Chapter 8: Inquire

Juno's POV

The past month dragged on like a nightmare I couldn't wake from. Matthew spent less and less time at home. When he was there, he hovered around Isabelle like a lovesick puppy, hanging on her every word. They'd started sleeping in the guest bedroom—my room was no longer theirs. Our room. Whatever.

I touched the mark on my neck and winced. Once, it had made me feel cherished, connected. Now it was just an ugly reminder of broken promises. I kept it covered with high-necked tops and scarves, hating how it bound me to a man whose heart belonged to someone else.

"It's just temporary," I whispered to myself, packing away a few more essentials into the small bag hidden at the back of my closet. "This phase will pass." Even as I said the words, I knew they were lies.

Matthew had been taking Isabelle to every social event in Forestvale while ordering me to "stay and watch over the pack." As if I needed the reminder that I was now nothing more than a glorified babysitter.

Some of the other Lunas had reached out with sympathetic glances and hurried whispers of support. Others had already switched allegiance, congratulating Isabelle on her "destined connection" with Matthew. The one blessing was that Matthew hadn't officially named Isabelle as Luna yet—that would mean she'd have to take over all my responsibilities, including leading our Deltas into battle. From what I'd seen of her perfectly manicured nails and perpetual wide-eyed expression, she wasn't exactly combat material.

"She wouldn't last five minutes in a real fight," Seraphine, my wolf, growled in my mind. "Unlike us."

"That's not helping," I muttered, but couldn't help the small smile that formed. At least my wolf still had my back.

The door to my office crashed open so hard it bounced against the wall. Matthew stormed in, face contorted with rage, eyes flashing.

"What the fuck have you done?" he roared, ignoring the three Deltas who instantly tensed in the corner of the room. His scent hit me, anger mixed with fear, betrayal, and something else I couldn't quite place.

"Get out," I told my warriors calmly, never taking my eyes off Matthew. "Now."

They hesitated, looking between us with uncertainty. The situation violated all protocol, an Alpha losing control in front of subordinates could damage the hierarchy, the pack's stability.

"I said go," I repeated, and they finally retreated, closing the door behind them.

Matthew was pacing now, running his hands through his hair, breathing heavily like a wounded animal. "How could you? How fucking could you, Juno?"

"Would you like to tell me what exactly I'm being accused of?" I kept my voice steady, even as my heart hammered. I'd never seen him like this.

"Don't play dumb," he snarled, slamming his palms down on my desk so hard my coffee cup jumped and spilled. "You sent someone to kill her!"

"What?" The accusation was so absurd I almost laughed.

"The Deltas caught an intruder on our territory last night. When questioned, he admitted you hired him to kill Isabelle." Matthew's voice broke, and to my shock, he collapsed into the chair across from my desk, tears streaming down his face. "Why would you do this? It's not our fault. It's not our fault we're fated. We didn't choose this!"

I sat there, numb, watching the man I'd loved for nearly a decade fall apart in front of me. The man who'd promised forever. The man who'd abandoned our bed for another woman's.

"When was the last time you spoke kindly to me, Matthew?" I asked quietly.

He looked up, confusion cutting through his anger.

"When was the last time we attended an event together? When was the last time we shared a meal? Our bed?" I said. "We've barely exchanged ten words in two weeks, and now you burst into my office, humiliate me in front of my warriors, and accuse me of attempted murder?"

"The prisoner—"

"What evidence does this 'prisoner' have?" I cut him off. "Think, Matthew. If I wanted someone dead, they would be dead. I wouldn't leave loose ends." I shook my head, disgusted. "You didn't even investigate, did you? Just took the word of a trespasser over your wife of seven years."

Matthew's face flushed. "Then explain why you've been contacting other Alphas in Forestvale about securing residence on their territories!"

Ah. So that's what this was really about. He'd discovered my escape plans.

"Isabelle might like our house," I said. "The walls are thick enough that she doesn't have to stifle her moans when you're together."

Matthew flinched as if I'd slapped him. "You're not leaving."

"Watch me."

"I've warned every Alpha in Forestvale that giving you shelter means making an enemy of me." His voice had hardened, all traces of tears gone. This was the Alpha speaking now, not my husband.

I stared at him. "Do you remember when you promised that your love for me would never change?" My voice was soft. "I believed you. Now I don't feel anything at all."

Silence stretched between us.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, rubbing his face. "This got out of hand." He looked up, eyes pleading. "Come to the gathering tomorrow night. I want people to see you're still my Luna."

Once, those words would have made my heart race. Now they just sounded like the desperate negotiations of a man trying to save face.

"Of course," I smiled, the expression never reaching my eyes. Because Luna Freya already invited me. She's promised to introduce me to some friends of hers.

The muscle in Matthew's jaw twitched. "I'll see you at home," he said, and walked out, leaving the door open behind him.

I returned home late that evening. Isabelle was curled up on our couch crying softly. I walked past her without a word, heading straight to my bedroom. To my surprise, Matthew was there, sitting on the edge of the bed we'd once shared.

I didn't ask about Isabelle. I didn't care why she was upset. Instead, I went to my closet and pulled out clean clothes for a shower.

"Juno," Matthew said, his voice soft. "Can we talk?"