Chapter 2

There was a long pause before Beta Kane finally spoke again.

"What about the Alpha? I heard you were devoted to him. What makes you change your mind now?"

I tightened my grip on the phone.

They had offered me this position once before. I had turned it down without hesitation, telling them my place was beside my Alpha.

Because I had believed my cooking belonged to him.

My food had healing properties. It always had.

For years, I had poured that gift into every meal I made for Kael. Injuries that should have left him bedridden for weeks healed within days after he ate my food. Poison that could kill an entire pack barely affected him after I brewed his tea.

He never once realized it was me.

I had wasted my gift on a man who never saw its value. Now, I would use it for wolves who mattered.

"Let us just say I have awakened. My blind devotion had me lost, but now I see clearly."

"Very well. Report to Blackwood in seven days."

Hanging up the phone, I let out a slow breath.

This time, I would leave this pack entirely and never look back.

The next morning, I walked to the Alpha's quarters to collect the belongings I had left in his study.

I pushed open the door and the heavy scent of their mating hung in the air.

Serena was sitting on the edge of his bed, wearing nothing but the Alpha's black shirt. The top buttons were undone, exposing a trail of deep red marks trailing down from her neck to her chest.

Seeing me enter, she stretched lazily and dragged her fingers through her disheveled hair.

"Elara, you are just in time."

A wicked smile curved her lips as she reached for the small clay pot on the nightstand.

"The Alpha was so restless last night. Be a dear and brew that moonleaf tea for me. He did not pull out once, and I am far too sore to walk to the infirmary myself."

Hearing her words, my chest remained perfectly still.

In my previous life, I would have knocked that jar from her hands. I would have fallen to my knees, begging him to touch me with even a fraction of that passion.

But now, looking at the clay pot in her hand, I felt nothing but a faint disgust.

"The pack omega can brew it for you."

Serena's smile vanished. Her fingers tightened around the pot, her eyes flashing with sudden fury. The Alpha stepped out from the corner of the room where he had been pulling on his boots.

He turned to me sharply.

"Elara, go brew the tea. Why can you not be more thoughtful and caring like your sister?"

Serena reached up and gently covered his mouth with her hand.

"Alpha, do not speak to her like that. If she does not want to brew it, that is fine. I will go hungry. I do not want either of you fighting because of me."

The Alpha could not bear seeing her look so hurt. His expression darkened as he turned to me.

"Elara, did you not hear me? If you refuse to brew the tea for Serena, forget about keeping your position as Shadow Luna. Think twice. You have clung to that title for years."

I would have caved instantly had he said that to me in my past life. But this time, I looked at him calmly and replied, "Fine. Then I no longer want it."

The Alpha was stunned. He stared at me, waiting for the tears or the begging, but I only turned and walked away.

Returning to my chambers, I sat on the edge of my bed and opened the small wooden box on my nightstand.

Inside was a carved wolf pendant. The Alpha had given it to me the day he named me his Shadow Luna, telling me it meant I was under his protection.

For several years I had worn it every single day, even when his protection turned into neglect.

Picking it up now, I waited for the familiar ache in my chest. I waited for the sorrow and the longing.

But I felt absolutely nothing.

The emotional bond that once burned in my chest had turned to ash.

Before I could close the lid, the Alpha stormed into the room. He blocked the doorway, his chest heaving with anger.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Are you deliberately acting indifferent just to attract my attention? Do you think I am a fool?"

Hearing his accusation, I realized that even now, he assumed my silence must still be about him.

I looked up at him calmly. "I am not acting. I am just happy for you both."

His jaw tightened, and he let out a bitter laugh.

"Happy? Do you think I have forgotten how you used to wait outside my door every night just to catch a glimpse of me? How you begged me to mark you even when I told you I never would?"

His gaze dropped to the box in my hands. Seeing the silver pendant, his expression twisted with disgust.

"Look at you. Still pathetic and holding on to the hope that you could somehow become my Luna. You were meant to be a shadow, Elara. Nothing more."

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a cold whisper.

"Now I know why you are acting like this. Stop this ridiculous game and go apologize to Serena for refusing to brew her tea. She is carrying my heir and needs rest. Apologize, and I will let you keep your place in this pack."

He turned and walked out, leaving the door wide open behind him.

Staring at the empty doorway, I let out a slow breath.

Then I took the silver pendant from the box and dropped it into the trash bin beside my bed.