone that could cure any illness and even bring people back from the brink of death. I never thought it could be real. My thoughts immediately went to my sick mother. That time became my favorite time of the day, especially when he held my hand to lead the way. I noticed that he didn't treat me like the powerless Luna everyone else seemed to expect me to be. In fact, he began trusting me enough to tell me where the vaults were. One evening, Ezra and I were having dinner when a soldier rushed into the room. “Alpha, there’s been a breach at the border.” Ezra immediately stood. “Sorry. I must go.” I nodded. “I understand.” His leaving left a strange void in my heart. Could I be falling for the man who had told me I would never truly be his Luna?! I chuckled dryly. Hours passed. Eventually, I went upstairs. I was about to enter my room when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned. Ezra stood at the end of the corridor. His hair was slightly disheveled, his shirt was torn open, and a couple of scratches marred his skin. Then, I noticed there was something different in his expression. “You're back,” I said, turning to face him. He nodded. “We took care of the breach; nothing to worry about.” “Are you all right?” I asked, scanning his body. My eyes landed on the scratches already beginning to heal before my eyes. “Yes.” He took a step toward me. Then stopped. The distance between us suddenly felt much smaller than it actually was. “Claire.” His soft voice made my skin come alive. I waited. His eyes dropped briefly to my lips before returning to mine. “I want to kiss you.” My heart began pounding. This man had promised me something from the beginning. And for the first time, I wasn't sure I wanted him to keep that promise. I slipped into my bedroom and closed the door before I could change my mind.

Episode 3- The Night We Chose I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Ezra's voice again. I want to kiss you. I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling. What was happening to me? For weeks, I had been telling myself that this marriage was nothing more than a treaty. Ezra had made it clear from the beginning that he didn't want me as his Luna, and I had accepted that. But lately, something had changed; he had started looking at me differently, and I had started looking at him differently, too. I needed to make sense of these feelings, and it couldn’t wait until morning. Afraid that my resolve would weaken, I found myself standing outside his bedroom door. I hesitated. Then I knocked. “Come in.” I took a deep breath and slowly opened the door. Ezra was sitting behind a desk, looking over some documents. He lifted his eyes to me, and the moment he saw me, his expression changed. “Claire?” His eyes landed on me. Clearly, he hadn't been expecting me. “I need to talk to you.” I took a step into his bedroom. I had never done anything remotely as vulnerable as this. “Is something wrong?” He looked at me, his eyes roaming my body, as if checking me for signs of an emergency. “No.” I closed the door behind me. For a moment, neither of us spoke. “Earlier, you said you wanted to kiss me,” I blurted. His eyes held mine. “I did.” His certainty strengthened mine.. “Do you still want to?” His jaw tightened slightly. “Yes.” The answer came without hesitation. I took another step toward him, closing the distance. My breath hitched when I stood before him, close enough that I could feel his warmth seep through my skin. “Then kiss me.” He didn't move. I had never been more certain in my life. “You don't have to do this because we're married.” He cupped my cheek, the contact sending a spark through me. “I know.” I took a deep breath. “You don't have to do this because of the treaty,” I said. “I know that, too.” His fingers caressed my cheek tenderly, and I surrendered, leaning into his touch. I swallowed. “I want you to kiss me.” Something shifted in his expression. He closed the space between us until our bodies touched. “I promised you…” I smiled faintly. “I don't want you to keep that promise tonight.” This time, there was no confusion, no obligation, no treaty, just us. His lips moved against mine slowly at first, as if he were still giving me the chance to pull away. I didn't. Instead of backing up, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. The restraint he'd shown me for weeks began to disappear, replaced by something neither of us had been willing to name. I had spent so long believing that Ezra Stone would never want me. Now I could feel just how wrong I had been. He pulled back for a moment, his forehead resting against mine. His lips met mine in a soft kiss. That kiss turned into something deeper. His hand caressed my exposed skin until it reached the straps of my nightgown, pulling them off my shoulders, letting the soft silk slip off my body. “Beautiful,” he said as his gaze roamed my body with reverence. I trembled when his strong arms picked me up and carried me to bed. He placed me gently on the bed and kissed me again. “Ezra,” I moaned. He took his time, exploring and observing. He seemed to savour every reaction - every twitch, jolt and moan. My hand made its way to his shoulders and around his