Turning The Tide: A Luna's Awakening | Read Free Preview

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Chapter 1

Selina's POV
Tonight was special.
It was our 5th anniversary.
That day, he didn't just steal my heart; most importantly, he saved my life.
So, each year on this day, we would celebrate, and I would prepare his favorite dishes for a romantic night together.
I checked the honey-glazed roast chicken crackling in the oven, and a smile danced on my lips.
Luka had been up north at the Iron Claw Pack, smoothing out an alliance treaty with Alpha Blaze.
He would be home in any minute.
My stomach did that familiar, fluttery flip-flop just thinking about him. I could already feel the phantom sensation of his strong arms wrapping around my waist and the rough, woody scent of cedar and pine that always clung to his skin...
A sharp ping from my phone snapped me back.
I wiped my hands on my apron, expecting a "crossing the border" text.
Instead, it was a video from an unknown number.
The smile slid off my face...
There was Luka, the man who almost died to save me, pinned against a clearing by a woman in a red coat. His Alpha aura flared with a raw, desperate passion as he pressed his lips to hers...
I froze.
The man who had once been my shield had just become the blade that pierced my heart.
My head began to throb, a dull, rhythmic buzzing starting behind my eyes.
"No," I whispered. "This isn't real."
If that were really Luka, I would know it. The mate bond would have told me!
A betrayal that deep should have felt like my heart being ripped out through my ribs.
It had to be a deepfake—a setup by a rival pack.
My hand started to shake. I turned toward the corner of the island where the Crystal Mirror sat, which was pulsing a soft, rhythmic blue light.
I pressed my palm against the cool surface, my mind racing.
"Locate Alpha Luka," I commanded, my voice cracking.
The blue light swirled, and a holographic map materialized in the air. A gold pulse flickered steadily.
He was in the Iron Claw territory. Exactly where he said he'd be. He hadn't lied about his location.
I closed my eyes and pushed into the Mind Link.
Silence. Long silence...
My heart was a frantic bird trapped in a cage.
Just as I was about to spiral, his voice sliced through my mind.
"Hey, babe?"
"Where are you, honey?"
"I'm still at the Iron Claw Pack. Look, sorry, there's been a change of plans. Alpha Blaze wants to have a formal dinner to finalize the terms. I'm waiting for him now. I'm not gonna make it back tonight, Selina. Don't wait up."
The link severed before I could get another word out.
The rejection hit me like a physical blow.
My mate, my Alpha, had never dismissed me like that. Never.
My pheromones spiked, a bitter, metallic scent filling the room as my wolf recoiled in distress. The air felt too thick to swallow.
Was the "dinner with Blaze" a cover for the woman in the red coat?
A sudden, searing pain bloomed in my abdomen. It wasn't the mate bond; it was pure stress manifesting as a physical ache.
I sank to the floor, my knees hitting the wood hard. Tears began to fall, hot and heavy, splashing onto my apron.
It didn't make sense. There had been no signs. He was the man who still brought me flowers.
I wanted to believe the video was a lie, that I was being paranoid.
But the dismissive tone in his voice... That was real.
I don't know how long I sat there, curled into a ball on the kitchen floor, while the roast chicken turned to ash in the oven and the festive lights dimmed.
Eventually, the emotional whiplash took over. I drifted into sleep on the couch.
When I woke up, the gray light of dawn was starting to peek through the windows.
My body felt like lead. My face was stiff with dried salt.
I had a quick shower and then dragged myself to the kitchen.
The front door thudded shut, and the familiar scent of cedar and pine drifted into the hallway.
I snapped almost instantly.
"Luka!"
I cried out, my voice cracking with the weight of the video burned into my mind.
"Where have you been? Were you really with Alpha Blaze last night? Or are you hiding something from me?"
I was desperate, clinging to a shard of hope.
I wanted him to be honest, even if the truth would destroy me—if he had strayed, I just needed him to have the courage to admit it.
"Selina, babe, what's going on?" Luka looked at me, confused.
"I told you, Blaze wanted dinner. I can call him right now to prove it. Why would I lie about where I was?"
"Stop it! Just stop lying!" I screamed, my humanity drowning out as my wolf, Violet, snarled beneath my skin. I was spiraling, my hands shaking as I lashed out at him.
"Babe, calm down. Just breathe," he commanded, stepping forward to grab my shoulders with his large, heavy hands.
"Don't touch me!" I shrieked, struggling against his grip, my knees nearly hitting the floor as I tried to shove him away.
"Sorry, I missed our anniversary. It's all my fault. But you should never doubt me, babe."
He held me tight and tried to calm me down. "I know you missed me. And I've been thinking about you, too."
He pinned me against the wall.
Before I could shout again, his lips crashed onto mine.
He didn't release his Alpha aura to break me, but to soothe me. It flared out, thick and captivating, wrapping around us like a heavy velvet shroud. His scent permeated the air, soothing my senses.
I missed him. But now, I wasn't sure who he was anymore.
The bitter, metallic scent of my distress began to fade, replaced by the warmth of his presence. He leaned over me, his nose pressing against my neck, his breath fanning across my lips as the kiss deepened into something long and desperate.
Without breaking the kiss, he swept me up into his arms.
I felt his rumble vibrate in his chest, a low sound of possession, as he carried me toward the bedroom.
…
When he got up from bed, I watched his tall figure moving towards the bathroom, and he suddenly turned to look at me. "Just sleep some more, babe."
Then, his phone screen lit up with a ping.
I took a glimpse at it.
"Did she find out?"

