No Longer Your Luna, But the Alpha Queen Chapter 04

No Longer Your Luna, But the Alpha Queen Chapter 04

One of his buddies clapped a hand over his chest and swore, “Bastian, go take care of Zyra. We’ve got Tahlia. Nothing’s going to happen. We’ll make sure she’s scrubbed spotless so she’s ready to be your bride tomorrow.”

Bastian felt a strange prickle of unease at those words, and he frowned, about to push back. But Zyra squirmed out of his arms and shoved him away. “Bastian, go be with Tahlia. I know you didn’t mean it when you said you wanted to punish her. It’s my fault for getting pregnant and driving a wedge between you two. Tomorrow is your mating ceremony. I’ve decided to get rid of this baby that should never have existed. Consider it my wedding gift to you both.” She forced a trembling smile. “Congratulations. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.”

Then she stumbled toward the exit.

Everyounce of Bastian’s hesitation evaporated. Without a backward glance, he chased after Zyra, leaving behind a single cold sentence: “Tahlia, if anything happens to my child, we’re done.”

But we were already done the moment he cheated.

They shoved me under again. Someone produced a toilet brush and a ball of steel wool and started scrubbing my skin back and forth. My entire body felt like it was being pierced by needles, and I couldn’t stop shaking from the pain.

They didn’t stop until I lost consciousness from drowning.

When I woke, the sky was just beginning to lighten. There was no one around. Just me, lying on the cold tile floor, my skin an angry, screaming red from the violent scrubbing, so raw that the slightest touch sent agony drilling into my bones.

I dragged myself up with a bitter smile, grabbed the nearest bathrobe, wrapped it around my body, and headed for the presidential suite.

But Bastian was waiting at the door, seething. His eyes swept over my reddened skin, and before I could speak, he slapped me across the face. “Tahlia, you really are trash. I told them to wash you clean so you could marry me with some dignity, and instead you openly let a group of men…”

He couldn’t finish the last two words.

He seized my chin and forced me to look at his phone. That was when I understood. After I’d passed out, the men had panicked that I might actually be dead and took turns giving me mouth-to-mouth. The photos they’d taken, thanks to the angles, looked obscene. You couldn’t tell that I’d been completely unconscious.

I swallowed the taste of iron and swung my hand to slap him back.

But a figure darted out and stepped in front of Bastian. My full-force slap landed squarely onZyra’s face.

Blood gushed from her nose instantly, and her cosmetic nose job shifted sideways. She looked ridiculous and pathetic at the same time.

But Bastian wasn’t laughing. He pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair. “You silly girl. I told you to stay at the hospital and rest. Why did you take that hit for me? Don’t you know it kills me to see you hurt?”

Zyra pressed a hand to her crooked nose, sobbing uncontrollably. “Bastian, I was worried about you. This is all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you and Tahlia wouldn’t be fighting. She’s just angry that I’m carrying your baby. Let her take it out on me. I can handle it.”

Bastian was so moved that he bent down and kissed the tears and blood from her face, his voice ringing with conviction. “Zyra, you’re too kind, too naive. I swear I won’t let anything happen to you or our child. I’ll protect you both for the rest of my life.”

Their tender little scene couldn’t stir a single ripple in my heart anymore.

I turned to leave, but Bastian grabbed my arm. His voice was ice. “I’ll keep my promise and give you a grand mating ceremony so no one can say you were humiliated. But you’re already dirty, and your heart is rotten. You don’t deserve to be my Luna. Go change into the wedding dress and wait for me at the hotel. I’ll come mark you.”

“That won’t be neces–”

As if he’d ever be worthy of marking me.

Before I could finish, Bastian was already on the phone, ordering his beta to process a Mate Bond Certificate for him and Zyra. He hung up without sparing me another glance and whisked Zyra off to the best cosmetic surgeon in the city.

I turned and walked toward the presidential suite to wash up and change, indifferent to all of it. But a hotel attendant blocked my path, sneering with open contempt. “Where do you think you’re going? You think someone like you can waltz into our presidential suite? Take a look at yourself.”

Passersby who didn’t know the situation stared and whispered as they took in my appearance. “Look at all those red marks. Getting thrown out of a hotel like that, she must’ve been up to something disgraceful.”

Then someone started throwing garbage at me. “Everyone, look! This woman is supposed to marry my son today, and she’s been at a hotel cheating on him! My son caught her red-handed, and she still has the nerve to demand that he mark her!”

Within seconds, an angry mob pelted me until blood ran down my face. The blood blurred my vision, but it didn’t stop me from seeing the photos on Mrs. Silverveil’s phone. They were the same explicit shots those men had taken.

I’d underestimatedZyra. She’d gotten to Mrs. Silverveil fast. Then again, considering she was carrying Bastian’s child, it all made perfect sense.

“Tahlia, you worthless tramp! Get as far away from here as you can! Today’s mating ceremony will be my son’s and Zyra’s!”

Mrs. Silverveil grabbed me by the hair and forced me to my knees, demanding I swear an oath. Outnumbered and overpowered, I knelt before a wall of cameras and spoke clearly: “I swear that from this moment forward, Bastian and I are completely finished. If I break this oath, may I die a wretched death.”

Every word rang truer than the vows I’d once made with Bastian before God, promising to grow old together.

Satisfied that I’d complied, Mrs. Silverveil released me. I ignored the insults, ignored her twisted face, and summoned every last ounce of strength to stand.

But she still wouldn’t let me go. She shoved me toward a Gamma standing nearby. “Take her to exile. She is never to come back and bother my son again.”