Chapter 4

In the end, I stopped wrestling with it. I let him keep playing the part.

Lucian made me breakfast every morning. Held me as I fell asleep at night. Asked for a goodbye kiss before he left for work. Brought home my favorite desserts when he came back.

Whenever he had the time, he took me wherever I wanted to go.

Every evening after dinner, we'd walk through the quiet park.

The days were ordinary. And they were happy.

We lived like newlyweds on honeymoon.

But it didn't last.

One phone call shattered the quiet.

It was Brittany's birthday. Damien was throwing her a party in the pack's biggest ballroom.

That was where I saw him again.

He tried to keep his face neutral. But from the moment I walked in, I caught his eyes drifting toward me again and again.

Brittany stood at his side in an elaborate couture gown, greeting guests with the air of a queen.

Halfway through the party, the ballroom lights cut out.

Before anyone could react, a single spotlight hit Brittany.

Damien walked forward with a bouquet of blue moon roses and dropped to one knee.

"Brittany—on this special day, I want to propose. I've finally realized the person I truly love is you. I want to build a life with you."

His delivery was stiff. Like he was reciting lines he'd memorized beforehand.

He pulled a small box from his pocket and flipped it open—a finely cut ring glinted inside. "Brittany, will you be my mate?"

"Say yes! Say yes!"

Guests who didn't know any better broke into applause and cheers.

But the ones who knew Damien knew the truth. I was supposed to be his mate. Brittany had come out of nowhere. She was the other woman.

Their eyes drifted toward me on instinct—only to find me perfectly composed, as if I were watching a stranger propose to someone else.

Damien noticed too. Something ugly twisted in his chest.

Brittany missed it entirely. She was too deep in her fantasy of becoming Luna.

She clapped a hand over her mouth. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She nodded over and over. "Yes. Yes."

Damien slipped the ring onto her finger and turned—his eyes locked onto mine.

I was the first to start the applause. "Congratulations. I'm so happy for you both."

Still clapping, I stepped forward to face the crowd. "Since we're all in such a good mood—I have an announcement of my own."

I took Lucian's hand.

"Lucian and I are holding our mating ceremony soon. All of you, please come."