neck, bringing him back to where I wanted him to touch. The feeling was foreign, but exciting. He seemed to know exactly how to bring me to the edge, and I let him. I cried his name when pleasure finally broke over me. He kissed me tenderly and caressed my hair. He moved away and began stripping the rest of his clothes. My gaze travelled over him. “Like what you see?” he smirked. I nodded, unable to say another word, and when he closed the distance, I whispered, “This is my first time.” His eyes met mine. There was surprise and something deeper in them. He brushed his lips against mine. “I’ve got you.” His mouth moved from mine to the curve of my neck, but he stopped there, his breath warm against my skin. “Claire?” I understood what he was asking. The mark wasn't part of the treaty. It wasn't something the Council could demand from either of us. This was his choice, and mine. “Yes,” I whispered. His teeth pressed into the tender place where my neck met my shoulder. A sharp sting made me gasp, followed almost instantly by a rush of warmth that spread through my entire body. Something deep inside me seemed to recognise him, answering the bond before my mind could make sense of it. When he lifted his head, his thumb brushed gently over the new mark. For the first time, being claimed didn't feel like being owned. It felt like being chosen. Morning came far too quickly. I woke slowly, warm and comfortable. For a few seconds, I forgot where I was, then I felt Ezra beside me. I turned my head. He was already awake. His eyes met mine. “Good morning.” I blushed, realizing I was completely naked under the sheets. “Good morning.” There was something almost awkward about the way he looked at me. “Are you okay?” he asked. I nodded. “More than okay,” I said, and a small smile appeared on his face. “I meant what I said last night.” “About what?” I asked. “That I wanted you.” My chest tightened. For a moment, we simply looked at each other. We took our time getting ready. He ran me a warm bath. He looked at me covered in bubbles and smirked. “I’ll let you be. I left a shirt for you to wear, and I’ll meet you at breakfast.” He smiled. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me. I looked at my neck and traced the mark he had placed there. I was his. Irrevocably, undeniably, his. I got dressed and headed to the dining room to join him for breakfast. As soon as I entered, his eyes looked up, and he smiled. “Took you long enough.” I chuckled. This was a different side of him. “What are your plans for today?” he suddenly asked. “I have storytelling at the elementary school, and then I wanted to stop by the hospital,” I informed him. “I have a long meeting.” He glanced at his watch. “In about five minutes,” he sighed. I was mid-breakfast, and he couldn’t stay. I got it, and even when I understood, somehow, deep in my heart, I wanted him to choose me, to stay. He stood up; surprisingly, he rounded the table, lifted my head, and pecked my lips. “I’ll make it up to you later,” he whispered. A small smile formed on my lips. He walked out of the dining room just as Beatriz walked in. The driver took us to the elementary school. As we did every Monday, we sat with the first-graders and read to them. Later, while we were making our way to the hospital, my phone rang. My mother's neighbour was on the other end, her voice frantic. “What happened?” I asked. “I don’t know, but…” she paused. ”I think this is the end.” My hands shook, and with tears in my eyes, I addressed the driver. “Take me back home,” I commanded. “Is everything alright?” Beatriz asked. I shook my head, unable to form words. On our way back to the pack house, I couldn't stop thinking about the Moon Stone. If there was even the smallest chance that it could save my mother, I couldn't simply sit back and do nothing. I made my way toward the vault. The guards stopped me at the entrance. “I need to see the Moon Stone,” I said. One of them shook his head. “No one enters without the Alpha's permission.” “Who said I didn’t have permission?” I lied. I held his gaze, daring him to defy me. Then his eyes narrowed on the brand-new mark on my neck. “Luna,” he said, moving to the side. I stood there, alone, before the highly protected vault. On the way back, I had imagined every possible way I might trick the guards into letting me inside, but I had never considered a magical lock. I’m screwed. Tears welled in my eyes. I needed this to save my mother. Please, Moon Goddess, I begged silently. I rested my hand on the scanner. The click of the door opening caught my attention. Before me in the middle of the vault, the Moon Stone rested on a pedestal. It was smaller than I had expected, but the moment I approached it, I felt a pull inside my chest. I reached toward it. The moment my fingers touched the stone, warmth rushed through my hand. I gasped; for one second, I thought I heard a whisper. Claire. I looked around. Nothing. I closed my fingers around the stone. “I'll bring you back,” I whispered. I turned toward the door. And stopped. Vanessa stood there. Her eyes dropped to the stone in my hand. Then she looked at me. Her expression hardened. “What are you doing with the Alpha's Moon Stone, Luna?”

