The Wolf God's Unwanted Luna

Vivian’s POV

Staff members noticed me instantly the moment I stepped near the open doorway. Some tried desperately not to stare. Others weren’t so subtle at all. I could feel their intense unease could practically taste it hanging thick in the air. I understood why, though. My aura wasn’t exactly soft or welcoming anymore. I’d inherited a formidable presence that made ordinary people deeply uneasy the kind that felt ancient, heavy, and formidable, much like Zahliver’s own overwhelming aura.

It made me wonder, though... what did I actually look like to them?

A sarcastic pain in the ass? An awkward introvert forced into high society? A moody werewolf who liked quiet snacks and hated massive crowds?

Or are we talking about me and you right now?

Please. I’m just saying what we’re both secretly thinking.

Before the internal voice in my head could run its mouth any further, Jesse turned around and grinned wide.

"Well, I’ll be damned. Could it be? Is it really she? Hello, Luna," she said with a teasing lilt, her broad smile stretching from ear to ear.

"Hey, Jesse. Finally meeting you in person it’s about time," I said, stepping fully into the chaotic room. My eyes swept over the massive space. Exposed wires dangling from above. Half-unpainted walls. High-end furniture still tightly wrapped in protective plastic. Open paint cans dotting the far corners like dangerous landmines. "This is, um..."

"Unfinished?" she offered, arching a single dark brow while flipping through the thick clipboard in her hands.

"Yeah, that sounds about right," I admitted with a slightly sheepish grin.

She sighed heavily, her sharp eyes narrowing at one of the crew members dragging a heavy chair in the completely wrong direction. "Believe me, I know. I was really hoping we’d be fully done by tonight, but it looks like it’ll be more like early morning if we’re lucky. And that’s not even counting the grand lighting setup or the catering food."

She shot me a quick look, clearly trying her best to keep her cool under pressure.

"But don’t worry at all. It’ll all be fully ready before the ball actually starts. Now that you’re here, what do you think about..."

The rest of the morning turned into a whirlwind of constant activity. Elaborate decorations, mood lighting schemes, event playlists, and extensive food tasting Jesse and I went through every single detail together. It was chaotic in the best kind of way, the exact kind of high-energy environment that left me buzzing with excitement, even as I waved a fond goodbye to her and made my way back to our private penthouse suite where Zahliver said lunch would be waiting.

I stepped inside to find him hunched low over a staggering mountain of paperwork. The fresh food sitting on the table remained completely untouched, but his facial expression was what really caught my attention. His face was a total storm cloud frustrated, deeply tense, and so consumed by anger that he didn’t even look up right away.

"Are you okay?" I asked gently, concern knitting my brow as I crossed the quiet room and sat down at the table. I reached for a warm garlic breadstick, the rich smell instantly making my mouth water.

He exhaled a long, heavy sigh, dragging a large hand down his face before leaning back in his chair.

"No. It looks like tomorrow night will be filled with swift firings and unexpected promotions. Some Alphas under my rule are complete imbeciles," he muttered darkly, then picked up a breadstick of his own and bit into it without much real interest. "Have you ever heard of Alpha Stone from the Leanzar pack?"

I nodded slowly. "I’ve heard the name brought up before, but I’ve never met him in person. Why?"

Gods, this garlic bread was absolute heaven. I tried to savor the rich bite, but Zahliver’s very next words made that completely impossible.

"He’s been turning a blind eye to forced matings in his pack. They’re not waiting for their true fated mates they’re pairing wolves up like it’s some kind of cold business transaction. Males and females. All artificially arranged."

I stopped chewing instantly. My stomach twisted into a tight knot, and my inner beast snarled deep inside me a guttural growl of pure rage echoing through my very bones.

"They’re mating for status and political gain?" I asked quietly, the horrifying idea making my chest ache.

He gave a solemn, heavy nod.

"You really do have a lot of firing to do," I murmured softly. "What about the wolves who were already forced into these unnatural bonds? What happens to them?"

I couldn’t stop thinking about the poor wolves who might’ve been robbed forever of meeting their true mates. The mere thought felt like a violation of everything sacred in our kind. Who was Alpha Stone to decide who belonged to whom? Did he not feel the divine power of his own bond? Or worse did he simply not care?

Zahliver leaned back, his gaze cold and distant. "I usually focus on completely eliminating the root source of the problem. The emotional fallout? That’s not something I’m particularly good at handling... if you haven’t already noticed."

I looked down at the table, the sheer weight of the issue pressing heavily on me. My instincts both human and wolf alike refused to let this go without a fight. I needed to do more than just feel angry about it. I needed to act.

"If they weren’t true fated mates, then... wouldn’t the forced marks eventually fade on their own if we started a proper separation process?" I asked, thinking rapidly aloud. "If their destined mates are still out there somewhere, don’t they have the absolute right to find them? No one should be stuck in a bond they didn’t choose for themselves. If young pups were involved, then... well, I suppose each pair would need to decide what’s truly best for their child. But they should at least be given the freedom of choice."

The words came out in a steady, determined stream, my voice rising with every thought. When I finally looked up, Zahliver was watching me intently, something fiercely warm and deeply admiring flickering in his striking blue eyes.

"You never stop surprising me," he said softly, the pride in his tone completely unmistakable. "You don’t need anyone to teach you what a true Luna is meant to do, Vivian. You already embody it when it matters most."

The sudden heat that bloomed in my chest at his words caught me entirely off guard. A soft, genuine smile pulled at my lips. For a brief moment, the uncertain ground beneath my feet didn’t feel so terrifying anymore.

"If that’s what you want done, then I’ll make it happen," he said firmly, with zero hesitation in his voice.

"Good," I said, feeling the smallest ember of real hope light up inside me. Maybe lasting change didn’t always have to come through endless fire and destruction. Maybe, sometimes, it started with just one single voice refusing to stay silent.