The Luna's Tarnished Moon Rune
My mate, Harrison, didn't come home all night. When he finally showed up, the scent of another woman was tainting our mate bond.
When I confronted him, he casually said the pressure from the pack was too much and he needed to let off some steam.
However, on his shoulder, the mate-mark that should have held my unique moon rune was crudely covered by a strange vine pattern.
At the important partnership presentation the next day, a woman named Sienna blatantly draped herself over him, whispering intimately in his ear.
And I, his Luna, my face covered in silver burn spots from an alchemy accident, was wearing a veil as I fought to secure the mining rights to the Moon Silver Mines for him.
Worse still, when I turned to present the final potion, I discovered that Sienna had swapped the crucial stabilizer. The potion erupted in virulent black smoke, causing the deal to fall through.
Instead of blaming Sienna, Harrison roared at me, demanding to know how I, as the head alchemist, could be so negligent.
Sienna then threw a tearful tantrum, whining that a Luna like me should just stay at home and have pups. Harrison rushed out after her, pulling her into his arms and leaving me standing there alone.
In that moment, something inside me hardened. I wiped away my tears, my decision made.
I sent out two consecutive mind-links, my commands sharp and cold. "After the celebration tonight, bring Sienna to my alchemy lab. And put something in her moonlight wine."
"Father, the Valerius Pack's support for the Thorne Pack's Moon Silver Mines—it's time to cut it off."