Page 2 of A Luna's Revenge (Stone Mountain Shifters)

Charlie

This is a gut punch, and I am devastated. However, I won’t allow myself to take this meekly. I have a duty to my wolf and myself to survive it. "Lana?" I address my wolf. "Are you okay?" Her only response is to curl up more tightly and continue to sob quietly. "We will get through this!" I promise.

I need normalcy and routine right now, so I go to the closet and pull on my workout gear, a pair of leggings with a matching sports bra and tank. I head out of the apartment and down to the basement gym. It’s early in the morning, so the gym is mostly empty. I spend the next hour going through my training regimen, using the bag, lifting weights, etc. After that, I spar with pack members who have begun to show up.

I have to admit that due to my strict workout plan, I have abs and a butt you can bounce quarters off. However, there is a lot of good that does me; my partner still strayed. Our sex life has never slowed or got boring, at least not for me. It just goes to show you that it isn't my fault. It rarely is the cheated-on partner's fault. It’s a selfish character flaw in the cheater.

After my workout, I go up to the kitchen. As expected, Mary, our kitchen guru, has a smoothie, a wheatgrass shot, and a healthy snack prepared for me. I don’t expect to seethe skank holding court at a nearby table. She is having a second breakfast, surrounded by everyone from the meeting earlier, including my husband, who continues to offer her bites of food. More pack members are gathered around, chatting and laughing. A few even rub her stomach. It’s sickening. She catches me looking and smirks.

Meanwhile, the pack members who aren't openly staring at me are avoiding eye contact, showing their necks in submission. Bah! I think to myself. What about loyalty? Having had my fill of the circus show, I gulp down my smoothie, sling back the shot, pick up my snack bag, and leave after thanking Mary.

Once I have showered and changed, I go to my office. Lou's eyes are averted. "Lou, I can't find my office key, and Alpha is otherwise occupied. Can you get someone here to open my office and change the lock?" I lie. I know exactly where my keys are, but I have plans for the next couple of days, and I want my office to be inaccessible to anyone else besides me.

"Oh, sure, Luna." Lou smiles at me and immediately calls maintenance. Within minutes, my door is open. Sitting at my desk, I watch the maintenance guy change the lock on my door.

The way the offices are situated, Jenson's is directly across from mine with Lou's desk between. Through the open doorway, I watch Jenson usher skank into his office and close the door behind them.

"That should do it, Luna." The maintenance guy closes the door, trying the lock. As he hands me the keys, I thank him. He walks out the door, leaving it open.

Within minutes, Jenson comes out of his office and into mine. "Hello, Love." He whispers sexily, reaching out to pull me against him. Closing the door with his foot, he trails his lips down my neck.

I push him back, "Jenson! What are you doing?" My stomach is tossing with repulsion. He can’t be this clueless, can he?

"Nothing we haven't ever done before right here on this desk." He grins, wagging his eyebrows.

"Maybe." I said, "But you never had a baby momma tailing you before." I point behind him at the door.

Right at that moment, the banging starts. "Jenson!" skank whines loudly through the door. "I'm cold. Come adjust the thermostat for me."

He sighs and drops his head. I smirk. No more play time with this girl, Daddy! I think to myself.

His shoulders slump in defeat as he opens the door and walks back to his office without saying another word, with the skank waddling closely behind like a little duckling.

Well, bullet dodged! If he thinks he is getting back into my panties, he is sadly mistaken! Slamming the door, I sit down at my desk to make plans.

My workload has just tripled, but it will soon drop to zero. I am the pack security specialist. Along with my Luna duties, it’s also my job to ensure the pack is safe from a tech standpoint. Security, cameras, intel, hacking, and anything related all fall under my expertise.

The first on my list is investigating skank. After getting a few hits on the dark web, I pick up my cell and call my trusted private eye.

“Investigations,”Bill answers the phone gruffly. “How can I help you?”

"Hey, Bill. I have an urgent job for you. I need details ASAP. I'll send you the file via our secure email box."

"Sounds good, Luna. I'll get results for you as soon as I can." He hangs up. Bill is efficient like that. It’s one of the reasons I use him as much as I do. He is the best and doesn't waste my time. I forward the file. Now we wait.

Next on the list is to contact my attorney. Fortunately, Jenson and I have always split things 50/50 separately. If I had a property, he had a property of equal value. It always felt cleaner this way. Therefore, asset division will be a breeze.

After making my appointment with the lawyer for the next afternoon, I focus on the next task. I buzz Lou. "Hey, the dust is beginning to get thick in here. Send up some cleaners and get me a few boxes. I think I'm going to pare down my book collection."

"Sure thing, Luna," she says, "Oh! Is the picnic for two Alpha wanted me to order today for you and him? I want to make sure I get your favorite foods."

I swallow back the tears, "Lou, you'll need to ask Alpha. I don't know anything about a picnic."

