The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

“Mother!”

Dominic’s voice vibrated through the dungeons as he stormed down the long stone corridor, his heavy footsteps striking against the damp floor while his eyes searched frantically through the dimly lit cells.

Then he saw her.

Charlotte was sitting at the far end, tucked into the dark corner of her cell with her back against the cold wall.

“Dominic?”

She sprang to her feet, hurrying toward the bars as her fingers curled tightly around the iron.

“Mother!”

Dominic crossed the remaining distance in two long strides, his hands gripping the iron bars opposite hers. His eyes moved frantically over her. Her dress was soiled from sitting on the ground, the fabric crumpled and caked with dirt, but that was all.

There was no blood. No bruises.

His eyes snapped to her face. “How dare Rodrigo do this to you?” He slammed one hand violently against the iron bars. “How dare he! Oh, I am so going to kill him, even if it is the last thing I do.”

Charlotte shot him a sharp glare. “This is not the time to act rashly, Dominic,” she said quietly, gritting her teeth.

“Not the time?” Dominic’s voice echoed through the subterranean corridor. “You’re telling me not to act rashly while my brother has locked you in a dungeon?”

Charlotte’s gaze briefly shifted toward the dark cells behind him before returning to his face. “You know Rodrigo. He doesn’t need proof to act. Once he has convinced himself that something is true, he will do whatever he believes is necessary.” She reached through the bars, placing her hand firmly over his. “If you challenge him now, he will lock you up beside me. You don’t want that.”

Dominic’s jaw clenched so hard a muscle twitched violently in his cheek, but he didn’t pull away.

Charlotte leaned closer, her breath cold against the iron. “He’s regained his memories, Dominic. He has probably already discovered why we need the Vothraki, and right now, Rodrigo is looking for any reason to make sure we are sealed away before we can act.” Her fingers tightened around his. “You cannot give him one.”

A tense silence stretched between them before Dominic finally looked down at the floor. “What do I do?”

Charlotte released his hand. She turned away from the bars and slowly paced toward the back of the cell, her fingers brushing absently over her ruined dress.

“First, you go to your grandfather. Once he arrives, Rodrigo won’t be able to keep me locked in here without proof. Your grandfather will demand answers, and Rodrigo will have to give them.” She stopped and turned back to face him. “But I’m sure he’s counting on finding something before anyone makes a move. We need to beat him to it.”

She paused, stepping directly in front of him.

“Second. Meet Lady Westerfort. She will give you a potion. Bring it to me.”

Something shifted in Dominic’s face. His hands tightened around the iron until his knuckles turned white. “Poison?” He let out a harsh chuckle. “How many times have you tried poisoning him in the past? Did it work? Don’t tell me your grand plan of getting rid of Rodrigo is poison.”

Charlotte was quiet for a second, then scoffed. “Of course it isn’t.”

Dominic leaned closer to the cage, something dark crossing his eyes as he stared at his mother. “Then what is it?”

Charlotte raised her hand, casually flicking a speck of dirt from her fingers. “How stupid would I be to try poison again, even when wolfsbane could do nothing to him?” She looked at Dominic, her expression turning lethal. “Let’s see how whatever is protecting him holds up now.”

The smile faded completely from her face, leaving behind something hollow and terrifying.

“Mother, what is it?” Dominic whispered.

“Blood magic.”

Dominic went dead still. The damp chill of the dungeon seemed to settle deeper into his bones.

“Even the strongest witches would be unable to save him this time,” Charlotte murmured, leaning closer to the iron bars. “He wants to play. Too bad I have no time for games. I’ll send him straight to the grave.”

…

Thud!

Nina’s jaw dropped open as Lady Gina dropped a heavy stack of scrolls onto the table in front of her. Two servants followed directly behind, each carrying an equally impressive pile, which they promptly placed beside the first.

Nina stared at the growing mountain of parchment, then looked up at Gina. “What are these?”

“The work you will be doing,” Gina replied smoothly. “The Luna manages the affairs of the entire pack house—the East Wing, the North Wing, and the West Wing—while the Alpha oversees the affairs of the pack itself.”

Nina looked around the grand office. Gina had brought her here shortly after the Alpha announced to the court that Nina would officially be taking over Lady Charlotte’s duties. Apparently, this mountain of paperwork was the reality of that title.

“Charlotte has been handling these duties until now,” Gina continued. “But since she is currently locked up, you will officially resume your role as Luna.”