Episode 4 — The Luna in the Shadows Vanessa tried to reach out for the stone, but I moved my hand away. “Do you think you can come to this pack and steal from it? Think twice!” She sneered. I was caught, and I had no idea what to say. “I’m sure Ezra would be very interested in seeing your true colors. Thief!”. Vanessa grabbed me by the hair and dragged me towards Ezra’s office with several bystanders following her. “Alpha!” Vanessa barged in, shrieking. She yanked me forward, and I stumbled, falling to my knees. Pain shot through my scalp. I looked up and saw Ezra standing across the room. His expression changed instantly. “Gentlemen…” He glanced at the construction crew around the table. “Clearly, this meeting can't continue.” The contractors scrambled to gather their things. Ezra's eyes never left Vanessa. “What is the meaning of this interruption?” His voice carried the unmistakable authority of the Alpha. Vanessa kicked me. She didn’t hold back. She was trying to show everyone who was more powerful. I gasped and curled in on myself. Peter, Ezra's Gamma, immediately moved toward me and helped me to my feet. I couldn't bring myself to meet Ezra's eyes. I had taken the Moon Stone without telling him, and now I had been caught. “I found her at the vaults,” Vanessa continued. “The Star Pack has always wanted this, and she was about to give it to them.” She placed the Moon Stone on the table. My stomach dropped. “She needs to be punished!” Vanessa shouted. “Thirty lashes, and then exile!” Several people in the room murmured their agreement. Ezra's expression hardened. “I don't recall asking you for your opinion, nor how to do my job.” His voice rose with authority, making everyone fall silent. “Leave us.” His voice didn’t leave room for an argument. “You too,” Ezra said to Peter. “My duty is to protect our Luna,” he protested. “From a threat, not your Alpha.” Peter hesitated before nodding and leaving. The doors closed behind him. Suddenly, the room felt enormous and quiet. Ezra walked toward me and crouched in front of me. “Claire, look at me. Is this true?” “I can explain,” I whispered. He reached for me and helped me to my feet. I hissed as pain shot through my ribs. Ezra's expression darkened, and he carefully lowered me into a chair. “I'm listening.” He crossed his arms over his chest. I had betrayed him, and as the Alpha of the pack, he would have to punish me. But the way he was handling all of it told me that he was giving me enough grace to explain myself. I took a shaky breath. “I was borrowing it.” His eyebrows lifted. “Borrowing it?” “My mother has been sick for a while.” My voice broke. “But this morning, after the storytelling reading, I got a call.” I wiped the tears. “She is dying. I didn't know what else to do.” I took a long, shaky breath. For a moment, I couldn't look at him. “I thought if the Moon Stone could heal her, I had to try.” Ezra's expression changed. I expected anger. Instead, he looked at me with something I couldn't quite understand. Then he stood. “Get in here,” he commanded. The doors opened and everyone rushed back into the room, Vanessa with them, looking far too pleased with herself. Ezra turned toward her. “The most advanced magical system guards the Moon Stone. Only members of the Alpha family can open that vault.” He looked at me. “If it opened for Claire, the magic clearly knows something you refuse to acknowledge.” I stared at him. He was defending me. “Claire is my wife and a member of the Alpha family, not a thief.” His voice echoed through the room. Everyone went eerily quiet. Then Ezra turned toward Vanessa. “Now, Vanessa, shall we discuss the punishment for harming my mate?” Vanessa's face went pale. He looked toward James. “Review the security footage, and make sure whoever touched Claire gets punished according to law.” People quickly began leaving the room. I stayed in my chair, tears silently running down my cheeks. He cupped my cheek and wiped away my tears. “I think it is about time I met your mother.” My eyes snapped up. He helped me stand. A short while later, we were on the road toward the borders of the Star Wolf Pack. I pointed toward a dirt road. The ride became increasingly bumpy, making me wince with every movement. After several minutes, we stopped in front of a rundown shack. Standing beside Ezra, I suddenly felt embarrassed. My mother deserved better. When I reached the bedroom, my mother's body lay limp on the bed. “Mom!” I rushed to her side. Ezra placed the glowing purple gem on my mother's chest and summoned his wolf. As he recited the old ritual, purple threads of light swirled around her frail body. Then he looked at me. “Claire, I need some blood.” I stared at