"Oh. Sorry, Luna. Ok." She sounds mortified.

Hanging up the phone, I lean back in the chair and rub my eyes. Wow, she’s got her hooks into Jenson. But there’s no time to feel sorry for myself; he’s the idiot on the hook, not me. I am just collateral damage.

The cleaners come armed with boxes. I go through the books and keepsakes on my shelves. I cleaned out my desk, and now Ihave two boxes I want to keep. After writing my name and the contents on top, I tape them up. "Please take these to my parent's home and place them in the attic." After ensuring my office is spotless, they leave with them.

I call my mom and she picks up immediately. "Oh, Charlie! I just heard. You must be devastated. I am on my way there."

"Momma! I am heartbroken." I sob for the first time since this began. She allows me to weep for a few minutes as I collect myself.

“Charlie,” she whispers. “I know you love him, but I taught you to be strong and not rely on a man. You know I don’t expect you to endure this treatment.”

"I know, Mom. I can't do this. I need your help."

"Anything, precious." she sighs. I hear Dad yelling in the background, something about castration and death to the Alpha.

"I am sending boxes to you over the next few days. Until I’ve made concrete plans, can you store them in your attic for me?"

"Sure, honey. Anything you need." She coos. "I'll come help you."

"No, no. No one knows anything about my plans except you and Dad. I want to keep it that way for now."

They agreed to keep my secret, and I ended the call. Going into my attached bath, I clean my face. I am thankful that I put on minimal makeup today. As I am headed back to my desk, Jenson pops in again.

"Hey, beautiful." He tries once again to pull me in his arms. I push back and sit down in my chair. He swipes his hand through his hair. This is one of his tells that he is frustrated. Right now, I honestly couldn’t care less if he's frustrated. I'm far too upset to worry about that. My throat aches with suppressed emotion.

"Hey, yourself." I turn on my charm and smile sweetly up at him. It's a look I know he can't resist. I purposely do it as I can see skank through the open doorway, walking over. I smirk to myself.

He grabs me up, and just as he is about to assault my mouth (he thinks), her whine cuts through. "Jenson, when are we going on that picnic? I'm starved." I don't know how she thinks her whiny voice is sexy or alluring, but I know Jenson can't tolerate whining. I’ve never been a whiner. Pack members who do, change very quickly after he's through with them. But he has made his proverbial bed, and he can darn well lie in it!

He rakes his hand through his hair again and snaps. "If you will give me a minute to let my wife know!"

Shocked, her mouth drops open. I must admit it’s pleasing to see him put her in her place. I smirk at her. She stomps her foot. Yes! Stomps. Her. Foot. It reminds me of a toddler. She spins around, rushes back to Jenson's office, and slams the door shut.

Once again, Jenson runs his hand through his hair with a huff. I have to admit, I am reveling in his frustration right now. But self-preservation and my pride keep my face a mask of confused concern for him. "Darling, you should go after her." I make a shooing gesture with my hand.

"Yeah." He blinks. I can read his mind right now. He is having an old-fashioned “come-to-Jesus” moment. It’s the Best! Ever! He refocuses on me for a moment, and his eyes soften. "I had the cook prepare a healthy lunch for the pup. I'm taking Tracy out to the meadow."

Our meadow? Where we carved our initials on our tree at 13? The place he proposed to me ? This is a soul-crushing betrayal. My wolf weakly lifts her head and mewls pitifully in anguish. " Our special place", she says.

"You know where she can soak up some sun." Jenson clarifies. "The vitamin D will be great for the pup’s development."

Nodding, I freeze my expression to one of blank indifference. “Mm-hmm.” I offer.

"So, I noticed boxes coming out of here a few minutes ago?" He quietly asks, tapping his fingers nervously together.

"Um, yeah.” I cough. “The dust was accumulating, so I put some of my things in storage." I pointed to the tidy shelves. "Spring cleaning. We can do yours next if you want. Just let me know, and I will arrange it." I lie.

"Oh great!" His expression clears, and his face brightens. "Sounds good. We will get together and plan it. Now, I guess it’s time to feed my heir." He juts a thumb towards his office, laughing, and practically skips out the door whistling. Whistling! Oh boy, will you be whistling a different tune soon! I barely refrain from calling him names to his face.

Now to the apartment clean-out while he is occupied with his skank. I walk to the outer office."Lou, I think I have the cleaning bug. Send some cleaners to my apartment with some boxes. I'll meet them there. I've heard minimalism is now in fashion." I toss over my shoulder.

She nods, but her expression tells me I am not fooling her. I don’t care what she suspects as long as she keeps quiet. I give her a pointed look. She nods again and drops her head; a look of sadness crosses her face.

Women really should stick together. Betrayal is not a good look on anyone, male or female. Someone easily taken isn’t worth having.

In the words of my favorite queen of petty, Charlotte Dobre, “Bagging a cheater is not a flex.”