The Cursed Alpha's Fifth Luna

The table fell instantly into a suffocating quiet.

Rodrigo lifted his gaze slowly, his eyes locking onto Hades. “You’re right, Hades.”

He set his silver cutlery down with slow, terrifying care.

“I don’t want to make an acquaintance out of the man who slaughtered his own brother to usurp power.”

Hades’s easy smile hardened at the edge, his dark eyes narrowing.

Rodrigo leaned back, his broad frame casting a heavy shadow across the table. “And if I refuse to approve this marriage, it isn’t happening.”

Hades studied him for several long seconds before the smooth, arrogant grin returned to his face. “So?” His voice remained unnervingly calm. “Are you going to disapprove?”

His gaze flicked briefly toward Vance—whose eyes were still pinned to his empty plate—before returning to Rodrigo. “If I marry her, she becomes the Luna of the Hades Pack. And even though you rejected my outstretched hand in the past, I am willing to put everything behind us. I will give you whatever you need from me.”

Rodrigo scoffed softly, a single dark brow arching in disgust. “Care to tell me why, of every eligible woman in the entire northern territory, you are so insistent on her?” His voice rose, the temperature in the room dropping as his aura flared. “Have you even met the girl before?”

Hades shifted his gaze lazily toward Nina. “You didn’t know any of your Lunas before marrying them either, Rodrigo. Yet here we are.”

The words struck like a spark to dry kindling. The air grew so hot Nina could feel the heat radiating from Rodrigo’s skin beside her. Slowly, Rodrigo turned his head toward his uncle.

Lord Vance hadn’t moved. His eyes remained fixed on his plate, his face drained of all color.

“If the two of you don’t give me a single legitimate reason to approve this marriage,” Rodrigo said, his voice dropping into a cold, lethal register, “then the engagement is canceled.”

Hades’s eyes narrowed.

Rodrigo pushed his heavy chair back, the iron-bound legs scraping against the marble floor as he rose to his full, towering height. “Alpha Hades will not be marrying Ruri Vermont.”

Vance’s head snapped up. Before Rodrigo could take a step back from the table, his uncle abruptly shoved his own chair backward and stood.

Rodrigo turned toward him, a sharp frown pulling at his brows.

Vance stared at his nephew, and for the first time since entering the hall, the carefully constructed mask of composure completely shattered. Raw, naked terror bled into his eyes.

Then, without a word, Lord Vance dropped to his knees.

The heavy thud of his knees striking the marble echoed like a crack through the quiet room.

Nina’s eyes widened, her hand flying over her mouth as the blood drained entirely from her face.

Rodrigo froze, his dark brows creasing in utter disbelief as he watched his uncle lower himself to the floor before him. “Uncle, what are you doing?”

He stepped forward immediately, reaching down to pull Vance up by the arms, but the older man refused to budge. He anchored his weight, lowering his head even further until his forehead nearly touched the stone.

“Please, Alpha,” Vance begged, his voice cracking with desperation. “Let my daughter marry Alpha Hades. He has promised to treat her well. Please… approve this marriage.”

Nina’s mouth fell open in shock, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs. What on earth is happening?

Her eyes darted over to Hades.

The man was completely unfazed. He casually picked up his fork and knife, cutting into his steak as if the desperate nobleman kneeling a few feet away was nothing more than dinner entertainment.

Rodrigo’s hands curled into tight, trembling fists at his sides. “Why?” His voice was low, strained. “Why are you doing this all of a sudden?” He stared down at his uncle, his knuckles turning stark white under the pressure. “Get up now, Lord Vance. I command it.”

Lord Vance remained on the floor, shivering. “Please approve the marriage, Alpha. I… I cannot tell you the reason why. Please, just approve it.”

“What has come over you?” Rodrigo roared, his authority vibrating through the room. “What were you promised? Tell me!”

Vance pressed his face lower. “I want nothing else, Alpha. Only this.”

Rodrigo’s heart clenched in his chest. For a long, agonized moment, he said nothing. He stared down at the broken man on the floor, his jaw working as a battle raged behind his eyes.

Nina stayed frozen, holding her breath, her heart pounding as she waited for the stroke of his judgment. What could possibly make Lord Vance beg like this?

