Chapter 0135


    Abby


    Stepping off thest stair, the whispers and murmurs reach a crescendo before falling into hushed


    silence. My gazends on Karl, and I revel in the astonishment flickering in his eyes.


    There’s a moment of silence as we gaze at each other. For a moment, things are like they used to be:


    I’m the Luna, Karl’s wife, revered by the people around me.


    In my shimmering red dress, I feel like a glimmer of my old self, plus or minus a few things. I feel more


    mature now, but that’s how I prefer it. And as Karl gazes at me, taking me in, I think he prefers it this


    way, too.


    But why am I doing all of this, really? Am I really doing this as a knee jerk reaction toward Gianna’s


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    “Ladies and gentlemen,” hKarl begins, seemingly regaining hisposure, “I’d like to reintroduce


    Abby. As you may know, she’s prepared tonight’s meal for us. Please, join us for dinner.”


    A ripple of confusion sweeps across the room, but nobody dares to question Karl’s decision, not in front


    of their Alpha.


    I gracefully move towards the dining table, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes on me. Some are


    bewildered, others are intrigued, but most are just stunned.


    But as I approach, I can already sense an invisible barricade forming. Gianna is seated in my old chair,


    situated right next to where Karl would sit. The spot I used to upy as his Luna, the seat that I


    thought would be mine forever in a strange way.


    Our eyes meet, and Gianna sends a sneer my way, a message loud and clear. “This is my territory


    now,” her expression seems to say.


    I could argue, could cause a scene, but I decide against it. Tonight isn’t about iming old territory; it’s


    about breaking ground and proving people wrong. I begin to veer towards another chair, one a


    respectful distance away from Karl and his secretary.


    But just as I’m about to take a seat, Karl’s voice slices through the air, tinged with authority. “Gianna,


    would you please move? Abby should sit there. It’s the Luna’s chair.”


    A collective intake of breath sucks the air out of the room. All eyes swivel between Gianna, Karl, and


    me.


    “But… Abby isn’t the Luna anymore. She’s the ex-Luna,” Gianna retorts, barely masking her


    indignance.


    Karl locks eyes with her, unyielding. “It doesn’t matter. Abby is my special guest for this evening. She’s


    gone to a lot of trouble to prepare the entire meal for us, so she deserves her old chair.”


    Gianna’s face tightens, but she stands, moving her te and ss to another seat with an air of


    begrudgingpliance. As I take my ce beside Karl, I lean in to whisper, “You didn’t have to do


    that.”


    He turns to me, his eyes earnest. “I wanted to.”


    Then, suddenly, Karl rises from his chair, his gaze sweeping over the room filled with pack members


    and allies, some of whom were my friends once. “Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention,


    there’s something I’d like to say before we begin our meal.”


    The room falls silent. Even Gianna, still sulking at her relocated seat, can’t seem to hide her curiosity.


    “I know I’ve misled many of you,” Karl starts, his voice filled with something that sounds like regret. “I


    made it public that Abby was cheating on me during our time together. And during that time, I believed


    it to be the truth.”


    “But recent tests and investigations have revealed that it was all a grave misunderstanding,” he


    continues, his eyes meeting mine. “Abby never had any acts of infidelity.”


    Murmurs break out around the room, but I’m too stunned to register them.


    “I would like to formally apologize to Abby for tarnishing her reputation and for making her out to be


    someone she’s not,” Karl says, each word heavy with sincerity. “I would also like to apologize to my


    friends, colleagues, and staff for noting clean sooner. I was too childish to admit my faults.”


    Then he turns his gaze to me, and his next words strike me like a bolt of lightning.


    “I am striving to be a better man, one who doesn’t make rash decisions based on falsehoods or let his


    pride dictate his actions,” he confesses, his eyes searching mine for something—forgiveness, maybe,


    or perhaps just understanding.