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Chapter 2

Selina's POV
Was it from that woman in red?!
I reached out to the phone. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
Luka grabbed his phone all of a sudden.
I was so absorbed in the message that I didn't notice him walk out of the bathroom.
"Who was that? And find out about what?" I must have looked desperate at the moment.
"It's Abby. What's wrong, babe?"
"Abby?" I looked at him suspiciously, pressing for an answer.
"Look, she lied about how she spent the money." He turned to me. "Well, she just borrowed quite an amount of money from Mom."
I looked at him with an arched brow.
"Come on, you know how she is. I had to cover for her."
"She's a grown woman, and she still does it? And where's your parents' money coming from anyway?"
As my voice died out, the room fell silent for a second.
He leaned over.
"Well, I know. I'm a lucky guy, because I chose the most talented and beautiful she-wolf to be my Luna. If it weren't for you, the pack's businesses wouldn't survive to this day."
"That's not the point," I said in a cold tone.
"Hey, babe, I don't know what's happening to you, or if someone said something about me. But you know me. I would never do anything to hurt you. And I'd die for you. Remember?"
He left a kiss on my forehead and headed back to the bathroom.
After Luka left for work, Elise called.
She wanted to meet up. And she sounded in a hurry.
I headed to the coffee shop where Elise and I were supposed to meet.
She was my best friend from the Red Moon Pack and was Beta's daughter.
We were inseparable growing up together, and we even shared the same taste in almost everything.
As I walked into the shop, I spotted her right away.
I smiled as I sat down across from her, "Hey. What's so urgent?"
"Are you alright? You look pale." She asked before answering my question.
I picked up the coffee she ordered for me, took a sip, and sighed.
"Not really."
I was still in shock and wasn't ready to talk about it.
"Is it about Alpha Luka? Is he home yet?"
"Yeah, he came back this morning. Why?"
"Nothing. I'm just asking."
I had a feeling that she knew something that I didn't.
"Well, that man really adores you. And you're so devoted to him and Nora." She paused. "But he's a hot Alpha, and you should keep an eye on him." She forced a smile.
My heart skipped a bit.
"What do you mean by that? "
"Well, I just think that we can't trust anyone 100%. Right? It's easy to get hurt that way."
I looked into her eyes. "Hey, if there's something you wanna tell me. Then, tell me."
"I ran into Alpha Luka the other day."
I froze.
"What? When?"
"About two days ago." She frowned and studied my face. "Why? You seem worried. Did something happen?"
"Where exactly did you see him?" I ignored her question.
But then, her phone rang.
After a brief conversation, she hung up.
"Sweetie, something urgent just came up. Gotta go," she said as she put on her coat. "I'll call you later, bye."
"What?" I got up from the chair and watched her dash out of the coffee shop.
"What the hell?"
I walked out of the coffee shop, roaming on the streets aimlessly, and kept wondering about what she just said.
She saw Luka two days ago.
Was that video from two days ago? Did she send me that video?
No, she would have told me directly.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.
Who was that woman in red in that video?
She pinned down Luka. Did she drug him?
I dare not linger on the thought of what Luka could have done to me, as if it were a black hole that could suck me in at any minute.
In fact, Luka wasn't my true mate; our mate bond was weak.
My wolf, Violet, longed for her true mate, as did I. But when I turned 18, I didn't find my true mate, and yet something terrible happened on that day...
I was always grateful to Luka, but it didn't mean he could cheat on me. And I must find out who that woman in red was.
As I gathered my thoughts, I realized that I was already at the doorway of my house.
I turned the doorknob, but it opened from the other side.
"Babe, you're home."

