Chapter 4

I went to the Luna to take my leave, but she insisted that I stay.

She mentioned that she needed a word with me after the gala.

Not having the heart to deny her the talk, I sought a quiet corner to lie in wait.

By the way the Luna went to great lengths to keep Justin and Marissa separated, she must fear that our already-strained bond would become beyond repair.

The Luna kept a firm grip on Justin while introducing him to the guests. She engaged him in conversation, not giving him a chance to slip away.

As a result, Marissa was isolated.

A drunken Delta from a neighboring pack named Silas Waltz staggered toward Marissa and harassed her, hell bent on getting acquainted.

“Relax. You’re an Omega. You should feel honored that I noticed you,” Silas uttered with measure.

Marissa’s eyes welled up.

Out of the blue, Justin broke free from the crowd and rushed to her rescue.

He punched Silas right in the face.

Stumbling back from the blow, Silas exploded in fury. “Justin! Have you gone mad? Fay is your fated mate. I get that she’s off-limits, but who is this random she-wolf to you?”

Justin kept his silence at first, his eyes finding mine instinctively.

He then announced, “Marissa is mine to claim.”

I gave nothing away, simply keeping a straight face throughout.

My lack of reaction was probably the thing that broke Justin as he pulled Marissa into his embrace and locked tongues with her right in front of every wolf.

By the end of the kiss, Marissa went weak in the knees and cozied up in his arms.

Amid the stunned silence, Justin looked up and made his declaration.

“From this moment forward, whoever so much as touches a hair on Marissa’s head will answer to me.”

Then came the shift in public sentiment.

Those who once stood by me and felt bad for the situation I was in now flocked to flatter Marissa.

Unable to stand it, I fled into the restroom.

I clutched my hand over my lips to stop myself from making a sound as tears splattered on the cold, hard marble floors.

When I finally caught my breath again, I texted the Luna, letting her know that I was unwell and had to excuse myself.

I fixed my makeup, straightened the crease of my dress, and put on a calm face.

Before I could make it far, a powerful force caught my wrist.

It was Silas, the Delta Justin had hit square in the jaw.

Silas smirked wickedly, his eyes roaming the outline of my body.

“To be honest, your scent is far more intoxicating than the Omega’s.

“Justin used to be all over you, so I could never get close. Now that he has a new sweetheart, you might want to try someone new.”

I frowned and said curtly, “Let go. This is the Shadow Pack’s territory. I’d advise you not to try anything.”

Enraged, Silas tightened his grip. “Do you think that Justin scares me? He’s probably having some fun with his Omega right now. And you? He ditched you.”

Silas narrowed his eyes menacingly and jerked me closer for a kiss.

I put up a struggle and mindlinked Justin in desperation.

Justin was quick to respond.

My voice cracked in sobs as I cried out for help, “Justin, the Delta won’t leave me alone. Come quick—”

His sneers came through the link. “First, Marissa. Now, you. Fay, are you into these cheap antics to get my attention? Do you think I’d fall for your manipulation?”

With Silas nearly dragging me into the male restroom, I shouted in despair, “No, he’s really—”

Justin cut off the mind link.

A chill ran through me right there and then.

Somehow, I managed to summon strength out of nowhere and grabbed a heavy silver candelabra from the wall and smashed it onto Silas’ head.

While Silas released his hold on me in pain, I fled into the female restroom, slammed the bolt on, and contacted the Luna.

The Luna arrived on the double.

The moment Silas’ curses echoed through the corridor as the guards dragged him away, my body went limp, and I slumped against the door, down to the floor.

The gala was not over yet. The Luna offered me some comfort before instructing the servants to take me upstairs for a change of clothes.

She promised that she would take me home once the guests were gone.

Since Silas could be lurking somewhere near, I remained on edge.

I stayed put, not leaving where the Luna settled me down.

By the time I had changed, most of the guests had cleared out.

I walked past Justin’s room on my way to the Luna.

Voices rolled out the cracked door.

One of Justin’s followers asked, “Aren’t you worried? Silas is an ass. What if he’s all over Fay?”

Justin chuckled and swirled his wine glass.

“Fay is the daughter of the Shadow Pack’s Beta. I doubt Silas would start a war over her.”

He paused, his voice tinged with indifference. “Even if he takes things far, he’s in my territory. There’s nothing I can’t handle. A little punishment won’t kill Fay anyway. She needs to be set straight.

“At least, she’ll stop harping about breaking our mate bond and getting petty with Marissa.”

His follower teased, “Does that mean that Marissa matters more to you?”

Justin let out a laugh with an unusual hint of fondness in his voice. “Fay will always come first, but Marissa? I owe a lot to her.”

I curled my lips sarcastically.

Apparently, I would always come first.

Yet, our marital home was given to Marissa.

Justin made me his priority.

Still, he delayed our mating ceremony for Marissa anyway.

According to Justin, I was his number one.

Nevertheless, Justin chose to protect Marissa in the face of danger.

Justin cast aside the one who meant the most to him while holding dear a far less important she-wolf.

No one else but Justin, the future Alpha of the Shadow Pack, could come up with such logic.

Having heard enough, I turned to take the stairs down.

My wolf was eerily quiet in my mind. It was a sign of absolute despair.

The Luna was alone in the empty hall, looking around for me.

Upon spotting me, she drew close and pulled me down onto a sofa.

“Fay, my dear pup.” She squeezed my hand, her voice pleading. “I don’t want to defend him, but you grew up together. He said that he would never mark any she-wolf else but you. Are you sure you can’t give him another chance?”

I met her eyes. With all the rage in me gone, clarity filled my mind.

“Luna, I thought I would be with him forever before Marissa came into the picture.”

I recounted the recent events softly, including all the times Justin had chosen Marissa over me.

At the end of my narration, the Luna closed her eyes and let out a weary sigh.

“I’ll see to it that your engagement token to Justin is back in your hands tomorrow.”

I held the Luna’s cold hands. “Luna, I will never forget your kindness to me over the years. I’ve promised my father to marry the Alpha of the Northwind Pack and give back to the pack. It’s over between me and Justin.”

The Luna’s eyes dimmed. However, she didn’t try to change my mind.

“Once you’re mated with the Alpha there, will you come back to visit sometimes?” The Luna tucked a loose strand of my hair back, her voice fragile.

I nodded, thanked her, and got up to leave.

With that, I walked out of the estate, the place that once held my dreams.

This time, I didn’t look back.