Chapter 5

Viya's POV

The next morning, the mansion sounded like it was being dismantled piece by piece.

I opened my bedroom door to find workers carrying out paintings, books, cushions, and several pieces of furniture I had chosen when I still believed this house might become a home.

Martha hurried toward me, wringing her hands.

"Luna Viya, I'm so sorry. Mrs. Miranda said Alpha approved the changes."

"Did he?"

"I don't know." Her eyes lowered. "Alpha left before dawn for border patrol."

Of course he had.

Lucius always disappeared before Miranda's cruelty required consequences.

I walked downstairs slowly. My favorite reading chair was gone. The wall where my landscape paintings had hung was now covered with dramatic rose-themed art pieces. The living room smelled like Miranda's perfume.

Then she appeared at the staircase in a red dress, smiling as if she owned every brick.

"Oh, good. You're awake. I was afraid the noise might disturb you."

"It did."

"How unfortunate."

I looked around. "You redecorated my house."

"Our house soon."

"You're confident."

"I'm realistic." Miranda walked closer, letting her hand trail along the banister. "Lucius wants comfort. Warmth. A family. You gave him rules and medical books."

"And you gave him betrayal wrapped in grief."

Her smile vanished. "Careful."

"No, Miranda. You be careful. You've been acting like Luna in borrowed rooms, borrowed robes, and borrowed affection. But borrowed things are always returned."

She laughed, too sharp. "Returned to whom? You? Lucius barely looks at you unless he feels guilty."

"He looked at me long enough to sign what mattered."

Suspicion flickered in her eyes. "What does that mean?"

"It means you should enjoy the curtains."

Her lips pressed together.

I turned away, then paused as if remembering something. "By the way, don't touch the tea room set."

Miranda's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"It's valuable. Sentimental." I let the hesitation linger. "Never mind. I'm sure even you wouldn't be that petty."

Her expression changed exactly as I expected.

"What tea set?"

"The ivory bone china. Blue crest. Grandma,former Luna Beth's gift."

"Your favorite?"

I lowered my gaze, hiding my smile. "Forget I said anything."

I went back upstairs.

Three hours later, porcelain shattered.

I descended unhurriedly.

In the tea room, Miranda stood over broken pieces, her face flushed. A maid trembled nearby. Martha looked close to tears.

"What happened?" I asked.

Miranda snapped, "It was an accident."

Martha rushed to explain. "Luna Viya, Mrs. Miranda insisted on seeing the tea set. I warned her not to touch it, but she—"

"Enough!" Miranda barked.

I looked down at the broken cup. "That was Former Luna Beth's royal bone china."

Miranda froze.

"You said it was yours."

"No. I said it was valuable. I said not to touch it."

Her eyes flashed with hatred. "You set me up."

"I warned you."

"You wanted this to happen!"

"I wanted you to show who you are."

She stepped toward me. "When Lucius returns, I'll tell him everything."

"Please do. Tell him you destroyed his grandmother's gift because you were jealous of a tea cup."

Martha gasped softly.

Miranda's face turned red. "You smug little—"

"Choose your next word wisely," I said. "There are witnesses."

For once, Miranda had no tears ready.

Within an hour, two Gamma warriors arrived with Thompson, the main estate's butler.

He bowed to me first. "Luna Viya."

Then he turned to Miranda. "Mrs. Miranda, Former Luna Beth requests your presence at the main house."

Miranda swallowed. "For what?"

"For instruction."

Her confidence cracked. "I am Alexander's widow."

"And the rules apply to widows as well." Thompson's tone remained perfectly polite. "Anyone who damages a Pack Elder's possession must kneel in the courtyard for three hours."

Miranda looked at me with pure venom.

I smiled faintly.

"What?" I asked softly. "No tears this time?"

She was escorted out protesting, her voice rising all the way to the driveway.

Martha watched anxiously. "Luna, will Alpha Lucius be angry?"

"Probably."

"Are you worried?"

I looked at the broken porcelain on the floor.

The real tea set, of course, was safely locked in my clinic office. This one was an expensive replica.

"No," I said. "I'm curious which lie he'll choose to believe first."

When Thompson arrived, Miranda attempted one last performance. She clutched the doorway and looked at me with trembling lips.

"Viya, please. Tell them it was a misunderstanding. You know Lucius will be upset if I'm humiliated."

"I'm sure he will be."

"Then help me."

"Why?"

The single word stunned her.

I walked down the last step and faced her in front of the servants. "When my belongings were on the lawn, did you help me? When you wore my robe and called this your future home, did you worry about humiliating me? When Lucius forgot our anniversary because he was with you, did you ask him to go back to his wife?"

Miranda's eyes filled with furious tears. "You're cruel."

"No. I'm learning. You should be proud. You've been an excellent teacher."

Thompson lowered his eyes, but I caught the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth.