Chapter 5: An Omega? As Luna? You Must Be Joking."

"Mom!" I sprinted across the pack house courtyard, throwing myself into my mother's arms. Her familiar scent of vanilla and jasmine enveloped me, and for a moment, I felt like a little girl again. Safe. Protected.

"My beautiful girl," she whispered, holding me tight. "I've missed you so much."

"I can't believe you're here." I pulled back. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

"A mother doesn't need an invitation to visit her daughter." Her eyes searched my face. "Especially when rumors reach her ears about strange happenings in her daughter's pack."

I tried to keep my expression neutral. "Mom—"

"Let's go for a run," she said suddenly, that familiar sparkle in her eye. "Remember how we used to race through the eastern trails? Your father could never keep up with us."

My heart clenched. "I... I can't right now. I have pack duties to attend to."

"Since when has my daughter been too busy to run with her mother?" She raised an eyebrow. "The pack can spare you for an hour."

"Maybe later?" I forced a smile. "I thought we could make Grandma's special stew instead. I've been craving it lately."

Mom studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "The kitchen it is, then."

In the kitchen, she pulled ingredients from the cupboards with practiced ease, just like she used to do when I was young. "Chop these carrots for me, dear. You remember how your grandmother always said to cut them in perfect circles?"

"Because imperfect circles make imperfect magic," we said together, laughing.

For a while, we worked in comfortable silence. The rhythmic sound of chopping, the aromatic herbs, the familiar motions – it almost made me forget everything that had happened.

"You know," Mom said casually, adding spices to the pot, "I always loved watching you and Luna run together. You two were perfectly matched – the strongest wolf connection I'd ever seen in an Alpha pair."

My knife slipped, nearly cutting my finger.

"Careful, sweetheart." She touched my hand. "Now, are you going to tell me what's really going on? Why won't you shift?"

"Mom, I—" My voice cracked.

"Zenobia." She turned me to face her. "Talk to me. I know you. I know when something’s wrong.’’

"She's gone, Mom. I can't feel Luna anymore. I can't shift, I can't—" A sob caught in my throat.

Mom wiped my tears with her thumb. "Baby, what's going on here? Your wolf is gone, and I've been hearing things... rumors about Maxwell."

I couldn't meet her eyes. "He... he brought someone else home."

"What do you mean someone else?"

"An omega named Rebecca." My voice cracked. "He says she's his true mate. He moved out of our room, Mom. He just... left me."

"He did what?" Mom's voice turned sharp. "After everything we arranged? The pack alliance—"

"That's not even the worst part." The words tumbled out. "I've been having these dreams, terrible dreams. Rebecca standing over burning bodies, our pack in flames. And then..." I touched my stomach unconsciously. "I was pregnant, Mom. I hadn't even told Maxwell yet. But someone pushed me off Wolf's Cliff, and I lost—" My voice broke completely.

"Oh, my baby." Mom pulled me into her arms as I sobbed. "My precious girl."

"Zenobia? I thought I heard—" Maxwell's voice cut off as he entered the kitchen. "Alpha Marie?"

Mom's body stiffened. She turned slowly, keeping one arm around me. "Maxwell."

"It's good to see you," he said, shifting uncomfortably. "I didn't know you were visiting."

"Clearly, there's a lot you haven't bothered to tell me." Mom's voice could have frozen fire. "Like how you've betrayed my daughter and broken our pack alliance."

"Alpha Marie, please understand. Rebecca is my true mate. The Moon Goddess—"

"Don't you dare invoke the Moon Goddess to justify this!" Mom's power filled the room. "We had an agreement, Maxwell. Our packs united through you and Zenobia. Or have you forgotten what that marriage meant for both our territories?"

"I haven't forgotten, but—"

"Max? Baby, is everything okay?" Rebecca appeared in the doorway, all innocent smiles. "I heard voices..."

Mom turned toward Rebecca's voice. The moment their eyes met, all color drained from my mother's face.

"No," Mom whispered, stumbling backward. "It can't be... you're dead."

"Mom?" I grabbed her arm as she swayed.

