Chapter 14

Isla POV

A red wolf omega was the lowest of the lows, bearing pups was difficult for them and they had difficulty controlling their shifts

My fingers tightened on my napkin, but I kept my voice even.

“I may be a replacement, but I’m still here. That must count for something.”

Rhea’s gaze sharpened, and for a moment I thought she might actually smile.

“Confidence is good. You’ll need it.”

We were interrupted by the arrival of the servers, who began placing dishes along the table—platters of fresh fruit, eggs, pastries, smoked salmon. The scent was enough to make my stomach rumble, but I didn’t reach for anything until Rhea did.

Selene finally looked up from her phone, giving me a once-over that felt more like a challenge than curiosity.

“So, how long do you think you’ll last?”

“Selene,” Rhea said in mild rebuke, though she didn’t sound particularly upset.

" What " Selene cried

" It's not like I'm the one placing bets on it" she grunted, I sipped my water before answering.

"It's fine aunt Rhea." I mumbled and turned to her

" I'll last as long as I choose to.” Selene rolled her eyes.

“You’re not exactly Tristan’s type.”

“And you’re not exactly polite,” I said pleasantly, earning a surprised laugh from Rhea.

Selene flushed but muttered something under her breath that I didn’t catch.

The rest of the meal passed in a careful dance that involved maneuvering every person's tender emotions.

Rhea asking probing questions about my background, my “plans” as Luna, my views on certain pack traditions. It was a test, she was trying to see how far she could push me and how much she could use me to influence Tristan's decisions.

I answered each one with as much tact as I could muster, sidestepping the traps without giving her too much to use against me. By the time the plates were cleared, I felt like I’d just finished a round in the arena.

Rhea rose gracefully, smoothing her skirt.

“Thank you for joining us, Isla. I hope you’ll find your place here.”

The words were polite, but the emphasis was pointed. Selene just smirked at me as she followed her aunt out, muttering something about “poor Viviana.”

I waited until they were gone before letting out the breath I’d been holding.

Lily appeared at my side, her eyes wide.

“You did very well miss” she said a

“Did I?” I murmured, she nodded.

“Better than I would have.”

I wasn't sure if that was such a compliment as Lilly believed it was.

The days after that breakfast were… tolerable.

Not good and frankly not the most pleasant. Just tolerable.

I filled the hours of my day by wandering through the Ridge’s endless corridors, learning the layout of the Alpha King’s sprawling mansion.

It was good exercise with how big the place is and I found the library which was a convenient hiding spot most days.

The servants had all perfected the art of pretending I didn’t exist, when they passed me in the halls they did so without meeting my eyes, conversations cut off mid-word whenever I approached.

Sometimes I heard the low, sharp edge of laughter follow me after I turned the corner. On the worse days, they didn’t even bother with subtlety—deliberately giving me the wrong directions, “accidentally” delivering cold meals, or lost my clothes in the washer. It wasn’t open rebellion… but it was enough to remind me I wasn’t welcome here.

And Tristan?

If I’d hoped things between Tristan and me would thaw, I’d been fooling myself. He’d made good on his unspoken promise to avoid me.

No breakfasts or dinners not even a casual encounters in the hall. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the Alpha King had vanished entirely.

I told myself I didn’t mind.

In fact, I preferred it this way, suited me fine, the less I saw of him, the easier it was to keep my temper in check. That and it gave me time to focus on the one thing that had been eating at me since I got here—Viviana.

My lovely step sister and the woman Tristan had been dreaming about the night he kissed me.

I knew she mattered enough for him to spit cruel truths in my face without hesitation.

But what I didn’t know—what I was desperate to know—was the why. If she meant so much to him, why wasn’t she here?

Why wasn’t she the Luna instead of me?

Why was I here, trapped in this bizarre arrangement, forced to play the role of his Luna while she hovered like a ghost between us?

Since Lilly wasn't going to give me any answers, I started asking quiet questions but not directly, of course—no one would give me a straight answer if I did. as he stepped around me like I was an obstacle instead of a person.

I listened lingering in doorways for whatever accidentally information the maids would let me have, I spent whatever time I wasn't in the library taking the long way around the mansion to “accidentally” overhear conversations.

But so far I had found… nothing.

Either the staff truly didn’t know, or someone had made sure they’d never talk.

The more I searched, the more every lead ended in silence and every time I asked a careful question about Viviana, I hit a wall.

It was like Tristan’s name and hers were tied together like some unspoken covenant that no one dared expose.

I was in the library with a book when the for slammed open and Lilly came flying into the room her usual calm expression replaced by something closer to dread.

“There you are,” she said, relief in her voice.

“I’ve been looking for you.”

“Why?” I asked, closing the book I’d been pretending to read.

“You’ll need to dress for tonight,” she said without her usual greeting

I looked up from where I’d been lounging in the armchair, thumbing idly through a book I wasn’t actually reading.

“Dress for what?”

“The dinner.”

“What dinner?” I asked completely confused.

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

“ The Alpha King and Luna will be attending the council’s seasonal gathering.”

I blinked at her trying not to let the shock circuit my brain

“The Alpha King and Luna?”

She gave me a pointed look.

“That would be you.”

I groaned, tossing the book onto the table beside me.

“Please tell me there’s a way to get out of this.”

“There isn’t.”

“ It's your final presentation to the pack and it's elders “ she said and I froze

“ I thought that's done on the full moon feast” I asked and Lilly nodded

“ Yes usually but the elders say they will make an exception since the full moon is still ways off”

I pushed myself to my feet, pacing toward the wardrobe with a muttered curse.

“I don’t see why I have to be paraded around like a prize mare. It’s not like anyone there actually wants me around.”