The Fake Luna: Marked By The Alpha King Novel – “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 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 of our marriage certificate. But now, standing here with trembling hands… How could our certificate possibly be fake?! Then my phone buzzed. I glanced down at the screen, still numb. 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.” My jaw nearly hit the floor. Vincent Smith—that name was nothing short of legendary in both human society and the werewolf world. Orphaned as a child and taken in by a wolf pack, he had 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 that seamlessly connected 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, including commercial holdings across multiple Pack territories. We need to begin the inheritance process immediately.” Of course. No one dared underestimate the extent of Vincent Smith’s wealth. My brain felt like it was being pummeled by this earth-shattering news. “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.
Twenty minutes later, I stepped onto the third floor. The hallway 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 being betrayed by my best friend and mate 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! My heart was bleeding—how dare they! 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, her legs wrapped tight around him. 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?” I said, my voice shaking with rage.”I think you owe me an explanation.” “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 flatly, “let’s not beat around the bush. ” “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 the threat, my hand fisting in her golden hair. Clara yelped, stumbling backward into the desk. “Aria!” Ethan grabbed my arm, twisting it 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. My tailbone throbbed where I’d hit the floor. 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 of them 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, and something in his tone shifted, became more formal. “That simplifies things considerably.
Are you available to meet soon? There are several details in the will that need to be discussed in person. ” “The sooner the better,” I said. “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. 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. … Ethan’s POV The door slammed behind Aria. I should go after her. Smooth things over like I always did. I took a step forward. “Ethan.” Clara’s hand wrapped around my wrist, yanking me back. “Where do you think you’re going?” “She just saw us. I need to talk to her before she does something stupid.” “Something stupid?” Clara’s amber eyes flashed. “Like tell everyone you cheated? She won’t. She loves you too much to destroy what you’ve built together.” I pulled free, running a hand through my hair. Clara was right. Aria had proven her love a thousand times over—working herself to exhaustion for the Pack, enduring my mother’s cruelty, raising Marcus without complaint. She wouldn’t throw that away over one moment of weakness. “But what if she heard our conversation about Marcus?” “If she had, do you think she’d just walk away? She would’ve been hysterical.
Screaming, crying, breaking things.” Clara’s hand stroked my arm. “Then in three days, she’d come crawling back, accepting this child with pure Alpha bloodline and begging you not to let her go.” I exhaled slowly. “I guess you’re right.” “I’m always right.” She smiled. Clara had always been like this—bold, unapologetic, dangerously confident. It was what drew me to her when we were teenagers, when she’d dragged me bleeding out of the forest after a rogue attack. I owed her everything. But Aria was different. She was my True Mate—chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. And I’d rejected that bond the moment I understood what it meant, because accepting Aria meant letting go of Clara. Fortunately, as a human, Aria’s perception of the mate bond was weak. After I completed the rejection, she wouldn’t feel the pain and would still hold hope for our destined connection. Her abilities were genuinely impressive—my pack flourished rapidly under her guidance. I kept my pup Marcus by her side, hoping she could help me raise a more perfect heir. In front of her, I didn’t mind playing the devoted mate. It was the only compensation I could offer her. “Ethan.” Clara’s voice cut through my thoughts. “I want to move into the house. With you and Aria. I’m tired of hiding, tired of sneaking around like a dirty secret.
Marcus deserves both his parents under one roof. ” “Either I move in, or I take Marcus and leave. Your choice.” My wolf snarled. Having them both under one roof was a disaster waiting to happen—but if Clara left with Marcus… “Fine,” I heard myself say. “You can move in.” Her face lit up. She threw her arms around my neck and kissed my jaw. “You won’t regret this, baby. I promise.” — Aria’s POV After signing the inheritance papers at Mr. Castellano’s office, I drove home in a daze. The house blazed with warm light. Through the front window I saw them—Ethan, Clara, and Marcus around the dining table like a perfect family portrait. Ethan laughed at something Clara said, his hand resting on the back of her chair. Marcus sat between them, grinning up at his father. Clara ruffled the boy’s golden hair; Ethan caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. Domestic bliss.