"Alpha Lucien, please forgive the disturbance. My mate has allowed her emotions to get the better of her."
Kael’s voice was calm, every trace of the anger from moments ago carefully concealed.
"If you’ll allow me a moment, I’ll resolve this family matter immediately."
The man standing at the end of the corridor didn’t answer. Instead, those unsettling silver eyes swept silently over the scene.
Kael cleared his throat. "This is my mate, Luna Evelyn Valemont of the Silver Creek Pack."
"Ex-Luna," I corrected before anyone else could speak.
Kael’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
"She is no ex-Luna of mine." He looked directly at me. "Not until our marriage is lawfully dissolved."
His gaze hardened. "You remain my Luna."
I scoffed, shaking my head. I couldn’t believe the audacity of Kael.
"Your Luna?" I repeated. "Isn’t that interesting?" I turned to Sophia, who was still standing, holding her cheek.
"Then perhaps I should begin acting like your Luna."
Kael’s eyebrows furrowed. He immediately tried mind-linking me, but that link was long gone. I had blocked him out already.
Kael paled. For the first time since I had walked out of the council hall, uncertainty flickered across his face.
"Evelyn," he warned.
I didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, I turned toward the guards standing at attention. "You."
One of them stiffened immediately. "Y-Yes, Luna?"
"Bring me the Luna disciplinary whip."
The silence was so loud it was overwhelming. The guard stood frozen.
"...L-Luna?"
"Did I stutter?" My gaze swept over the assembled warriors. "Or has the Alpha’s declaration already changed?"
The warriors exchanged uncertain glances before instinctively looking toward Kael. Even the servants had forgotten to breathe. Moments ago, Kael himself had declared before everyone present that I was still his Luna.
If that were true...
Then I still possessed every authority that came with the title.
Including the right to discipline members of the pack.
Sophia seemed to realize the same thing. The color drained from her face as she took an involuntary step backward.
"Kael..."
"Bring me the whip," I repeated, my voice calm. "Or has Silver Creek forgotten how to obey its Luna?"
The guard immediately rushed off while Kael walked over to me, his eyes blazing with anger he struggled to keep under control.
"What are you doing?" he hissed, struggling to keep his composure. "Do you know how difficult it was to secure this meeting with Alpha Lucien? Don’t ruin this."
I paid him no mind.
The guard hurried back moments later, both hands trembling as he presented the coiled leather whip.
I took it without hesitation.
For five years, I had carried this whip not to inspire fear, but to uphold discipline within Silver Creek. I had never once abused the authority it represented.
Today, however... it finally had a purpose.
"Stretch out your hand, Sophia."
Sophia stared at me as though I’d lost my mind.
"What?" Her gaze flickered to Kael, panicking.
"You heard me, and I won’t repeat myself."
Sophia teared up instantly.
"K-Kael, will you really let this happen?"
"Alpha Kael," I corrected. "Mind your manners when addressing the Alpha."
"And as for him having a say..." I slowly uncoiled the whip. "The Alpha does not interfere when the Luna disciplines her subordinates."
I glanced at his panicked face.
"Or have the laws of Silver Creek changed overnight?"
Kael’s expression darkened.
"Evelyn," he warned, but still, I ignored him.
Sophia stumbled back another step, tears already spilling down her cheeks.
"You’ve gone mad!" she cried. "Kael, say something!"
I raised the whip, ready to hit her, but before I could, Kael stopped me, his hand wrapped tightly around my wrist.
"That’s enough!"
"Enough? Are you now interfering in the Luna punishing her subordinate, Alpha?" I drawled.
Kael’s eyes flashed red.
"You’re not using the Luna’s authority for its intended purpose. This is preposterous. Barbaric."
My gaze dropped to the hand still wrapped tightly around my wrist before lifting to meet his eyes.
"You stood before everyone here and declared that I remain the Luna of Silver Creek until our marriage is lawfully dissolved."
"You insisted I still carry the responsibilities of that title."
"So tell me, Alpha Kael... At what point did the authority disappear?"
His jaw clenched.
"You know that’s not what I meant."
I took a slow step forward, forcing him to either release my wrist or be dragged with me.
"What law have I broken?" I asked.
"You’re punishing the wrong person."
"The wrong person?" I repeated. "Sophia not only lied against my name but has also publicly insulted the Luna of Silver Creek, laid hands on her, and challenged my authority."
"According to pack law, what is the punishment for publicly disrespecting the Luna?"
The punishment was the disciplinary whip. Everyone knew this.
"Or perhaps the laws only apply when they inconvenience someone else?"
His grip tightened.
"You’re twisting my words."
"No." I shook my head. "I’m exposing the hypocrisy in them."
I slowly pulled my wrist free from his grasp.
"Pack law forbids an Alpha from interfering when the Luna disciplines her subordinates. You know this, and yet..." I huffed.
"You want me to remain your Luna while Sophia enjoyed the privileges of being one."
A bitter laugh escaped me.
"You expected me to bear the burdens of the title... while surrendering every right that comes with it."
"If I am truly your Luna, then no one, not even you, has the right to interfere in my judgment."
"And if I am not..." I let the words hang between us. "...then you have no right to stop me from leaving."
I took a step back, looking around with bitterness.
"I’ll have the divorce papers sent to you in my terms. Sign them, Kael."
With that, I turned to leave the house, my maid behind me.
As I reached the doorway, I paused slightly, turning to my right where the new Alpha stood with the man I’d considered his beta.
Our eyes met briefly. Something about those silver eyes felt oddly familiar, but before I could dwell on it, I turned away.
Kael stepped forward to follow me, but Sophia grabbed his hand, holding him back. He glanced at her, and she shook her head.
"Let her go," she whispered.
I walked out of the house, determined not to let a single tear fall.
The new Alpha watched my retreating figure, his jaw clenched hard. His beta stepped closer to him.
"That’s her, Alpha. Luna Evelyn Valemont."