him. “Mine?” I asked. He nodded. Without hesitation, I grabbed a knife and sliced my palm. The moment my blood touched the Moon Stone, the room erupted with magic. I gasped. The stone glowed brightly. Ezra stared at it for a moment before continuing the ritual. The purple light surrounded my mother, then he chanted the final words. My mother jerked upright with a sharp gasp. I threw my arms around her and sobbed against her shoulder. I could feel warmth in her body. She was alive. I stayed with my mother until I heard Ezra speaking on the phone outside the room. “We're taking your mother home. I'll have my doctors check on her, and James will prepare a cottage by the lake,” Ezra told us. I stood, but Ezra caught my wrist. “Whatever she needs, we'll arrange once she's settled.” Then he handed me the Moon Stone. “Take the stone.” He carefully carried my mother to the car. As we drove away my mother fell asleep as soon as we reached the paved road. I looked down at the stone in my hands. “You should hold onto this.” I tried to hand it back to Ezra. I felt as if I was holding the evidence of my crimes. “Hold onto it. Once we have your mother settled, we can take it back to the vaults.” I nodded, but my fingers tightened around the stone. I wasn't sure why. Something about it felt different now. When we arrived at the pack, Ezra headed straight to the cottage. “Alpha. Luna.” James greeted us. “Is the place ready?” James nodded. “Arrange a rotation of Omegas to help Claire's mother until she has fully recovered.” My eyes filled with tears. I wasn't used to this. People helping my mother without asking what they would receive in return. James carried my mother into the cottage. Ezra looked at me. “Let's return the Stone. You can come straight back once we're done.” I followed him. We headed toward the vault. “Show me how you opened it,” Ezra said. I swallowed. I placed my hand against the scanner, and just like before, the system lit up, and the vault opened. Ezra stepped inside. He took the Moon Stone from my hands and placed it back on its pedestal. The vault closed. “Thank you,” I whispered. He turned toward me, and his hand came up to my cheek. For a moment, I simply stared into his eyes. Then he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him, but when he pulled me closer, I winced. He immediately pulled back. I looked away, frustrated by how sore I still was and how slowly I was healing. “I'm fine.” I sighed. His eyes narrowed. “No, you're not.” He carefully looked me over, then his expression hardened. I didn't answer. He lifted me into his arms and carried me toward the Alpha’s wing. I didn’t dare to protest. He didn’t hesitate when he passed by my door and headed straight to his own. He softly placed me at the edge of the bed, peeling my shredded shirt off my body. The bruise across my ribcage had turned violet. There were also cuts along my arms and legs. Ezra's expression became darker with every injury he saw. “No one should have touched you,” he growled. He leaned forward and gently healed each cut. One by one, they closed. I shivered as the warmth moved across my skin. Once he was satisfied that I was healed, he stepped back. “Take a shower and go visit your mother. I'm sure you want to catch up with her.” He placed a tender kiss on my forehead. “Ask Benjamin to bring me lunch. And ask the kitchen to prepare a basket so you can eat with your mother.” He smiled. “I can't thank you enough.” I picked up my clothes, ready to scramble out of his bedroom. Ezra opened a drawer and pulled out a T-shirt. He slipped the clean shirt over me. I wrapped my arms around him. He froze for a second, and I felt the rumble of his wolf beneath his chest. A laugh escaped me. “Was that your wolf?” I asked. He chuckled. I smiled and left. I spent the rest of the afternoon with my mother. She was weak, but she was talking. She even laughed. I couldn't remember the last time I had heard that sound. By evening, I was exhausted. I said goodbye and returned to the Alpha's wing. I stepped into my bedroom and asked the kitchen to send me some tea. When the girl arrived with the tray, I didn't think twice about it. I took the cup and smiled, wondering if tonight Ezra would pay me a visit. Maybe he would take me back to his bed, or claim me in mine. The scent of the tea was pleasant. I took a sip. A strange bitterness lingered on my tongue. I frowned. Then my head began to spin. I placed the cup down. My hands felt weak. I tried to stand. My legs gave out. I reached for the bed. My vision blurred; something was wrong. I tried to call for Ezra, but no sound came out. The last thing I saw was the room spinning around me before everything went black.

