Chapter One
Maeve's POV
My mate, Alpha Ronan, loved watching me get jealous over his childhood friend, Vanessa. The angrier I got, the more he enjoyed it.
“Come on, Maeve. You wouldn’t get this worked up if you didn’t love me so much.”
Every year on our mating anniversary, he let Vanessa play Luna for a few days. Then he and his buddies bet on how long it would take me to lose my temper.
The first year, Vanessa put on my nightgown and curled up in Ronan’s arms for a picture. I was so furious I went over and snatched it back. He just kissed me and laughed.
“Knew you couldn’t stand to lose me.”
The second year, he let Vanessa sleep in our bedroom and told me to take the guest room. He only let me into our room after he saw me standing outside, close to tears.
“She’s only staying one night.”
Last year, Vanessa took my seat beside Ronan at a family dinner. His parents fussed over her more than they did over me, their actual Luna. When I got up to leave, Ronan stopped me.
“You’re seriously upset because my parents are being nice to her?”
This year, Vanessa showed up with her luggage and a spare key to the pack house.
“Ronan said I get to be his Luna for the next ten days. You don’t mind, do you, Maeve?”
He carried her suitcase inside, then grinned at his friends.
“Just watch. When has she ever been willing to let anyone else have me?”
I went to the bedroom and packed. When I came back out, he was still holding out his hand, waiting for me to come over so he could calm me down like he always did.
I took off my moonstone ring and placed it in his palm, along with my key.
“She can keep the title after the ten days are up, Ronan. Let her stay your Luna.”
“Maeve’s determined to make you cave this time.”
“Don’t give in too fast, Ronan.”
I could still hear his buddies egging him on as I walked out of the pack house. Vanessa’s brother, Beta Pryce, was laughing the loudest.
Ronan didn’t follow me. He just leaned against the doorframe and chuckled.
“She can’t stay away. Three days, tops. She’ll come back on her own.”
That night, he started taking bets over the pack link. He put up his share of the hunting grounds at the foot of the mountain, betting I wouldn’t last two nights.
To make me give in first, he revoked my access to the house, leaving Vanessa as the only name on the access list. Then he handed her the spare key that had been mine.
Vanessa soon shared an image through the link. My ceramic mug sat on the windowsill, filled with tea she’d brewed, her reflection visible against the morning mist.
The caption read, “Day one as Luna.”
His buddies were quick to respond.
“Take the master bedroom tonight, Your Highness.”
“As Luna, you’d better give that walk-in closet a thorough inspection, too.”
Ronan didn’t stop them. He even added, “Her nightgowns are in the drawer at the very back.”
When I saw all this, I was crouched down unpacking at the cottage my parents had left me at the edge of the woods.
The place had been empty for years. Weeds had grown past the windowsills, and the clock on the wall had long since stopped.
But at least here, my place as his mate wasn’t part of some bet.
That first year, when Vanessa wore my nightgown and curled up in Ronan’s arms, I’d snatched it back in front of everyone. Afterward, he’d held me for most of the night, soothing me and promising he’d never test me like that again.
Now Vanessa was going through my clothes, trying on one thing after another. She’d even started a livestream so the whole pack could vote on her best Luna look.
She slipped into my silk nightgown and slowly turned for the camera.
“What do you think?”
Ronan sat beside her. He glanced up.
“You actually make it look good.”
The livestream filled with laughter.
When someone asked why I wasn’t there, Vanessa’s eyes immediately reddened.
“You know how Maeve gets. She can’t take a joke. I was just trying to help Ronan out. I never thought she’d actually move out. But I’m sure she’ll come back sooner or later.”
Ronan handed her a tissue, then sent me a message.
“A little drama keeps things interesting between mates. If you’re really leaving, come get the rest of your stuff.”
I set my phone facedown on the dusty table and didn’t reply.
When I went back for my things the next day, the lock no longer recognized me.
Vanessa opened the door. She was wearing my gray cashmere cardigan, with the lace trim of the nightgown showing underneath.
The bed had been made up with the pink bedding Vanessa liked. A rose scent drifted from the nightstand. My perfume and skin care products had been dumped into a cardboard box.
Our mating portrait had been taken down and tossed beneath the coat rack behind the door. A shoebox sat on the frame, covering half my face.
Ronan pushed the box toward my feet.
“Think walking out again will make me give in? It’s not going to work.”
Vanessa bit her lip.
“Maybe I should just take the guest room.”
She didn’t move.
Sure enough, Ronan caught her arm.
“She’s the Luna right now. Of course she gets the master bedroom.”
Then he turned to me with that familiar, amused look. He was probably waiting for me to start a fight over the bed, or break down and demand to know which of us he really loved.
I just picked up the box.
“This is all my stuff, right?”
For the first time, his smile disappeared. He was quiet for a few seconds before he spoke again, his voice cold.
“You’re really selling it this time. Fine. Let’s see how long you can hold out.”
I didn’t answer. I turned and closed the door behind me.
