Chapter 4

SELENE

My shoulders slumped as I walked weakly out of the guest wing. My whole body trembled. I was devastated—numb, empty. Emotions no longer existed within me. A wave of crushing loneliness rolled through my chest, threatening to drown me whole.

Just as I was about to step outside, Mira blocked my path, a twisted smile tugging at her lips. I tried to sidestep her, but she gripped my wrist tightly. I shut my eyes and exhaled.

“It’s nice to see you’re finally coming to your senses,” she mocked, tilting her head with false innocence.

I tried walking past her again, but it was clear she was determined to ruin what little peace I had left. I let her have her moment.

Freeing my wrist, I said quietly, “I’m glad you finally understand that Lucien was never going to look at you the way he looked at me. It’s good that you’ve come to terms with the truth—that the only thing connecting us is now gone.”

“I need to leave, Mira. Please, move,” I said. My voice was tired. I was done fighting. She won. I lost. There was no reason to argue anymore over something that was never mine.

“Leave?” She giggled like a child who had just won a game. “Oh, I’ll move, but not before I say thank you. You have no idea how much good you've done by stepping aside. I really thought you’d be pathetic enough to keep chasing Lucien around. I mean, three years and still—he picked me over you.” She smacked her lips in mock pity. “So sad.”

“What now, Mira? You’ve won. What more do you want?” I murmured, rolling my eyes.

“You still don’t get it, do you?” Her tone dropped, sharp like glass. “Even after your precious unborn pup died, Lucien still won’t look at you the way he looks at me. He never cared about your pup, Selene. Isn’t that pathetic?” She tilted her head, mocking. “Honestly, I feel bad for that poor pup. But maybe it’s for the best. You wouldn’t have made a good mother anyway.”

My fists clenched at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. I forced myself to stay calm.

Mira was always like this—cruel and smug. Acting like the world revolved around her. She always had to be the center of attention.

I never truly understood her hatred for me, but the moment she came back into this pack, I knew it was mutual. Everything about her made my skin crawl. I hated the way she pretended to be sweet around Lucien, how she twisted the truth and played the victim.

She got away with everything—shoving me and calling it an accident, hitting me behind closed doors, all while flashing that innocent smile when others were around. Even in school, she was the same: cruel, manipulative, always picking at the wounds I tried to heal—mocking the death of my parents, humiliating me for things beyond my control.

I tried to live quietly. Tried to be a good Luna, to stay out of trouble. But she came back, and she made it her mission to destroy me.

And now… maybe she had.

“Mira, please,” I said again, quieter this time. “Move.”

“No,” she snapped.

Just as I turned to walk away, she suddenly yelped and fell to the floor.

I turned, startled—confused—until Lucien came rushing out of nowhere, immediately kneeling beside her.

“Mira,” he said, his voice full of concern.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and I stared, baffled.

“You should be resting,” Lucien said gently. “You’re still healing.”

“I know… I know,” Mira whimpered. “I just heard that Selene was leaving the pack. I wanted to ask her to stay, for the good of everyone. But she got angry… said I ruined things between you two… and then she pushed me.” Her voice cracked with just the right amount of pain, the perfect victim.

My jaw dropped.

Unbelievable.

Lucien’s eyes snapped to mine, dark and furious. “How could you, Selene?” he growled. “You’re the one who rejected me. I begged you to reconsider, and now you're accusing Mira? This isn’t her fault.”

I opened my mouth to speak, to defend myself, but no sound came. What was the point? He wouldn’t believe me.

So I smiled bitterly, inhaled deeply, and turned away.

The night was cold, and the rain poured mercilessly as I walked down the dark, empty road. My clothes clung to my skin, soaked through. My hair dripped. I didn’t care.

Tears mixed with raindrops as I walked aimlessly, my heart in pieces.

Alone again.

No parents to run to.

No pack to call mine.

No mate to hold me.

Just me. Broken and fading.

I looked up at the sky, wondering why the Moon Goddess—why Selene—would curse me like this. Hadn’t I suffered enough? I tried to be good. I gave everything—my love, my loyalty, my hope.

Three years of being a Luna. Three years of loving a man who never loved me back.

And now, not even my fated mate had shown up. Not that I wanted him to.

Let the rogues come. Let them end this pain.

What was the point in surviving when there was nothing left for me in this world?

A sleek black car pulled up beside me. Its tires splashed water from the road. I didn’t move. I just stood there, waiting for it to drive off.

Instead, the window rolled down, and a deep, unfamiliar voice spoke my name.

“Selene.”

I froze. The voice was smooth, commanding, and unfamiliar. I turned slowly to face the driver. All I could see through the darkness were his piercing, marble-gray eyes locking onto mine.

Magnetic. Dangerous.

“Who are you?” I asked, my instincts screaming at me to run, but my feet refused to move.

His lips curved into a slow, almost predatory smile. I couldn’t see the rest of his face, but something inside me warned me this man was trouble.

“Someone who knows exactly what it feels like to be betrayed,” he said.