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Chapter 3

Selina's POV
Luka stood in front of me, his smile warm and shiny.
I was surprised that he was home so early and mumbled, "You're home early..."
"Yeah. I missed our anniversary last night. So, I wanna make it up to you today. Babe, sorry about it." He looked serious as he said so.
"Where's Nora? Don't tell me you forgot about her, huh?" He arched his brow.
I suddenly realized that I was so caught up with my thoughts that I even forgot to pick up Nora from the Cubs' House!
"Oh! I..." I felt so guilty forgetting about her.
"Never mind. I'll go get her now. I left the groceries on the kitchen table. But don't start cooking before I get back. This time, I'll cook your favorite dishes," he said as he put on his coat, grabbed the car key, and rushed out the door.
A while later, the door opened and closed again.
I thought Luka and Nora were home.
"Selina, it's me. I had such a long day, and I'm starving now. Is dinner ready?"
A languid voice reached my ear.
I turned back and saw Abby leaning against the kitchen table.
With her arms folded over her chest, she gazed at me beneath her long lashes. A cascade of raven-black hair reached to her waist.
I forgot that she also had our home key, and so she could "visit" us whenever she wanted.
I complained about it to Luka.
But nothing changed since her parents and Luka spoiled her so much.
As the so-called "Victim" from the rogue attack years ago in her pack, everyone in that family tried to make it up to her in such a way.
"Hey, I'm not your mom. Plus, this isn't your home, get it? If you're so hungry, you'd better go home."
I was normally an easy-going person, but I wouldn't "spoil" her as her family did.
She pouted and walked away. And I could feel her anger.
"Mommy, I'm home!" Nora ran into the kitchen and hugged my thigh.
"Sweetie, how was your sleepover with your best friend yesterday?" I cupped her face.
"It was good. And Daddy picked me up today. He said it was a surprise." She stared at me with her naive eyes.
Luka walked into the kitchen with both hands in his pockets, looking handsome, as usual.
"Luka! You're home." Abby trotted over with a big smile on her face.
"Abby? What are you doing here? I thought you were with Mom and Dad."
As he said so, he walked behind me and left a kiss on my neck.
"Babe, I'll cook. You look tired. Just go have a rest, OK?"
"Gee! Get a room! You two are making me sick." Abby rolled her eyes.
"Luka, I wanna help you cook." She offered.
"I'm fine doing it myself. It'll be faster." Luka said with a straight face. "And, you should probably go home now."
"Why?"
"It's our anniversary. OK?"
"I thought it was yesterday."
"It's none of your business, and just go home. Now!"
"I don't wanna go home. Plus, I'm starving. Just let me stay for dinner. I promise I'll leave right after it." She pulled Luka's arm and begged.
"You heard me, didn't you? And stop acting like a child while you're a grown woman!" He said in a harsh tone and released Alpha aura.
Abby took a step back, and she swallowed hard.
"Fine. Let her stay for dinner." I cut in. "She's right at one point. Our anniversary was yesterday." I stared at Luka, and my voice was cold.
I could feel the fluctuation in his pheromones. He tried to stay calm, yet I knew he was getting irritated.
Right. I wanted to get under his skin.
At this time, Elise called back.
I grabbed my phone and rushed to our bedroom as quickly as I could.
"Hey, you? Where the hell have you been?"
I couldn't wait to continue our unfinished conversation at the coffee shop.
"You said you ran into Luka the other day." I took a deep breath.
"Where? And when?" I could feel Violet snarling beneath my skin.
"Gee, just slow down. I'm calling you to talk about it." Elise sounded startled.
Yeah, she should be, given that she had no idea what I had been wondering about for the past few hours.
But it didn't matter anymore. I just needed to know what she saw the other day.
"Then, go ahead!"
"Well, I was driving in the northern territory, and I saw Luka walking on the street with a woman. But I drove past so quickly, and I didn't see the woman's face." She stuttered, trying to recall the scene.
"Was that woman dressed in a red coat?" I could feel my voice shiver slightly.

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