Chapter 40: Chapter FORTY — TWO LUNAS.
Candace
Beside me, the triplets who had not moved an inch when I walked in, all turned to watch Deidre approach, in front of hundreds of people, representatives from other packs!
It was like watching three statues come back to life. Ryker had a big ass smile on his face, you would think the moon goddess herself had descended among us.
Ragnor had a satisfied look on his face, tipping his head at my cousin. A bitter taste filled my mouth as I remembered he had practically spent the night with her.
Reign’s eyes flicked to me for a second, and it was filled with guilt. My breath caught, and stupid hope reared its head, but then he blinked, and the connection was gone.
He turned away and went back to watching his precious Deidre. Ryker tossed her a wink as she closed the gap completely, and she giggled, swatting his chest playfully before coming to stand next to me.
"How does it feel to be beaten at your own game, cousin?" Deidre whispered to my hearing, turning to face the officiator while I gaped in disbelief.
No, no, what were they up to? They were bound to me. They wouldn’t break the Prikaya law; they couldn’t risk everyone bearing the wrath of the moon goddess.
They could be cruel, but not childish, and certainly not cruel to anyone else in the pack but me.
"History will be made today," The elder announced, holding his arms up. "In accordance with the new constitution of our pack, we will be crowning two Lunas to honor the wish of the moon goddess."
The elder might as well have spoken in Latin because the words didn’t register at first. They floated in the air like nonsense syllables until they suddenly snapped into my brain and finally made sense.
Two Lunas.
The silence in the hall was broken. People murmured in surprise at the news while my heart broke over and over. Pain lanced through me, radiating through my bones, hurting every inch of me. Tears burned the corner of my eyes.
Not just pain, there was shame too. Hot, crawling shame. Why would we need two Lunas unless, of course, I wasn’t good enough?
I could hear the whispers multiplying in the audience behind me. The representatives from other packs would carry this home, how the Pendragon triplets had disgraced and ruined their Luna before all by crowning one more next to her.
Deidre would be also be crowned Luna along with me? Anger brewed hot under the pain, and I clenched my hands into fists, fighting back the tears. I wouldn’t cry, not here. Not over them.
"Lady Candace Sinclair will be crowned the first Luna of Grace Spring pack, and Lady Deidre Sinclair will be crowned as the second." The elder announced, and it took everything not to scream and tear at someone’s hair.
Two freaking Lunas. That had never happened. And I knew, I just knew that one Luna was going to have all the power and the other would be a placeholder. I glanced at the triplets, my eyes burning. Was this what they wanted? To humiliate me like this?
The elder approached with another elder behind him bearing on a pillow, the Luna crown that used to belong to my mother, and a ring.
I knocked back the tears and crouched, lowering my head, waiting for the crown when he...my stomach dropped as I watched in horror as he took my hand instead and slid a ring, a measly fucking ring on my finger.
"All bow, First Luna Candace Sinclair,"
My eyes clouded over, glaring at the ring on my finger.
I then watched, betrayed, as the elder placed the crown, the single crown that belonged to the Luna, my mother’s crown, on Deidre’s head.
"All bow, Second Luna Deidre Sinclair,"
I was their mate, and yet before everyone, including visitors to our pack, they had crowned my cousin as their Luna despite me being named the first Luna.
I glanced at the golden crown on Deidre’s head, then back at the measly ring on my finger. Again, they had disgraced me.
Throw it away, throw it away, and ruin the fucking coronation. They don’t get to treat us like this! Star screeched in my head.
I felt hot tears rise in my eyes but I blinked them away, swallowed the lumpy pain on my chest and inhaled soothing breaths while rubbing circles on the ring. This was their plan, to make me break, I would prove them wrong.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, your Alphas and Lunas!"
I forced a smile on my face as the Pack members broke into small groups, eating and drinking, partying, loud music from the orchestra group filling the halls.
My mates immediately whisked their second Luna to the dance floor, dancing with her like they won the lottery.
I knew they would be so immensely pleased if I ran out of this hall and went to sulk in my room. Too bad I would not be giving them that pleasure. They were going to have to try harder than that to kick me down.
"May I have this dance, Luna?" Jayden’s voice drew me out of my bitter musings.
"You’re sure you want to dance with this placeholder?" I sniped, feeling wounded deeply.
Carry yourself like a fucking Queen, Candy. A crown doesn’t define you! Star reminded me.
Jayden chuckled, shaking his head. "You still have that sassy tongue. Nothing about you could be fake, Daisy. Everyone could be blind to it, but I’m sure you’ll find a way to show them."
I gave a weak smile, glancing back at my mates, frowning when my eyes met Ragnor’s grey ones glaring at me like his lemon had been stolen. I tore my gaze away from his. They had already taken enough from me today.
Slipping my hand into Jayden’s, a small grin spread on my face. "Yes, I would be honored to dance with you."
