The Human Luna's Second Chance Mate

Chapter 3: I Slapped Charlotte

Gloria POV

"Or what?" Charlotte's eyes glittered. "You'll cry? You'll run to your room like a pathetic human? That's all you've ever been good at." "Charlotte." Hunter's voice held a warning. I turned my glaring eyes to Hunter. "Are you just going to allow her to speak to me like that?" Hunter sighed, rubbing his temples, clearly annoyed by the entire exchange. "Stop speaking to Gloria like that. She is your Luna. You carrying my heir is not going to change that."

He turned back to me, his expression hardening. "Gloria, this is for the pack. Not everything revolves around you. I have a duty to my people. I need this to work so I can join the Alpha Council. Start acting like a Luna and put the needs of the pack before your own. I have made my choice, it cannot be undone. Now, I have work to do. Find a way to get along." He turned his back on me and walked to his desk, taking my shattered heart with him. How could he be so cold?

The moment his back was turned, all three women looked at me and smirked. My heart, which already felt battered and bruised, was completely broken. But looking at the malicious glints in their eyes, I knew they were not done humiliating me yet.

Hunter sat down at his desk and went back to reading whatever was in front of him, ignoring us. Charlotte immediately stepped closer, leaning in until she was whispering in my ear.

"See, you mean nothing to him. You are just as pathetic as the day he brought you here. Fragile little human who cannot handle an Alpha. He just said those things to placate you. We conceived this baby the old-fashioned way and let me tell you, that man can f**k. Hmm, I can still feel his c**k hitting my womb. Being a useless human means that you will never feel the pain of betrayal. Every time he f****d me senseless, you were oblivious and that was a major turn on. The thrill of it made him coat my womb with his seed every time he f****d me," she whispered, her voice venomous.

My palm itched with the need to wipe that smile off her face. I raised my hand—and Charlotte moved. Not to block. To fall.

She stumbled backward, her heel catching on nothing, and crashed into the side table. Crystal shattered. Her body hit the floor with a sickening thud, and she lay there, gasping, one hand pressed to her stomach. "No," she whispered, eyes wide with theatrical horror. "Please... don't hurt my baby. I know you're angry, but the baby is innocent." My hand still hung in the air, frozen. "What are you doing? I didn't touch you." She was a good actress. I gave her that.

Hunter's mother, Sylvia, stomped over to me while his sister rushed to help Charlotte up. "You little b***h. How dare you!" Sylvia roared, and before I could move, she struck me so hard I tasted blood. "What the f**k, Mom!" Hunter yelled, running over to us. He reached for me, but I instantly stepped back. "I did not touch her," I said softly, though a sinking feeling told me Charlotte was going to win this round. She had his family's unwavering support. And what did I have? Did I even still have Hunter? "I am sorry, Alpha. I did not have time to react. The minute you turned your back, she attacked me," Charlotte sniffled, clutching her reddening cheek.

"She needs to be punished! She tried to harm the future heir of this pack. She has gone completely unhinged," Sylvia yelled, raising her hand again. Hunter grabbed his mother's arm, stopping her mid-air. "She said she did not do it," he defended, dropping his mother's wrist. "We saw her with our own eyes! Why would Charlotte lie? She is giving you everything, and you would take the word of that human over your own family?" his mother spat angrily. "What is going on here? Charlotte, are you okay?" Henry, the Beta and Charlotte's father, barked as he burst into the room.

"She attacked me, Daddy, and tried to hurt the Alpha's heir. I do not know why she hates me so much," Charlotte cried pitifully.

I sighed, wiping a smear of blood from the corner of my mouth. "Alpha?" Henry asked, turning a heavy, expectant gaze onto Hunter.

"Gloria would never lie to me. She says she did not do it," Hunter said, looking deeply conflicted. I opened my mouth to speak, but Charlotte suddenly let out a sharp scream. "Ahh! My stomach... The baby…" she groaned, clutching herself. "Stop acting, Charlotte. You know I never touched you," I said flatly as Henry scooped her into his arms.

"Look at what she did! She attacked the future heir. That is a punishable offense," Annie sneered. "If anything happens to my daughter…" Henry threatened, letting the words hang heavily in the air. "We need to get her to the hospital. Lock that crazy human up and come on, Hunter. You are the father, your pup needs you to be there," Sylvia urged. Hunter looked at me like a deer caught in headlights. I crossed my arms over my chest defiantly. Surely he would not believe that I would harm a child. He knew me better than anyone.

"Alpha, you cannot let your emotions cloud your judgment," Henry pressured. "What she did is a serious offense, Luna or not. If word gets out, the pack will demand justice." Hunter looked back at me. Over Henry's shoulder, I caught the subtle, victorious smirk on Charlotte's face. "Apologize to Charlotte, Gloria," Hunter ordered. "What? You cannot be serious. I did nothing wrong," I said, a dangerous spark of anger igniting in my chest. "Be the bigger person and apologize now!" he bellowed. "No! I. Did. Not. Touch. Her," I emphasized, pausing on every word.

"So help me…" Hunter warned. I looked at him. Really looked at him. He was staring at me as if I were the villain. Like he actually hated me. "You do not believe me," I whispered. "I see." I turned back to Charlotte, still crouched on the floor with her fake tears. "You want me to be the villain? Then let me actually earn it." Before anyone could react, I lunged forward and slapped Charlotte right across her face. Hard.

The crack echoed through the study, sharp and satisfying. Charlotte's head whipped sideways, genuine shock replacing her fake fear. For one glorious second, she forgot to cry.