Nina suppressed a groan. There is no way I’m going to survive doing this every day.

“I have also brought the most learned ladies of the court to assist you.” Gina clapped her hands once, and the heavy oak doors swung open.

Ruri stepped inside first, followed by Abigail, and finally, Joanne.

Nina mentally rolled her eyes as Joanne walked in with that practiced, annoying smile of hers. She let out a soft sigh.

“They’ve been assigned by the Matriarch to help you,” Gina added. “You can share the work with them.”

Nina’s eyes narrowed slightly. If they hadn’t been assigned directly by the Matriarch, she would have already found an excuse to send them away—especially Joanne. There was simply something about that woman that made Nina’s skin prickle.

“Where have you been?” Nina asked Ruri, ignoring the other two women for a moment. “I haven’t seen you around.”

Before Ruri could answer, Abigail and Joanne reached the desk and bowed respectfully. “Luna, we are at your service,” they greeted in unison.

Nina offered them a tight, polite smile, making sure not to look directly at Joanne. She could feel the woman’s heavy gaze on her skin, but she forced herself to look back at Gina.

“How is the Matriarch doing?” Nina asked.

The more she got to know the Alpha, the more she realized how decisive—and dangerous—he could be. She had tried to bring up the Matriarch again that morning, but he had shut it down before the question could even fully form.

He hated betrayal…

Nina’s heart clenched tightly. If he found out she was lying to him about…

No.

It was for the best.

Nina swallowed a hard lump. He wouldn’t understand if she told him the truth.

Everything would be fine. Once she ended the curse, then…

She would let him choose if he still wanted her…

Everything would be fine.

“Luna?” Gina called loudly, snapping Nina from her spiraling thoughts.

Nina blinked, looking up quickly. “What?”

“Something happened to Grandmother?” Ruri’s head snapped toward Gina, her face pale. “What happened?”

“Nothing happened,” Gina said firmly, checking Ruri’s panic with a sharp look. “She’s just taking some time off to rest.”

“Don’t lie to me.” Ruri stared at her. When she saw Gina wasn’t going to offer anything more, she turned abruptly toward the door.

“Lady Ruri,” Gina’s stern voice stopped her cold. “You may see her after you are finished here. She is fine, she is simply on bed rest.”

Ruri’s feet stopped. Slowly, she turned back around. Nina offered her a small, reassuring smile, silently mouthing, Later. Only then did Ruri relax her shoulders.

“Fine,” Ruri muttered, pulling out a chair and flopping down in front of Nina.

Gina cleared her throat. “Tonight is the full moon. Finish your work early and retire to your quarters before the sun goes down. If that is all…” Without waiting for a reply, Gina turned and walked out, the heavy doors clicking shut behind her.

An uneasy silence settled over the room.

Nina looked at the three women before her desk. Her gaze moved from Abigail to Joanne, lingering on Joanne just a moment too long. Then she forced a bright smile onto her face and reached for the top scroll.

“This is a lot of work,” Nina said, deliberately dividing the mountain into four uneven portions. She slid the largest, most daunting pile toward Joanne. “Joanne, you take these.”

She then pointed toward an isolated chair in the furthest, darkest corner of the office—far enough away that Joanne wouldn’t be able to overhear a single whispered word spoken at the Luna’s desk.

“You can sit over there.”

Joanne’s eyes flickered toward the distant chair, then back to Nina. A faint, unreadable smile tugged at the corner of her lips, her eyes staying locked on Nina, unmoving.

A moment of heavy quiet passed as the two women held each other’s gaze.

Nina’s smile remained firmly in place. “Go on,” she said, lifting a brow.

Joanne’s smile deepened slightly. Without a word, she gathered the heavy stack of scrolls into her arms and turned away.

“Abigail, you can take these,” Nina said, pointing to a smaller portion and directing her toward a table on the opposite side of the room.

“Yes, Luna,” Abigail murmured, bowing her head before taking her stack and following Joanne’s path across the room.

Nina waited until both women were settled far out of earshot before pulling the remaining scrolls toward Ruri and herself. “Both of us will do these.”

Just as Joanne reached the far corner to sit down, a sharp, sudden knock echoed against the heavy wooden doors.

Nina’s brows creased in confusion. “Come in,” she called out.

The brass door knob turned, the hinges groaning softly as the door swung inward.

And then Sabrina stepped into the room.