Page 8 of A Luna's Revenge

Reading aloud, “Wearing your talisman, speak the incantation to break the mate bond. Once the spell has released the magic into the air, you take a sharp silver dagger and cut the mate bond scar from your skin.”

“It sounds simple enough,” I remark. “This is how Aunt Renaulda did it?”

“Yes. My mother wanted to make sure that I knew how to do it should I ever have the need, so she went over the spell with me when she gave me my talisman.” She reaches up and clasps the necklace she is wearing. It’s very similar to my own, with slight variations in color and design.

“What instructions did she give?” I ask.

“Recite the spell,” she explains. “Be mindful of your purpose—the desire to be free from the mate bond. Severing it won’t be easy or painless, but I know you can do it.”

My heart lurches at the thought of breaking free from the pain of betrayal. “Will it truly work?”

“It will work,” Mom assures me. “You’re stronger than you thinkandhave the magic within you. You just need to trust it.” She taps my chest.

I nod, determination settling in.

“Good,” she says, a smile breaking through her concern. “You can’t do it now; it will give Jenson an unfair advantage. You must break it after you have left so he’ll not have the opportunity to Alpha command you to stay.”

Looking at the words on the page, I feel a deep connection with the women who have come before me. Each word reminds me that I come from a line of strong women whohave faced their struggles fearlessly. I won’t let a cheating mate define my worth.

“So, memorize the spell, and when you’re ready and far away from here, you can perform the ritual. Or, if you want to stay here, you can move back in with me and your dad, and then we can perform the ritual together. Just know you are not alone in this, Charlie.”

I close my eyes for a moment, imagining the life I want. I realize I have choices. I can stay here and carve out my own life separate from Jenson, living under the ridicule and pity of the pack. Or, I can go out and create my own life—one free from the remnants of betrayal. I open my eyes, looking at my mother, who watches me with love.

“I’m ready to make necessary changes in my life,” I say, feeling the talisman’s power surge. “But I want a clean slate, so I am leaving as planned.”

Mom nods, her expression softening. “I understand, sweet girl. Let’s make this happen.”

Together, we prepare, and for once, despite the last couple of days, I feel hope. In this moment, I take back my power, andwith the magic of my bloodline within me, I know I’ll prevail.

I spend the next fewhours with my parents, practicing the ritual andupdating their phones with my new number.

As I say goodbye and walk back home, I go to the meadow and take out the garbage bag with my wedding dress. I hang it and the veil on the tree with the destroyed heart carving, placing the shoes and the bouquet on the ground. I look at my handiwork and feel a measure of satisfaction. It makes the statement I want him to remember. I take out my phone andsnap a photo. A single teardrop makes its way down my chin. The last one I will allow.

I make my way back to the pack house. Not sure when the last time I ate was, so I decide to stop in the kitchen and make myself a sandwich.

Luck is not on my side this time, as a crying skank is seated in the dining hall with a towel wrapped around her head. With a ball cap on his head, Jensonis by her side again, feeding her bites of food and soothing her.

I quickly make a sandwich, grab some chips and a couple of drinks, and am about to leave when I notice the scratching. I pause. Climbing up on the barstool where I have a good sight line, I start munching on my food.

Jenson is feeding the skank a bite of food with one hand while scratching vigorously at his behind with the other.Eww, Ihope he doesn't wash that hand before he feeds her another bite;I giggle to myself.

I swallow a drink of water as he picks up a piece of bread with that same hand and feeds it to her. I swear to the goddess, I just about choke out. Quietly coughing up a lung and trying to stay hidden, I watch as Jenson scratches other unmentionable places.

It’s as if he has no idea what he’s doing; he istotally oblivious. Skank reaches between her thighs and scratches as well, squirming for good measure.

As the itch-fest ramps up, shifters around them are beginning to notice. Skank's lovely, devoted courtiers slowly slide away, putting distance between them.

Uh oh! Do the king and queen have cooties?Pretty soon, it appears that the itching is getting worse. Jenson and the skank are constantly digging at their underwear, while the power of suggestion is causing everyone in the near vicinity to begin to itch and scratch.

It isn't long before the skank screams again. "What the heck is going on? I can't stop itching!" She jumps up, and the towel falls from her head; she looks like she has mange. The shifters sitting next to her gape in horror.

Jenson leaps to his feet and yells, "I can't stop itching either!"

That's when sheer panic sets in.And the crowd goes wild!Mothers grab their pups and trample others while tearing out the door. Males shield their junk and back away in terror. In about thirty seconds, the room is cleared, but for Jenson and the skank, who are digging away at their privates like they are digging for gold.

I can't breathe. I kid you not, I am crawling up the stairs to my apartment to the satisfying sound of their screams. Lana is lying on the floor of my mind, her tongue hanging out of her mouth. She has pissed herself from laughing so hard, and I nearly have too.

Someone must have called Dr. Shannon because I hear her come up the stairs, trying to calm them down enough to see what's wrong.

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