Chapter 4

Aiden arrived quickly.

I opened the car door. In the passenger seat lay a woman’s scarf; it was obviously not mine. Underneath it was black lacy lingerie.

Without saying a word, I slipped into the back seat.

Aiden stayed glued to his phone, not noticing my expression. "Got everything settled for the ceremony?"

"Mostly."

"I remember you always wanted to see Moon Goddess Falls. Once I’m free, I’ll take you. I wasn’t planning to bother you today. It was my mom who wanted to meet."

To him, this entire ceremony seemed like my thing. He only remembered me when it was convenient.

I didn’t answer, but my eyes stung.

When we got to his house, only cold leftovers remained on the table. My father sat chatting happily with Aiden’s father as Aiden’s mother greeted me warmly.

"Clara, I really do like you. You're so well-behaved, not like those wild girls outside."

She glanced at Seraphina. "Aiden could’ve found someone with better blood, sure. But you’ve stayed by his side for ten years. He owes you a title.

"You’re not getting any younger. After the ceremony, stop working and have a pup quickly. That’s the only way to truly lock down an Alpha’s heart."

What could I say to that?

I just nodded and agreed.

Then, I looked past everyone and saw Aiden handing two dresses to Seraphina and me. He gestured toward me. "Seraphina picked yours. You’ve never been great with fashion, so just wear what she chose."

The dress, which was meant to symbolize Luna pride, was wrinkled from poor storage and appeared cheap and lifeless.

On the other hand, Seraphina’s was smooth and as radiant as moonlight itself. She looked like a true bride.

Aiden quickly distanced himself. "The servant must’ve mishandled it. It’s not Seraphina’s fault. Don’t hold it against her. I’ll deal with the disrespectful servant tomorrow and make it up to you."

"It’s fine," I replied flatly. I just wanted out of that humiliating dress.

Seraphina then insisted on a group photo and forced me to join them. She posed so that I stood off in the corner while she clung to Aiden’s arm. When the shutter clicked, she "accidentally" stepped on my foot.

In my own family portrait, I became a blurred background figure.

Aiden suggested we take another, but I shook my head.

"It’s fine. You still have pack duties. Don’t waste time because of me. We can take another one… someday."

Seraphina’s eyes turned red instantly. She looked hurt. "Is Clara mad at me? It’s my fault. I’ll search the entire city to find the most beautiful gown for her."

Then, she ran off crying.

Aiden’s glare stabbed into me like I was the unreasonable one. After that, he turned and chased after her.

I held the wrinkled dress and laughed bitterly through tears.

Someone asked if I was okay. I said, "It’s nothing. The wind blew some dust into my eye."

Back at the apartment, I started packing.

I found Aiden’s diary in his study drawer. Page after page, my name barely appeared. Every line was about Seraphina.

The most important pages had been torn out. All that remained was one sentence: "That was the happiest time of my life".

On the day he proposed to me, he had written, "My greatest mistake was letting my moon go and mistaking a star for her. Clara’s great, but she’s not Seraphina. She never will be. I’ll treat Clara well. That’s what I owe Seraphina."

His handwriting was powerful and sharp like knives driving straight into my chest.

I looked around the room. Every gift he ever gave me matched her taste. I stared at the girl in the mirror and admired the long hair he liked, as well as the white dress he had chosen.

Ten years.

All he’d ever done was use me to recreate Seraphina. The girl in the mirror, whose eyes were rimmed red, made me sick.

I grabbed the scissors. Without hesitation, I chopped off the long hair I had kept for him. The strands fell like ashes, like the love we’d buried.

I tore the last page from the calendar.

"Wear the most beautiful dress. Marry the best version of Aiden."

Unfortunately, the dress was wrinkled, and the lover was a lie.

I crumpled the page and threw it in the trash along with ten years of youth.

Without looking back, I headed to the airport alone.

As I boarded, Aiden called, panic thick in his voice. "Clara, where are you?"

Outside, the plane began to taxi.

I hung up and turned off my phone. Sleepiness crept in. I closed my eyes and drifted off.

Unbeknownst to me, the moment I hung up, Aiden’s panic and fury nearly set the entire pack ablaze.