Chapter 3

After packing, I started handing off my work.

It took me a whole day to sort through everything that needed to be transferred.

Not long after I submitted the handover list, Gabriel's guard came to find me.

"The Beta wants you in the council hall."

I looked up at him.

The guard dropped his head. "She says it's the Alpha's order."

I didn't ask anything else. I got up and went.

Selena was the only one in the council hall.

When she saw me, she lifted her teacup and took a slow sip.

"Heard you spent all of yesterday on work handovers."

I nodded. "Yes."

"Handing it off to who?"

"Gamma. The list and receipts are with him. Starting tomorrow, new transfer orders go through you two."

The smile on Selena's face faded bit by bit.

"Yvette, don't think I don't know what you're playing at."

I raised a brow.

She stood and walked around the long table until she was right in front of me.

"You suddenly organizing all this, isn't it just so Gabriel thinks you're leaving, so he'll come chase after you and sweet talk you?"

"He's been busy enough these past few days. You still pulling little tricks to get his attention?"

I looked at her and couldn't help laughing. "Don't project your own games onto me."

She stared me down. "Give me an explanation."

"Think whatever you want." I shrugged. "I don't owe you one."

Selena's face darkened instantly.

She lifted a hand and swept her hair aside, baring the temporary mark on her neck.

"Look carefully." Her fingertip traced the mark. "I'm not just Beta. I'm Luna. And I'm ordering you to explain yourself."

Last night, Selena had posted on social media. A photo of the temporary mark on her neck.

The caption was one line.

[From Beta to Luna. I'll be by your side, always.]

The comments were flooded with congratulations.

Some called her Luna. Some asked when the marking ceremony would be redone.

Gabriel had replied too.

[Get some rest. Go to the healing den on time.]

Selena dropped a red heart under his reply.

I sent that post to Gabriel.

He answered fast: [Her wolf just stabilized. Don't embarrass her in public yet. Don't read into it.]

Of course. Gabriel only ever told me not to read into it.

But now Selena was already ordering me around as Luna.

"Just a temporary mark." I gave her a once over. "Selena, you don't actually think you're Luna, do you?"

Selena's face went white for a second, then she let out a cold laugh.

"Yvette, you're a white wolf. You're Gabriel's fated mate. But you had all of that the moment you were born."

"I'm the one who's bled to hold the Frostwood border all these years. I've earned Luna more than you ever have."

I looked at her, and suddenly I didn't even have the energy to explain.

All these years, every shipment of food, herbs, and ammunition to the border, I coordinated and moved every single one.

The border's stability was never her solo credit.

What I'd done was all written clear in the handover list. I didn't owe her a word.

I looked away and said nothing.

"In the end, you think you're the real Luna." Selena sneered. "But you know what?"

She leaned in close, voice dripping with malice.

"The day you two were supposed to cross the river, I only said I was leaving, and he dropped your whole ceremony for it."

"He loves me. Yvette, it's time you knew your place."

I looked at her and didn't argue.

So she'd taken every time Gabriel favored her as proof of love.

But I only had two days left. I didn't care anymore.

"I've already submitted the handover list." I said calmly. "From here on, do whatever you want with it."

Then I turned to leave.

The next second, Selena's hand clamped around my wrist.

She gripped hard, nails digging into my skin.

"Did I say you could go?"

I looked down at her hand. "Let go."

Her grip tightened.

I yanked my hand free.

Selena let herself fall back, crashing into the chair behind her.

She clutched her wrist and crumpled to the floor.

Right then, the council hall doors swung open.

Gabriel strode in, eyes landing on Selena on the ground.

The next second, his Alpha pressure crashed down on me.

"Yvette, what did you do to Selena?"