Chapter 2

Scarlett POV

Lucien came home late that night.

I pretended to be asleep, my back to him, but my mind was a storm of images, each one tearing at my heart.

My pillow was already damp with tears.

The mattress dipped behind me. He leaned in, careful not to wake me, and placed a soft kiss on my ear.

The familiar scent of his shower gel wafted over me. It was so comforting, so much like home, but I couldn't relax.

My spine was rigid. I was too scared to open my eyes. I didn't know how to face him.

For five years, he had been almost endlessly accommodating.

Every time I had been unreasonable, he would simply smile and indulge me, then, with time, gently guide me to see things his way.

The only exception was Anika. On that one thing, he never gave an inch.

It was a thorn that had been festering in my heart for years.

The next morning, my phone screen flashed with a countdown I had set:

[ 6 days left.]

Lucien glanced at it. "Six days? What for?"

My heart hammered against my ribs. I quickly turned the screen off.

"Just a reminder for the marking ceremony."

He smiled, pulling me into a tight hug.

"As if I could forget." He kissed me gently. "Don't miss the banquet tonight."

"Why?" I asked.

He played coy. "It's a secret for now. All you need to know is you're the star of the night."

Then he left for the office.

Six days. That was all I had left with him. I wanted to savor them, even as I prepared to let go.

I took out all of our photos, our shared memories of laughter, kisses, and embraces, and fed them into the paper shredder.

One by one, our moments of joy turned into a cascade of colored confetti.

The grinding sound of the machine seemed to cut my heart into pieces.

My wolf let out a low, mournful howl. "It's all shredded... will we never look back?"

I wiped the tears from my face and pressed a hand to my aching chest.

Let time decide. Maybe I can learn to forget him.

I arrived at the banquet a little late. The ballroom was a sea of glittering lights and buzzing conversation.

I saw Lucien immediately, surrounded by a crowd of admirers, the undisputed Alpha of the room.

Anika stood beside him, her arm linked through his, her smile radiant.

The high slit of her gown deliberately showed the large burn scar on her leg, a disfiguring mark she wore like a badge of honor.

I stopped dead in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat.

"Anita, you and Lucien look perfect together."

"Anyone who didn't know your story would think you were a couple."

Anika tilted her head at Lucien, coy smile in place. "Do we look like one?"

His eyes were full of a tenderness he made no effort to hide. He made no move to correct their absurd compliments.

Only when she noticed me approaching did Anita school her expression, feigning humility.

"What a shame I met him so late," she said, her voice laced with false regret. "I can only stand here and wish him well from a distance."

My heart felt as if it were being crushed in a fist.

"Look, here comes our Luna!" someone called out.

"Scarlett, we envy you," another guest said. "Lucien's love to you is unmatched."

I offered a fake smile, knowing their words were hollow.

It seemed everyone knew about Lucien and Anika.

I was the only fool wrapped up in my own delusions of happiness.

But it no longer mattered. I would be gone soon.

Still, I couldn't help but ache for the life I was losing. For five years, he had been a part of me.

I fixed my gaze on him, trying to etch his features into my mind.

"What's on your mind, Scarlett?" Lucien asked, slipping away from the crowd.

"Nothing," I said, and reached up to adjust his tie. "Your tie looks good."

It was a strange impulse, but I had to know.

The tie and cufflinks were not from me, and they were not his usual style.

He shifted uncomfortably, a flicker of something in his eyes.

"My other ties didn't go with this suit. I had my assistant pick one up."

He excused himself and walked away too quickly.

A sharp, stabbing pain went through my heart. I knew that was a lie.

All his clothes and accessories were custom-made. He would never wear something bought on a whim.

There was only one answer: Anika had prepared it to him.

And he had just lied to my face.

Just then, Anika came over with a glass of champagne.

"Scarlett, I'm so envious of you," she said, her smile not reaching her eyes. "You're about to marry Lucien."

"Thank you," I replied, forcing a polite smile.

"But he'll never be able to forget me. No matter what you do, I'll always be by his side."

She raised her glass, her eyes full of contempt.

The bracelet on her wrist had the same pattern as Lucien's cufflinks.

Just then, the music swelled, and Lucien took the microphone at the center of the room.

"In a few days, Scarlett and I will hold our marking ceremony," he announced.

"And tonight, I will bestow upon my Luna, the most precious necklace of our pack, the Moonlight Gem."

He opened a box, and a magnificent moonstone glowed with a mysterious light. T

he crowd burst into applause, and every eye in the room turned to me.

Lucien's gaze was full of love, waiting for me to join him on stage.

Suddenly, a massive crash erupted in the ballroom.

The immense champagne tower beside me came down with a roar.

The champagne tower beside me toppled, glass shattering in a violent cascade.

Cold liquid soaked my skin as shards bit into me.

Screams echoed, guests scattering.

I couldn't move. Any step sent pain lancing through me.

I was stuck in a place of my own, the pain growing with every moment.

I looked at Lucien, horrified. He ran toward me.

I felt a surge of hope, but it was short-lived. Just a few steps away, he stopped and turned to Anika.

"Don't be afraid," he said, his voice laced with panic. "I'll take you to the hospital."

He swept her into his arms and carried her out the door, his face etched with worry.

He never saw me standing there, dress stained crimson, blood seeping from the cuts across my skin.