Chapter 3

"Sera, apologize to Elara right now! Or don't blame us for temporarily stripping some of your future Luna privileges, according to pack law!" Mitchell's threat was loud and clear, leaving no room for argument.

Before I could speak, Elara tearfully grabbed Mitchell's strong arm, shaking her head desperately. Tears rolled down her face, making her look even more pitiful.

"It's not Sister Sera's fault, I came to apologize myself. If it weren't for me… Sister Sera wouldn't have ended up like this…" she sobbed, her body trembling slightly.

Jax, always direct, was fuming. He pulled Elara into a tight hug, murmuring comforts.

"Alright, Elara, stop defending her! We know what Sera's like. She's just jealous of you!"

"With us backing you up, you don't have to take anything from her! No one in the Blackwood pack will dare bully you again!"

Mitchell snorted, his deep wolf eyes shooting me a vicious glare.

"Who else would force you to kneel if not her? Was there a third living soul in this cave just now?"

"We just had the artisan bring your Luna gown for Elara to try on for size. You sure get news fast!"

My gaze turned icy, a hint of wolfish ferocity in it, as I stared straight at Elara, who was huddled in Jax's arms but secretly peeking at me from the corner of her eye.

That Luna gown… Mom Lyra had started preparing it for me three years ago. It symbolized the status and glory of the future Luna.

Handmade by the pack's most experienced artisan, blessed by the Moon Goddess, it was priceless.

Mom had poured her heart and soul into making me the most dazzling Luna Blackwood had ever seen.

And now, it had fallen into the hands of Elara, this Omega of unknown origin.

Elara seemed stung by my gaze and cried even more despairingly.

"I'm sorry, Sera, I… I just mentioned it casually… I didn't mean it. I'll bring the gown back to you right now…"

With that, she tried to struggle out of Jax's arms again, to kneel before me.

But before her forehead even touched the stone, Jax yanked her up more forcefully, pulling her possessively against his broad chest.

"You don't need to apologize to her, Elara! It's just a stupid gown! Big deal! For the materials of this gown, I, Jax, will pay her back with all my future Alpha savings!" Jax's voice was full of disdain.

Mitchell's face hardened, his eyes filled with anger and warning as he looked at me.

"Elara is just a homeless orphan, Sera. Do you really need to react like this? Where's your generosity?"

"We were the ones who asked the artisan to bring the gown, and we were the ones who asked Elara to try it on. If you want to blame someone, blame us!"

"But I'm warning you, Seraphina, if you dare let this affect the upcoming ceremony, and the new Alpha is left without a mate at his own bonding ritual, let's see where the Mooncrest pack will hide its face!"

After throwing down their warning, Mitchell and Jax left my cave with a still-sobbing Elara, without a single look back.

Leaving me alone on the cold stone bed, silently licking the wounds deep in my soul.

Mitchell, Jax, you don't have to worry this time.

I'll leave on my own.

Because of my facial injuries and the magic backlash, my mating ceremony with the future Alpha was postponed by half a month.

I spent a week recovering in my pack cave before I could barely walk.

During that time, Mitchell and Jax never showed up once.

Elara, however, was often seen in the pack's common areas.

Either playing with young wolves under the moonlight or by the stream, accepting food eagerly offered by other male wolves.

In those images circulating within the pack, you could always see her with either Mitchell or Jax.

Elara's face always glowed with a happy, shy smile. Her smooth, fair complexion was a stark contrast to my hideous scars, a constant, painful reminder.

I fought to keep my composure.

Closing off those images, I pushed open the stone door of my cave.

I just didn't expect to be greeted by almost every member of the Blackwood pack gathered in the square outside.

"So this is the future Luna, Miss Sera, right? Heard good things are coming with the Alpha soon?" a malicious voice called out.

"More than that, I heard Blackwood will soon have two 'mistresses,' and the other one is Miss Elara!" another voice sneered.

"It's not even the ceremony yet, why is Miss Sera still wearing a mask? Is she… shy?"

Wearing the special mask Mom made for me, I looked helplessly at the pack steward.

He hurried over, explaining in a low voice, "It was Alpha Mitchell and Alpha Jax. They said, to celebrate your initial recovery and also to dispel rumors, they gathered all the pack members to… announce the date of your bonding with the future Alpha ahead of time, and also… to elevate Miss Elara's status in the pack."

I turned to flee, but Elara quickly stepped in front of me, her eyes welling with tears.

"Sera, this gathering is especially for you. If you leave, does that mean… you still haven't forgiven me?"

I scowled.

"Cut the act. Move."

I tried to walk around her to get to the stone steps.

But Elara suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked hard.

I fell heavily onto the stone ground, and the mask on my face slipped off completely.

Instantly, gasps echoed all around.