The silence stretched until it was suffocating.

Then, slowly, Rodrigo’s hands uncurled. The tension bled from his fingers as he dragged his eyes away from his uncle. He stared off into the empty space of the hall, his dark eyes hollowed out, stripped of all warmth.

“The marriage between Ruri Vermont of the Vermont Pack and Alpha Hades of the Hades Pack,” Rodrigo said, his voice devoid of life, “is hereby approved.”

Nina’s eyes widened in horror. “Snow…”

His name slipped from her lips in a shaky whisper. She stood up so fast her chair almost overturned, staring at him in utter disbelief. “You cannot do that to Ruri…”

Rodrigo’s fists clenched again, so tight blood threatened to burst beneath the skin of his knuckles, but he did not take the words back.

Across the table, Alpha Hades stood up, dabbing his mouth with a napkin before offering a smooth, victory smile. “Thank you, Alpha. I look forward to becoming family.”

Upstairs, Ruri stood motionless in front of her vanity mirror as two maids worked on her hair, twisting the short, vibrant strands into neat knots.

Her hair had grown out over the last few weeks, the jagged red ends now brushing against the sensitive skin of her neck. She was beginning to think she needed to cut it again.

The last time it was trimmed, Ethan had taken her to a quiet beauty parlor on the far outskirts of town. They had cut it short and dyed it this deep, rich crimson. He had told her he liked her red hair, but mentioned casually that she would look stunning if it were just a little richer.

And she had done it without a second thought.

Ruri squeezed her eyes shut, dragging in a slow, heavy breath. Stop thinking about him.

The heavy wooden door opened, and Ruri’s eyes snapped toward the reflection. Another maid walked in, balancing a silver tea tray in her hands. Ruri’s eyes lingered on the open hallway behind the girl for a second longer than necessary before she forced herself to look at the tray.

“Where is Ethan?” she asked, trying to sound offhand. “Why isn’t he on guard? Is his break not over?”

The maid lifted her gaze, a brief flicker of concern crossing her face.

Ruri cleared her throat quickly, reaching for the china cup to mask her eagerness. “I saw Ethan downstairs, my lady. I believe he just arrived back at the quarters. He should be up shortly.”

Ruri’s heart gave an embarrassing little flutter in her chest. She looked away instantly, placing the cup back down on the silver saucer with a soft clink.

“Oh…” she murmured, adjusting her posture and clearing her throat again. “You may both leave now. Tell Ethan I requested his presence.”

She turned back to the mirror, pretending to adjust the delicate sleeves of her dress.

“At once, Your Grace.”

The maids bowed respectfully and pulled the heavy doors shut behind them.

The exact second the lock clicked, Ruri’s refined composure dissolved.

She leaned into the mirror, frantically messing with her hair, fluffing the roots with her fingers. She snatched a small pot of rose lip stain from the table and hastily patted it onto her lips.

“Do I look pretty enough?” she muttered to herself, her eyes sliding down to her reflection’s chest.

She cleared her throat, grabbing the fabric of her bodice and trying to shove her breasts upward to create some semblance of cleavage. The moment she let go, the fabric smoothed back down flat.

A frustrated curse slipped past her teeth. They were so small. Maybe if she had more curves, Ethan would actually have a reason to look at her.

She stared down at her chest, her expression souring. Does he like girls with bigger chest sizes? Is that why he keeps brushing me off?

Ruri cupped her head in both hands, her cheeks burning as she let out a quiet groan of defeat. What am I supposed to do about this?

A firm, double knock echoed against the door.

Ruri dropped her hands instantly. Her face flushed hot as she spun around, clearing her throat to smooth her voice out. “Come in!”

She stepped away from the mirror and smoothed her skirts, heading toward the velvet couch in the center of the room, trying to look as casual as humanly possible.

She didn’t need to look at the doorway to know it was him.

His scent—clean rain, pine, and distinct male heat—flooded the room the moment the door swung open. The tiny hairs along her arms stood on end. Ruri held her breath as she sat down on the edge of the cushions.

“You sent for me, my lady.”

Ethan’s deep voice echoed across the room as he stepped inside, pushing the door shut behind his back.

Only then did she lift her eyes to him.