Neglected Luna: Her White Wolf Rises

tchen, wearing one of my aprons over his expensive shirt, stirring a pot of pasta sauce. A portrait o

mask of gentle concern. "I was just ab

side, placing the back of his hand on my forehead

ping back. "I just went for

biata, just the way you like it, with extra spice. And I opened that bo

ace, every gesture calculated to broadcast his devotion. If I had not seen what I had seen, if I had not h

g a stranger perform a pl

right amount of worry. "You really scared me, Alex. You need

rk liquid doing nothing to warm

nds and said, "I'm just going to pop

silent as a shadow, I followed. I stopped just outside Jacob's partially o

studying?" Anthony's vo

ame controller clicking furiously in the back

my son's voice that m

d. "It was... productive. Had to cut it shor

the force of a physical blow, reducing my manuf

"Is she okay?" The question was perf

nthony said dismissively. "You know how she

pped her name into conversation with

ay cooler than Mrs. Albright. At least

And it came fr

she?" Anthony's voice wa

m knows something's up. She was asking me weird questions about gi

xt and his first instinct was

y thinking it's some spam message or a wrong number. She doesn't suspect a thing. Women like your mother... they prefer to believe the

n a room together, casually dissecting my weaknesses, mocking my l

blow. "Always working on her little design projects, making her healthy dinners. Katia

rayal. Not just complicity, b

t that simple, Jake. Your mother is a good woman.

He was defending an asset. A household manager. An appliance

"I'm just saying. Katia wou

to my mouth to stifle a sob. I made it to our master bathroom just as my stomach revolted, and I threw up t

d knees, shaking, wh

my side in an instant, his hands fluttering arou

I spat, the word

in the air. "What... what's w

felt like it could split my skin. I shoved him away, my palm co

. "Just... get out.

tner in pain, but a problem he could not immediately solve. "Ale

word was

ng the stage at the Architectural Guild Awards ceremony. The grand ballroom, the massive screens

bably thought I was having a breakdow

ng gesture. "Okay, whatever you need. I'm sorry. I don't know what

. "It's the biggest night of my career. I need you there, Alex. We're supposed to... I was going to toas

s. The irony was so thick

cend upon the ruins of my life. A toas

It was the p

ar roll down my cheek. "You're right," I whispered. "I'm sorry. I'm just..

ete it was almost comical. He had his applianc

ming, devastating sm

me, to hug me,

"Just... give me a

I met my own eyes in the mirror. The woman staring back was a stranger. Her eyes were not filled

remony. His b

member. I was going to give him