Chapter 5

The entire room fell into stunned silence.

They’d rather believe their ears were playing tricks on them than accept the reality—an Alpha had declared a divorced woman as his Luna.

To outsiders, my figure was too full, too lush to be considered the ideal beauty. Women like my delicate half-sister, Dariya—so frail they seemed they’d collapse with a strong breeze—were the coveted brides.

Mike, however, refused to accept the truth. He believed Jason, the Alpha King, had lost his senses. Clinging to the Royal Herald, Mike shouted his grievances for all to hear:

“Jade has defiled herself! She put shame upon me and dared to ask for break of bound! she is no fit Luna! And the culprit is here—this mongrel—punish them both!”

The Herald, unimpressed, cast a disapproving glance at Mike before turning to bow respectfully to the Royal Guards flanking me.

“Thirty lashes for Mike. You, Alpha Guard, will carry out the punishment immediately.”

Without waiting for so much as a rebuttal, the Herald left to deliver the Alpha King’s decree.

The Guard wasted no time. His wolves quickly began stripping Mike's household bare, fulfilling every item on my carefully prepared list.

“Luna,” the Guard said, bowing slightly. “We’ve accounted for every asset. The shops, the treasures, the furnishings… all claimed. However, Mike’s debt to you from the last two years is still one million seven hundred thousand Werewolf Crowns in silver. The gifts he sent on your behalf—rare wolf-bone carvings and starstone jewels—have not been fully reimbursed either.”

Before his words even finished, the old matron gasped, clutching her chest. “What a curse upon our house! This gold-digging, soulless woman… my son is a Beta! He worked tirelessly during last winter’s famine! How can petty coins outweigh his noble sacrifices?!”

I laughed softly. Coins? Oh, how little they knew. Mike’s so-called noble deeds were my plans, my resources, and his “sacrifices” nothing but a facade.

As if sensing my thoughts, the Alpha Guard raised the whip. Each lash across Mike’s back was met with a satisfying crack, followed by the sweet scent of his blood.

Dariya rushed to Mike’s mother, frantically fanning her, but even in her panic, she turned her venom on me.