Chapter 3

"These herbs need to be picked on the night of the full moon."

I flipped through the ancient texts in the castle library, searching for ways to purify the toxin in Damon's body.

I'd been living in the Alpha's castle for a month now. It was much warmer here than in the elder family's stone tower. At least no one treated me like an anomaly.

"Luna, are you studying herbology again?" Thomas Wraith, the castle's old steward, walked in.

"Yes, I want to help the Alpha recover." I closed the book. "Thomas, could you help me prepare some herbs?"

"Of course, Luna." Thomas smiled kindly. "The Alpha is very fortunate to have a mate like you."

I shook my head bitterly. Damon never thought so.

Over the past month, his attitude toward me had shifted from initial coldness to reluctant acceptance. We lived in the same castle but rarely spoke. Whenever we met, he maintained a strictly professional tone.

However, I hadn't given up.

Every night, I brewed detoxifying potions for him and used my weak Luna power to help drive out the toxins. He resisted at first, but after seeing that the potions were actually working, he began to allow my treatment.

"Tonight's potion is ready." I knocked on Damon's study door.

"Come in." His voice remained distant.

I walked in carrying a tray and placed the potion on his desk. "Drink it while it's hot. It works better that way."

Damon glanced at me and drained the cup in one gulp.

"It tastes bitter." He frowned.

"Good medicine tastes bitter," I said softly. "Your complexion is much better than last month."

It was true. Under my careful treatment, the toxin in his body was slowly dissipating. His pale face had regained color, and his weakened body was filling with strength again.

"Thank you," he said unexpectedly.

This was the first time he'd expressed gratitude to me, and my heart instantly started racing.

"It's what I should do." I lowered my head. "After all, we're..."

"Mates." He finished the word for me, his voice softer than usual.

I looked up at him and found him gazing at me. In that moment, the relationship between us truly began to improve.

In the days that followed, Damon became much gentler with me. He would ask about my preferences during meals, light candles for me when I studied ancient texts, and even began initiating conversations with me.

On one full moon night, we completed our true mate bond. Damon treated me tenderly, as if I were truly his beloved mate. I lost myself in this false sweetness, thinking I had finally won his heart.

But the good times didn't last.

"Lydia's back!"

The news spread throughout the entire castle. I was in the garden picking herbs when I heard the servants' excited chatter.

"I heard she traveled everywhere learning new healing arts."

"The Alpha must be so happy. They grew up together, so their bond runs deep."

My hands trembled slightly when I heard this. I even nearly cut my finger.

At that evening's celebration banquet, I saw Lydia again after so long. She was more beautiful than when she left. Her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, and her bright blue eyes sparkled.

"Damon!" The moment she saw him, she threw herself into his arms. "I missed you so much!"

The hall fell silent instantly. Everyone watched this scene, including me. Damon froze for a second, then gently pushed her away. "Lydia, mind the occasion."

Still, his eyes were tender in a way I'd never seen before.

"Elena, you remember Lydia," he reintroduced her to me. "We grew up together."

"Hello, Luna." Lydia curtsied politely to me, but a flash of barely concealed hostility flickered in her eyes.

From that day on, Lydia inserted herself into our lives. She used learning pack affairs as an excuse to attend all the meetings. She used concern for Damon's health as a reason to frequently enter our private spaces.

Worse still, Damon's attitude toward her behavior shifted from resistance to acceptance.

"Lydia says she's learned new healing methods. I thought perhaps they could help me," Damon explained when I questioned it.

"Lydia has known me since childhood. Her suggestions are very practical," he answered when I asked why she had to attend pack meetings.

Gradually, rumors began circulating through the pack.

"Lydia is the true Luna in the Alpha's heart."

"Elena is just an outsider. How could she compare to a bond formed since childhood?"

"I heard the oracle originally chose Lydia. Elena's nothing but a substitute."

These words cut into my heart like knives. But what hurt most was that when I heard these rumors, Damon stood right beside me and didn't say a single word in my defense.

Even so, I never thought about dissolving the mate bond with Damon, because I had truly fallen deeply in love with him. At least not until he chose Lydia in the fire.