Episode 5 - His Luna Someone was shaking me. I tried to open my eyes, but everything felt heavy. “Claire!” I recognized Ezra's voice. I wanted to answer him, but my body wouldn't cooperate. Then I heard him say James's name. “Call a doctor. And I need the stone.” Footsteps rushed into the room. Something cold touched my chest. Then warmth spread through my body. I felt fingers close around my hand, then I felt a sharp prick. I tried to pull away, but I couldn't. Then everything inside me seemed to burn. A strange pressure built in my chest. I coughed, and something bitter filled my mouth. I heard Ezra chanting. The pain became unbearable. My body went limp. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in bed. Ezra was beside me; his hand was wrapped around mine. I tried to speak, but my throat felt dry. His face changed instantly. Relief washed over his features. “You're awake.” I blinked. “What happened?” I asked. “You were poisoned.” The word barely registered. “You drank something that had been tampered with.” I remembered the tea. My stomach twisted. “The tea…” I mumbled. “James is investigating.” Ezra leaned forward, kissing my knuckles. I tried to sit up, but Ezra gently stopped me. I looked around. The Moon Stone sat on the nightstand. “You used it?” “It helped.” He squeezed my hand. “And the mate bond helped too,” he added. Something inside my chest softened. I had never had anyone fight for me like this. A knock sounded at the door. Ezra stood. The doctor entered and checked my vitals before drawing blood. “You need rest,” he said. I'll have the results within the hour.” With that, he left. “Is my mother okay?” I asked. “She is recovering at the cottage. James has arranged for Omegas to help her.” Ezra had taken care of my mother, even without me asking. “Thank you.” I sighed. An hour later, the doctor returned. He checked the results on his tablet before looking at me. “The poison is gone.” I exhaled. “You should recover within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.” I nodded. “Alpha, a word?” The doctor’s expression changed. Ezra silently nodded, leaving my side and stepping outside the bedroom. Whatever the doctor had to say, it must not have been good; otherwise he would have said it in front of me. I waited for Ezra’s return, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. “What did the doctor have to say?” I dared ask. “You need to take care of yourself. You are undernourished…” he sighed. Somehow, I didn’t believe him. He was hiding something. “For now, you don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll take care of you.” He leaned in and kissed my temple. His expression was impossible to read. I was so tired that I let it go, closed my eyes, and drifted off. The doctor said twenty-four to forty-eight hours. My body had a completely different schedule, because I drifted in and out of sleep for the next three days. When I finally opened my eyes again, sunlight streamed through the curtains. Ezra was still sitting beside my bed. He looked exhausted. I called out softly. His head snapped up. I reached for him, and he immediately took my hand. “You scared me.” He sounded frightened. I closed my eyes for a moment and allowed myself to imagine a future with Ezra. Not one dictated by the Council, not one built around sacrifices, but a future I actually wanted. The next few weeks passed slowly. My strength returned little by little. At first, I could barely stand, then I started walking again. Ezra insisted on helping me through the gardens, even when I told him I could manage. Sometimes he pushed me through the gardens in a wheelchair on the days when my legs still felt weak. I hated feeling weak, but I loved how carefully he watched over me. Our night strolls became morning and evening walks, and every day, I felt a little stronger. Still, something was bothering me. Ezra had remained highly protective. One afternoon, after Ezra had checked on me for what felt like the tenth time, I finally stopped him. “What aren't you telling me?” He froze. For a man who could face an entire Council without blinking, he suddenly looked remarkably uncomfortable. “Ezra.” He sat beside me. “The doctor found something in your bloodwork after you were poisoned,” he said. “At first, he wasn't certain. You were too weak, and the poison had put your body under a lot of strain.” My stomach tightened. “What did he find?” Ezra reached for my hand. His thumb moved slowly across my knuckles. “You're pregnant.” For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. My free hand went instinctively to my stomach. “Pregnant?” He nodded. “The doctor confirmed it this morning. You're still early, but you're both healthy.” Both. The word hit me harder than anything else. A child. His child. Our child. A hundred emotions collided inside me at once. Fear. Wonder. Joy. And somewhere beneath all of it, anger at the thought of the Council demanding this very thing from us as though a child were simply another clause in a treaty. Ezra must have seen the change in my face. “This has nothing to do with them,” he said quietly. I looked at him. “The Council wanted an heir.” “I don't care what the Council wanted.” His expression hardened. “This child isn't theirs. And neither are you.” Something inside me loosened. He lifted my hand to his lips. “I didn't tell you until I knew you were both safe.” I leaned into him, resting my forehead against his shoulder. For the first time, the thought of carrying his child didn't feel like another duty forced upon me. It