Chapter 3

I walked slowly into the bustling celebration, holding that ebony box.

Alphas from all the major allied packs were gathered with their mates.

Instantly, all conversation stopped.

"Oh my god, why is Regina dressed like that?"

"A black gown... Isn't that for mourning?"

"Wearing mourning clothes to a full moon celebration? Is she trying to curse us all?"

I ignored the whispers around me and walked straight to the main platform.

Ethan was seated in the Alpha's chair, and beside him, in the Luna seat that should have been mine, sat Scarlett.

She wore a gorgeous silver-white gown that cleverly showed off her slightly rounded belly, and she was snuggled shyly against Ethan.

"Ethan, she's here," Scarlett's voice trembled, her eyes flashing with fake fear. "She... she looks so scary..."

Ethan's arm tightened around Scarlett, shielding her, and he glared at me fiercely. "Regina, what do you think you're doing? Dressing like that is blasphemy against the Moon Goddess!"

"Blasphemy?" I walked calmly to the front of the stage, my voice carrying clearly through the hall. "I'm merely mourning something that has already died."

"Mourning what?" Alpha Marcus of the Redwood Pack sneered. "Mourning your lost Luna status?"

A wave of laughter erupted from the crowd.

"She never deserved that position anyway," a Beta female from the Blackwood Pack said cuttingly. "Look at her, can't even fight, just hides at home raising kids. Typical weakling."

"No wonder Ethan wanted a replacement," another voice chimed in mockingly. "Miss Scarlett is so elegant, her bloodline so noble. That's what a real Luna should be like."

Ethan stood up proudly, deliberately showing off the fresh, red temporary mark on his neck. "Everyone can see, this is the temporary mark between Scarlett and me. She carries the future heir of the Stone family, possessing the purest wolf bloodline."

Applause and congratulations filled the hall.

Scarlett stood up shyly, one hand gracefully caressing her belly. "Thank you all for your blessings. I understand the importance of the Luna position, and I will do my best."

Then she turned to me, her voice becoming aggrieved and artificial. "Regina, sister, I know this is hard for you to accept, but please understand... Ethan needs a mate who can bring a stronger bloodline to the pack."

She paused, her voice even softer. "And... if you really cared about Caleb, why didn't you let him attend the coming-of-age ceremony last night? That was the most important moment of his life..."

Murmurs immediately spread through the crowd.

"Yeah, the Alpha's son really wasn't there last night..."

"The coming-of-age ceremony is so important, how could a mother stop him?"

"Is she so jealous of Scarlett that she's neglecting her own son?"

Ethan's face darkened, his voice full of threat. "Regina, you better give me a reasonable explanation. Why didn't Caleb attend the ceremony last night?"

I looked at this pair of despicable wolves on the stage, at these opportunistic, hypocritical so-called allies below, and my heart was ice cold.

But my voice remained calm. "Because some things are more important than a ceremony."

"More important?" Scarlett feigned a shocked expression. "Regina, sister, nothing is more important than a werewolf's coming-of-age ceremony! It's our tradition, our honor!"

She turned to the crowd, her voice sharp. "And look at her, wearing mourning clothes to the full moon celebration! She's insulting all of us, insulting the Moon Goddess!"

"That's right!"

"This is too much!"

"She's cursing the entire pack!"

Angry voices came from all directions.

Ethan shot to his feet, releasing his Alpha dominance. "Regina! You've embarrassed me enough! Go back and change out of those clothes immediately, then publicly apologize to Scarlett and everyone here!"

I clutched the ebony box in my arms, looking at the man on the stage who had once sworn to love and protect me for life.

"Apologize?" I let out a small laugh. "Scarlett Reed, you're not worthy of even saying my son's name."

The entire hall fell silent.

Scarlett's face instantly paled, and she took a step back. "What... what did you say?"

"I said," my voice was clear and cold, "you are not worthy to speak of my son."