Chapter 5

Clara’s POV

“Is it true?”

Alpha Damien looks at me cautiously as he speaks, expression imperceptible. My heart is racing, veins flooded with adrenaline. I feel like I’m about to lose my mind. 

I avert my gaze from his, unable to look him in the eyes. “It is,” I say softly. 

Elder Claude grins wickedly. “See? She admits it–” 

“Wait.” Alpha Damien’s voice thunders through the hall, gaze still locked on me. “There has to be more to this story. Who is your family, Clara?” 

“I–I was adopted!” I stammer out nervously. My first instinct is to protect Layla’s family above all else. “They didn’t know about any of this, and I–I mean, it’s not like I know much more! I don’t even know where I’m from. I just… I’ve been trying to live quietly here. I never meant anyone any harm.” 

I’m speaking in a desperate rush now, words spilling past my lips like a rushing river. “And I wanted to tell you sooner, I swear! I just never got the chance…”

“Bullshit!” Elder Claude hisses. “You could be descended from lowlifes, or from rogues–we have no way of knowing! Who adopted you? Who’s responsible for bringing this disgrace upon our pack? Speak now!” 

I begin to tremble, but a spark of defiance lights up in me. I shake my head slowly. “I won’t let anything happen to them.” 

My gaze drifts back towards Alpha Damien, but I still can’t read him. He seems pensive, lost in thought as I continue to be flooded with panic. Honestly, in a way, his inscrutability is even worse than outright hatred or revulsion. 

Because he hasn’t rejected me yet. 

So, despite the fear that’s wrapped itself around my brain, I can’t help but hope that maybe–just maybe–we’ve still got a chance. 

“I’ve known hybrids like you before,” Elder Claude growls, skewering me with yet another glare. “Vicious, ruthless hybrids, who tried to compensate for their weakness with sheer spinelessness. Yes, I’ve seen what hybrids and rogues and lowlifes have done to villages of innocents. I’ve seen the damage they’ve wrought. And now you–deceptive young thing, just another shameless seductress trying to writhe her way into the position of Luna? Not on my watch. There’s no chance!” 

I stare at the ground, shame sinking deep into me with every vile word that Elder Claude spits. I can feel his dangerous gaze on me, the weight of his slimy stare. He’s going to hurt me. He’s going to kill me. Every despicable thing that could happen to a person–it’s going to happen to me. 

All because of my stupid, wretched hybrid bloodline. 

“I swear I’m not–I’m not like that!” I gasp out, sinking to my knees and clasping my hands together. Tears begin to stream down my face. “Please, the Moonstone pack is my home–it has been my whole life. I’m not a seductress. Please, please, you have to believe me–”

“Shut your mouth, hybrid scum,” Elder Claude cuts in cooly. “Guards! Throw this Omega wretch into the dungeon and have her tortured for her crimes.” 

“No!” I cry out, collapsing onto the ground, already trembling as I see the guards beginning to approach me with their weapons raised. 

But that’s when Alpha Damien steps into action. 

“No one will touch her!” Alpha Damien growls, jaws snapping as he steps between me and the guards. 

A wave of relief washes over me as the guards all fall back in an instant. I sob, a broken sound born of fear and desperation. 

“This girl is my mate,” Alpha Damien announces evenly, looking Claude dead in the eyes as he continues. “And her bloodline is no crime of hers. I will not betray the Moon Goddess’s blessing over status or bloodline. She will be my mate, for fate wills it as such. Fall back, Elder Claude. This isn’t your decision to make.”

Elder Claude glares at Alpha Damien. “I won’t tolerate this kind of defiance from you, boy,” he snarls, stepping even closer towards him. Despite his age, power radiates off of him, a cold, commanding sort of presence. “I’ve known you to be a lot of things, but I never took you for a fool.” 

Damien’s Alpha Aura begins to roll off of him in waves. I stand there frozen in fear, watching as the two men glare at each other dangerously. 

“Insult me again and watch what happens,” Alpha Damien hisses. “You’ve always been like a father to me, Elder Claude, and I don’t want to hurt you, but don’t think that means I won’t.” 

Elder Claude lets out a crazed, broken laugh, gesturing around frantically. He seems unhinged now, truly pushed past the point of rationality. “She’ll bring nothing but disaster! You’re going to doom us all, you impossibly–” 

“ENOUGH!” Alpha Damien roars. 

The room falls deathly silent. 

I feel faint, like my heart is beating so fast I might pass out. 

There’s steel in Alpha Damien’s posture, ice in his eyes as he stalks toward Elder Claude. “I am the Alpha of this pack. I and I alone have the authority to choose my future Luna.” 

“No,” Elder Claude says in disbelief.

“The Luna ceremony will be held in three days,” Alpha Damien continues. “Your blessing is no longer important–Clara Brooks will be my Luna regardless.” 

Elder Claude’s face darkens at Damien’s words, guilt clawing at my chest. I can’t stand them fighting because of me. Ignoring Marigold’s protests, I force myself to speak.

“Please… don’t argue over me. I know I don’t deserve to be Moonstone’s Luna. I am fine to be a maid—”

“Silence, Omega!” Claude snaps. I flinch, wishing I’d never opened my mouth.

“This discussion is over,” Damien says coldly, taking my hand. “We’re leaving.”

I follow him closely, heart still struggling to grasp what just happened: he truly accepted me as his mate and Luna. I want to believe that’s enough.

But as we step out of the hall, Claude’s furious voice echoes after us—

“You’ll regret this, Damien! She’ll be the death of us all!”