Chapter 3

~ Nyra~

The room was suffocating. The silence in it was far more daunting than the chaos that came before.

"I can't let Alessia abort the child," he said and bit his lower lip.

I pressed my lips together with trembling fingers, shaking my head vehemently. I sniffled. "Fine." I clapped my hands together slowly, mockingly.

"You want to reject me? Fine. Do it." I raised my hands up and closed my eyes, ready to receive the rejection.

It was the right thing to do anyway. I hadn't been able to give him a child, so he went ahead to find a way to get one even if it came at the cost of our relationship. He sought happiness elsewhere. Maybe I deserved it.

Eric placed his hands on my shoulders. At that moment, I felt hopeful. Hopeful enough to think he wasn't going to choose Alessia, but me.

"I am not going to reject you," he muttered.

I smiled, tears streaming down uncontrollably. Even in the midst of the mess he made, he still chose me.

To be honest, I should feel sorry for Alessia. She was carrying his child, but he wasn't choosing her—he was choosing me. I couldn't lose my man because of this mistake. He loved me enough to choose me.

I parted my lips, ready to tell him that I had forgiven him, that we would find a way to fix this mess, when his next words struck me like lightning.

"You won't be my Luna, Nyra, but my wife."

"What!" I blurted out.

"Nyra, for the sake of peace, you would have to step down from your role as Luna and let Alessia take control. I would take responsibility for you, and that's why I won't reject you—because of our past," he declared.

I didn't realize when I pushed him away.

The audacity. The sheer audacity for him to still keep me and act like he was helping me when all he was doing was causing me harm.

My whole body trembled, eyes flickering between my wolf taking control and me trying to contain my anger.

I snarled, "How. Dare. You." I laid emphasis on each word as I poked him hard with my claws.

"I am trying to h—"

"Shut up!" I bellowed, and everyone indoors gasped.

"How dare she talk to the Alpha like that."

"Very disrespectful. She needs to be taught a lesson."

"Alpha Eric is too calm."

Everyone whispered, but loud enough for Eric to react.

"You dare not speak to me that way, Nyra! Know your place," he commanded, releasing his Alpha aura.

Though his aura was too strong for me, I still stood my ground with my fists clenched. Maybe it was because I was too angry to feel the pain, or perhaps my hurt had overshadowed every other feeling.

"You have made your decision, Eric, and so I will make mine now. I, Nyra Valen, Luna of Nightshade Pack, reject you as my mate!" I announced.

A groan escaped my lips. I could feel the bond tethering, but it wouldn't be complete unless he accepted my rejection.

Eric scowled, shocked that I had taken the initiative to reject him. "You dare to reject me? Do you think I would let you go? Over your dead dreams," he scoffed.

My body was breaking. His aura was stronger, and the more he moved closer, the more I could feel my soul leaving. He knew the pain he was causing me, yet he wouldn't stop.

"Why won't you let me go? You broke our bond! You made your decision!" I cried out, still in agony.

"Bond? Was there any bond before? Isn't your wolf claimed by another? You are hiding under my shadow to cover the fact that you are claim-stained," Eric spat out.

My jaw dropped, eyes reddened by betrayal.

How could he say this?

How could he spill the thing he promised never to say?

No ears were supposed to hear it! Why was he going back on his words?

"What is the Alpha talking about?" one of the elders spoke out.

"How can her wolf be claimed by another?" another said.

I stumbled, my bottom landing hard on the floor. My wolf had been dormant since that incident. The only person who knew was Eric, and he had found out by accident when he saw me.

I shook my head. "You shouldn't have..." I trailed off, chewing my lower lip.

"What? You don't want them to know that you were the one who cheated on the bond first?" he snapped.

"You—"

I rushed toward him before he could say another word. I clasped my hands over his mouth, but Eric slapped them away and pushed me.

"Don't... do not say a word, Eric," I screamed at him.

He had a malicious grin on his face. "You started it first, so why should I stop?" He tilted his head slightly.

I had never seen this side of Eric. He looked like a psychopath, and it caused my bones to shiver.

"You broke the bond by letting another wolf mark yours! Now tell me, who is the cheater?"

The words echoed through the chamber like thunder.

Gasps filled the room. The elders leaned forward in their seats, eyes wide with shock and disgust.

"She let another wolf mark her?"

"Claim-stained? Is that even possible?"

"This is an abomination!"

My hands fell to my sides, lifeless. The secret I had guarded for five years—the shame I had carried like a weight around my neck—was now laid bare for everyone to see.

"Eric, please," I whispered, my voice broken. "Please don't do this."

But he wasn't listening. His eyes were cold, merciless.

"Five years ago, Nyra was attacked by rogues," he announced to the court. "They marked her wolf before I could save her. She begged me to keep it a secret, claiming she didn't remember what happened. I protected her, kept her shame hidden, made her my Luna despite knowing she was tainted."

"That's not fair," I choked out. "You know what happened to me wasn't my fault. You promised—"

"And you promised to give me an heir!" he roared. "But you couldn't even do that because your wolf is claimed by another! You are broken, Nyra. Useless!"

The words shattered something inside me. My chest felt hollow, as if he'd reached in and ripped out my heart. I couldn't breathe. Broken. Useless. Is that all I'd ever been to him?

Elder Aleca stood from his seat. "This is unacceptable. A Luna with a claimed wolf? She has deceived this entire pack!"

"She should be stripped of her title immediately," another elder added.

"Thrown into the cells for her deception!"

I looked around at their faces—faces I had served, people I had cared for—and saw nothing but contempt and disgust.

"I didn't deceive anyone," I said, my voice small. "I was attacked. I was a victim."

"A victim who hid the truth," Aleca shot back. "A victim who pretended to be pure when she was stained."

Eric crossed his arms over his chest, watching me crumble with cold satisfaction.