The Fake Luna: Marked By The Alpha King

Aria's POV

"Ma'am, I've checked the system three times. There's no marriage record under your name. Are you certain about the date?"

I stood frozen outside the County Clerk's office, the clerk's words still ringing in my ears.

Two years. Two years of believing I was Ethan Holt's wife, his Luna.

As the only human Luna, we had also applied for a marriage certificate in my human community, and it now sat in the nightstand drawer in my bedroom. Real enough that I never questioned our relationship, even though we never had a mating ceremony with his pack.

Until three days ago, when Marcus tore it to shreds during one of his tantrums. That was what brought me here today-to get a replacement copy.

But now, standing here with trembling hands...

How could our certificate possibly be fake?!

My phone buzzed. An unknown number. Normally I would have ignored it, but something made me answer.

"Ms. Smith? Aria Smith?"

"Speaking." My voice sounded distant, like it belonged to someone else.

"My name is Richard Castellano. I'm the attorney handling the estate of Vincent Smith. I apologize for the abrupt contact, but it's imperative that we meet as soon as possible. You are the sole heir to your father's estate."

I blinked. "I'm sorry, what? I don't have a father. My parents abandoned me when I was born."

"Ms. Smith, Vincent Smith passed away two weeks ago. The DNA test and his will are both conclusive. You are his only legitimate biological child."

Vincent Smith. That name was nothing short of legendary in both human society and the werewolf world. Orphaned as a child, taken in by a wolf pack, he'd displayed extraordinary business genius from an early age. As an adult, with the backing of his adoptive Alpha brother, he forged a massive commercial empire connecting the human and supernatural realms.

And now someone was telling me that I, as his sole daughter, stood to inherit the bulk of his fortune?

"The estate is substantial," Castellano continued, "including commercial holdings across multiple Pack territories. We need to begin the inheritance process immediately."

"I need to confirm something first," I heard myself say. "I'll call you back."

The most important thing now was to verify my marriage status with my husband. If this was real, Ethan and I wouldn't have to worry about the pack's questioning looks anymore. I could complete the final mating ceremony with him smoothly, become the pack's Luna, and lead them to even greater prosperity.

The drive to Silver Creek Pack's main building took twenty minutes.

The hallway on the third floor was unusually quiet. As I approached Ethan's office, voices drifted through the half-open door.

A woman's voice.

"Ethan-yes-right there-"

His voice, ragged and raw: "You feel so good, Clara."

Clara. My best friend.

Then something even worse than betrayal hit like a freight train.

"When are you going to get rid of her, Ethan? Our son is already three years old. I'm tired of pretending." Clara's voice was sharp with impatience.

Marcus. The little boy Ethan claimed we'd adopted because my human body supposedly couldn't handle pregnancy, and the pack needed a pup to serve as the Alpha's heir.

I couldn't breathe. The pup I had lovingly raised was Ethan and Clara's biological child.

Inside the office, Ethan sighed. "Just a little longer." His voice was cold. "We still need her. The Pack's finances are stable because of her work. Once we've locked everything down, I'll cut her loose."

"What am I supposed to do until then? Keep playing victim while she parades around as Luna?"

"You know she's nothing to me. Just a tool. Once we've squeezed every last drop of value out of her..."

I didn't wait to hear more.

I shoved the door open.

Clara was perched on Ethan's desk, her blouse undone, skirt pushed up to her waist. Ethan was buried inside her, his hips driving into her as she gasped against his mouth.

It made me want to throw up.

"Sorry to interrupt." My voice sliced through the air like a blade.

They froze. Clara scrambled to cover herself, nearly falling off the desk. Ethan jerked upright, his mouth wet, his eyes wide with shock.

I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a cold smile on my lips. "Don't stop on my account. I'd hate to ruin the mood."

"Aria. You shouldn't be here," Ethan said with mild annoyance.

"Shouldn't I?" My voice shook with rage. "You told me I was your True Mate. You pursued me for months. You convinced me the Moon Goddess chose us. But now you're sleeping with my best friend?"

"There's nothing to explain. Clara is my destined mate." Ethan said it flatly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "The deal with V&A International Group needs final signatures. We need you for one last meeting as Luna. After that, we'll give you reasonable compensation for your... services."

"Compensated?" The word tasted like poison. "You lied to me for two years. You used me to build your Pack's business portfolio. And now you want to pay me off like a servant who's served her purpose?"

Clara walked toward me, adjusting her clothes with deliberate slowness. "You should be grateful, honestly. A human orphan with no family, no packs? Where else would you have ended up? If you're smart, you'll take whatever he offers and leave quietly. Otherwise-"

I moved.

I was across the room before Clara could finish, my hand fisting in her golden hair. Clara yelped, stumbling backward into the desk.

"Aria!" Ethan grabbed my arm, twisting hard enough to make me gasp. Then he shoved me backward. Hard.

I hit the floor, the impact jarring through my spine. Pain exploded in my tailbone. I looked up at him, stunned.

Ethan stared down at me, his light blue eyes ice cold. "Touch her again and I'll break your wrist."

The words hit harder than the fall.

Something inside my chest cracked. Not my ribs. Something deeper.

I pushed myself to my feet, my hands shaking. Everything hurt. Not just my body.

"You're going to regret this," I said quietly. "Both of you."

I turned and walked out before either could respond.

Back in my car, I dialed the lawyer's number. "Mr. Castellano. About Vincent Smith's estate. I'm ready to talk."

"Good. I need to confirm-inheritance requires the heir to sign as an independent individual. If married, the spouse must witness the process. Otherwise-"

"I'm single," I cut him off. "Legally, I always have been."

Silence for two seconds.

"Understood," Castellano said, his tone shifting, becoming more formal. "That simplifies things considerably. Are you available to meet soon?"

"The sooner the better. I have plenty of time these days."

"My office then. This afternoon?"

"I'll see you at three."

I sat in the parking lot for another five minutes, staring at nothing.

Two years of lies, manipulation, and humiliation. Two years of believing I was fighting for something real.

But it was over now.

Ethan was about to discover exactly what the fury of an heiress looked like.