Rebirth of the Betrayed Luna

Chapter 5

Damian glanced at Tanin before leaving. "Don't wander around. I'll be back soon," he said firmly.

Tanin nodded, giving him a soft smile. He lingered for a moment as if to ensure she understood, then turned and left with Rowan.

As soon as the door closed, Tanin let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. The office suddenly felt too big, too quiet, and her mind began to race.

She glanced around Damian's grand office, her thoughts pulling her back to her past life. She had given up everything—her dreams, her career, her passion—just to fit into the mold his family wanted for her. She had been a gifted designer, someone who could create magic with her ideas, and her skills in technology were unmatched. She could hack systems others deemed impenetrable, stop viruses before they spread, and design anything she set her mind to.

But all of that had been sacrificed. She gave it up to be the perfect wife, the perfect daughter-in-law. And yet, Kitana Scottsdale had destroyed her happiness without a second thought.

Kitana.

The name alone sent a jolt of anger through her.

Her lips curled into a wicked grin. What if she allowed Damian to hire Kitana? What if she gave her enough rope to hang herself and showed her place in this life?

Kitana had taken everything from her in the past—her parents' love, her husband's trust, and even the life of her unborn child. But not this time.

She was so lost in her thoughts that her wolf, Emily, groaned in displeasure.

"I've always told you that you can talk to me, right? Why are you just talking to yourself and disturbing me?"

Tanin blinked, startled, before smiling. She wasn't used to having a wolf yet; in her past life, she had been nothing but a useless omega.

"I'm sorry, Emily," she said softly.

Emily huffed, but her tone softened. "Just don't forget I'm here. We're in this together."

Tanin's smile widened. She decided she wouldn't sit idly by anymore. Perhaps it was time to explore.

Leaving Damian's office, she stepped into the elevator and descended to the lobby. The bustling energy of the company filled her senses, and she marveled at the efficiency and precision of everyone around her. She had always admired this side of Damian, but she had never taken the opportunity to truly immerse herself in his world.

Just as she was about to take a look around, her eyes landed on someone walking through the entrance.

Kitana Scottsdale.

Tanin's stomach churned with disgust at the sight of her. Memories flooded her mind—Kitana's fake tears, her innocent facade, and the way she had poisoned her unborn child while pretending to be a loyal friend.

Tanin clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. It seemed Kitana was here to look for a job. The audacity made her blood boil.

Kitana's eyes widened slightly when she saw Tanin. She cursed inwardly, but quickly masked her shock with a bright smile.

"Tanin!" Kitana called out, rushing toward her. She threw her arms around her in an overly enthusiastic hug, but Tanin didn't reciprocate.

"How are you?" Kitana asked, stepping back and feigning concern.

Tanin's expression remained neutral. "I'm fine."

She studied Kitana carefully, her sharp gaze catching the subtle nervousness in her eyes. Kitana was up to something.

A new plan began to form in Tanin's mind. If Kitana wanted to infiltrate this company, she would let her. But this time, she would ensure Kitana's schemes backfired spectacularly.

Kitana seemed to sense the shift in Tanin's demeanor. She forced a laugh and said, "It's so good to see you here. I didn't expect to run into you."

Tanin offered a cold smile but said nothing. She turned on her heel, suddenly losing interest in her surroundings, and began walking away.

Kitana, not wanting to lose control of the situation, reached out and grabbed Tanin's arm, pulling her back.

That was all the opportunity Tanin needed. She stumbled dramatically, falling to the ground with a loud thud.

Gasps filled the air as employees nearby rushed to her side. One of them helped her sit up, her hand visibly bruised.

"High Luna!" the woman exclaimed in concern.

Tanin winced, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up at Kitana. "Why did you push me?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.

Kitana froze, her face paling. "I-I didn't push you! I just—"

"Don't you know who she is?" another employee cut in, glaring at Kitana. "She's the High Luna!"

The murmurs of disapproval grew louder as more people gathered around. Kitana's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

The commotion reached Damian's ears in the middle of his meeting. His sharp senses picked up on Tanin's soft cries, and his jaw tightened. Without a word, he rose from his chair and stormed out, Rowan hot on his heels.

Tanin saw Damian's tall, commanding figure approaching and let her tears flow freely. She sobbed quietly, her vulnerable state drawing pity from the crowd.

Damian's golden eyes blazed as he took in the scene—the employees hovering around Tanin, Kitana standing awkwardly nearby, her face a mixture of guilt and panic.

"What's going on here?" Damian demanded, his deep voice cutting through the noise like a blade.

One of the employees stepped forward. "Lycan, this woman," she said, pointing at Kitana, "pushed the High Luna down."

Kitana's eyes widened in horror. "I didn't push her! I swear!" she stammered.

Damian's gaze shifted to Tanin, who looked up at him with teary eyes, her lower lip trembling. "I didn't do anything to her," she whispered brokenly.

That was all it took to send Damian into a cold rage. He turned to Kitana, his expression dark and unrelenting. "You dare lay a hand on my mate?"

"No, Lycan, I—" Kitana tried to explain, but her voice faltered under his piercing glare.

Damian motioned for Rowan. "Escort her out. She's banned from this building."

Kitana's face crumbled as two guards appeared at Rowan's command, grabbing her arms and leading her toward the exit.

"You're making a mistake!" she shouted, struggling against their grip. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

Damian ignored her, his attention fully on Tanin. He crouched down beside her, his large hands gently cupping her face. "Are you hurt?"

Tanin shook her head, her tears still flowing. "Just my hand," she whispered, holding up her bruised palm.

Damian's expression softened, but his anger simmered just below the surface. He scooped her up in his arms, carrying her as if she weighed nothing.

"Let's get you checked out," he said, his tone gentle yet firm.

Tanin rested her head against his chest, a small, satisfied smile tugging at her lips.

This was just the beginning.