"You... you're supposed to be..." Mom clutched her chest, gasping for air. "How are you here?"

Rebecca's smile never wavered, but something dark flashed in her eyes.

"Mom! What's wrong?" I caught her as her knees buckled.

"Get help!" I screamed at Maxwell as my mother collapsed in my arms. "Mom, please! Stay with me!"

The last thing I saw before chaos erupted was Rebecca's satisfied smirk. She knew. Somehow, she knew exactly who she was – and what her presence would do to my mother.

…

"Alpha?" Amber's soft voice pulled me from my vigil at my mother's bedside. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the pack meeting is starting. They're going to decide about Rebecca."

I kissed Mom's forehead, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. "I'll be back soon," I whispered, then followed Amber to the great hall.

The pack meeting hall was filled with hundreds of pack members who’d come to watch today’s proceedings.

Elder Thomas stood first. "We've gathered to address the matter of the omega Rebecca, who Alpha Maxwell has brought into our pack claiming her as his true mate. This council recognizes only one Alpha female – Zenobia."

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Maxwell rose, his presence commanding silence.

"My pack members," he began, his voice smooth as honey. "I understand your concerns. Zenobia remains my wife and your Alpha. She has led this pack with grace and wisdom, and that won't change." He paused, taking Rebecca's hand. "But the Moon Goddess has blessed me with true love. Rebecca completes me in ways I never thought possible. Shouldn't you be happy that your Alpha has found his true mate? That our pack will now have a true Luna?"

"We already have a Luna!" someone shouted. "Zenobia is our only Alpha!"

The crowd erupted in chants: "Alpha Zenobia! Alpha Zenobia!"

"Not some omega!" others joined in.

Rebecca stood suddenly, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Please, let me speak." The hall fell silent, all eyes turning to her. "My love for Maxwell is pure and true. But can Zenobia say the same?"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"What do you mean?" Maxwell asked, frowning.

Rebecca's eyes gleamed. "Just days ago, I overheard a very interesting conversation. Luis, your own Beta, confessing his undying love to your wife." She turned to the crowd. "The way he spoke... it sounded like they've been intimate for years. He's fallen deeply in love with her."

Gasps echoed through the hall. Maxwell's face darkened.

"In fact," Rebecca continued, faking concern. "should someone who accepts such advances from her husband's Beta really be fit to lead this pack?"

I rose slowly, letting my Alpha presence fill the room. "Is that the best lie you could conjure, Rebecca?" My voice carried clear and strong. "You claim I've been with Luis, yet my husband stands right there. Maxwell, in all our years together, have you ever caught another man's scent on me?"

Maxwell shifted uncomfortably. "No."

"You were my first, Maxwell. My only. Every pack member here knows that." I look at Rebecca. "But you want to talk about fitness to lead? You arrive out of nowhere, tear apart a pack alliance, and now spread lies about your Alpha. You claim to be worthy of leading this pack, yet you demonstrate no understanding of pack loyalty or honor."

The council members nodded in agreement.

"An omega who resorts to lies and manipulation has no place in Alpha ranks," Elder Thomas declared.

Rebecca's mask of innocence cracked, just for a moment. But in that instant, I saw the same cruel smile from my dreams – the one she wore while standing over burning bodies.

The council's decision would have to wait, though. Because at that moment, Amber rushed in.

"Alpha Zenobia." She stood at the hall entrance, looking concerned. "I apologize for the interruption, but you're needed outside immediately. It's urgent."

I turned to the council. "Please excuse me for a moment."

As I walked out, voices rose behind me – pack members defending my honor, cursing Rebecca's lies.

"What is it, Amber?" I asked the minute we were outside.

She pulled an envelope from her jacket. "It just arrived by messenger." She held it out to me. "It's from the Lycan King."

My heart stopped. The envelope was heavy, made of thick parchment. The royal seal – a wolf's head surrounded by ancient runes – painted in dark red wax.

"He actually responded," I whispered, my fingers hovering over the seal.

Inside this envelope lay the fate of my entire pack. Would the most powerful wolf in our world offer his protection? Or would my desperate plea be seen as weakness, giving him reason to destroy us all?