Page 4 of A Luna's Revenge

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.”

Chapter 3 - The Cleansing

Charlie

After sorting through my apartment and keeping only the essentials, I've decided to take just a few pieces of clothing and leave the rest behind. I realize I won't be wearing my Luna clothes anymore; I want to embrace a more age-appropriate style. I'm 23, not 63, and from today on, I'm saying goodbye to "Matronly Charlie."

I rearranged my closet so that the clothes I would be wearing would be more readily accessible. I notice my wedding dress in the back. Pulling it out of the protective garment bag, I caress the soft silk of the bodice and remember the day we married.

Not a cloud in the sky, as the day dawned beautiful. The pack ballroom had been decorated with white roses and baby's breath. Strands of white fairy lights covered the ceiling like a fairytale. I hadn't wanted an elaborate wedding, but Jenson had said I was special and deserved a princess wedding. It was beautiful.

He was beautiful. His strong, kissable jaw had that scruff of a beard that I adored. His brown hair to his shoulders waspulled back in a leather tie. His suit matched his teal blue eyes, which were too gorgeous for words. He was a work of art, and he was mine. He had always been mine, I thought, until now.

That thought brought me back to the present with a jolt. My hand drops from the dress.

This wedding dress gave me an idea for later, but now I have some errands to run. I head out to the garage to my SUV. Once in town, I make some stops at the bakery, apet store, a gag gift store, and a few other stops.

Armed with my goodies, I return to my office. As expected, Lou has gone for the day, and Jenson doesn't appear to be in either.

Unloading my packages, I lock the door behind me. Cautiously approaching the Alpha's office, I unlock the door and enter. Opening up our personal safe, I remove half of the cash on hand, my jewelry,passport, wedding certificate, birth certificate, deeds to my properties, the title to my vehicle, and a few other items and important papers that belong to me. I stuff these things into a hand-held fire-proof safe I purchased today. I take the safe to my office and stash it under my desk.

The afternoon arrives, and it starts to rain. Just like your loyal family pet, wolves don't care for the rain. Nothing smellsworse than a wet wolf. So, everyone tends to hole up on rainy days. Not me. I love the rain! Rain is a cleansing or a renewal; it’s refreshing and sexy. Retrieving my wedding dress garment bag that I previously tucked into a garbage bag and stashed in my office, I walk down the steps, through the kitchen, and out the back door. No one even appears to notice. I feel like a ghost in my own home.

I turn towardthemeadow. It isn't our meadow anymore. It has been defiled by bringing skank here today for a picnic. After reaching it, I hang the garment bag on a tree limb. The rain is coming down now. A good storm is afoot. Lana looks up from her vulnerable position, her facial fur wet with tears."Poor Lana. This will be therapeutic. We will get through this. We have to."I coo, mentally stroking Lana's fur."Be strong, sweet one."

Unzipping the garment bag, I expose the contents to the elements. Stripping off my clothes, I sling them to the side. Approaching the bag, I grab the dress and slip it over my naked form. Next, I pin the veil on my head and slip on the heels. Walking in these shoes isn't an option in the gathering mud; I grab my keepsake bouquet. After stomping through the goo a few times, I discard my shoes and focus on the rest.

Lifting my face to the sky, I open my arms and welcome the torrential cleansing press of the rain. Tossing my bouquet behind me as I did the original at my wedding, it sails through the air and lands with a plop, face down in a puddle. Glancing behind me at the ruined bouquet I once treasured, I laugh loudly. And, then, the tears began.

Lightning flashes andthe thunder crashes as I scream my pain into the universe.

"Aaaaarrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Falling to my knees, my forehead kisses the ice-cold mire. Sobbing, I struggle to breathe, sinking further into theunforgiving ground. The rain caresses my aching body and lashes at my soul, purging and washing away the stains of heartache. The mud greedily soaks into my dress like an eager lover.

Lana and I curl up into the fetal position, melding together body and soul, whimpering and weeping in the sludge. Moments pass, or maybe hours. Shivering violently, I slowly come to my senses.

Despite being entirely covered in mud, I feel purified. Rising and removing the destroyed dress and veil, I place them back on the rack in the garment bag. Picking up my shoes and bouquet, I add them to the carnage that once represented the happiest day of my life, zipping the bag closed on my shattered past.

Completely naked and covered in filth, I approach the weeping willow tree with the heart carved into it. The words “Jenson loves Charlie”areetched in the middle. Releasing my claws, I completely obliterate the words while leaving the hollow heart intact.

Walking to the stream next to the tree, I immerse myself in the cool rushing water, cleansing the mud from my skin and hair. The rain has stopped. The world is peaceful. Steam rises from the ground as the warmth of the evening dries it. Folding up the garment bag with the dress inside, I place it back in the garbage bag, stowing it under a nearby cliff face. Retrieving a small bag with my dry clothes, I dress. Feeling intensely pleased, I walk back to the pack house with a smile.

After a long, busy day, I am nearly ready to fall into bed. However, I need a shower to remove all traces of dirt.

Back in the Alpha Suite, I turn on the shower, walk under the warm stream, a stark contrast to the cold rain before, and cleanse the last vestiges of this life behind me for good.

After toweling off, I dress in my everyday sleeping attire of short, silky pajamas. Crawling into bed,I realize my outlook is far different than it had been just last night at this same time. Jenson and I had had a hot and heavy make-out session, which dawns on me that it would be the last time. Again, he has made his bed, and as much as I still love him with every fiber of my being, I am done.

There is no coming back from this betrayal. No excuse or potential outcome could make it alright to any normal person. Sure, you can forgive someone you love for nearly anything, and I am positive forgiveness will undoubtedly come one day.

However, forgetting this bone-deep betrayal while continuing to add insult to injury by doting onher!Not happening! My heart and soul are in shreds.

Goddess! Had I committed such disloyalty, I would have spent the entire day on my hands and knees begging for his forgiveness. Not catering and doting on my affair partner while taking them to the special place my soulmate and I share.

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