felt like something that belonged to us. That evening, Ezra asked if I was strong enough to have dinner with the pack. I hadn't entered the common hall since the poisoning. Part of me wanted to stay hidden upstairs, but I was tired of hiding because of what someone else had done to me. So I went. Ezra walked beside me, his hand wrapped around mine. The moment we entered, conversation faded. Hundreds of eyes turned toward us. Then Vanessa stood. Her chair scraped sharply across the floor. “You.” The hatred in her voice made the room go silent. I felt Ezra's fingers tighten around mine. Vanessa crossed the hall. “You walk in here wearing his mark and pretending you belong beside him.” I held her gaze. Weeks earlier, I might have lowered mine. I didn't now. “I don't need to pretend anything.” Her face twisted. She stepped toward me and raised her hand. This time, she never touched me. Ezra caught her wrist. “Enough.” One word. The force behind it silenced the entire room. Vanessa stared at him. “Ezra—” The doors opened behind us. Beta James entered with two guards. Something cold moved through Vanessa's expression. Ezra released her wrist. “You've had several chances to stop,” he said. “You chose not to.” Vanessa took a step back. “I don't know what you're talking about.” “Yes, you do.” James moved toward the screen at the far end of the hall. The first image appeared. Vanessa stood in a corridor with the servant who had brought my tea. She handed the girl the tray herself. My breath caught. The next image showed Vanessa outside the vault, grabbing me by the hair. Then another angle showed her kicking me after dragging me into Ezra's office. One piece of evidence after another. Vanessa's face drained of colour. “That proves nothing,” she snapped. “I handed someone a tray.” James spoke from beside the screen. “The servant has already given us her statement. Vanessa told her the tea had been prepared especially for the Luna and ordered her to deliver it personally.” Vanessa shook her head. “She is lying.” “The poison was also traced,” Ezra said. “You had access to it.” The room seemed to shrink around us. Vanessa looked at him as if she still believed there was some version of this where he would choose her. “I did it for you.” My stomach turned. Ezra's expression didn't change. “For me?” “She came here and took everything.” Vanessa pointed at me. “Your attention. Your bed. Your mark. She doesn't belong here.” Ezra went very still. “There was never a place beside me that belonged to you.” Vanessa flinched as though he had struck her. “I love you.” “No,” Ezra said. “You wanted something you believed you were entitled to. Love doesn't poison the person I chose.” The words landed harder than his Alpha command ever could. Vanessa looked at me. Pure hatred filled her face. Ezra stepped between us. “I, Alpha Ezra Stone of the Stone Moon Pack, find you responsible for deliberately poisoning my mate and for repeatedly assaulting the Luna of this pack.” Vanessa's lips parted. His voice remained frighteningly calm. “You are exiled from the Stone Moon Pack. From this moment forward, you hold no rank, no protection and no claim here.” The guards moved in. Vanessa fought them as they took her arms. “Ezra!” He didn't look at her. They dragged her toward the doors. Only then did he speak again. “Do not come back.” The doors closed behind her. Silence filled the hall. I stared at Ezra. He turned toward the pack. “The Council gave Claire a title when they forced us into a marriage.” My chest tightened. “But they did not make her my Luna.” His eyes moved across the room. “She did that herself.” Nobody spoke. “She walked into this pack as a stranger and served people who had given her no reason to care about them. She listened to you. She helped your children. She visited your sick. She defended this pack even when she wasn't certain it would ever accept her.” Then his eyes found mine. “And I was the last fool in the room to understand what all of you had already begun to see.” A few quiet laughs moved through the hall. My eyes burned. Ezra walked back to me. “Claire is my wife. My mate. And my Luna.” James was the first to bow. “Luna.” Beatriz followed. Then Peter. One by one, the people around us lowered their heads. “Luna.” The word travelled through the hall. Not because the Council had ordered them to call me that. Not because I carried Ezra's name. Because they meant it. Ezra took my face between his hands. For once, I didn't care that everyone was watching. “I love you.” My heart stumbled. I had wanted to hear those words for longer than I had been willing to admit. “Say it again.” His mouth curved. “You want me to say it again?” I nodded. He leaned close enough that his forehead touched mine. “I love you, Claire.” I smiled through the tears gathering in my eyes. His hand slipped down until it rested gently over my stomach. “And apparently, we're going to have a very small person keeping us awake soon.”

I looked around the hall, at the pack that had slowly become my home. Then I looked at the man I had once believed would never want me. I had arrived here as a sacrifice. A bastard Omega traded away to end a war. The Council had made me Ezra's wife. A blood pact had made us mates. But neither of those things had made this love real. We had done that ourselves. I had arrived as the Luna he never wanted. Somewhere along the way, I had become the woman he chose. And, for the first time in my life, I had been allowed to choose too. I placed my hand over his. His Luna. And he was mine.