Chapter 4

?

The moment Callum saw me, he strode forward and pulled me into his arms.

“The show ended hours ago. Where have you been? Why didn’t you come home? Didn’t you realize I’d be worried?”

“And don’t read anything into what you saw on TV. Isabella and I were only handling the attack on the Silver Ridge envoys. There’s nothing between us.”

It took me a moment to remember what footage he meant.

“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”

My indifference seemed to remind him of everything he had done over the years. For once, guilt flickered across his face.

Then he held out a black velvet box.

Inside was a ring set with a large moonstone.

I went still.

I had dreamed of this moment more times than I could count.

I had imagined Callum sliding a ring onto my finger and finally giving our nine years together the promise they deserved.

But now, the sight of it stirred nothing in me.

I placed it casually on the table.

Callum’s expression changed. Frowning, he followed me inside.

“You really have changed, Charlotte. How can you not be even a little…”

I knew exactly what he meant.

In his mind, I should have gazed at the ring in delight, thrown myself into his arms, and forgotten every disappointment he had ever caused me.

The thought pulled a perfunctory smile from me.

“It’s a beautiful ring.”

“Do you like it?”

He watched me expectantly.

“I suppose.”

I had never cared how valuable the moonstone was.

I had only wanted the ring because it would prove that Callum finally meant to keep his promise.

Now, it had come far too late.

Callum visibly relaxed and smiled.

“As long as you like it. I keep my word, Charlotte.”

“Tomorrow night, we’ll complete our betrothal before the entire pack. I’ll handle everything. All you need to do is put on the new dress and meet me beneath the Moon Goddess Tree.”

“And you’re not going to throw another fit over this.”

I looked at his earnest face.

“You won’t need to explain yourself to me again.”

He failed to understand what I meant and finally relaxed completely.

He reached for my hand.

Before he could touch me, his phone rang sharply.

After listening for only a few seconds, he gave me an apologetic look.

“Isabella’s wolf is losing control. I need to go check on her.”

I neither questioned nor stopped him.

“I understand. Go.”

My calm response made uncertainty flicker through his eyes.

He pressed his lips together and hesitated before speaking again.

“I’ll be there in full ceremonial attire tomorrow night. I’m going to give you a betrothal ceremony worthy of the future Luna.”

“After tomorrow, no one will ever laugh at you for thinking you could become Luna again.”

With that, he hurried away.

He still did not know that I had resigned from the infirmary.

He did not know I had decided to leave the Blackstone Pack for good.

If he had paid so little attention to me, what exactly was I supposed to look forward to?

I gave a quiet laugh, left the moonstone ring on the table, washed up, and went to bed.

The next day, someone rang my doorbell.

To my surprise, it was Isabella.

I raised an eyebrow.

“What are you doing here?”

“I heard Callum is finally going through with your betrothal beneath the Moon Goddess Tree tonight.”

Then she asked softly, “Charlotte, all it took was one message from me last night, and he abandoned you to come running. If he truly loved you, why would he choose me over you again and again?”

Isabella’s lips curved in smug satisfaction.

Her smile looked so much like mine had all those years ago, back when I still believed Callum would always choose me.

I answered evenly.

“If you were truly certain he loved you, you wouldn’t need to come here and prove it to me.”

Her smile stiffened. Then she raised her chin.

“You’ve been using the fact that Callum once saved you to make him feel responsible for you.”

“I’m the Beta’s daughter and the Saintess chosen by the Moon Goddess. What could a lowborn Omega like you possibly have that compares to me?”

I did not have the strength to argue with her. I picked up the moonstone ring from the table and held it out.

“This is the ring Callum intends to propose with.”

“If you want it, take it.”

Isabella stared at me in disbelief.

“What do you mean?”

“You can have my place beneath the Moon Goddess Tree tonight too. Whether Callum proposes to you is between the two of you.”

She studied my face, searching for some sign of jealousy or reluctance.

She found nothing.

“As you wish.”

She snatched the ring from my hand and stormed off.

I let out a breath, packed my suitcase, and left the home where I had spent the last nine years.

Before nightfall, I boarded a train bound for the edge of Blackstone territory.

Just before the doors closed, a message from Callum appeared on my phone.

“For eight years, you were always the one waiting for me. Tonight, I’ll be the one waiting beneath the Moon Goddess Tree.”

“Charlotte, you have to come.”

I smiled, blocked every number connected to him, and switched off my phone as the train carried me out of his territory.

At eight that evening, the betrothal ceremony Callum had arranged began.

The pack members who had come expecting to laugh at me were stunned to find Alpha Callum himself standing beneath the Moon Goddess Tree.

Dressed in formal black and holding a bouquet of moonlight blossoms, Callum waited for his future Luna to walk toward him.

Footsteps drew closer.

A confident smile touched his lips as he turned to greet me.

Then his pupils contracted, and his face went cold.

“Why is it you?”