Chapter 2

Cutting the life-force link was excruciating, but compared to the humiliation of being lied to for five years, a little physical pain was nothing.

The moment Sarah cast a temporary seal over the mark, I felt a long-dormant power stir inside me.

It was the pure power of the Ancient White Wolf, the power I'd willingly sealed away so I could marry Lucas.

Early the next morning, someone started pounding on the security door to the east wing.

"Serena! Open the door! What the hell are you doing?" Lucas's voice, tight with anger, came through the intercom.

I sat on the couch, taking my time with a cup of black tea.

Sarah turned on the security screen. Lucas punched in the code again and again, but the system kept rejecting it.

Behind him, Chloe leaned weakly against the wall. She'd looked radiant at the festival the night before. Now her face was gray, with fine lines around her eyes.

Without my life force feeding her, her weak Omega body couldn't maintain its false youth and energy.

I pressed the talk button on the intercom. "Can I help you, Lucas?"

The moment he heard my voice, Lucas slipped his mask back into place. His tone softened, but the command in it was unmistakable. "Serena, why did you leave the festival early last night? I know seeing Chloe might be hard for you to accept, but she's my fated mate. It's the Moon Goddess's will. As my Luna, you should think about what's best for the pack and show some grace."

"Grace?" I let out a cold laugh. "You want me to be gracious about you using my life force to raise your secret son?"

For a moment, there was dead silence on the other end.

Clearly, Lucas hadn't expected me to expose him so bluntly.

Before he could speak, Chloe's tearful voice came through. "Serena, dear, please don't blame Lucas. It's all my fault. I just love him too much... I never wanted to break up your marriage. As long as I can stay by his side, I'd even be a maid."

"Then go get a rag from the kitchen." I cut off her sickly-sweet act. "And don't call me dear. We aren't family, you bitch."

"Serena! Watch your mouth!" Lucas snapped.

"Chloe is innocent! Not only did you lock the doors, you cut 30% of the pack's moonstone budget! Do you know how much danger that puts our warriors on the front lines in?"

I set down my teacup, my gaze icy.

That 30% of the moonstone budget had never gone to the warriors on the front lines. My mother's family had been quietly giving it to him to fund his expensive lifestyle.

He'd chosen to betray me. I was done letting him use me.

"That's my private property. I'll do whatever I want with it."

I stood, walked to the door, and looked through the reinforced glass at the man outside.

"Lucas, starting today, it's not just the moonstones. Every single thing you've stolen from me, I'm taking back, with interest."

With that, I cut off the intercom.

Through the glass, I saw Chloe clutch her chest in pain. Without my life force, the skin on her face turned rough before my eyes.

Lucas caught her in a panic and shot me a vicious glare. In the end, he could only carry her away to find something to slow her decline.

This was only the beginning. Without me feeding them, their fake happiness would fall apart soon enough.